Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 26 January 1984

Energy

Combined Heat And Power Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will announce which power stations he intends to earmark as potential pilot combined heat and power schemes.

Possible power station sites for combined heat and power—CHP—were considered in the study of CHP undertaken by W. S. Atkins and Partners. The Government are near to completing their assessment of the study and hope to make an announcement shortly.

Departmental Administration Costs

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

United Kingdom coal imports
('000 tonnes)
Origin	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983 January-November 1983
EEC countries
France	—	—	1	14	7
FR Germany	229	80	132	334	445
Ireland	55	41	5	3	3
Netherlands	22	23	8	44	74
Belgium	22	14	7	34	57
Greece	—	—	—	2	—
TOTAL EEC	328	158	153	431	586
Non-EEC countries
Australia	2,164	2,847	1,791	1,140	1,933
USA	1,031	3,653	1,954	1,992	1,054
Poland	658	446	142	318	407
South Africa	38	66	80	67	45
USSR	65	46	34	12	23
Other	91	118	136	39	82
TOTAL NON-EEC	4,047	7,176	4,137	3,568	3,544
GRAND TOTAL	4,375	7,334	4,290	3,999	4,130

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will state the countries to which coal is exported and the tonnage concerned for each of the last five years.

The total gross cost of administration of the Department of Energy expressed in 1982–83 prices in the last four years was as follows:

Year	£ million
1979–80	32·0
1980–81	31·2
1981–82	28·6
1982–83	26·6

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

Coal

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the current levels of coal stocks held by the National Coal Board and the electricity generating boards.

At 24 December coal stocks held by the National Coal Board and the electricity generating boards were 23,987,000 tonnes and 31,907,000 tonnes, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will state the countries from which coal is imported and the tonnage concerned over the last five years.

Imports of coal have been as follows:

Exports of coal have been as follows:

United Kingdom coal exports
('000 tonnes)
Destination	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983 January-November 1983
EEC countries
Denmark	176	606	1,925	2,057	1,476
France	750	1,474	2,624	1,911	1,296
FR Germany	609	1,150	1,498	792	575
Ireland	226	289	491	468	391
Netherlands	161	222	783	502	288
Belgium and Luxembourg	189	185	347	134	94
Italy	16	9	67	6	6
Greece	—	—	—	—	3
TOTAL EEC	2,127	3,935	7,735	5,870	4,129
Non EEC countries
Finland	10	8	1,168	1,102	710
Switzerland	—	—	14	—	169
Morocco	—	—	—	39	166
Israel	—	—	77	94	158
Sweden	115	30	218	113	157
Portugal	4	5	34	59	126
Norway	78	62	64	45	65
Spain	—	—	88	54	11
Others	5	2	115	13	18
TOTAL NON-EEC	212	107	1,778	1,519	1,580
GRAND TOTAL	2,339	4,042	9,513	7,389	5,709

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the Government have blocked the export of coal to any country in the European Economic Community or outside the European Economic Community in the last five years.

No.

Home Department

Mr John Preece

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take on the report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration on the case of Mr. John Preece.

I have carefully studied the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, which is mainly about Home Office action under a different Administration. The report raises very serious issues about the standard and practice of the Home Office forensic science service and the handling in the Home Office of cases where there might have been a miscarriage of justice. On the basis of the findings of the report I have taken the following action.I have satisfied myself that action has now been taken to ensure that members of the forensic science service maintain the highest scientific standards in the evidence they put to the courts. The service has strengthened its quality assurance system under which the work of all individual scientists is checked before it is used as evidence, the scientific content of the work done in the laboratories is monitored, and there are centrally organised tests of quality. The present controller, who was personally involved in the investigation of the cases dealt with by Dr. Clift, the forensic scientist in the Preece case, has reinforced to staff the lessons to be learned. She has emphasised the need to pay special attention to the quality, accuracy and comprehensibility of forensic evidence in court cases. She has ensured that case records are preserved and stored properly. I have satisfied myself that the criminal department of the Home Office has learned the lessons to be drawn from this matter, which is fortunately exceptional, and that the department is well seized of the need to make a full and proper response in all cases where there are grounds for believing that there might have been a wrongful conviction.I have completed the review, announced by my predecessor in September 1981, of criminal cases in which Dr. Clift was involved. I have decided to refer to the Court of Appeal under section 17(1)

(a) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 16 cases where Dr. Clift gave evidence at the trial and where, if the evidence was erroneous or false — and I make no assumption on this point — the conviction could reasonably be regarded as open to question. These individual cases might not in themselves have warranted reference to the Court of Appeal; Dr. Clift's evidence was not by any means the only evidence against all the accused persons. Nevertheless, in the circumstances I have thought it right to take this action. It will, of course, be for the Court of Appeal to decide whether to uphold or quash the conviction in each case.

Following is a more detailed summary of the conduct of the review.

All the laboratory records now in existence relating to instances in which Dr. Clift examined specimens have been scruitinised, in order to obtain the basic register of cases for the review. Laboratory records have proved to be available back to 1967, with a gap between January 1970 and April 1971; some forensic service case files were also found for 1965 and 1966; and a handful of other cases in which Dr. Clift had been involed, dating back to 1957, were discovered from other Home Office records.

These records yielded a total of approximately 1,500 instances in which Dr. Clift examined material. Not all of these, however, were cases in which criminal proceedings were instituted.

In 351 of the cases, when the police were asked to provide details which would make it possible to ascertain whether an accused person was brought to trial, etc., it was found that the police files had been destroyed in accordance with routine. In these cases there was no information about whether court proceedings had taken place, and so there could be no review.

There was a further large block—336—of cases in which, although Dr. Clift has examined material, it was established that no proceedings had been taken.

There were 115 cases in which proceedings took place but in which no evidence from Dr. Clift was, in the event, offered or in which the defendant was acquitted. It was decided not to seek to investigate the 534 cases in which Dr. Clift had given evidence but the accused person pleaded guilty.

The 129 cases which have been examined in detail are therefore those in which records are available, Dr. Clift is known to have given evidence, the accused pleaded not guilty to the offence of which he was charged, and there was a conviction. All available material has been studied, including material bearing both on the work done by Dr. Clift and on the court proceedings.

There are six cases in this category—mostly cases which were heard by magistrates — in which the material now available for study is so scanty as to make is impossible for any conclusion to be drawn.

In a large number of other cases studied in detail, the issue at the trial was not whether the accused committed a particular act but what offence, if any, his behaviour constituted. For example, there are cases in which the accused was charged with murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter. These cases have come within the ambit of the review, but the possibility that the outcome of the trial will have been altered by forensic science evidence is necessarily remote. There are also cases in which the accused admitted that there had been sexual intercourse (the question to which the evidence of a biologist such as Dr. Clift would be particularly directed) but denied rape.

In the remaining cases I have considered in each case the importance of Dr. (lift's evidence and whether if it was unsound the conviction might reasonably be regarded as open to question. In this consideration I have sought to give the benefit of any doubt to the convicted person, and it is on that basis that I have decided to refer the 16 cases to the Court of Appeal for independent and authoritative determination.

Prison Security

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the implications of the Maze report for prison security in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Many of the recommendations in the report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on the escape from the Maze prison relate to the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland; but others are of general application and have implications for prisons in England and Wales. I am arranging for copies of the report to be sent to the governors of all our closed establishments and for instructions to be issued drawing their attention to the recommendations that require immediate action on their part. I am also arranging for our policy on prison security to be reviewed urgently in the light of the report's recommendations.

Prison, Community Service And Probation Costs

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the weekly cost of (a) keeping a man in prison, (b) placing a man on community service and (c) placing a man on probation in 1981–82.

During the financial year 1981–82 the average weekly cost of keeping a person in custody was £195. It is estimated that the weekly cost of a community service order and a probation order were both about £10. These estimates depend upon assumptions about the allocation of the time of probation officers and are approximate.

Odeon Cinema, Hammersmith (Disturbance)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis concerning incidents of public disorder which took place outside the Odeon cinema, Hammersmith, London early on Sunday 8 January; what was the ethnic breakdown of the persons involved; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the report.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that at about 1 am on 8 January a fight broke out inside the Hammersmith Odeon at a private party for 300 members of the staff and their families. Three police officers arrived quickly, and called for reinforcements; some 50 officers arrived and dealt with the disturbance. A number of the people concerned tried to continue fighting in the street. Nine police officers and three other people were injured. Three of the police officers were taken to hospital; none of the injuries was serious. Twenty-four people were arrested and charged with a range of offences including unlawful wounding, assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty, obstructing an officer, criminal damage, the use of threatening behaviour and being drunk and disorderly. All those arrested were white. The cases are sub judice.

Criminal Law Act 1977

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet made a decision on the implementation of section 48 of the Criminal Law Act 1977; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to announce my decision very shortly.

Instruments Of Restraint

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the United Kingdom has formally agreed to comply with rule No. 33 in the United Nations standard minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners concerning instruments of restraint.

Her Majesty's Government have adopted the standard minimum rules as a guide to good principle and practice. In particular, rule No. 33 is applied in the United Kingdom with the exceptions that (a) a prisoner who is thought to present a threat to security may be required to wear handcuffs during an appearance before a court or administrative body, with the permission of that court or administrative body, and (b) in Northern Ireland I understand that a governor's report on use of restraints is made not to the higher administrative body but to the independent board of visitors.

Youth Custody Sentences

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people are currently serving youth custody sentences imposed by West Yorkshire courts; and if he will make a statement.

The information available relates to the court first committing the offender to custody, which is not necessarily the same as the court imposing the sentence and is incomplete. About 270 youth custody trainees in prison department establishments in England and Wales on 30 November 1983 were known to have been first committed to custody by a court in west Yorkshire.

Child Maintenance Orders

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals for amending section 5 of the Affiliation Proceedings Act 1957 (as amended) so as to enable orders to be varied so that the maintenance payments made by the putative father for the child may be made direct to the child.

Provision has been included in the Matrimonial and Family Proceedings Bill to ensure that maintenance orders made in affiliation proceedings before 1 February 1981 may be varied so as to be payable direct to the child. Orders made on or after that date—when the legislation was amended — may already be made payable to the child.

Multiple Voting

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the inadequacy of current controls preventing multiple voting at general elections, he will consider, when drawing up proposals for postal votes for those away on holiday, the simultaneous restriction on the right of individuals to register for general election purposes at more than one location.

The Government do not accept that measures to prevent multiple registration for parliamentary elections are either necessary or feasible, but consider that voting more than once at a general election should remain an offence.

Young Offenders

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will increase the level of support for the probation service in its provision for 16-year-old offenders: and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. and learned Friend explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member on 19 January — [Vol. 52, c. 286]—the planned financial provision for the probation service in 1984–85 takes account of projected increases in work load, including work resulting from the introduction of community service for 16-year-old offenders. We expect that, by 1 March 1984, three quarters of the 56 area probation services will have made the necessary arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide figures giving the number of offenders aged between 10 and 16 years who were charged with indictable offences in each police force area in each of the past five years.

The available information is given in the following table. Information for 1983 is not yet available.

Persons aged 10 and under 17 proceeded against for indictable offences in magistrates courts by police force area
England and Wales	Number of persons
Police force area	1979	1980	1981	1982
Avon and Somerset	1,884	2,251	2,071	1,937
Bedfordshire	1,001	960	1,092	892
Cambridgeshire	931	1,139	1,102	1,017
Cheshire	1,763	2,015	1,792	1,769
Cleveland	1,680	1,881	1,868	1,915
Cumbria	960	969	812	893
Derbyshire	1,401	1,427	1,516	1,329
Devon and Cornwall	1,324	1,290	1,235	1,191
Dorset	519	635	811	840
Durham	1,248	1,505	1,660	1,572
Essex	1,735	1,672	1,535	1,554
Gloucestershire	727	769	739	770
Greater Manchester	7,912	8,605	8,183	7,953
Hampshire	1,941	2,148	2,073	1,913
Hertfordshire	1,218	1,391	1,244	1,308
Humberside	2,560	2,439	2,443	2,290
Kent	1,677	1,752	1,790	1,543
Lancashire	2,747	3,160	2,770	2,498
Leicestershire	1,215	1,392	1,488	1,418
Lincolnshire	749	894	773	796
London, City of	56	59	39	24
Merseyside	4,865	4,834	4,601	4,525
Metropolitan Police	11,858	14,344	13,638	12,580
Norfolk	774	791	819	697
Northamptonshire	1,176	1,293	1,187	834
Northumbria	3,163	3,306	3,251	3,311
North Yorkshire	1,011	1,121	962	936
Nottinghamshire	1,925	2,268	2,105	1,844
South Yorkshire	3,269	3,240	3,201	2,952
Staffordshire	1,487	1,743	1,694	1,715
Suffolk	647	930	895	707
Surrey	688	771	539	517
Sussex	1,623	1,821	1,649	1,555
Thames Valley	2,413	2,505	2,403	2,217
Warwickshire	582	699	653	776
West Mercia	1,164	1,348	1,164	1,250
West Midlands	4,888	5,714	6,070	5,861
West Yorkshire	5,163	1,687	5,547	5,867
Wiltshire	648	779	860	771
Dyfed-Powys	293	379	460	424
Gwent	1,269	1,566	1,426	1,293
North Wales	1,009	1,037	967	1,034
South Wales	3,305	3,553	3,579	3,081
England and Wales	88,468	98,082	94,706	90,169

Stop And Search

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which areas within England and Wales the police authority has additional stop and search powers under any local force Act.

Powers of stop and search are available to the police in England and Wales under the following provisions in local legislation:

Burnley Borough Improvement Act 1871, s. 342.
City of London Police Act 1839, s. 48.
County of Merseyside Act 1980, s. 33.
Hertfordshire County Council Act 1935, s. 130.
West Midlands County Council Act 1980, s. 40.

The powers are in addition to powers of stop and search conferred in public general legislation—including the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 — and in private legislation promoted by statutory undertakers.

Sentencing Policy

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the introduction of stiffer penalties for those persons convicted of crimes of violence against the old and the disabled.

We see no reason to do so. The maximum penalty for the most serious offences of violence, among them robbery — which includes most incidents of "mugging"—is life imprisonment. In passing sentence in a particular case the court will consider all the circumstances of the offence, and the vulnerability of the victim will be an important factor in its assessment.

Police (Injuries)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to collect centrally figures for the number of policemen injured in the course of their duty, starting with the figures for 1983; and if he will make a statement.

No. We are not convinced that the value of this information would be enough to justify the resources necessary to collect it.

Statistics And Information

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the matters on which his Department routinely collects statistics and information from chief constables and police authorities; and if he will make a statement.

The Department routinely collects information from police authorities or chief constables on the following matters:

Statistics of police officers and civilian manpower.
Authorised establishment and strength of police forces.
Statistics of complaints, discipline and commendations.
Statistics of offences recorded by the police.
Vaue of property stolen.
Statistics of offences cleared up by the police.
Statistics of those proceeded against and those cautioned.
Statistics of motor vehicles stolen and recovered.
Statistics of use of stop and search powers under Section 23(2) of Misuse Drugs Act 1971.
Statistics of police vehicles.
Statistics of road accidents.
Statistics of motoring offences.
Statistics of the use of technical aid (eg forensic laboratories).
Returns of breath tests administered.
Examination results of candidates in entrance tests.
Statistics of results of applications to the courts for removal of driving licence disqualification.
Numbers of various miscellaneous orders issued by courts.
Information on seizures of controlled drugs
Information on persons dealt with for offences involving drugs.
Operation of section 62 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
Fixed penalty notices for vehicle offences.
Written warnings for vehicle offences.
Offences recorded by the police in which a weapon covered by the Firearms Act 1968 was involved.
Offences initially recorded as homicide.
Death in police custody or otherwise with the police.
The operation of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976.
Statements of Expenditure on which claims for police grant are based.
Estimates for building work in police authorities.
Returns of foreign nationals required to register with the police under section 3(1) of the 1971 Immigration Act.

Mr Stokeley Carmichael

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he refused to admit Mr. Stokeley Carmichael to the United Kingdom on 22 January; and whether he will list (a) aspects of behaviour, (b) writings and (c) speeches of Mr. Carmichael which led him to conclude that he should not be admitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Kwame Ture was not admitted to the United Kingdom on 22 January.

On the ground that his exclusion was conducive to the public good. In reaching this decision my right hon. and learned Friend had regard to the views Mr. Carmichael had expressed during his last visit here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he was not prepared to allow Mr. Kwame Ture to remain in the United Kingdom pending representations from hon. Members.

My right hon. and learned Friend decided after careful consideration that Mr. Ture should not be admitted. In this case no useful purpose would have been served by delaying his departure to enable him to consider representations on a matter on which he had already taken a firm decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers Mr. Kwame Ture was held incommunicado at Heathrow airport on 22 January.

In the light of instructions given to immigration officers under paragraph 1(3) of schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. My right hon. and learned Friend is arranging for these instructions to be reviewed.

Prostitution

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of convictions at magistrates courts in the Greater London council area during each of the last three years for offences concerning prostitution; and if he will list the offences.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 December 1983, c. 346]: The available information, which may be incomplete, is given in the following table. Corresponding information for 1983 is not yet available.

Persons found guilty at magistrates courts in the Metropolitan police district of offences related to prostitution^* by type of offence
1980–1982	Number of persons
Offence	1980	1981	1982
Living on immoral earnings	30	41	50
Detention of female in brothel or other premises	—	—	—
Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution	—	—	—
Procuring, permitting or causing the prostitution of a female defective	—	—	—
Soliciting by a man	327	259	248
Brothel keeping	37	50	37
Allowing a child or young person to be in a brothel	—	—	—
Permitting licensed premises to be the habitual resort of reputed prostitutes	—	—	—
Permitting licensed premises to be used as a brothel	—	—	—

Offence	1980	1981	1982
Person keeping licensed premises suffering his premises to be the resort of common prostitutes or reputed thieves	1	2	—
Offences by prostitutes	1,499	1,962	3,111
Aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring offences by prostitutes	—	—	—
^* Similar offences in byelaws cannot be separately distinguished.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of people convicted of living on the immoral earnings of prostitution for each of the last three years at magistrates courts covering the Greater London council area; and how many people have been sent to prison following conviction.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 December 1983, c. 346]: The information available, which may be incomplete, is given in the following table. Corresponding information for 1983 is not yet available.

Persons found guilty and persons sentenced to immediate imprisonment at magistrates courts in the Metropolitan police district for offences of living on immoral earnings^—1980–82*
	Number of persons
Year	Found guilty	Immediate imprisonment
1980	30	1
1981	41	6
1982	50	†9
^* There were no proceedings for living on the immoral earnings of a male.
† Includes two partly suspended sentences of imprisonment.

Prison Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide details of the 25 longest serving prisoners in England and Wales, including their names, how long their original sentences were, how long he expects them still to serve, what were they found guilty of and where they are currently imprisoned.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 January 1984, c. 235]: The only information which can be made available from central records is as follows. On 30 November 1983 the 25 prisoners who had spent the longest time under sentence since their initial reception into a prison department establishment in England and Wales were all serving sentences of life imprisonment; four of the prisoners were sentenced to death which was commuted to life imprisonment. All of the 25 had served over 18 years in custody since their sentence. Seven of the 25 had been recalled following an earlier release on licence. Nineteen of the prisoners were sentenced for murder, five for manslaughter and one for wounding with intend to

Per cent.
	Belgium	Denmark	France	Germany	Ireland	Italy	Luxembourg	Netherlands	United Kingdom
Hotels—rooms	6	22	^*7, 18·6	14	23	^*10, 38	6	5	15
Hotels—meals	19	22	18·6	14	23	^*10, 38	6	5	15
Restaurants	17	22	18·6	14	23	10	6	5	15
International passenger transport
air	0	exempt	0	0	exempt	0	0	0	0
sea	0	exempt	0	0	exempt	0	0	0	0

murder. It is impossible to estimate how long any individual prisoner may be detained. They were held in the following establishments:

	Number of prisoners
Acklington	1
Bristol	6
Durham	1
Featherstone	2
Hull	1
Long Lartin	1
Leyhill	4
Nottingham	2
Parkhurst	1
Portsmouth	1
Preston	2
The Verne	1
Wakefield	1
Wormwood Scrubs	1

Arts

Works Of Art (Value Added Tax)

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts whether the sum of £1,798,800 fixed by the Minister for the Arts as the amount to be raised by a public collection in the United Kingdom in order to purchase the 14th century Sienese painting of the Crucifixion for which he has temporarily withheld an export licence is (a) exclusive of or (b) inclusive of value added tax chargeable on agent's commission if a sale to a United Kingdom collection is effected.

The price stipulated by my noble Friend the Minister for the Arts is exclusive of VAT. A United Kingdom public collection purchasing the painting would have to pay any VAT arising.

National Finance

Overseas Tourists (Taxation)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the value added tax or other forms of taxation on overseas tourists levied by the member states of the European Economic Community and by Spain.

The rates of value added tax applying to the main areas of tourist expenditure in EC member states appear in the following table. Neither Greece nor Spain has yet introduced a value added tax; comparable information on other forms of taxation levied on tourist goods and services in these countries is not to hand.

	Belgium	Denmark	France	Germany	Ireland	Italy	Luxembourg	Netherlands	United Kingdom
rail	†6	exempt	0	†7	exempt	0	0	†5	0
road	t6	exempt	†18.6	†7	exempt	0	0	†5	0
Public transport	6	exempt	7	‡7	exempt	‡exempt	6	5	0
Theatre	6	22	7	exempt	23	10	6	19	15
Clothes	19	22	18·6	14	0	║18, 38	12	19	15
Books and maps	6	22	7	7	0	¶2	6	5	0
Gold and gold-plated jewellery	25	22	33·33	●14	35	18	12	19	15
Antiques	17	■22	18·6	●14	35	¶⋆18, 20	12	5	15
^* Higher rate applies to luxury hotels.
† Only applies to the portion of travel within the national territory.
‡ For journeys within towns of less that 50 kms; otherwise 14 per cent. in Germany, 18 per cent. in Italy.
║ 38 per cent. rate applies to luxury clothes, for example, furs.
¶ Antique books are taxed at 10 per cent.
● "Works of art and collectors' pieces" are taxed at 7 per cent.
■ Sculptures, paintings, drawings and original lithographs are exempt.
⋆ 20 per cent. rate applies to "works of art" and objects over 100 years old.

Liverpool

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Liverpool.

I visited Merseyside on 20 January and met members of the board of the Merseyside Development Corporation. I was shown the site of the international garden festival, the new enterprise workshops sponsored by British American Tobacco and the restoration of the Albert Dock warehouse complex.After speaking to the Wirral Conservative Federation in Ellesmere port, I visited the north west 3 district tax office in Bootle and finally attended a dinner given by the Merseyside chamber of commerce and industry at which I was the guest speaker.

Mortgages

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average tax rebate on mortgage payments for each year from 1978 to 1983.

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

Income And Taxation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of national average earnings each year since 1970, both at current prices and at 1983–84 prices; and what was for each year in regard to the latter series, assuming the case of a married man with two children under 11 years, the tax and national insurance contributions paid and his income net of these deductions in each case.

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

Parliamentary Questions (Costs)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current cost to public funds of (a) an oral and (b) a written parliamentary question; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The costs of individual questions vary considerably, but the current average cost is estimated as £64 for oral answers and £39 for written answers.

Unitary Taxation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will raise with the United States Treasury representative at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development conference in Paris in January the issue of unitary taxation.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 January 1984]: This issue is on the agenda for the OECD fiscal affairs committee meeting on 25–26 January and I am sure it will be fully discussed at the OECD ministerial meeting on 13–14 February, which my right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary will attend.

Civil Servants (Pay)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of civil servants whose wages fall below the "decency threshold" set by the Council of Europe as a standard below which remuneration is considered unfair.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 January 1984]: The Council of Europe has not set a "decency threshold". There is an opinion by a committee of experts to the effect that the decent standard of living referred to in article 4.1 of the European social charter should be defined as being 68 per cent. of national full-time adult average earnings. This opinion has not been accepted by the Council of Europe. However, I refer the hon. Member to my replies to her earlier questions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of all civil servants were earning weekly wages of less than two thirds average male earnings in 1982.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1984, c. 375]: Civil Service pay rates are net of pension contributions and in addition earnings may be increased by overtime payments, bonuses and allowances. Having adjusted for these factors, it is estimated that in 1982 10 per cent. of civil servants (industrials and non-industrials) earned less than £93 which was two-thirds of median male gross earnings in that year. Many of these were young civil servants on age-related pay and if these are excluded the percentage falls to 6·5.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1984, c. 375]: This document's definition of low pay as two thirds of average male earnings is an arbitrary figure. Civil Service wage rates (not earnings) are then measured against this yardstick but such a comparison is misleading and the net effect is to inflate the number of civil servants classified as low paid. Realistic comparison must take account of the fact that average earnings can be expected to be higher than corresponding wage rates because of the effect of overtime, shift payment, London weighting, and so on; moreover, Civil Service wage rates are net of pension contributions.The 1982 Megaw inquiry into Civil Service pay concluded that low pay is not a matter which can properly be tackled in isolation within the Civil Service. Clearly the Government want increased prosperity for all. But the way to get this is to recognise the crucial links between wage levels, jobs and increased competitiveness. The real remedy for low pay is greater national prosperity founded on competitive industry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1984, c. 375]: In addition to basic pay, the average earnings of civil servants include overtime payments, shift premia, bonuses and allowances. Furthermore, Civil Service pay is net of pension contributions while outside earnings figures are generally inclusive of pension contributions. Having adjusted for these factors the estimated numbers of civil servants—industrial and non-industrial—earning less than two thirds of median male gross earnings in 1981, 1982 and 1983 are shown in c. 3 of the table. If young civil servants on age-related pay are excluded, the numbers fall substantially as c. 4 of the table demonstrates.

Year	Two thirds of median male earnings	Estimated number of civil servants earning less than figure in col. 2
	£	All staff	Excluding staff on age-related pay
col. 1	col. 2	col. 3	col. 4
1981	84	67,000	39,000
1982	93	68,000	42,000
1983	100	77,000	49,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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

[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1984, c. 375]: No. It is not practicable to determine the change in earnings of a particular cohort of civil servants whose pay will be affected by incremental progression and increases arising from promotion as well as changes in basic pay rates, overtime payments, bonuses and allowances.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Departmental Powers

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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, going back to the Board of Agriculture Act 1889, require or empower the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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.

Slaughterhouse Acts

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to him since his appointment concerning exemptions on the grounds of religion to the Slaughterhouse Acts; and whether he is considering any proposals to make changes in the law relating to those exemptions.

We have received 37 representations expressing various views on these exemptions. The Farm Animal Welfare Council is at present considering the welfare of animals in slaughterhouses, including religious slaughter aspects, and the Government will of course give most careful consideration to any recommendations they may make. Any action before their report is received would be premature.

Dogs (Export)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dogs have been exported to Singapore within the last 12 months.

Export certificates were issued in 1983 in respect of 184 dogs for export from Great Britain to Singapore.

Male Manual Workers

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of male manual workers in the agriculture industry earn less than £100 per week.

In the year ended 30 September 1983, 37·5 per cent. of regular whole-time adult male agricultural workers in England and Wales earned less than £100 per week.

Cereals

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of world supply and demand for cereals.

The latest estimates for 1983–84 published by the United States Department of Agriculture—generally accepted as the most authoritative estimate—show world supplies of 1,410 million tonnes of all cereals and consumption of 1,240 million tonnes.

Prime Minister

Engagements

Q1.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q4.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q36.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q37.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 26 January.

Q38.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

Q39.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 26 January.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 26 January.

This morning I presided at a. meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. Shortly after questions, I shall be departing for Rome for talks with the Italian Prime Minister.

Stirling

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make an official visit to Stirling in the Banff and Buchan district council area.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Hertfordshire

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will pay an official visit to Hertfordshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Crawley

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Crawley.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Parliamentary Commissioner For Administration

asked the Prime Minister if she will ensure that financial resources are made available for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration to undertake fully the duties with which he has been charged.

Yes. Details will be shown in Class XIII Vote 20 of the 1984–85 Supply Estimates.

Government Accountancy Service

asked the Prime Minister when the appointment of the head of the Government Accountancy Service will be made; and what are the reasons for the delay in filling this position.

I regret the delay in filling this post; but I regard it as important that we should make the best possible appointment. Extensive consultations have taken place with the accountancy profession about suitable candidates, and a number of candidates are being interviewed. An appointment will be made and announced once a suitable candidate has been chosen.

Hong Kong

asked the Prime Minister if she will indicate whom from Hong Kong, other than the Governor, representatives of the Government, and members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, she personally has met and discussed future constitutional arrangements in the territory.

When I visited Hong Kong in September 1982 I was able to meet representatives of a broad range of public opinion and to discuss with them

	Estimated outturn			Plan
	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Education programme:
Total cash expenditure (£ million)^*	12,327	13,404	14,289	14,158
Amount per family (£)†	850	924	985	976
Total expenditure in cost terms‡ base year 1982–83 (£ million)	14,444	14,294	14,289	13,484

many aspects of Hong Kong's future development. Since then I have kept in touch with the views of people in Hong Kong through a variety of official and unofficial channels. I particularly value my regular discussions with the Governor and the unofficial members of the Executive Council, who are well placed to reflect the opinions of Hong Kong people.

Overseas Visits

asked the Prime Minister how many trips abroad she has made since May 1979; and what was the cost.

Since May 1979 I have made 44 official trips abroad at a cost, which includes my own direct support staff, of £1,526,000.

Oman University (Contract)

asked the Prime Minister if she will estimate the number of jobs in the United Kingdom which have been or will be created or maintained by the award of the Oman university contract to Cementation Ltd.

Contracts for major projects such as this provide significant employment in the United Kingdom, not simply or even principally in the lead contracting company, but also in the many companies running into hundreds which supply goods and services either directly or indirectly for the project. Precise estimates tend to be unreliable because of the variations in the circumstances of the particular companies concerned.

International Rugby Matches

asked the Prime Minister if it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government that Ministers will not attend in their official capacity any forthcoming rugby internationals as an expression of displeasure at the intention of the Rugby Football Union to tour South Africa; and if she will make a statement.

No. The Rugby Football Union has yet to decide whether to tour South Africa later this year. The Government have, however, advised against such a tour, in line with our commitment to the Commonwealth statement on apartheid in sport.

Education And Health (Expenditure)

asked the Prime Minister what has been the amount spent on (a) education and (b) the National Health Service in each year since 1980, expressed as a figure per family and at constant prices.

The information is shown in the following table:

		Estimated outturn		Plan
	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Health programme:
Total cash expenditure (£ million)^*	11,113	12,507	13,550	14,326
Amount per family (£)†	766	862	934	987
Total expenditure in cost terms‡ base year 1982–83 (£ million)	13,022	13,337	13,550	13,644
^* Source: Cmnd. 8789 II—Table 4.1: the data relate to Great Britain.
† Estimate of number of families relates to 1981: derived from 1981 census.
‡ Cash figures adjusted for general inflation as measured by the GDP deflator at market prices.

An estimated outturn for 1983–84 cash expenditure and the latest figures for earlier years will be shown in the forthcoming public expenditure White Paper.

Northern Ireland

Ultra-Heat Treated Milk

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the volume of imports into Northern Ireland of ultra-heat treated milk from the Republic of Ireland since the introduction of new regulations.

Nil.

Police (Rules)

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the police in Northern Ireland act under the Army yellow card rules.

No. The Royal Ulster Constabulary's instructions on the use of firearms are contained in its own force orders. These detailed and comprehensive orders include a statement of the legal provisions.

Fishing Industry

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what benefits accrue to the fishery industry of Northern Ireland in consequence of the Manx authorities being the agents of Her Majesty's Fishery Ministers in the waters between three and 12 miles from the coast of the island, or would accrue in consequence of the Manx authorities being permitted to increase that control in their own right.

The involvement of the Isle of Man Board of Agriculture and Fisheries in relation to the herring fishery in these waters helps to provide for more rapid adjustment of catching to market needs by varying the level at which weekly or fortnightly vessel allocations are set within the United Kingdom quota. This is of benefit to Northern Ireland fishermen whose involvement in the fishery is the largest. I am not aware of any additional benefits which accrue to the Northern Ireland industry in the circumstances described in the second part of the question.

Hospital Consultants

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for increasing the number of consultant positions in hospital services in Northern Ireland.

I accept that there is a need for an overall increase in consultant numbers.

However, the rate at which these can be increased is dependent upon a number of factors, not least the availability of finance.

Security

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Province.

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the current security position in the Province.

I refer the hon. Gentleman and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Proctor) and the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) earlier today.

Prisoners (Alcoholism)

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern ireland whether he has any plans to commission research for publication into alcoholism among prisoners in Northern Ireland.

No.

Maze Prison

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with security at Her Majesty's prison, Maze.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux) earlier today.

Integration

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there are circumstances under which he would take action to integrate Northern Ireland more fully into the United Kingdom.

Northern Ireland is already a constituent part of the United Kingdom. The principles underlying the Government's policy for political development in the Province are set out in the White Paper published in April 1982 — "Northern Ireland — A Framework for Devolution"—Cmnd. 8541.

Terrorists (Death Penalty)

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce legislation to apply in Northern Ireland to provide for convicted terrorists to be treated as traitors and liable for the imposition of the death penalty.

I have no plans to introduce such legislation.

Container Lorries (Searches)

26.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many container lorries have crossed from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland (a) between 1 January and 30 June and (b) since 1 July; and how many have been searched, on entry, by specialised search teams.

Information is not kept in the form requested. However, the security forces are fully aware of the possible use of container lorries for illegal purposes: they have the equipment and the expertise to carry out detailed searches of them and will do so whenever it is considered necessary.

Labour Statistics

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland; and how many jobs were created in the six counties in 1983.

On 8 December 1983 the rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland was 21·2 per cent. The number of jobs created in Northern Ireland in 1983 is not available. Provisional figures indicate that jobs promoted by the Industrial Development Board and the local enterprise development unit during the year totalled 5,982.

Director Of Public Prosecutions

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland; and what subjects were discussed.

I have had no official meetings with the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, who acts under the superintendence of my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General.

Assembly

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Murphy).

Bangor Hospital

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in view of the rising population of the area, he will now upgrade the Bangor hospital.

A comprehensive review of acute hospital services in the Eastern Board area as a whole has been undertaken by a review team appointed jointly by the Department of Health and Social Services and the board. A decision on the future role of Bangor hospital will be taken in the light of the review team's report which I expect to receive in the very near future.

Industrial Development Board (Advertising And Public Relations)

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which firms have been engaged by the Industrial Development Board to handle its advertising and public relations in Europe and North America; and what is the annual budget of the Industrial Development Board for advertising and public relations.

IDB publicity worldwide is co-ordinated by Euro Center Communications Ltd., London, whose New York office handles the board's advertising and public relations activities in the United States of America and Canada.Advertising in the United Kingdom and Europe is handled by Anderson Advertising Ltd., Belfast, and the firm of David McDonough and Associates Ltd., London, is responsible for public relations in Great Britain.No company has yet been appointed to handle public relations in Europe.Estimated expenditure during the year ending 31 March 1984 is advertising £1,430,000 and public relations £225,000, which is part of a total estimated budget for all industrial development promotion and publicity of £2,663,000.

Gaelic Athletic Association

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, when applications for grant are made by Gaelic Athletic Association clubs, he will invite them to open their membership to all suitable persons, including members of the security forces; and if he will report their response to the House.

Such an approach has already been made on a number of occasions by the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, with no success.

Prisoners (Compassionate Parole)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners were refused compassionate parole on the death of members of their families in 1983; what were the reasons in each case; and if he will make a statement.

During 1983, six prisoners who met the criteria for consideration for compassionate home leave on the death of members of their immediate families had their applications refused.Each application is considered on its merits. I am not prepared to give reasons for refusal in particular cases, but considerations of security, and the risk that prisoners may abscond if granted leave, are among the factors taken into account.

Cot Deaths

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cot deaths there were in Northern Ireland in the last full year; and if he will break down the numbers to indicate deaths for each month of age.

The numbers of deaths of children in 1982 in each monthly age band up to one year, where the term "cot death" or "sudden unexpected death in infancy" or other synonym was mentioned on the death certificate, were as follows:

Age in Months	Number
Under 1	2
1–2	13
2–3	23
3–4	13
4–5	6
5–6	2
6–7	6
7–8	2
8–9	1
9–10	1
10–11	1
11–12	1
Total	71

Kidney Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will give estimated dates when each of the regions and districts in Northern Ireland will achieve a target of treating 45 to 50 per million of the population suffering from kidney diseases; if he will indicate the progressions to be expected for 1984, 1985, 1986; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will indicate the average length of waiting time for treatment for kidney patients in Northern Ireland; if he will give his best estimates of patients who die whilst on the waiting lists; if he will give the age distribution of such deaths; and if he will make a statement.

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

International Rugby Matches

asked the Secretay of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to attend in his official capacity any of the international Rugby Football Union matches in Dublin this season.

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

Hospitals

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many private hospitals and clinics are registered in Northern Ireland at the latest available date;(2) whether he has any information as to the number of staff employed in private hospitals and clinics in Northern Ireland at the latest available date.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 January 1984, c. 520]: At 31 December 1983 there were 12 premises registered under the Nursing Homes and Nursing Agencies Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, three of which are registered as carrying out surgical procedures. From the reports on inspections made by health and social services boards during 1983 it is estimated that the total number of staff employed in these premises is 259 of who 113 are employed in those registered as carrying out surgical procedures.

Plastic Bullets

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many plastic bullets have been fired in Northern Ireland during 1983 by month; in what circumstances and at what locations the bullets were fired; and whether any persons were injured as a result of the use of plastic bullets.

[pursuant to Ins reply, 18 January 1984, c. 265]: In 1983, 661 plastic baton rounds were fired by the security forces in Northern Ireland. The following table shows the months in which they were fired.

Month	Baton Rounds Fired by Army	Baton Rounds Fired by RUC	Total
January	3	1	4
February	0	0	0
March	0	1	1
April	0	37	37
May	0	107	107
June	0	0	0
July	16	116	132
August	85	277	362
September	2	0	2
October	2	5	7
November	8	1	9
December	0	0	0
	116	545	661

During 1983, eight people received some form of hospital treatment for injuries thought to have been caused by plastic baton rounds.I am writing to the hon. Member with the information he has requested about the circumstances and locations in which these 661 baton rounds were fired. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Social Services

Oglesby Report

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made on considering the recommendations of the Oglesby report on the review of attendance allowance and mobility allowance procedures, and of medical adjudication; and if he will make a statement.

We have already acted on two recommendations to speed up action on claims to these benefits under existing administrative arrangements. This has contributed to a reduction in clearance times for claims to attendance allowance and mobility allowance. I am grateful to the Department's officials at North Fylde central office and the social security regions for their efforts in achieving this improvement.The report's main recommendations were for a recasting of the administrative and adjudication arrangements, including devolution of work to regional offices, greater use of the claimant's own general practitioner in mobility allowance cases, and a new role for the Attendance Allowance Board.There were also two incidental recommendations for limited changes in benefit rules. One was to cease paying mobility allowance once the claimant had accumulated £1,000 in his hospital account, in cases where the hospital management team certified that the benefit had not been used, and was unlikely to be capable of being used, for the patients' benefit; this would replace the existing legal provision for withdrawing benefit where the recipient is incapable of benefiting from the allowance.

The second proposal is that someone on the lower rate of attendance allowance whose condition deteriorates, thus making him eligible for the higher rate, should have the benefit backdated to the date of his application for a review only, instead of as at present, to the point when his condition deteriorated. This would bring it into line with the rules for an unsuccessful claimant who re-claims when his condition deteriorates and cannot have his benefit backdated before the date of the claim.

We felt that it would not be appropriate for Ministers to consider these longer-term proposals without affording opportunity for open public consultation. As I announced in answer to my hon. Friend on 17 November — [Vol. 48, c. 572] — we therefore placed the report in the Library of the House and sent copies to representative organisations with an invitation to comment by 14 December 1983.

A number of other organisations and individuals subsequently asked for copies, which were supplied and as I stated in answer to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 19 December — [Vol. 51, c. 68] — we extended the deadline for comment to 15 January 1984. Following more recent interest, I am glad to extend it further to the end of February 1984.

No decisions will be taken until all such comments have been fully considered; and any decision on the rules concerning mobility allowance will be related to our general aim of encouraging the flexible use of patients' money to enhance the quality of life of the patients concerned, on which we expect shortly to issue for consultation revised draft guidance to health authorities.

Attorney-General

Departmental Powers

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the powers he or the Lord Chancellor exercise, and functions they can carry out, without any specific parliamentary approval.

A large number of provisions in a wide range of statutes require or empower the Lord Chancellor to take certain action or decisions without any specific parliamentary approval other than the authority conferred by the relevant Acts. Other powers and functions are inherent in his office as a Minister of the Crown. In addition, in view of the great antiquity of his office, he has a number of powers vested in him under the common law, by common usage, or by royal charter. Examples are his powers of appointment to certain judicial offices, his powers in exercise of visitatorial powers on behalf of the Crown and his ecclesiastical patronage. The Lord Chancellor is also the senior member of the judiciary, and not infrequently sits to hear cases in the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, and in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.As regards my own powers and functions, the greater part of these, which are vested in me either as Her Majesty's legal representative or otherwise by virtue of my office as Attorney-General, are non-statutory and derive their authority from the common law, including the royal prerogative: these obviously do not require specific parliamentary approval. That also applies to certain other of my functions which are inherent in the office of Minister of the Crown: for example, the day-to-day management of my Department. In addition, there are a large number of provisions in a wide range of statutes which empower me to take certain action or decisions without the specific approval of Parliament.

Employment

Employment Medical Advisory Service

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses were employed by the Employment Medical Advisory Service in 1979 and at the nearest available date in 1983.

The numbers of permanent staff were as follows:

	Employment Medical Advisory Service December 1979	Medical Division December 1983
Doctors	85	72
Nurses	83	59

The Employment Medical Advisory Service was renamed the Medical Division in June 1983.

Wages Inspectorate (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will enlarge the Wages Inspectorate staff in Scotland to the level of September 1979 of 15 outdoor inspectors and 13½ other staff.

The Wages Inspectorate in Scotland currently has 13 outdoor inspector posts and 13 other posts. This is considered to be adequate.

Labour Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Workington travel-to-work area have been unemployed for (a) up to six months, (b) six months to 12 months, (c) 12 months to 18 months, (d) 18 months to two years and (e) over two years during the last month for which statistics are available.

There are no later figures available than those for October 1983 which I gave to the hon. Member in my reply to him on 17 November 1983.— [Vol. 48, c. 549.]

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

The following is the information for unemployed claimants in Cumbria on 13 October 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available.

Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	10	22	30	18	79	48	42	35	26	24	24	22	21	0	401
Over 1 and up to 2	12	14	26	26	86	45	27	35	35	18	19	36	29	0	408
Over 2 and up to 4	21	62	55	41	170	76	65	66	56	29	25	29	21	0	716
Over 4 and up to 6	358	99	138	34	146	54	61	55	27	30	34	53	32	1	1,122
Over 6 and up to 8	5	85	52	20	127	62	50	57	27	40	38	64	24	0	651
Over 8 and up to 13	5	125	71	50	192	99	103	73	53	40	54	48	57	0	970
Over 13 and up to 26	21	210	153	97	357	208	156	146	101	93	92	125	111	0	1,870
Over 26 and up to 39	31	113	125	49	228	135	106	88	72	72	65	120	105	0	1,309
Over 39 and up to 52	1	32	81	57	195	117	111	111	74	73	63	98	67	1	1,081
Over 52 and up to 65	0	37	65	67	161	133	90	61	61	57	47	128	42	0	949
Over 65 and up to 78	0	9	37	67	133	84	66	65	45	35	41	104	26	0	712
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	29	74	165	133	115	97	69	75	73	124	23	0	977
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	16	49	264	165	139	132	100	92	142	232	25	0	1,356
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	5	164	127	126	86	82	78	80	89	10	0	847
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	41	41	30	30	35	34	40	28	6	0	255
Over 260	0	0	0	0	7	11	19	20	21	32	77	115	12	0	314
Total Males	464	808	878	654	2,515	1,538	1,306	1,157	884	822	914	1,415	611	2	13,968

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	19	23	28	14	57	25	16	18	9	11	4	5	0	229
Over 1 and up to 2	26	27	29	20	86	57	23	20	13	14	10	11	0	336
Over 2 and up to 4	32	66	61	43	111	59	33	20	13	18	12	14	0	482
Over 4 and up to 6	208	159	198	45	112	68	37	24	18	17	17	11	0	914
Over 6 and up to 8	2	65	43	26	92	55	21	26	12	11	21	6	1	381
Over 8 and up to 13	1	93	65	48	178	116	56	44	39	44	29	16	0	729
Over 13 and up to 26	7	95	101	77	360	223	107	67	51	59	34	53	0	1,234
Over 26 and up to 39	14	71	70	59	214	167	95	64	48	40	39	46	0	927
Over 39 and up to 52	0	29	64	52	185	133	57	47	33	23	34	35	1	693
Over 52 and up to 65	0	39	57	73	111	91	41	25	24	29	34	31	0	555
Over 65 and up to 78	0	4	33	47	76	47	27	20	18	24	35	21	1	353
Over 78 and up to 104	0	2	14	39	90	53	23	20	28	32	30	36	0	367
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	16	32	119	44	30	19	17	31	49	68	1	426
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	7	77	20	7	11	8	19	41	33	0	223
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	15	6	5	5	4	9	13	19	0	76
Over 260	0	0	0	0	10	6	6	3	4	6	29	48	0	112
Total Females	309	673	779	582	1,893	1,170	584	433	339	387	431	453	4	8,037

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged 16 to 18 years were unemployed in the Workington travel-to-work area during the last month for which statistics are available.

There are no later figures available than those for October 1983 which I gave in my reply to the hon. Member on 17 November 1983.—[Vol. 48, c. 548–49.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what proportion of (a) unemployed males and (b) unemployed females in the Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Whitehaven, Carlisle, Keswick and

Travel-to-work area	Unemployed for over 52 and up to 104 weeks Per cent.		Unemployed for over 104 and up to 156 weeks Per cent.		Unemployed for over 156 weeks Per cent.
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
Furness^*	15·6	16·2	6·4	5·3	10·3	4·9
Kendall^*	18·0	15·5	6·1	3·5	4·5	3·2
Whitehaven^*	19·7	14·2	9·4	5·9	11·7	4·8
Carlisle	17·9	13·9	9·1	3·4	13·1	5·1
Keswick	14·8	12·6	5·4	4·6	4·7	3·4
Penrith	15·8	12·6	8·6	3·4	6·8	3·4
Workington^*	22·7	19·9	14·4	7·8	9·3	6·6
^* Travel-to-work area comprising two or more jobcentre areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of persons

Penrith travel-to-work areas had been out of work for (i) one year, (ii) two years and (iii) three years at the latest available date;

(2) what proportion of (a) unemployed males and (b) unemployed females in the Workington travel-to-work area had been out of work for (i) one year, (ii) two years and (iii) three years at the latest available date.

The following is the information for unemployed claimants on 13 October 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available.

unemployed, percentage rate of unemployment, and the total number of vacancies for (a) the Workington travel-to-work area and (b) Cumbria at the latest date for which figures are available.

On 8 December 1983 the total number of unemployed claimants in the Workington travel-to-work area ws 5,267 and the unemployment rate was 17·0 per cent. The corresponding figures for Cumbria were 22,096 and 11·4 per cent. On 2 December the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at jobcentres and careers offices in the Workington travel-to-work area were 105 and one, respectively. The corresponding figures for Cumbria were 1,000 at jobcentres and 52 at careers offices. Vacancies notified to jobcentres are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for jobcentres and careers offices should not be added together. The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the 12-month period to December 1983 the number of people placed in jobs by jobcentres in Cumbria was 15,552. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings in the country as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those registered as unemployed at jobcentres in the Islington area in December 1983 have registered their occupation or trade as (a) doctor, (b) nurse and (c) other health worker.

Statistics are no longer compiled about the occupations of registrants at jobcentres. Only a minority of the unemployed now register voluntarily at jobcentres and any analysis of their occupations would be a misleading reflection of the unemployed as a whole. Occupational information on claimants at unemployment benefit offices, which now forms the basis of the unemployment figures, is not collected.

Allerdale District Council

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many additional places were sponsored by Allerdale district council under the youth training scheme, and the community programme, separately, for the last month for which statistics are available; and what is the total number of places now being supported by that authority under each scheme.

Allerdale district council continues to support 20 places under the youth training scheme; no new places under their sponsorship have been approved recently. Thirteen new places have been sponsored by Allerdale district council in January under the community programme; 395 places in all are now supported by the council under that programme.

Community Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the monthly increase and the total number of persons employed by community industry in West Cumbria during the last month for which statistics are available.

In December 1983, 98 young people were employed by the community industry unit in West Cumbria, a decrease of one compared with the previous month; 18 adult staff are employed at the unit.

Wages

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of all women manual workers earn less than £100 per week.

The most recent information relates to full-time manual women working a full week in April 1983 and is published in table 124 of part E of the report on the 1983 new earnings survey, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of female workers in the (a) hairdressing, (b) textile and (c) footwear, clothing and leather industries earn less than £100 per week.

The most recent information relates to full-time female manual and non-manual employees aged 18 and over working a full week in April 1983 and is published in tables 68 and 69 of part C of the report in the new earnings survey, a copy of which is in this Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the adult average wage was earned by (a) males and (b) females under 18 years of age in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively.

The percentages in each April between 1979 and 1982 inclusive, relating to the average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees, have been published in Employment Gazette—June 1983, page 234 —a copy of which is in the Library. The corresponding percentages for April 1983—full-time males under 18 as a percentage of those aged 21 and over, and full-time females aged under 18 as a percentage of those aged 21 and over—were 36·4 and 51·2 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average percentage pay rise for males under 18 years of age between April 1982 and April 1983; and what was the average increase for adult males.

Percentage increases in average weekly earnings between April 1982 and April 1983 for full-time male employees under 18 years of age, and aged 21 years and over, are shown in table 10 of part A of the report on the new earnings survey 1983, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of (a) male manual workers and (b) female workers in the hotel and catering industry earn less than £100 per week.

the most recent information relates to full-time manual employees working a full week in April 1983 and is published in tables 66 (males) and 68 (females) of part C of the report on the 1983 new earnings survey, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of male manual workers in non-manufacturing industries earn less than £100 per week.

The most recent information relates to full-time adult employees working a full week in April 1983 and is published in table 66 of part E of the report on the 1983 new earnings survey, a copy of which is in the Library.

Low Pay (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in the light of the Low Pay Unit's report on low pay in Scotland which shows an increase in the number of employers illegally underpaying workers covered by minimum wage laws, he will encourage the Wages Inspectorate to make more positive use of its powers of prosecution against employers found guilty of such illegal actions.

The general level of compliance is not as poor as the Low Pay Unit report implies. In fact, only 6·7 per cent. of the workers in Scotland whose pay was checked by the inspectorate in 1982 were found to have been underpaid. This does not suggest that there is a need for the inspectorate to change the prosecution policy which it has followed for many years and which has been endorsed by successive Governments.

Ec (Iron And Steel Redundancies)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he can provide information on the number of redundancies in iron and steel manufacture between January 1979 and November 1983 within each member state of the European Economic Community.

Information for the whole of the period requested is not available. Between January 1980 and May 1983 the number of redundancies and dismissals in the iron and steel industries of each of the member states of the European Coal and Steel Community has been as follows:

	Thousands
Germany	11·6
France	1·7
Italy	1·0
Netherlands	0·8
Belgium	1·7
Luxembourg	0·1
United Kingdom	65·9
Ireland	0·3
Denmark	0·8

Source:

"Employment and Unemployment: Social Aspects of Employment in the Iron and Steel Industry" (Eurostat Bulletin).

Unemployment (European Community Document)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the attitude of the United Kingdom Government to the Commission of the European Communities document "Community Action to Combat Unemployment: The Contribution of Local Employment Initiatives" COM(83) 662 final; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the explanatory memorandum dated 17 January 1984 on this document. A copy is available in the Library.

Stoke-On-Trent

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job vacancies were advertised in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area in the latest month for which figures are available; and how this compares with the same month in the previous year.

On 2 December 1983 the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at jobcentres and careers offices in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area were 696 and 16, respectively. The corresponding numbers on 3 December 1982 were 465 at jobcentres and nine at careers offices.Vacancies notified to jobcentres are estimated to be about one third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication the figures for jobcentres and careers offices should not be added together. The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the 12-month period to December 1983 the number of people placed in jobs by jobcentres in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work areas was 11,093. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings in the country as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons (a) male and (b) female were placed in employment by the jobcentres in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area in the latest month for which statistics are available.

The numbers of people placed in employment by jobcentres in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area during the five week period ending 6 January 1984 (the latest for which statistics are available) are as follows:

Jobcentre	Placings
Biddulph	40
Burslem	89
Cheadle	24
Hanley	122
Kidsgrove	70
Longton	109
Newcastle-under-Lyme	181
Stoke-on-Trent	60

Separate figures for males and females are not available. There is likely to have been a substantial number of people who found jobs in these areas other than through the jobcentres. Nationally it is estimated that about a quarter of all engagements are made through jobcentres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area were being supported by the temporary short-time working scheme during the last month for which statistics are available.

There were no potentially redundant jobs being supported under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in November 1983 in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of (a) unemployed males and (b) unemployed females in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area have been out of work for (a) up to six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) 12 to 18 months, (d) 18 months to two years and (e) over two years at the latest available date.

The following is the information for unemployed claimants in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area on 13 October 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available.

Duration in weeks	Male	Female
	Per cent.	Per cent.
Up to 26 weeks	37·1	49·0
Over 26 and up to 52 weeks	16·9	21·3
Over 52 and up to 78 weeks	11·7	10·3
Over 78 and up to 104 weeks	8·6	5·9
Over 104 weeks	25·8	13·5

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons aged 16 to 18 years were unemployed in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area during the last month for which statistics are available; and if he will categorise them by sex.

Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	11	19	20	11	79	49	35	31	17	24	16	24	9	0	345
Over 1 and up to 2	23	37	32	19	104	61	36	36	20	18	17	24	27	0	454
Over 2 and up to 4	22	69	45	31	173	88	69	51	39	37	40	35	27	0	726
Over 4 and up to 6	156	164	170	63	134	76	55	44	41	28	26	39	36	0	1,032
Over 6 and up to 8	5	61	52	25	83	56	46	46	23	27	19	48	25	0	518
Over 8 and up to 13	13	92	86	68	207	146	91	85	73	58	55	67	58	0	1,099
Over 13 and up to 26	15	137	184	127	432	230	206	148	103	105	91	188	190	0	2,156
Over 26 and up to 39	19	97	109	73	211	188	143	134	85	73	95	190	137	0	1,554
Over 39 and up to 52	1	50	87	60	238	160	137	110	84	62	83	120	132	0	1,313
Over 52 and up to 65	0	57	68	98	210	130	97	77	61	60	68	92	76	0	1,094
Over 65 and up to 78	0	11	60	58	195	114	91	78	54	40	61	103	35	0	900
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	62	97	274	209	167	131	116	105	107	163	31	0	1,462
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	48	97	445	315	262	206	173	146	172	291	48	0	2,203
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	27	332	244	195	148	127	120	100	157	26	0	1,476
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	45	44	44	30	38	42	53	59	14	0	369
Over 260	0	0	0	0	10	12	17	19	31	47	56	119	38	0	349
Total Males	265	794	1,023	854	3,172	2,122	1,693	1,374	1,085	992	1,059	1,719	909	0	17,061

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	65 and over	Total
One or less	24	18	28	18	54	33	13	7	5	11	16	3	0	230
Over 1 and up to 2	8	23	25	20	67	51	38	24	12	14	6	8	0	296
Over 2 and up to 4	33	53	52	25	108	59	34	19	14	17	18	11	0	443
Over 4 and up to 6	123	94	247	51	85	58	30	23	16	15	23	26	0	791
Over 6 and up to 8	3	23	29	24	70	47	14	17	9	10	30	18	0	294
Over 8 and up to 13	2	60	47	35	165	114	58	43	27	30	34	28	0	643
Over 13 and up to 26	8	68	107	106	370	206	101	89	62	80	75	61	0	1,333
Over 26 and up to 39	15	74	115	56	235	163	99	86	54	61	56	54	0	1,068
Over 39 and up to 52	0	35	56	50	152	126	53	48	34	40	40	50	0	684
Over 52 and up to 65	0	42	51	67	101	65	26	24	19	22	35	54	1	507
Over 65 and up to 78	0	11	41	33	57	39	27	19	17	19	37	38	1	339
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	37	49	84	62	37	34	23	37	53	70	1	487
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	20	56	146	47	32	32	38	50	86	125	1	633
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	21	74	27	22	10	19	29	43	63	1	309
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	21	6	7	3	7	4	12	26	1	87
Over 260	0	0	0	0	7	4	5	8	1	5	17	35	0	82
Total Females	216	501	855	611	1,796	1,107	596	486	357	444	581	670	6	8,226

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many youth training scheme places were indentified and supported in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area during each month since September to date;(2) what is the total number of young people who have become unemployed and who have registered at unemployment benefit offices in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area in the latest month for which statistics are available.

On 13 October 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by age is available, the number of unemployed claimants aged 18 years and under in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area was 3,654 — 2,082 males and 1,572 females.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the unemployment figures for the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area, categorised by sex, age and the duration of unemployment, for the last month for which statistics are available.

The following is the information for unemployed claimants in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area on 13 October 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many community programme places were being supported in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area during each of the last 12 months for which statistics are available; and how many of these places were part-time and full-time, respectively.

The community programme places being supported in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area during the period January to December 1983 were as follows:

Month	Part-time	Full-time
January	23	114
February	33	138
March	37	134
April	135	117
May	195	165
June	250	218
July	265	215
August	326	237
September	411	295
October	498	367
November	525	369
December	549	366

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area have been unemployed for (a) up to six months, (b) six to 12 months, (c) 12 to 18 months, (d) 18 months to two years and (e) over two years during the last month for which statistics are available.

The following is the information for unemployed claimants in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area on 13 October 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by duration of unemployment is available.

Duration in weeks	Number
Up to 26 weeks	10,360
Over 26 and up to 52 weeks	4,630
Over 52 and up to 78 weeks	2,840
Over 78 and up to 104 weeks	1,949
Over 104 weeks	5,508

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancy notifications were given during the last month for which statistics are available in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area.

Nine redundancies were confirmed as due to occur in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area during the month of December 1983, the latest month for which statistics are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of people under the age of 18 years who are registered as claimants at unemployment benefits offices at the latest date for which statistics are available in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area.

On 13 October 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by age is available, the number of unemployed claimants aged under 18 years in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area was 1,776.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many 1983 school leavers are (a) on youth training schemes (b) have found paid full-time employment and (c) are unemployed; and what percentage of all 1983 school leavers these figures represent.

At the end of December 1983 the number of young people on youth training schemes in Great Britain was 256,533. On 8 December 1983 the number of unemployed school leavers under 18 years of age claiming benefit in Great Britain was 114,252. The statistics on those claiming benefit do not separately distinguish how many of these were 1983 school leavers. The remainder of the information requested is not available.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many and what percentage of employees in each department, section shifts, job category and other unit within his Department are male married, male unmarried, female married and female unmarried, respectively;(2) whether he will provide a formal analysis by sex, grade and payment within each unit in his Department.

It would not be practicable to provide such detailed information concerning the staff of over 57,000 in the Department of Employment group who are employed in over 300 grades in some 2,000 offices in all parts of Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether his current records show whether members of one sex (a) do not apply for promotion in his Department or that fewer apply than might be expected (b) are recruited, promoted or appointed in a significantly lower proportion than their rate of application or (c) are concentrated in certain jobs, sections or departments;(2) when he last carried out an analysis of information required for sex monitoring; and when he proposed that the same will be updated.

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

Redundancy Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of people made redundant in each of the last five calendar years were women.

The information requested is not available as statistics of redundancies occurring do not distinguish between male and female employees.

Ministers (Overseas Visits)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trips abroad have been made by Ministers in his Department since May 1979; and what was the cost.

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

Lost Working Days

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of working days lost through strike action, year by year, from 1970 to 1983.

The information requested is to be found in the following two issues of Employment Gazette:

Years	Issue	Reference
1970–1973	September 1980	Table 133
1974–1983^*	January 1984	Table 4.2 of the Labour Market Data section
^* Data for 1983 are provisional.

British Aerospace, Manchester

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department's local office is taking following the redundancies announced by the Manchester division of British Aerospace plc.

The Manpower Services Commission will do all it can to help those workers made redundant find new jobs, and all its advisory, placement, and retraining services will be at their disposal. Local jobcentre officials have already contacted the company to offer assistance.

Working Establishments (Temperatures)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the minimum and maximum prescribed temperatures in working establishments in Scotland; if any or all are allowed a period of time following the beginning of the working day to attain maximum temperatures; and if he will list the establishments affected.

The temperature requirements for working establishments in Scotland are the same as for the rest of Great Britain.Not all working establishments are subject to specific maximum and minimum temperatures, but there are general requirements under the Factories Act 1961 and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 for a "reasonable temperature" to be maintained and in addition the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 imposes general duties on employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees at work within the limits of what is reasonably practicable. There are also a number of regulations which were made under the Factories Acts which specify maximum and minimum temperatures in workplaces in particular industries. Most of those requirements allow a period of time (half to one hour) following the beginning of a working day to attain the minimum temperatures.It is not practicable to list all the establishments in Scotland which are subject to health and safety legislation affecting temperatures at work.

Overseas Development

Falkland Islands

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that the post-war Falklands rehabilitation fund has adequate resources to cover repairs still scheduled for the Brewster homes.

I am not aware of any repairs required to the Brewster houses as such. The cost of checking and rectification of minor defects is carried out as a matter of routine within the contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why shipping costs of Brewster houses to the Falklands exceeded their estimates.

The original shipping costs were based on estimates provided by the contractor for the shipment of the housing components. Further costs were incurred for the shipment of plant and equipment, and for demurrage charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what basis James Brewster and Company was chosen as the contractor providing prefabricated houses for the Falkland Islands.

James Brewster Associates Ltd. was chosen on the basis of evaluation of competitive tenders invited from 14 companies, of which 11 submitted tenders.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now arrange for an inquiry into the Falkland Islands contract awarded to the construction group, known as James Brewster Associates, in view of the recent public revelations about the escalating costs.

No.

Kenya

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any United Kingdom assistance has been allocated to the Government of Kenya for the development of Mombasa harbour, Kenya, to enable aircraft carriers to operate from the harbour.

No. The purpose of British aid for Mombasa port is to develop its commercial potential, especially with regard to containerisation, and to help train Kenyans in its operation.

Namibia

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what educational aid has been provided to the people resident within South West Africa-Namibia since 1979; and if he will offer 15 bursaries to students resident in South West Africa-Namibia in the next financial year.

Such aid began in 1983. Seven training awards have been made, and two seminars for teacher trainers took place in Namibia. We expect to make about 12 awards in the next financial year, subject to there being suitable candidates.

International Development Association

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Her Majesty's Government are cutting the British contribution to the next replenishment of the International Development Association.

In the past, and particularly under the previous replenishment — IDA 6 — the United Kingdom contributed to IDA at a level well in excess of its relative economic strength among donors. The Government have repeatedly made clear their intention to reduce their share of the next replenishment to a level more nearly in line with the United Kingdom's economic weight. Our reduced percentage share of IDA 7 remains consistent with the principle of fair burden-sharing among donors, on which negotiations concerning the replenishment of IDA's financial resources are based.

Third World

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take, either alone or together with other Western countries, to create or develop alternative funding of benefit to the poorest nations.

All donors to the International Development Association, other than the United States, have given a mandate to its management to explore possible ways of supplementing the seventh replinishment of the association's resources, which has recently been agreed at a level of only $9 billion. The matter is therefore under active consideration.

House Of Commons

"National Audit Office"

asked the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission what was the cost of the publication "National Audit Office" issued recently by the Comptroller and Auditor General; how many copies were produced; to whom they were circulated; and if he will make a statement.

The cost was £9,885 for 10,000 copies, of which 6,000 were distributed initially before the Commission began its work. Apart from Members of Parliament, the booklet has been sent to bodies with which the National Audit Office has a working relationship. This included Government Departments and other bodies audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General; national audit offices in other countries, including the Commonwealth; the European Court of Auditors; universities; professional accountancy institutes and the larger accountancy firms; and some newspapers and periodicals. It is also being used for internal and external training and recruitment purposes.The creation of the National Audit Office is an important constitutional development designed to strengthen parliamentary control and supervision of public expenditures. It is very much in the interests of right hon. and hon. Members that the functions of the office should be widely understood.

Environment

Rates

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will summarise the responses to the

	(i)		(ii)
	Preference for selective rate limitation	Opposition to selective rate limitation	Preference for general rate limitation	Opposition to general rate limitation
(a) Local authority associations, individual local authorities, parish and community councils, local government area associations, trade associations, political groups, charities, and business and commerce.	51	191	29	215
(b) Professional bodies, trades unions, academics, hon. Members.	8	36	7	37
(c) Members of the public, ratepayers' and residents' groups, (excluding parents of children in ILEA schools).	16	47	15	28
(d) In support of ILEA campaign.	—	658	—	658

Right To Buy

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, pursuant to his answer to the hon.

proposals set out in the White Paper "Rates" by respondent, in the following groups: (a) local authorities and major organisations, including the local authority associations, individual local authorities, trade associations, political parties, charities, major companies and national or federated ratepayers' organisations, (b) professionally-involved or qualified groups or individuals, including professional bodies, academics, trade unions, hon. Members and councillors, and (c) the general public, including members of the public, ratepayers' and residents' groups, small private companies and local political parties (constituency and ward level); if he will give, for each of those categories of respondent the number indicating preference for (i) a system of selective rate limitation and (ii) a system of general rate limitation; and if he will give for each of those categories of respondent the number indicating agreement with (x) the Government's rejection of alternatives to rates especially local income tax and (y) the reasoning contained in paragraph 1·6 of the White Paper.

This information is not available in the precise form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The table gives in a similar format a summary of responses to the White Paper registered by 30 November.The questions (x) and (y) are not susceptible to statistical analysis. Many responses expressed general views on these issues supporting or opposing the Government's arguments.It is estimated that about 650 letters received in response to the White Paper by 30 November were generated as a result of a campaign organised by the Inner London education authority.There were also 77 responses concerned only with the detailed rate reform proposals set out in chapter 5 of the White Paper, and expressing no view about rate limitation.As might be expected with a formal consultation process of this nature, unsolicited comments from ratepayers and business men as individuals were relatively few in number. Since the consultation on the White Paper ended and our Rates Bill has been introduced, I have received a very large number of letters supporting our proposals.Member for Staffordshire, Moorlands on 21 December,

Official Report, c. 428, he will list the local authorities with which his Department is in contact about aspects of their performance in implementing the right to buy council

houses; and whether he will indicate the aspects of the performance of those councils which are giving cause for concern.

Those authorities with which my Department is in formal contact about right-to-buy progress are as follows:

Ashford	Mid Devon
Ashfield	Mid Suffolk
Barking and Dagenham	Mole Valley
Barnet	Newbury
Barnsley	Newham
Barrow	North Devon
Basildon	North Dorset
Blackpool	North Hertfordshire
Bolsover	North-West Leicestershire
Breckland	Norwich
Brent	Nottingham
Brentwood	Oldham
Bridgnorth	Oxford
Camden	Peterborough
Cherwell	Preston
Chesterfield	Poole
Chester-le-Street	Reading
Chiltern	Richmondshire
Copeland	Richmond-upon-Thames
Craven	Rochdale
Crawley	Rother
Dacorum	St. Albans
Daventry	St. Helens
Derby	Sandwell
Durham	Scarborough
Ellesmere Port and Neston	Scunthorpe
Enfield	Sedgemoor
Epping Forest	Sheffield
Forest of Dean	Slough
Fylde	Southampton
Gateshead	South Bedfordshire
Great Yarmouth	South Derbyshire
Greater London council	South Northamptonshire
Greenwich	South Tyneside
Hackney	Southwark
Hammershith and Fulham	Stafford
Haringey	Stevenage
Harlow	Stroud
High Peak	Sunderland
Hillingdon	Surrey Heath
Hounslow	Sutton
Ipswich	Three Rivers
Islington	Thurrock
Kensington and Chelsea	Torridge
Kingston-upon-Hull	Tower Hamlets
Kirklees	Trafford
Lambeth	Wakefield
Langbaurgh	Waltham Forest
Leeds	Wansbeck
Leicester	Wandsworth
Leominster	Watford
Lewisham	West Dorset
Lichfield	Westminster
Liverpool	Woking
Luton	Wolverhampton
Maldon	Worcester
Manchester	Wychavon
Mid Bedfordshire	Wyre

Those aspects of right-to-buy performance which have been taken up by my Department concern mainly the ability of tenants to complete the purchase of their homes expeditiously and on reasonable terms. My right hon. Friend is determined that the right to buy should be delivered freely and speedily to every secure tenant wishing to buy his home. He has informed all local authorities that he expects sales to be completed normally within 3 to 4 months of admission of the right to buy when the tenant proceeds expeditiously.

The following authorities have also been requested to provide information on current right-to-buy progress, but in a number of cases this is intended merely to update or clarify the position. Some of the authorities sell mainly under voluntary arrangements.

Aylesbury Vale	Mid Sussex
Basingstoke and Deane	Newark
Bath	North Kesteven
Blackburn	Pendle
Broadland	Redditch
Bromsgrove	Restormel
Broxbourne	Rochford
Boston	Rossendale
Bournemouth	Rushcliffe
Bury	St. Edmundsbury
Canterbury	Salisbury
Caradon	Shepway
Castle Point	Solihull
Chester	Southend
Chorley	South Oxfordshire
Colchester	Suffolk Coastal
Dartford	Swale
East Devon	Tendring
Eden	Test Valley
Elmbridge	Vale of White Horse
Exeter	Warwick
Gillingham	Waverley
Guildford	West Oxfordshire
Hart	Wimborne
Hastings	Winchester
Havant	Windsor and Maidenhead
Hereford	Wokingham
Hertsmere	Worthing
Maidstone	Wycombe
Melton	Wyre Forest

My Department is now in contact with 176 councils on their performance on the right-to-buy, a reduction in the total number since the answer to my hon. Friend on 21 December given by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young). In view of the substantial progress made in recent months, my right hon. Friend looks for further reductions in the near future.

London Boroughs (Vacant Land)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will encourage London boroughs to use their existing vacant sites for housing needs.

We are already doing so. We have encouraged all local housing authorities to pursue a number of low-cost home ownership initiatives, including several involving the disposal of council-owned land for private development. The land registers established under part X of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 enable builders to identify unused and underused sites of more than one acre held by public bodies, and my Department has been discussing this with certain London boroughs and representatives of the Housebuilders Federation.

Local Government Reform

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the additional Civil Service staff required in central Government Departments to deal with additional work falling upon central Government as a result of the proposed abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

It is proposed to transfer only a small number of tasks to central Government as a result of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils. Detailed estimates of any resulting changes in manpower cannot be made until final proposals on reorganisation are produced in the light of responses to consultation; but any changes would be within the overall planned totals for Civil Service manpower announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 17 November.—[Vol. 48, c. 554–58.]

Historic Buildings

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list, for the latest available year, of the historic buildings open to the public at a charge for which he is responsible, and, respectively, the number of rooms open, the number of full- and part-time staff employed, the annual cost of heat and light, the annual rent and rates, the annual cost of-repairs and maintenance and the aggregate of the three highest salaries.

A list of all the historic monuments in the care of my right hon. Friend which are open to the public is already published. A list of charges is available on request to my Department.I am writing to my hon. Friend as soon as the information which is readily available on the other aspects has been collated.

Room Lighting

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what facilities are available for the individual control of room lighting at the headquarters of his Department.

In the Department of the Environment headquarters at 2 Marsham street the lighting in each office and room is separately controlled by manually operated switches.

Acid Rain

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received from organisations and individuals regarding the effects of acid rain in the United Kingdom.

I have received about 25 inquiries and representations on this subject since the beginning of this year. Most of these were from members of the public.

Zoological Society Of London

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what provision his recent financial arrangements for the Zoological Society of London makes for the writing-off of existing bank debts and for future capital development, respectively.

The financial support announced by my right hon. Friend on 21 December 1983—[Vol. 51, c. 284]—will be restricted to revenue support and is not intended to write off the existing bank overdraft. The Government have agreed to consider the possibility of making grant available for capital projects in the light of a business plan which is to be presented to my right hon. Friend by the end of July. This assistance would be offered on a pound for pound basis, within the resources available, to match contributions raised from non-Government sources.

Roofing Slates

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that the full provisions contained in the British Standard, entitled BS 680: roofing slates, are incorporated as required standards in the building regulations applying when slates are used for roofing purposes.

In consultation with the building industry and building users, we are conducting a review of the building regulations in England and Wales. This includes an examination of all British standards relevant to roofing. In the case of BS 680, "Roofing Slates", we shall see whether any or all of its provisions can be incorporated in the new system.

Property Services Agency

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which of the services of the Property Services Agency supplies department are available to local authorities; how much use each local authority makes of them; and whether he will further promote the availability of these services as a substitute for those provided by the Greater London council and the metropolitan counties.

The full range of goods and services provided by the Crown Suppliers — formerly PSA Supplies — are available to all local authorities, which are welcome to use them if they find them attractive.In the year ending 31 March 1983, about 60 local authorities made use of the PSA Supplies contracts. The total value of these purchases in that year was £42·37 million, of which the greater proportion was of heating fuel and motor spirit, but some authorities also bought domestic and office furniture, domestic and cleaning equipment, electrical and mechanical engineering equipment and building materials.I am encouraging the Crown Suppliers to promote the use of its services throughout the public sector.

Crown Suppliers

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the reception cost for the relaunch of the Crown Suppliers on Wednesday 18 January.

The net cost to the Government of the reception for the re-launch of the Crown Suppliers at Lancaster house on Wednesday 18 January 1984 was £6,452.

Empty Business Premises

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to abolish the rating of all empty business premises.

No. Since there is at present no market for empty industrial property in many areas, my right hon. Friend intends to lay regulations before the House which will suspend rating authorities' powers to levy rates on empty industrial property from 1 April 1984.

Under the Unoccupied Property Rate (Variation of Current Ceiling) Order 1980, rates on other empty non-domestic properties are limited to a maximum of 50 per cent. of the occupied rate.

Rugby Football Union

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Minister with responsibility for sport has recently offered advice to other political parties on the advisability of attending international rugby matches in view of the proposed tour of South Africa by the Rugby Football Union.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent requests he has received seeking further discussion on the proposed tour of South Africa by the Rugby Football Union.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Minister with responsibility for sport intends to attend in his official capacity any of the international Rugby Football Union matches at Twickenham this season.

As Minister with responsibility for sport I am usually invited by the Rugby Football Union to attend one international fixture during the season. I attended the game against New Zealand on 19 November. I do not anticipate, therefore, receiving any further formal invitations this season.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Minister with responsibility for sport has approached individual members of the Rugby Football Union committee to ascertain their views on the proposed tour of South Africa.

No. However, my duties as Minister with responsibility for sport involve frequent, often informal, discussions with many of the leading figures in sport in this country, including some who are members of the RFU committee.

South African Rugby Team

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what response the Minister with responsibility for sport gave to the request for an interview made by the manager of the multiracial South African youth team that recently toured Wales.

I declined.

Anti-Apartheid Movement

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what meetings have taken place between the Minister with responsibility for sport and the anti-apartheid movement or its representatives since 9 June 1983; and what matters were discussed.

None.

Defective Housing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation relating to defective housing; and whether the legislation will cover (a) all forms of tenure, (b) all defective premises and (c) extra grant aid to local authorities in order to meet the costs of any necessary work.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction announced on 10 November —[Vol. 48, c. 422–31]—that the Government intend to introduce as soon as possible legislation to provide for assistance of owners of certain structurally defective dwellings sold by the public sector. Details of the scope of the proposals, and of the Government's intentions on contributions to local authorities' expenditure under the scheme, were given in my hon. Friend's statement, and in the consultation document sent to the local authority associations on 10 November, a copy of which is in the Library. The need for expenditure by authorities on the scheme, and on defective housing in their own stock, will be taken into account in determining their housing investment programme allocations.

Council House Rents

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been, for each year from 1978 to 1983, the average council house rent.

The average weekly unrebated rents in operation in April each year for all local authority —including new town—tenants in England and Wales were as follows:

	£
April 1978	5·85
April 1979	6·40
April 1980	7·71
April 1981	11·43
April 1982	13·52
April 1983	14·06

These figures are based on information supplied by local authorities to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Department of the Environment.

Education And Science

School Meals Service

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local authorities have turned school meals services over to private contractors since May 1979.

One.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many persons working in school meals services have been made redundant since May 1979.

This information is not collected by the Department and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Female Manual Workers

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of female manual workers in the education services earn less than 100 per week.

I have been asked to reply.The most recent information relates to full-time female manual employees aged 18 and over working a full week in April 1983 and is published in table 68 of part C of the report on the 1983 new earnings survey, a copy of which is in the Library.

Trade And Industry

South Africa

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list British trade missions to South Africa in each year from 1977 to 1982 which received a grant from his Department or the British Overseas Trade Board; what was the average grant in each year; and what was the total cost of grants.

A list showing the British Overseas Trade Board—BOTB—supported outward missions to South Africa from 1977 to 1982, the average grant per mission and the total cost of grants for each of those years is as follows.The total cost to the BOTB of grants for missions to South Africa for the period 1977 to 1982 was £461,775.

British Overseas Trade Board supported outward missions to South Africa

1977

Sponsor

Engineering Industries Association
Federation of Sussex Industries and Chamber of Commerce
British Printing Machinery Association
Walsall Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Slough and District Chamber of Commerce
Scottish Council Development and Industry
Sheffield Chamber of Comtnerce
Agricultural Engineers Association Ltd.
Ship and Boat Builders National Federation
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Birmingham Engineering and Building Centre
Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Gauge and Tool Makers Association
British Stationery and Office Products Federation
Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Engineering Industries Association
Average grant per mission—£4,270
Total grant for year—£72.600

Note: A total of 225 participants, including, for each mission. a representative of the sponsor body in the capacity of mission secretary, received the BOTB grant of £300 which was applicable in 1977. The sponsors representatives received a double grant.

1978

Sponsor

Merseyside Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Shipping London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Scottish Council Development and Industry
Engineering Industries Association
Ship and Boat Builders National Federation
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Birmingham Engineering and Building Centre
Leeds Chamber of Commerce and Industry
North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
Engineering Industries Association
Average grant per mission—£4,166
Total grant for year—£54.165

Note: A total of 157 participants, including, for each mission, a representative of the sponsor body in the capacity of mission secretary, received the BOTB grant of £345 which was applicable in 1978. The sponsors representatives received a double grant.

1979

Sponsor

Walsall Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Engineering Industries Association
South Bucks and East Berks Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce
East London and South West Essex Export Club
Scottish Council Development and Industry
Coventry Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Agricultural Engineers Association Ltd.
Leicester and County Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce and Industry
British Ceramic Plant and Machinery Manufacturers Association
Engineering Industries Association
Average grant per mission—£4,830
Total grant for year—£67,620

Note: A total of 182 participants, including, for each mission, a representative of the sponsor body in the capacity of mission secretary, received the BOTB grant of £345 which was applicable in 1979. The sponsors representatives received a double grant.

1980

Sponsor

Engineering Industries Association
Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Shipping
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Worcester and District Chamber of Commerce
Scottish Council Development and Industry
Publishers Association
Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
British Stationery and Office Products Federation
Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Engineering and Building Centre
Engineering Industries Association
Average grant per mission—£5,080
Total grant for year—£55,890

Note: A total of 151 participants, including, for each mission, a representative of the sponsor body in the capacity of mission secretary, received the BOTB grant of £345 which was applicable in 1980. The sponsors representatives received a double grant.

1981

Sponsor

Engineering Industries Association
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.
South Wales Exporters Club
Worcester and District Chamber of Commerce
Scottish Council Development and Industry
Sheffield Chamber of Commerce
Export Council for the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation
Bristol Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Shipping
Export Association of Nottingham
Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Dundee and Tayside Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Engineering and Building Centre
Engineering Industries Association
Walsall Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Average grant per mission—£7,631
Total grant for year—£114,475

Note: A total of 74 participants, including, for each mission, a representative of the sponsor body in the capacity of mission secretary, received the BOTB grant of £345, and 200 participants and sponsors representatives received the BOTB grant of £415 from 1 April 1981.

1982

Sponsor

Engineering Industries Association
Coventry Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Thames Export Club
Association of British Manufacturers of Photographic, Cine and Audio Visual Equipment
Export Council for the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation
Worcester and District Chamber of Commerce
Scottish Council Development and Industry
Engineering Industries Association
Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce
Engineering and Building Centre
Derby and Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce
Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce
Engineering Industries Association
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Ltd.
Average grant per mission—£6,930
Total grant for year—£97,025

Note: A total of 194 participants, including, for some missions, a representative of the sponsor body in the capacity of mission secretary, received the BOTB grant of £415 and 28 participants including a sponsor representative received the BOTB grant of £480 from 1 November 1982.

Production And Engineering Design

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the take-up of the production and engineering design improvement scheme.

The Department of Trade and Industry does not have a production and engineering design improvement scheme. It is assumed that the question refers to the DTI's design advisory service funded consultancy scheme which is managed by the Design Council.At 31 December 1983, 1,418 firms had applied for assistance under the scheme. Applications are being received at a rate of about 100 per month.Mr. Neil Hamilton asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the incentive available from his Department to encourage production and engineering design methods.

The design advisory service funded consultancy scheme provides manufacturers having 60 to 1,000 employees with up to 15 man-days of free consultancy on product and engineering design. A further 15 man-days are available with the firm paying half the cost.The assistance provided covers all aspects of product and engineering design, including feasibility studies for new products, new product development, and production design of new or existing products.Over 1,000 firms have been, or are being, assisted under the scheme, and over 90 per cent. of those assisted have expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the help given.Assistance is also available for feasibility studies in computer aided design and manufacture—CADCAM—and for the provision of a CADCAM installation.

Footwear

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the present position of footwear production in the United Kingdom.

Information on the sales of footwear is published quarterly in the Business Monitor, PQ 4510, and monthly in British Business. The most recent monthly article appeared in British Business for 6 January 1984, page 26. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the balance of trade in footwear between the United Kingdom and other European Economic Community countries.

The balance of trade with the rest of the European Community many be readily derived from the figures published in tables III (Imports) and V (Exports) of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom against SITC(R2) Division 85 (Footwear).

Engineering Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received any representations regarding the Government support given to the engineering industry in 1983.

In 1983, as in any year, my right hon. Friend has received numerous representations from the engineering industries. These have included many helpful comments and suggestions about the support given by Government and, in particular, the range of schemes operated by the Department.

Product Liability

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with the present legislation relating to product liability.

I believe that any suggestions for introducing a general regime of strict liability for damage caused by defective products are best considered in the context of the discussions in Brussels on the draft directive on this subject. As I indicated to the hon. and learned Member in my answer of 25 January — [Vol. 52, c.566.] — we will continue to play a constructive part in those discussions.

Regional Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total number and value of offers of regional assistance made to companies in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work areas, in Staffordshire as a whole, and in the west midlands region, for the last month for which statistics are available.

Since the west midlands is not an assisted area for the purposes of the Industrial Development Act 1982. regional financial assistance is not available to firms there.

Textile Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has studied the proposals for investment support for the textile industry in the report published by the British Textile Confederation entitled "A Plan for Action", a copy of which has been sent to him; if he will assess their effect on investment; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering these proposals.

Motor Vehicles

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in 1983 what were the value and volume of United Kingdom exports and imports of cars, commercial vehicles and components, listed separately; what was the total United Kingdom production in each case; what was the percentage share of the United Kingdom industry of the United kingdom market; and how, in each case, these figures compare with 1972.

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

Nationalised Industries

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will report progress on the rolling programme of references of nationalised industries to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

During 1983, reports were published on Caledonian MacBrayne, the National Coal Board, the Yorkshire Electricity Board and the Civil Aviation Authority's Air traffic control services.I have received the commission's reports on the costs and efficiency of London Transport's bus maintenance operations and on the South Wales Electricity board. Both of these will be published in due course.The commission is currently investigating the letter post in inner London, Cardiff, Glasgow and Belfast.I have concluded that it would be inappropriate to proceed with the inquiry into British Shipbuilders' merchant ship-building activities planned for last autumn. It would have come at a time in the current world recession in this industry when many yards are clearly working so far below their capacity that in such circumstances an investigation would not have been useful.I shall shortly be referring the Yorkshire water authority followed by an electricity supply industry reference. In the summer I intend to refer the counter services of the Post Office and later in the year aspects of public sector bus provision in Scotland and the British Rail Property Board.Terms of reference will be announced as each reference is made.

Scotland

Historic Houses

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a list, for the latest available year, of the historic houses open to the public at a charge for which he is responsible, and, respectively, the number of rooms open, the number of full and part-time staff employed, the annual cost of heat and light, the annual rent and rates, the annual cost of repairs and maintenance and the aggregate of the three highest salaries.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

Departmental Powers

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

Many provisions in a wide range of statutes require or empower me 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 my Departments.

Kidney Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give estimated dates when each of the regions and districts in Scotland will achieve a target of treating 45 to 50 per million of the population suffering from kidney diseases; if he will indicate the progressions to be expected for 1984, 1985 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.

The number of patients being treated for kidney disease already exceeds a rate of 50 per million of the population in all parts of Scotland. I expect this level of treatment to be maintained, if not increased, in future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate the average length of waiting time for treatment for kidney patients in Scotland; if he will give his best estimates of patients who die whilst on the waiting lists; if he will give the age distribution of such deaths; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware that any patient in Scotland considered likely to benefit by it has had to wait for renal dialysis. The average waiting time for patients in Scotland who received transplanted kidneys during 1983 was 435 days. The number of patients in Scotland with renal failure who died during 1983 while awaiting a kidney transplant was as follows:

Age	Number
Under 11 years	1
11–20 years	1
21–30 years	2
31–40 years	4
41–50 years	2
51–60 years	3
Over 60 years	1

Health Budget

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the United Kingdom health budget has been spent in Scotland in each of the last six years.

Gross public expenditure on health in Scotland expressed as a proportion of the United Kingdom health budget in each of the last six Years is as follows:

	per cent.
1977–78	10·7
1978–79	11·0
1979–80	10·9
1981–82	11·0
1982–83	10·9

Salmon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce a salmon tagging scheme in Scotland.

My right hon. and noble Friend is discussing this issue with the principal organisations concerned with salmon fishing in Scotland. It is too soon to say whether a salmon tagging scheme will be introduced.

International Rugby Matches

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to attend in his official capacity any of the international Rugby Football Union matches in Edinburgh this season.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so, but I intend to attend on his behalf.

School Closures

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will reply to the letter of 25 November 1983 from the hon. Member for Dundee, West on Tayside regional council's consultation exercise on the closure of seven Dundee primary schools and the requirements of the Education (Publication and Consultation Etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 1981.

I replied to the hon. Member on 2 December 1983.

Assisted Places Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what parental income scale will apply to the assisted places scheme in school session 1984–85.

I propose to lay regulations before the House in due course providing for an income scale illustrated by the following examples:

Relevant Income £	Parental Contribution planned expenditure on road construction £
6,047	NIL
6,080	18
6,314	39
7,010	117
7,500	186
8,000	261
8,500	408
9,000	558
9,500	708
10,000	858
10,500	1,008
11,000	1,158
11,500	1,308
11,660	1,356

Unemployed Voluntary Action Fund

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the progress of the unemployed voluntary action fund and indicate whether resources will be made available to the fund in 1984–85.

The fund was established at my request by the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust in February 1982 and continues to operate very successfully under the trust's management. In under two years, the fund has provided support for over 80 new or developmental projects run by voluntary organisations and aimed particularly at involving unemployed people in activities which directly benefit those in special need in the community.The response to the scheme continues to be most encouraging and I shall be providing the fund with a further £500,000 for projects in 1984–85. We shall also be reviewing with the trustees whether the aims and detailed arrangements of the scheme need any adjustment in order to make the best possible use of the money available.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Namibia

Winterton asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts his Department has had with other members of the Contact Group about their joint co-operation to secure a peaceful settlement of the Namibia problem; and if he will make a statement.

We are in regular touch with the other members about progress towards a settlement and remain ready to contribute in any way we can.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent contacts his Department has had with representatives of the internal political parties in Namibia; and if he will make a statement.

Members of Her Majesty's embassy in South Africa maintain contact with the internal parties through regular visits to Namibia. The most recent such visits were in October 1983 and this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent efforts of the internal political parties in Namibia, by means of a multi-party conference, to determine the future of Namibia by the people of Namibia rather than through the intervention of external powers or the United Nations.

We note that the multi-party conference stated on 25 November that Security Council resolution 435 remained the only "concrete independence plan" in existence for Namibia. Security Council resolution 435 has been accepted by all of the parties and offers the best prospect for a peaceful transition to an internationally acceptable independence. We remain committed to early implementation of the United Nations plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that there is no state-approved torture or practice of apartheid in Namibia; and if he will make a statement.

We are naturally concerned at allegations of torture in Namibia by whomsoever committed. Our views on such practices are well known. We note that the South African authorities have stated they will not hesitate to act against members of the Security Forces who are found guilt of unlawful act of violence, and that there have been a number of court cases involving charges of physical abuse in Namibia. With respect to apartheid practices in Namibia. I refer to the answer given to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 25 January.—[Vol. 52, c. 560–61.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will invite representatives of the Namibian people to a meeting in London to discuss the present internal situation with the aim of securing progress towards peaceful independence and of seeking positive solutions to the wide range of issues which prevent peaceful independence.

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

Angola

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's position relating to the offer made by the South African Foreign Minister in December 1983 to disengage South African forces from southern Angola provided that the Government in Luanda take reciprocal steps to ensure that their own troops, as well as those of the South West Africa People's Organisation and Cuba, do not exploit the resultant situation.

We have long regarded the withdrawal of South African forces from Angola as necessary. We welcome the South African offer of disengagement and hope it can be implemented in a manner acceptable to all the interested parties.

Iran

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government have protested recently to the Iranian authorities over the human rights record of that country; and what international organisations have been contacted.

We have made clear to the Iranian Government on many occasions our concern at violations of human rights. We co-sponsored the United Nations Commission on Human Rights resolution on this question in March 1983. Our continuing concern was expressed by the European Community Presidency at the United Nations in December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effort he makes to monitor the human rights record of Iran.

	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	(1984)
EXCO unofficials
(i)	6	6	5	5	5	5	5	5	6	8	(8)
(ii)	2	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	2	2	(1)
(iii)	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	1	1	1	(1)
Total membership	14	14	14	14	15	15	15	15	15	17	(16)
Percentage of unofficial members	57	57	57	57	60	60	60	60	60	65	(62·5)
LEGCO unofficials
(i)	11	11	17	17	19	19	19	21	22	25	(25)
(ii)	3	3	4	4	4	4	5	4	3	2	(2)
(iii)	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	(2)
Total membership	29	29	41	41	44	44	47	50	49	47	(47)
Percentage of unofficial members	52	52	54	54	55	55	55	54	55	62	(62)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportions, and how many, of the official members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in Hong Kong speak a Chinese dialect fluently.

In the Executive Council, two out of the six official members that—is, 33 per cent. — and in the

The British interests section in Tehran reports regularly on human rights in Iran. We also keep in close touch with our partners in the Ten and with developments at the United Nations.

British Council

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the effects of overseas inflation on the costs of British Council representation overseas in 1984–85, compared with 1983–84; and what account he took of this in his statement on 17 November.

No independent estimate was made by my Department. The estimate taken into consideration in the 1983 public expenditure survey was the British Council's own.The level of public expenditure for 1984–85 announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 November included an additional £4·3 million for the British Council. This is less than the Council had sought but it must be seen in the context of our financial strategy and determination that public expenditure for 1984–85 should remain at the level published in the White Paper for February 1983.

Hong Kong

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will tabulate for each of the last 10 years, the numbers of unofficial members of (a) the Executive Council and (b) the Legislative Councils of Hong Kong who were (i) Chinese, (ii) British and (iii) others; and, for each year, what were the relevant percentages of each body that the unofficial members comprised of the total membership thereof.

The statistics, which are based on race rather than nationality, are as follows:Legislative Council, seven out of the 18 official members — that is, 39 per cent.— speak a Chinese dialect fluently.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what qualifications he has sought to have taken into account by the Governor for prospective unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in Hong Kong.

There are no prescribed qualifications which have to be taken into account by the Governor for prospective unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils in Hong Kong. They are selected on the basis of their personal qualities, their knowledge of Hong Kong affairs, their record of achievement in public life and their capacity to reflect the views of significant groups in the community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in total, and by individual department within the Hong Kong Government, the numbers of people seconded by his office to that Government at the latest convenient date.

On 1 January 1984 five members of the Diplomatic Service were on secondment to the Hong Kong Government. They were the Governor, three officers employed in the political adviser's office and one in the trade and industry branch.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have recently taken place between the Governor of Hong Kong and trades unions there about the future constitution of the territory.

The process of consultation with the people of Hong Kong on all matters relating to the future is a continuous one. The Government of Hong Kong are in touch with a wide variety of groups including trade unions. Some unions have made their views on the future known to the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the groups and organisations, other than the Governor of Hong Kong, Government officials and members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, that he or other Ministers in his Department have personally met in order to discuss future constitutional changes in the terrority; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend and I keep in touch with the views of the people of Hong Kong through a variety of official and unofficial channels. When I visited Hong Kong in September 1983, I was able to discuss many aspects of Hong Kong's future. As well as holding talks with the Governor, senior officials, and the unofficial members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, I met representatives of a wide range of social and professional groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long he intends to allow for consultation in Hong Kong on the agreement to be reached

Planned expenditure and outturn
£ million
	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
I. ROAD CONSTRUCTION
TOTAL ENGLAND
(a) Planned Expenditure		November 73	November 74	November 75	November 76	November 77	November 78	November 79	Cash	(Price Base)
	n/a	195	231	143	148	211	195	239	405

between Her Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government on the future of the territory following the announcement of the agreement.

The process of consultation with the people of Hong Kong on all matters relating to the territory's future is a continuous one. It is too soon to say exactly how Hong Kong opinion will be consulted on any specific arrangements proposed for its future.

Cyprus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any Foreign Office or diplomatic offical had any discussions with Mr. Denktash when he was in the United Kingdom on 20–21 January; and if he will make a statement.

There were no such official contacts with Mr. Denktash during his transit through London on 20–21 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Turkey in respect of proposals made recently by President Kyprianou of Cyprus for the future administration of the island; and whether he has recommended these proposals as forming a basis for discussion between the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus.

We welcome the fact that President Kyprianou has put forward these detailed proposals to the United Nations Secretary-General and hope that they will lead to early progress towards a peaceful, just and lasting settlement to the Cyprus problem. We are in contact with all parties who have an interest in the problem.

Transport

Roads Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the difference between the outturn and planned expenditure for each year since 1974–75 by the Greater London council, the metropolitan county councils, the non-metropolitan county councils, the London boroughs, and the metropolitan districts for (a) road construction, (b) road maintenance and (c) total road expenditure.

Figures comparing outturn and planned expenditure since 1974–75 by type of expenditure and class of authority are given as follows where available. Because plans and outturn are available only on different price bases, actual plans and expenditure figures have been given rather than differences.Local authorities' capital allocations for transport are treated as a single block which they are free to allocate between roads and public transport. Separate figures for planned expenditure on road construction by different classes of authority are therefore not available.

	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
(b) Outturn	Cash Outturn									(Price Base)
	n/a	n/a	246	182	210	278	337	309	394
II. ROAD MAINTENANCE
CLASS OF AUTHORITY
(a) Planned Expenditure		November 73	November 74	November 75	November 76	November 77	November 78	November 79	Cash	(Price Base)
All London	n/a	41	54	56	57	65	72	74	112
Metropolitan Counties	n/a	53	63	75	85	99	111	117	179
Shire Counties	n/a	147	170	204	232	271	296	326	496
Total England	n/a	241	287	335	374	435	479	517	787
(b) Outturn Expenditure	Cash Outturn									(Price Base)
Greater London Council	n/a	n/a	n/a	15	19	23	28	40	44
London Boroughs	n/a	n/a	n/a	49	55	64	75	87	96
All London	n/a	n/a	n/a	64	74	87	103	127	140
Metropolitan Counties	n/a	n/a	n/a	92	109	125	154	183	183
Metropolitan Districts	n/a	n/a	n/a	1	—	—	1	2	2
All Metropolitan Authorities	n/a	n/a	n/a	93	109	125	155	185	185
Shire Counties	n/a	n/a	n/a	251	306	345	390	463	502
Shire Districts	n/a	n/a	n/a	10	9	10	12	13	13
All Shires	n/a	n/a	n/a	261	315	355	402	476	515
Total England	n/a	n/a	385	418	498	567	660	788	840
III. ROAD CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE COMBINED
TOTAL ENGLAND
(a) Planned Expenditure		November 73	November 74	November 75	November 76	November 77	November 78	November 79	Cash	(Price Base)
	n/a	436	518	478	522	646	674	756	1,192
(b) Outturn	Cash Outturn									(Price Base)
	n/a	n/a	631	600	798	845	997	1,097	1,234
n/a="Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much public money has been spent on bypasses in Bedfordshire during the past 10 years; and if he will give a list of the villages by passed.

£9·06 million. The villages bypassed are Wilstead, Silsoe, Elstow, Ampthill and Maulden. The first three were bypassed by trunk road schemes provided by my Department, the other two by a county road scheme. In addition the county council has spent £9·60 million on the central and southern sections of its Luton east circular road scheme already open to traffic and, to date, £2·88 million on its Kempston southern relief road, which is planned to open to traffic on 30 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what state funds have been spent on major roads in Bedfordshire in the past decade.

The following central Government funds have been spent on trunk roads in the county:

Year	£ Million
1976–77	2·74
1977–78	3·51
1978–79	3·94
1979–80	6·56
1980–81	4·98
1981–82	6·88
1982–83	10·28
1983–84	7·89

Departmental Powers

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

The information requested would be disproportionately expensive to provide. As Secretary of State for Transport, I am empowered to take many decisions or actions without specific parliamentary approval in each instance, either under statutory authority, or by virtue of my office.

Whitebirk, Blackburn (M65-M6 Link)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state a date on which a decision will be announced on the case at present being reviewed for the extension of the M65 to link from Whitebirk, Blackburn to the M6.

I cannot at this stage say when I shall be able to take a final decision. My Department is pursuing a number of technical points which arise from the case the county council has made for the "green route"; and the county council itself is preparing a revised cost benefit assessment of the scheme. I shall make a decision as soon as possible following the completion of this work.

Motorway Maintenance (Metropolitan Counties)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what basis he will decide which district council will be designated as the local authority to maintain motorways in the present metropolitan county areas in the event of the abolition of the metropolitan county councils.

The Department is consulting metropolitan district councils through which motorways run. Decisions must also be related to the lengths of motorway involved, the location of junctions, and tile availability of maintenance compound facilities.

Rail Services (Funding)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements will be made to ensure adequate funding for local rail services in the event of metropolitan district councils opting not to participate in the proposed joint passenger transport boards.

Decisions on the detailed arrangements for public transport in the metropolitan counties will be taken after consideration of all the responses to the Department's consultation paper. The consultation period continues to the end of this month.

Airports

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the 52 aerodromes from which international or domestic services were operated in 1982, indicating the catchment area in terms of population associated with each.

The following are the 52 aerodromes shown in the CAA statistics as having accommodated international and/or domestic air services—scheduled and/or charter—in 1982:

Gatwick	Islay
Heathrow	Isle of Man
Luton	Isles of Scilly
Southend	Kirkwall
Stansted	Leeds/Bradford
Aberdeen	Lerwick
Barrow in Furness	Liverpool
Belfast	Londonderry
Benbecula	Lydd
Birmingham	Manchester
Blackpool	Manston
Bournemouth	Newcastle
Bristol	Newquay
Cambridge	Norwich
Cardiff	Plymouth
Carlisle	Prestwick
Coventry	Scatsta
Dundee	Shoreham
East Midlands	Southampton
Edinburgh	Stornoway
Exeter	Sumburgh
Glasgow	Swansea
Gloucester/Cheltenham	Tees-side
Hawarden	Tiree
Humberside	Unst
Inverness	Wick

I have no information on the catchment areas of these airports.

Motorways (Lighting)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received regarding the provision of motorway lights, thoughout the remaining parts of the motorway system, including the whole of the M25; and if he will make a statement.(2) pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East, 13 December 1983,

Official Report, c. 392, if he has plans to revise the method of assessing the need for motorway lighting.

The Department has recently received correspondence regarding the provision of motorway lighting from the Royal Automobile Club, The Association of Street Lighting Contractors and the Lighting Industry Federation.I have nothing to add to the comprehensive statement concerning motorway lighting referred to in my reply to my hon. Friend on Monday 21 November 1983.—[Vol. 49; c.

15.] Accordingly, my Department will be issuing further guidance on the assessment of road lighting schemes, including motorways, after consultation with the appropriate authorities.

M25

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will speed up the construction and completion of the remaining stages of the M25; and if he will make a statement.

We are already going as fast as possible. Only one 13 mile stretch of this 122 mile road needs to have construction work started on it, and that will happen during the course of this year. We aim to have the whole motorway completed in 1986.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how the actual traffic loads on the opened section of the M25 compare with the projected traffic loads.

The information requested is as follows:

Section of M25		Vehicles per 16 hour day(Thousands)
From	To	Actual	^*Forecast
A225	A2	.	55–75
A2	M20	†28	55–70
M20	A21 (Badgers Mount)	—	50–60
A21	M26/A21 (Sevenoaks)	—	50–60
M26/A21	A22	43	50–60
A22	M23	48	50–65
M23	A217	†35	50–60
A217	A243	—	40–50
A243	A3	—	45–55
A3	A320	25	55–75
A320	M3	†26	65–80
M3	A30	†24	60–75
A30	Airport Spur	41	70–80
Airport Spur	M4	41	70–80
M4	M40	—	60–65
M40	A412	—	55–60
A412	A404	.	55–65
A404	A405	42	65–75
A405	A41	42	45–55
A41	M1	—	45–50
M1	A6	—	30–35
A6	A1(M)	—	40–50
A1(M)	A111	27	50–55
A111	A10	.	40–45
A10	A121	—	45–50
A121	M11	—	50–60
M11	A12	.	50–60
A12	A 127	.	35–40
A 127	A13	37	35–40
Al3	A225 (Dartford Tunnel)	44	50–60
^* The forecast flows are for 1987, which is the expected first full
calendar year of operation of the complete M25. Our aim is, of course, that the road should be fully completed sometime in 1986.
^† These figures will have been increased as a result of the opening of adjacent sections. For example, the recent opening of the A3 to A320 (Chertsey-Wisley) section will have increased traffic levels on A320 to M3. Also the figures for actual traffic flows do not take into account the effect of yesterday's opening of the section between A10 and M11.
No traffic count is available where the symbol appears.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the actual and projected night-time traffic accidents on the M25 now and when completely opened.

I shall answer this question shortly.

South Circular Road

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals his Department will bring forward in the light of the proposed abolition of the Greater London council concerning the future of the present south circular road.

The first step is to take final decisions about particular roads to be trunked including the south circular. I have asked for views by the end of January. As the consultation paper explained we are considering commissioning assessment studies about the possible options for improvement.

Road Accident Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost of a fatal night-time road accident.

The estimated cost of a night time fatal accident in 1982 was £160,600. This figure comprises resource costs and an allowance for pain, grief and suffering.

Road Accidents (Insurance)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce legislation to require motorists involved in an accident in which damage is caused to another vehicle or to property to report it to his or her insurance company.

No. My right hon. Friend intends to introduce legislation to implement the second EC directive on motor insurance after seeking the views of insurers and representative bodies on the practicalities involved. Present compulsory insurance requirements will be extended to liability for property damage, and we expect to place on insurers obligations similar to those which already apply in cases of personal injury. An insurer would then have to meet a judgment against his policyholder, even though the policyholder had failed to report the accident to him.

Highways And Transportation (West Midlands)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he plans with the appropriate district councils about the highways and transportation plans of the West Midlands county council which were submitted to him in September 1983; when these consultations will be completed; and which councils will be consulted.

We asked West Midlands county council in the 1984–85 TSG decision letter to draw up a firm list of proposed new starts in 1984–85 on schemes costing over £1 million. As the council has a number of major starts proposed towards the end of 1983–84 we expect these to be included in the list as well. We will consult the district councils concerned on any projects in their area on the list. We hope to conclude these consultations very quickly once the county council's firm list is received.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet representatives of the West Midlands county council to discuss that council's highways and transportation plans as submitted to him in September 1983.

I do not think that a meeting with representatives of the county council will serve any useful purpose until I have received the list of proposed new, starts on schemes costing over £1 million referred to in my previous answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he has withheld permission for the redevelopment of Snow hill railway station in Birmingham as submitted to him in September 1983 in the highways and transportation programme of the West Midlands county council.

The county council does not need permission before embarking on the scheme, but I am not prepared to commit myself to providing TSG support in future years until I have seen a detailed evaluation of the scheme, and until I have been able to discuss it with the district councils concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give his approval to any highways arid transportation proposals submitted by the West Midlands county council which are scheduled to be completed in 1986 or thereafter.

The county council does not need approval before embarking on such schemes, but before I commit myself to providing TSG support in future years, we need to see a firm list of the county council's proposed starts, and to discuss them with the districts concerned.

Solicitor-General For Scotland

Poaching (Convictions)

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many convictions there were for the poaching of deer in Scotland for each of the last five years.

There are no figures available for the number of convictions for poaching of deer in Scotland as such. However, in 1979. 1980, 1981 and 1982 there were respectively 34, 31, 37 and 48 persons convicted of offences relating to deer. No figures are yet available for 1983.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many convictions there were for the poaching of salmon in Scotland for each of the last five years.

There are no figures available for the number of convictions for poaching of salmon in Scotland as such. However, in 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982 there were respectively 262, 338, 312 and 385 persons convicted of offences relating to salmon and freshwater fisheries. No figures are yet available for 1983.

Defence

Service Personnel (Discharge)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men and women have been discharged from each of the armed forces, respectively, during the last

	Disciplinary proceedings	Administrative discharge	Total
Royal Navy including Royal Marines	†350	617	†967
Army	733	5,288	6,021
Royal Air Force	179	^*1,083	1,262
^* Figures for non-commissioned ranks only.
† Approximate figures; includes dismissals under summary powers.

Of those convicted at courts martial, the following received sentences of dismissal with disgrace:

	Numbers
Royal Navy	—
Army	46
Royal Air Force	5

Departmental Administrative Costs

asked the Secretary of State for Defence 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 Ministry of Defence expressed in 1982–83 prices in each of the last four years was as follows:

	£ million
1979–80	7,856·5
1980–81	7,769·9
1981–82	7,999·3
1982–83	8,215·1

The information is taken from the annual scrutinies of departmental running costs which cover only 1979–80 onwards. Constant prices have been calculated by means of GDP deflators.The wide-ranging nature of the activities covered by these figures rules out the possibility of making valid comparisons with the administrative costs of other Departments. The increase as between 1981–82 and 1982–83 is mainly attributable to Falklands-related expenditure.

High Technology (Security)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what measures he is taking to prevent the delivery to the Soviet Union of high technology of military value.

For many years the United Kingdom Government, in concert with their allies, have operated a strategic embargo on the supply of equipment with a direct or potential military application to the Soviet Union and a number of other Communist countries. Since 1982 the technology associated with equipment on the embargo lists three years; and for each service, how many were given administrative and dishonourable discharges, respectively.

The term "dishonourable discharge" does not have a distinct meaning in the services' disciplinary rules. The total number of administrative discharges on the grounds of services no longer required and the number of dismissals from the service resulting from convictions by disciplinary proceedings in 1981–83 were as follows:has also been controlled. The embargo lists are updated and revised on a regular basis. Increased attention is being given to the enforcement of these export controls.

Industrial And Military Literature

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to ensure that there is no industrial or military literature deposited in libraries in the United Kingdom which could be of use to organisations of other countries.

Industrial and military information based on official knowledge which could be of benefit to potentially hostile nations is protected by the Official Secrets Act and, where appropriate, by security classification. It is neither feasible nor desirable in a free society to control other industrial or military literature.

Ministers' Overseas Visits

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many trips abroad have been made by Ministers in his Department since May 1979; and what was the cost.

Special records are not maintained of ministerial visits aboad and the full information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, during the period 1 April 1983 to 31 December 1983, 40 visits abroad were undertaken by Ministers at an estimated cost for air movements of £251,000.

"Firefight"

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of his Department's film "Firefight"; how much it cost to produce and distribute; and which cinemas are showing or due to show the film.

The film "Firefight" is a reconstruction of an operation carried out by the Royal Marines during the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982. Its purpose is to display to the public the capabilities and skills of the Royal Marines. The production cost was about £50,000. The responsibility for distributing the film to cinemas is a matter for a commercial company and public expenditure is not involved in the distribution.

Royal Ordnance Factories

asked the Secretary of State for defence what dividends, in each year since 1974, were paid by the royal ordnance factories trading fund and what sums retained, in both cash and percentage terms.

Dividends and sums retained by the royal ordnance factories trading fund since 1 July 1974 have been as follows (figures rounded):

	Dividends£ million	per cent.	Rotations£ million	per cent.
1974–75^*	0·5	32	1·1	68
1975–76	5·6	51	5·4	49
1976–77	5·3	14	32·3	86
1977–78	8·5	21	31·5	79
1978–79	11·5	30	26·7	70
1979–80	10·5	58	7·7	42
1980–81	6·0	—	(5·1)	—
1981–82	9·0	74	3·1	26
1982–83	25·0	29	62·7	71
^* Nine months.

For 1980–81 a dividend of £6 million was paid of which £5·1 million was not from accumulated reserves.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of production in terms of value in each of the royal ordnance factories is transferred to other royal ordnance factories for further stages of manufacturing or assembly; and if he will list these percentages by each factory.

The percentage of output by value which is transferred by individual royal ordnance factories to other factories varies from year to year depending on the volume and mix of production. Averages for the last two years were as follows:

Percentage of output transferred to other factories
Factory	per cent.
Birtley	57
Bishopton	69
Blackburn	16
Bridgwater	72
Chorley	9
Enfield	2
Glascoed	3
Leeds	1
Nottingham	21
Patricroft	59
Radway Green	31
Featherstone Agency Factory	95
Powfoot Agency Factory	68

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in sales and marketing in each of the royal ordnance factories.

The numbers are as follows:

	Numbers
ROF Birtley	10
ROF Bishopton	10
ROF Blackburn	1
ROF Bridgwater	6
ROF Chorley	10
RSAF Enfield	4
ROF Glascoed	—
ROF Leeds	—
ROF Nottingham	—
ROF Patricroft	2

Numbers

ROF Radway Green

Total

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in quality control in each of the royal ordnance factories.

The numbers are as follows:

	Numbers
ROF Birtley	260
ROF Bishopton	200
ROF Blackburn	479
ROF Bridgwater	68
ROF Chorley	462
RSAF Enfield	140
ROF Glascoed	322
ROF Leeds	116
ROF Nottingham	99
ROF Patricroft	193
ROF Radway Green	371
Total	2,710

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are employed in applied research, design and development in each of the royal ordnance factories.

The numbers are as follows:

	Numbers
ROF Birtley	117
ROF Bishopton	21
ROF Blackburn	144
ROF Bridgwater	25
ROF Chorley	41
RSAF Enfield	119
ROF Glascoed	104
ROF Leeds	165
ROF Nottingham	151
ROF Patricroft	200
ROF Radway Green	10
Total	1,097

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the capital investment in plant and machinery in each of the royal ordnance factories in each of the last 10 years.

In the time available it has not been possible to provide the hon. Member with the information he requested. I will arrange for a full reply to be given in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence police are employed in guarding royal ordnance factories; and whether he will list them by factory.

The number of Ministry of Defence police on the strength of the 11 factories amounts to 235. For security reasons, it is not our practice to give detailed strengths for individual factories.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many overseas export contracts were won by the royal ordnance factories in each year since 1974; and whether he will list these contracts by factory.

Overseas sales by the royal ordnance factories trading fund in each year since 1974, in absolute and relative terms, were as follows:

	Overseas Sales £ Million	Percentage of Total Sales Per cent.
1974–75 (9 months)	38	46
1975–76	70	47
1976–77	109	52
1977–78	140	53
1978–79	151	53
1979–80	108	39
1980–81	98	35
1981–82	154	44
1982–83	192	43

Overseas sales contracts vary in size and distribution, from very small ones — for example, for spares — to major contracts for tanks and ordnance. The number of contracts is not therefore a meaningful statistic. It should also be noted that the figures prior to 1979–80 were distorted by tank exports to Iran, the size of which, in relation to total overseas sales, is unlikely to be repeated.Overseas contracts are placed upon the royal ordnance factories collectively, and their performance is usually dependent upon the activities of several of the separate factories. It would therefore be misleading to relate sales contracts to particular factories.

Defence Equipment (Purchase)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make public the same data as are available to the public in the United States as to the content and cost of defence equipment items purchased by his Department from United States' sources.

It is a longstanding practice of Her Majesty's Government to treat details of individual contract prices as commercially confidential. This is designed to protect the Government's position as buyer. United States practice is governed by United States laws and procedures.

Falkland Islands

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of his return flight from the Falklands to the United Kingdom by Nimrod; and what is the average cost of transporting a member of the armed services from the Falkland Islands to the United Kingdom (a) by air by Hercules, (b) by air and sea and (c) by sea.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his visit to the Falkland Islands.

The principal purpose of my visit to the Falkland Islands from 19 to 22 January was to meet the members of all three services stationed in the islands and to see at first hand their accommodation and equipment. In addition to discussions with the Military Commissioner, Major-General Spacie, and his staff, I was able to visit Army and Royal Air Force units in all parts of the islands, as well as ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The equipment and accommodation available for our forces is being rapidly improved, and I was impressed by the excellent morale and high state of readiness wherever I went. Construction of the new airfield at Mount Pleasant is proceeding on time and according to plan.I also had the opportunity to have discussions with the Civil Commissioner, Sir Rex Hunt, and members of the Legislative and Executive Councils, as well as other residents of the islands. They confirmed that relations between the garrison and civil community were very good. I suggested to them that the presence of the garrison presented considerable opportunities for the civil community in providing some of the supplies which now had to be shipped from the United Kingdom.My visit also enabled me to make a brief stay in Ascension island and to see the outstanding contribution made by the RAF station there to the operation of the vital airbridge link which supplies our garrison in the Falklands. On the return journey I was able to participate in a non-stop flight of 17½ hours by an RAF Nimrod aircraft which had just completed a week's operations based at RAF Stanley, which underlined the great enhancement to our worldwide defence capability which air-to-air refuelling provides.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the operating cost of the vessel Norland in 1983, providing a link between Ascension island and the Falklands; and what was the payment to North Sea Ferries for the use of the Norland.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The Norland was a requisitioned ship which was returned to the owner in April 1983. Costs paid to the owner of a requisitioned vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned. Information on costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a requisitioned vessel over and above those paid to the owner are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the vessel St. Edmund's Falklands-related work during 1983; and how much has been paid to Sea Link for the use of the St. Edmund.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The St. Edmund was a requisitioned ship which was purchased by the Ministry of Defence in March 1983, and was subsequently operated on behalf of the Ministry of defence by the original owner. Costs paid to the owner of a requisitioned vessel and costs subsequently paid to the former owner to operate a vessel on behalf of the Ministry of Defence are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner or former owner concerned. Information on additional costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of this vessel are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the Falklands-related work of the vessel Cunard Countess, operating between Ascension island and the Falklands; and how much was paid to Cunard in 1983 for the use of the Cunard Countess.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

Information on costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a chartered vessel over and above those paid to the owner are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what purposes and at what cost he has chartered the vessel Ailsa Princess.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The vessel Ailsa Princess was chartered for mine-laying trials. Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much he paid the Norwegian owners for the charter of the cargo vessel Sand Shore for Falklands work in 1983.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much he paid the Danish owners of the vessel Annette S for the Falklands-related work in 1983.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456] The Annette S was not used by the Ministry of Defence in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much he paid the owners of the Baltic Ferry for work in and around the Falklands in 1983.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of operating the vessel Rangatira in and around the Falklands in 1983.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The Rangatira was a requisitioned ship which was chartered by the Ministry of Defence in April 1983. Costs paid to the owner of a requisitioned or a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned. Information on costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a requisitioned or a chartered vessel over and above those paid to the owner are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what Falkland-related purposes the Scottish Eagle has been used in 1983; and at what cost.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The Scottish Eagle was chartered for the supply of ships' fuel. Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.Information on costs incurred by the Ministry of Defence in respect of a chartered vessel over and above those paid to the owner are not available in the form requested as these costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what purposes the vessel Stenor Inspector was used in the south Atlantic in 1983; and what was the payment made to her owners for the use of the vessel.

[pursuant to his answer, 24 January 1984, c. 456]: The Stenor Inspector was chartered as a forward repair ship in support of naval units of the Falkland Islands garrison. Costs paid to the owner of a chartered vessel are a commercially confidential matter between the Ministry of Defence and the owner concerned.

Service Personnel (Overseas Allowance)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on recent reviews of local overseas allowance paid to service personnel.

Local overseas allowance is a tax-free compensatory allowance paid to service men and women overseas, in addition to their pay, to meet the essential extra costs to them of serving abroad. LOA is assessed by using the same principles and criteria worldwide, but rates are kept under review since the extra costs to service personnel change over time, for example in response to different price movements in the United Kingdom and abroad. LOA is also adjusted for variations in exchange rates.A number of repricing reviews, to ensure that LOA rates continue to be related to current requirements, have been carried out over the past few months. Most of these have resulted in increased rates of LOA, for example in USA, France, Italy, Portugal and Sardinia. A review in Germany has resulted in a reduction in rates which will be applied in two equal stages, the first on 1 March and the second on 1 May 1984.

Social Services

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total value of all supplementary benefit payments paid to claimants giving their address as Portia Centre, Maryport, Cumbria, since the ending of the direct payment system in August 1983.

Direct payments of supplementary benefit for board and lodging charges were last made to Portia Centre, Maryport, Cumbria in early September 1983. The local office has estimated that since then a total of about £11,500 has been paid to supplementary benefit claimants while living at Portia Centre. The amount includes any contributory benefit where payment of that is combined with supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the chief supplementary benefit officer has issued guidance to officers of his Department indicating that a sum of money held under trust for a vaccine damage payment should be totally disregarded for supplementary benefit purposes; and if he will make a statement.

The supplementary benefit regulations provide that a vaccine damage payment held on trust for the dependant of a supplementary benefit claimant is to be wholly disregarded and guidelines to that effect have been issued by the chief supplementary benefit officer. Where the vaccine damaged person is the claimant or the partner of the claimant, the regulations provide that the payment may be disregarded for not normally more than 12 months, having regard to the intentions of the trustees in the case of persons aged 16 to 17 and, in any other case, where this is reasonable in the circumstances. Local offices are advised that such cases should be referred for consideration individually by the office of the chief supplementary benefit officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now amend regulation 10 of the Supplementary Benefit Single Payments Regulations 1981 to ensure automatic availability to single payments for furniture and household equipment to any supplementary benefit claimant who obtains unfurnished accommodation.

We have no plans to do so.

24-Hour Emergency Service

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities in England and Wales are known to have ceased provision of a 24-hour emergency service for social services in the last two years.

The information is not routinely collected by central Government. However, a recent ad hoc inquiry in England and Wales showed that the following authorities did not have formal arrangements for such a service in November 1983:

Kent County Council
Wirral Metropolitan District
Barnsley Metropolitan District
Gateshead Metropolitan District
Rotherham Metropolitan District
Kingston London Borough
Richmond London Borough
Bexley London Borough

Some of these authorities have informal arrangements to deal with social work emergencies.

Manchester Royal Infirmary (Heart Surgery)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting period from first referral to operation for heart surgery at Manchester royal infirmary.

The information requested is not available centrally.

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of implementing NI 248 November 1983 about equal treatment for men and women claiming benefit (a) in 1984–85 and (b) in 1985–86 if all those eligible take up all benefit changes to which they are entitled.

It is estimated that benefit expenditure will increase by about £25 million in 1984–85 and £31 million in 1985–86 as a result of the changes described in leaflet NI 248. The estimate is based on assumptions about eligibility and take-up and makes some allowance for behavioural changes—for example where a wife makes herself available for work in order to claim supplementary benefit. The maximum number who could be eligible would depend on the interaction of these various factors. The estimate also assumes that the provisions of clauses 6 and 7 of the Health and Social Security Bill will be implemented from November 1984.

Departmental Powers

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services 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 me to take certain action or decisions, with or without the specific approval of Parliament in the particular case. In addition, because of my responsibilities for war pensions, I sometimes carry out functions in connection with the exercise of the Royal Prerogative in relation to the armed forces of the Crown. Other powers and functions are inherent in the office of a Minister of the Crown: for example the day-to-day management of my Department.

Nhs (Work Combinations)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many combinations of grade and area of work there were in the National Health Service in 1960, 1970, and at the latest date available; and how these combinations are distributed between dental and medical staff, nursing and midwifery staff, professional and technical staff, administrative and clerical staff, ambulance staff, ancillary staff, and any other staff.

The following table shows the approximate number of combinations of grade and area of work for each staff group returned at 30 September 1982, the latest date for which figures are available:

	Number
Medical and dental	400
Nursing and midwifery	1,020
Professional and technical	560
Administrative and clerical	1,690
Ambulance staff (including officers)	100
Ancillary	510
Other (Works/maintenance)	340
Total	4.600

These figures differ in some respects from those given in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply on 30 July 1982. — [Vol. 28, c.

850–51.] In producing the later figures we have been able to eliminate theoretical combinations of grade and area of work which have been found, from a closer examination of all the returns, not to exist in practice. This accounts in particular for the much reduced figure for nurses and midwives. At the same time, the September 1982 returns contain a significant number of combinations which became obsolete in April 1982, when area health authorities were abolished as part of NHS restructuring, but which could not be used in the new coding by the time the September returns were sent in. This factor has affected in particular the figures for administrative and clerical staff.

Figures for 1960 are not available for the reasons given in the reply of my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Sir G. Finsberg) on 19 May 1982—[Vol 24, c. 126]—those reasons apply equally to figures for 1970.

Surrogate Motherhood Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations from the general public and the medical profession he has received regarding surrogate motherhood schemes; and if he will make a statement.

In the last two years I have received 55 letters from members of the general public but no representations from the medical profession. As my hon. Friend will know, the Warnock inquiry into human fertilisation and embryology is examining the social, legal and ethical implications of surrogacy, and I understand it has received evidence on the subject from a wide range of organisations, including interested medical bodies.

Industrial Death Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide updated figures for the number of awards of industrial death benefit for (a) asbestosis, (b) absestosis and lung cancer and (c) mesothelioma in 1982.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 26 July 1983—[Vol. 46, c. 422–23.]—for the number of awards of industrial death benefit for (a) asbestosis, (b) asbestosis and lung cancer relating to deaths in 1982. This is the latest date for which figures are available.The number of awards of industrial death benefit for mesothelioma as at 31 December 1983 relating to deaths in 1982 is 167.

Social Security Frauds

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of prosecutions for social security fraud in the United Kingdom in each year since 1979 and the total amounts of money involved in the frauds for each year.

The number of prosecutions for social and security fraud in the United Kingdom, including those undertaken by the police, Post Office and the Department of Employment, in each year since 1979 is as follows:

	Number
1979–80	27,561
1980–81	31,156
1981–82	26,694
1982–83	20,365

Information about the amount of known overpayments or of the total sums involved in the specimen charges raised in cases where prosecutions have been brought is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Kidney Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give estimated dates when each of the regions and districts will achieve a target of treating 45 to 50 per million of the population suffering from kidney diseases; if he will indicate the progressions to be expected for 1984, 1985 and 1986; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will indicate the average length of waiting time for treatment for kidney patients in England; if he will give his best estimate of patients who die whilst on the waiting list; if he will give the age distribution of such deaths; and if he will make a statement.

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

Senior Medical Officers (Clinical Freedom)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what jurisdiction a general manager, proposed by the Griffiths report, will have over a senior medical officer's clinical freedom, if the Griffiths report is implemented.

No changes that the Government may introduce as a result of the Griffiths report will affect a consultant's clinical freedom to treat his patients according to his professional judgment.

Wrexham Local Office

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) for what periods overtime was worked at the Wrexham local social security office during 1982 and 1983;(2) for what reason overtime was worked on the last occasion at the Wrexham local social security office;(3) what is the number of permanent staff in post at the local Wrexham social security office;(4) what is the authorised staff complement of the Wrexham local social security office.

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

Occupational Pension Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the way in which he now intends to proceed with his inquiry into occupational pension schemes.

As my right hon. Friend said on 23 November last year— [Vol. 49, c. 361]—he hopes to reach conclusions on portable pensions by the spring. His inquiry into provision for retirement has therefore given priority to this subject and has set up a sub-group to look at it. It has invited written evidence from organisations and members of the public, which it is following up with oral evidence at four public sessions. The inquiry hopes to complete by the summer the remainder of its work, about which it is seeking views from interested bodies and the public and on which it will hear oral evidence in public. The Government will publish the conclusions which they reach in the light of the inquiry's work.

Benefits (Administration Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the current average cost per person for an assessment covering eligibility for the noncontributory invalidity pension for married women;(2) what is the current average cost per person for an assessment under the industrial injuries scheme in relation to disablement benefit.

I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 19 January 1984.—[Vol. 53, c. 310.]

Vaccine Damage Payments Act

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current average cost per person for an assessment in respect of an individual's entitlement to a payment under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act.

Vaccine damage payments form only a small part of the work of the Department and the information needed to make a reliable estimate of the cost of assessing a claim is not available.

Severe Disablement Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated average cost per person for an assessment in relation to the proposed severe disablement allowance.

I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 24 January.—[Vol. 52, c. 549.]

Mobility Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has given to health authorities on assisting patients to make use of mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Existing guidance on the management and use of hospital patients' money is contained in the "Hospital Memorandum on Patients' Moneys" (HM(71)90), which was issued to health authorities in November 1971. A copy of the memorandum is in the Library of the House.We shall shortly be issuing for consultation draft revised guidance for authorities on the payment, management and use of long-stay hospital patients' money. One of the main aims of the guidance is to encourage the flexible use of patients' benefits, including mobility allowance, to enhance the quality of life of the patients concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list by each district health authority the sums of money accumulated in patients' accounts in respect of mobility allowance; and if he will specify in each case the number of patients whose balances exceed £1,000.

I regret that this information is not available centrally.

Attendance Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the last year for which figures are available received payments of higher rate attendance allowance for a period before they had requested a review of their lower rate allowance; what was the average such period; what was the additional cost; and if he will make a statement.

Estimates for 1982, the latest date for which figures are available, are based on a small sample study carried out in 1981. These estimates are: 8,800; 22 weeks; and £1½ million. No decision has been taken on a recommendation in Mr. Oglesby's report that higher rate attendance allowance should not be payable in the circumstances stated.

Social Security Act 1975

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which business and other organisations have made representations to him about the operation of section 152(4) of the Social Security Act 1975; and whether he will make a statement.

During the last 12 months representations have been made by the Institute of Directors, and the Association of Independent Businesses.

National Insurance (Contributions System)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many changes of address have been entered on the national insurance contributions system during the last year for (a) persons claiming benefit and (b) other persons.

The total number of notifications of change of address accepted on to the computer for the tax year ending April 1983 was 4,171,800. We are unable to distinguish between those people claiming benefit arid other persons.

Computer Records (Personal Details)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many working days typically elapse between a local office being notified of a new address for a person claiming benefit and amendment of that person's address on the computer systems for (a) recording national insurance contributions and (b) the general index.

Precise figures are not held, but after the necessary actions have been taken details of the new address would typically be expected to reach Newcastle central office within five working days, a little longer if previous claim papers are held at a different local office. The computer files at Newcastle central office would be amended within five days of receipt of notification.

Griffiths Inquiry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what regional and district health authorities were visited by Mr. Roy Griffiths and members of his team during the course of his inquiry;(2) whether he will list the

(a) chief administrators, (b) nursing officers, (c) medical officers, (d) consultants and (e) patients who gave evidence to the Griffiths inquiry;

(3) whether he will list the professional and staff bodies, the trades unions, the individuals and any others who gave (a) written and (b) oral evidence to the Griffiths inquiry;

(4) on how many days Mr. Griffiths and members of his team met (a) to hear evidence, (b) to visit health authorities, (c) for consideration and (d) to amend their report during their recent inquiry into National Health Service management.

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave him on 23 January.—[Vol. 52, c. 444.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of the Griffiths inquiry.

The time of the members of the inquiry was made available without charge by their employers, who also covered most of their expenses. The Department met expenses totalling just under £10,000 and provided support staff.

Wales

Rate Support Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if there is any element, either direct or indirect, in the distribution formula for allocating the rate support grant settlement in Wales, which recognises the cost of bilingualisation to those authorities which incur costs arising from the bilingual nature of their communities.

No. To date I have accepted in their entirety the Welsh consultative council on local government finance recommendations for the distribution formulae for allocating the block grant portion of the rate support grants in Wales. The formulae do not include a specific element for bilingualism. However, support for bilingual education is given by way of a specific grant, which will be £622,000 in 1984–85.

Job Creation

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of jobs which will be safeguarded or created in Wales over the next three years arising out of the impact of the Welsh Development Agency's programme.

It is not possible to estimate with any degree of accuracy the number of jobs that will be safeguarded or created over the next three years arising out of the Welsh Development Agency's programme, since the take-up of its various services over that period cannot be predicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales for how many new jobs in Wales in 1983 special financial assistance was given.

Projects in Wales for which offers of selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act were accepted in 1983 are expected to create nearly 8,800 new jobs.

Labour Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of construction workers unemployed in Wales; and if he will express the figures as a percentage of the total of unemployed people in Wales.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Gentleman on 24 January by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.—[Vol. 52, c. 485.]

Deputising Services

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the operation of deputising services in Wales.

Recent inquiries indicate that deputising services have generally operated satsifactorily in Wales since guidance was first issued in 1978. Family practitioner committees, the medical profession and other interests are currently being consulted on possible amendments to this guidance.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many deputising services there are in Wales; and how many qualified doctors are employed in these services.

There are three deputising services in Wales, which employ a total of 79 qualified doctors.

Kidney Patients

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give estimated dates when Wales and each of the districts in Wales will achieve a target of treating 45 to 50 per million of the population suffering from kidney diseases; if he will indicate the progressions to be expected for 1984, 1985 and 1986; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's reply of 5 December 1983. A breakdown by district is not available—[Vol. 50, c. 22.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the average length of waiting time for treatment for kidney patients in Wales; if he will give his best estimates of patients who die whilst on the waiting lists; if he will give the age distribution of such deaths; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom transplant service has provided the following provisional 1983 figures for Wales:

	Average waiting time in days
Patients who received transplants in 1983
First graft	240
Second or subsequent graft	322
Patients awaiting transplants as at 31 December 1983
First graft	334
Second or subsequent graft	1,165

One patient in the 51–60 age group died while on the waiting list. Similar information relating to renal dialysis patients is not recorded centrally.

Vacant Housing

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of (a) council houses and (b) private houses standing empty in Wales.

A total of 3,500 council dwellings and 41,000 private dwellings.

Local Authority Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest information he has relating to local authority spending totals for the year 1983–84; and how they compare with the planned figures.

I estimate that local authorities' current expenditure in 1983–84 will be £1,405 million compared with the planned figure of £1,358 million in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1983–84 to 1985–86" (Cmnd. 8789).

Planned capital provision for 1983–84 was originally £259 million, but was increased to £309 million last December. On the information presently available I expect expenditure for the year to be broadly in line with this increased level of provision.

International Rugby Matches

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he intends to attend in his official capacity any of the remaining international rugby union matches at Cardiff this season.

Owing to prior commitments I had already declined an invitation to the international matches at Cardiff this season but following the refusal of the Welsh rugby authorities to comply with the Government's request not to proceed with the recent tour of Wales by a representative youth team from South Africa, contrary to the spirit of the Gleneagles agreement, which this Government support, it was decided that in any case neither I nor my hon. Friend the Minister of State should attend any rugby internationals at Cardiff this season.

Welsh Development Agency

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the increase in real terms of the Welsh Development Agency financial allocations for each of the financial years 1980–81 to 1983–84.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 January 1984, c. 319–320.]: The budget provision for the Welsh Development Agency has fallen in recent years with the completion of the major steel remedial programmes. Government programmes are no longer planned on a constant price basis. However, by applying the gross domestic product deflator and using 1982–83 as the base year the total funds provided to the agency, or expected to be provided, by the Government in the years in question appear as follows:

	£ millions
1980–81	76·7
1981–82	82·0
1982–83	56·4
1983–84	41·1

Volume 52: debated on Thursday 26 January 1984

Written Answers To Questions

Energy

Combined Heat And Power Schemes

Departmental Administration Costs

Coal

Home Department

Mr John Preece

Prison Security

Prison, Community Service And Probation Costs

Odeon Cinema, Hammersmith (Disturbance)

Criminal Law Act 1977

Instruments Of Restraint

Youth Custody Sentences

Child Maintenance Orders

Multiple Voting

Young Offenders

Stop And Search

Sentencing Policy

Police (Injuries)

Statistics And Information

Mr Stokeley Carmichael

Prostitution

Prison Statistics

Arts

Works Of Art (Value Added Tax)

National Finance

Overseas Tourists (Taxation)

Liverpool

Mortgages

Income And Taxation

Parliamentary Questions (Costs)

Unitary Taxation

Civil Servants (Pay)

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Departmental Powers

Slaughterhouse Acts

Dogs (Export)

Male Manual Workers

Cereals

Prime Minister

Engagements

Stirling

Hertfordshire

Crawley

Parliamentary Commissioner For Administration

Government Accountancy Service

Hong Kong

Overseas Visits

Oman University (Contract)

International Rugby Matches

Education And Health (Expenditure)

Northern Ireland

Ultra-Heat Treated Milk

Police (Rules)

Fishing Industry

Hospital Consultants

Security

Prisoners (Alcoholism)

Maze Prison

Integration

Terrorists (Death Penalty)

Container Lorries (Searches)

Labour Statistics

Director Of Public Prosecutions

Assembly

Bangor Hospital

Industrial Development Board (Advertising And Public Relations)

Gaelic Athletic Association

Prisoners (Compassionate Parole)

Cot Deaths

Kidney Patients

International Rugby Matches

Hospitals

Plastic Bullets

Social Services

Oglesby Report

Attorney-General

Departmental Powers