asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will propose to the House the permanent introduction of the experimental procedure used in Session 1979–80 which limited speeches on second reading of major bills to 10 minutes between 7 pm and 9 pm.

I anticipate that this is a matter which might come within the terms of reference of the proposed Procedure Committee. I hope that the appropriate motion can be tabled very shortly.

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

The Lord Advocate's function as public prosecutor in Scotland is not subject to specific parliamentary approval. His functions of representation and advice as Her Majesty's legal representative for Scotland and other powers and functions inherent in his office as a Minister of the Crown do not require such approval. He also has a wide range of other functions conferred by statute, some of which contain provision for parliamentary supervision. This applies also to my own function in assisting the Lord Advocate as Solicitor-General for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will contribute to any supplementary funding which the World Bank arranges in order to increase the size of the 7th replenishment of the International Development Association from the present total of $9 billion.

Yes. The Government have from an early stage made it clear that they favour a larger replenishment of IDA'S resources than the $9 billion agreed earlier this month in Wahington. Subject to our being able to negotiate satisfactory arrangements, we would now be prepared to make a contribution to supplementary funding on the basis of the usual equitable burden-sharing among donors. We shall be holding consultations about this with the World Bank and others during the coming weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refusals of (i) husbands and (ii) fiancés in the Indian subcontinent in each quarter of 1982 were (a) wholly and (b) partly because the primary purpose of the marriage was held to be immigration into the United Kingdom.

The information available is incomplete and estimates are not available on a quarterly basis, nor for husbands and fiancés separately. Of the 640 husbands and fiancés refused entry clearance under the 1980 immigration rules in the Indian subcontinent in 1982, it is estimated that 20 were refused solely on the grounds that the primary purpose of the marriage was to obtain admission to the United Kingdom, and that a further 100 were refused partly on these grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry to the United Kingdom from (i) husbands and (ii) fiancés were (a) decided and (b) refused in the Indian subcontinent in each quarter of 1982.

The information requested is given in the following table. A third of the applications decided in 1982 were dealt with under the 1977 immigration rules.

Husbands and male fiancés applying for entry clearance for leave to enter the United Kingdom
Indian subcontinent				Number of persons
	Applications decided*		Of which, applications refused
	Husbands	Male fiancés	Husbands	Male fiancés
1982 1st quarter	70	380	20	160
2nd quarter	70	270	20	110
3rd quarter	70	320	30	200
4th quarter	60	250	20	140
* Granted or refused

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from local authorities or local probation committees concerning the setting of a 3 per cent. growth target for the probation service in 1984–85; and if he will make a statement.

None. The growth of about 3 per cent. for which provision is intended in our expenditure plans for 1984–85, is broadly in line with the growth in work load estimated by the standing committee on probation manpower needs, on which the central council of probation committees is represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he took the decision to exclude Mr. Kwame Ture from the United Kingdom; and whether this decision was taken before his arrival at Heathrow airport.

On 19 January 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why Mr. Kwame Ture was refused leave to speak to his solicitor Mr. Paul Boateng while being held by immigration officers at Heathrow airport;(2) what were the reasons for his decision to exclude Mr. Kwame Ture (Stokeley Carmichael) from the United Kingdom.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to questions by the hon. Members for Tottenham (Mr. Atkinson) and for Battersea (Mr. Dubs) on 26 January.—[Vol. 52, c. 632.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimated number of individuals and families with a pre-tax income from all sources of over £10,000, £20,000 and £30,000 per annum, respectively.

The latest estimates for 1983–84 are as follows. "Total income" includes only those forms of income liable to tax, before the deduction of personal allowances and reliefs.

Total income	Number of individuals and married couples Thousands
over £10,000	5,400
over £20,000	730
over £30,000	200

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate aggregate pension funds invested both home and abroad; and what percentage this represents of total investment.

Real earnings after income tax, NI contributions and child benefit
(April 1979=100)
	At the lowest decile of gross earnings			At median gross earnings			At the highest decile of gross earnings
	Single	Married	Married +2 children*	Single	Married	Married +2 children*	Single	Married	Married +2 children*
April 1979	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0
April 1980	99·8	99·5	97·0	100·9	100·6	98·7	104·8	104·5	102·9
April 1981	96·1	95·2	94·1	98·1	97·4	96·3	105·5	104·8	103·5
April 1982	94·3	93·9	93·1	97·4	97·0	96·0	105·0	104·4	103·2
April 1983	97·9	97·9	97·4	101·4	101·2	100·5	110·3	109·9	108·7
* Both under age 11.

Gross earnings are those recorded in each April's new earnings survey for all full-time adult males whose pay was not affected by absence. Income tax rates and allowances for April 1979 are those specified in the Finance Act 1979, later replaced by those announced in June 1979; for subsequent Aprils, they are the rates and allowances for the financial year immediately following. Taxpayers are assumed to have no reliefs or allowances other than the appropriate personal allowances. National Insurance contributions are at the contracted-in rate. The calculations take no account of means-tested benefits to

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of after-tax income from all sources is taken by the highest and lowest quartiles of households in the latest year for which information is available; and what were the corresponding percentages in 1974 and 1979.

The information is as follows:

Percentage shares of household disposable income
	1974	1979	1982
Lowest quartile of households	9·2	8·9	9·2
Highest quartile of households (ranked by disposable income)	45·3	45·5	46·3

The figures are shown for the highest and lowest quartiles of households in the family expenditure survey ranked by disposable income for 1974, 1979 and 1982, the latest year for which survey data are available. Disposable income is defined as earned and investment income, occupational pensions, and all state benefits, net of personal income tax and employees' national insurance contributions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the net real income, at 1979 prices, of a single person, a married couple, and a married couple with two children assuming for each year since 1979 earnings at (a) the lowest decile, (b) the median, and (c) the highest decile of the male earnings distribution as recorded in the new earnings survey for April each year.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 January 1984, c. 195–96]: Information is in the following table:which those at the lowest decile may be entitled. Changes in the purchasing powers of net earnings have been calculated by reference to movements in the general index of retail prices between Aprils.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied that the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Director of Public Prosecutions have sufficient staff engaged on the possibility of prosecutions following the death of a prison officer during the break-out from the Maze prison in September 1983.

I am satisfied that the RUC has sufficient resources to deal with this matter, and I understand that my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General, who superintends the work of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Northern Ireland), is satisfied about the latter's resources in this context.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what invitations he and the Chief Constable have extended to representatives of political parties to discuss security; and what has been the response.

On 24 November 1983, I invited the leaders of the four principal constitutional parties to a meeting to discuss the security situation in Northern Ireland with me. Only the leader of the Alliance party felt able to accept, and I have since had a wide-ranging discussion with him. Earlier this month, I also saw, together and at their request, the leaders of the Ulster Unionist party and the Democratic Unionist party. Further meetings were arranged on both occasions.The Chief Constable has not extended invitations to representatives of political parties to discuss security. However, as an entirely independent initiative, the police authority for Northern Ireland has invited the leaders of the main constitutional parties to attend separate meetings at its offices to discuss policing matters of mutual interest.The Chief Constable agreed to attend these meetings to deal with any subject of operational concern. Delegations from the Ulster Unionist party and the Alliance party had such meetings on 3 and 19 January, respectively. I understand that other meetings have already been arranged with representatives of the Workers' party and the Democratic Unionist party. The leader of the Social Democratic and Labour party declined this invitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students from the People's Republic of China are studying in Northern Ireland.

None in further or higher education in 1982–83, the latest academic year for which information is available; information on the nationality of school pupils is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consideration has been given to proposals that the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic be wired off.

Any practical proposals for improving security in Northern Ireland are always given serious consideration. However, it is the opinion of the security forces that border security can best be maintained by foot and mobile patrols, vehicle checks, covert operations and selected border road closures.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence in relation to Brewster houses in Port Stanley.

These houses are funded from the rehabilitation grant administered by the Overseas Development Administration. I am satisfied with the arrangements, which were established immediately after the cessation of hostilities, to ensure full exchange of information on, and co-ordination of, programmes being undertaken in the Falkland Islands by various Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students from the People's Republic of China are studying in England.

In 1982–83, there were 208 students from the People's Republic of China in English universities and maintained public sector institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of United Kingdom medical students enrolling in each of the last 15 years have been female.

The information requested is as follows:

	Per cent.
1968–69	25
1969–70	27
1970–71	28
1971–72	30
1972–73	31
1973–74	32
1974–75	33
1975–76	34
1976–77	36
1977–78	37
1978–79	37
1979–80	40
1980–81	40
1981–82	43
1982–83	44

These percentages include overseas entrants prior to 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that a copy of the report prepared by Mr. David Edward, QC, as assessor into the compensation to be awarded to Mr. Patrick Meehan, will be given to Mr. Meehan's solicitor, Mr. Beltrami.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the planned capital projects for the building of hospitals in Scotland for the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, respectively, and also list those hospitals which he expects to be commissioned in 1984 and 1985.

The plans of health boards indicate that building is expected to start on the following schemes in the major building programme in the period 1984–88:1984

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students from the People's Republic of China are studying in Scotland.

In session 1982–83 there were nine full-time students from the People's Republic of China studying in Scottish universities; there were no such students in colleges of education. Information is not available for central institutions and local authority colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the director, Crossroads (Scotland) care attendant scheme, in respect of the domiciliary support provided for the elderly frail, mentally handicapped and physically disabled and their carers throughout Scotland; and when he intends to reply to the scheme concerning its financial support.

My right hon. Friend has received two letters, dated 21 and 29 December, objecting to the decision by the Glasgow city area manpower board not to renew the managing agency under the Manpower Services Commission's community programme. A reply is being sent to the director today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to exercise his powers under section 3 of the Divorce Jurisdiction, Court Fees and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1983 to regulate the fees of the legal profession in relation to legal aid.

I intend to introduce regulations on the fees payable to the legal profession in relation to legal aid work in Scotland to come into operation on 1 May 1984. The regulations will in broad terms give effect to the existing structures and levels of fees currently in operation. Since, however, I believe that the fee structures should be rationalised and simplified, it is my intention to modify these as and when suitable alternatives can be worked out. The legal profession will be fully consulted on the proposed changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if consideration of the extension to Scotland of the technical and vocational education initiative introduced by Her Majesty's Government and the Manpower Services Commission has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

I am glad to say that following consultations between the Government, the Manpower Services Commission and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities it has been agreed that it will be possible for education authorities to prepare and submit a number of projects for support by the Manpower Services Commission that will be consistent both with the agreed aims, criteria and guidelines applying to projects under the extended technical and vocational education initiative and with my educational development programmes for 14 to 16-year-olds and for 16 to 18-year-olds. I understand that the Manpower Services Commission is inviting applications from education authorites in Scotland and will arrange for them to be considered as soon as possible with a view to a number of projects starting at the beginning of the 1984–85 school year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of (a) unemployed males and (b) unemployed females, under the age of 21 years have now been unemployed for (i) more than six months and (ii) more than 12 months in the Huddersfield travel-to-work area; and if he will make a statement.

The following is the information for unemployed claimants under 20 years of age—under 21 not available—in the Huddersfield jobcentre area on 13 October 1983, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available.

	Male	Female
	per cent.	per cent.
Unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks	19·1	18·7
Unemployed for over 52 weeks	20·9	21·7

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of fatal accidents and of non-fatal accidents respectively, were attributed to maintenance work, during each of the last five years for which records are available.

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

asked the Secretary of State or Employment what proposals have been put to him for support under the extension of the technical and vocational education initiative; and what decision have been reached upon them.

The technical and vocational education initiative is designed to stimulate the further development of technical and vocational education for 14-to-18-year-olds by providing resources for local education authorities to run pilot schemes.After the initial round of 14 local education authorities, proposals have now been submitted by 68 local education authorities, which means that in total some 80 per cent. of all local education authorities have submitted proposals for support in either the first or second round. The Manpower Services Commission has recommended to me that, subject to negotiation, it should support 46 proposals which it believes will make a worth while contribution to the aims of the initiative. After consulting my colleagues responsible for education in England and Wales, I have agreed to the commission's proposals.The 46 schemes selected for support in the second round of the initiative were submitted by the following local education authorities:

Berkshire	Isle of Wight
Bolton	Kirklees
Buckinghamshire	Leeds
Bury	Lincolnshire
Cambridgeshire	Mid-Glamorgan
Cheshire	Newcastle
Cleveland	Norfold
Cornwall	North Tyneside
Coventry	Northamptonshire
Croydon	Northumberland
Cumbria	Powys
Derbyshire	Richmond upon Thames
Doncaster	Shropshire
Dorset	Solihull
Dudley	Somerset
Durham	South Tyneside
East Sussex	Stockport
Essex	Suffolk
Gloucestershire	Sunderland
Gwent	Surrey
Gwynedd	Tameside
Hampshire	Warwickshire
Havering	West Glamorgan

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the enforcement of security at the Caerwent arms camp, in Gwent, is a matter which comes under the control of British or United States military command.

As occupiers of the base, the United States army is responsible for its security.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any information as to whether chemical weapons are being used by the Soviet Union's military forces in Afghanistan.

We believe that some form of non-lethal incapacitating agent has been used by Soviet forces in Afghanistan. We are continuing to study the evidence for the use of lethal chemical agents in that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if there has been any change in the staffing of the British military mission in Bangladesh since 23 November; and what is the estimated cost of the mission in 1983–84.

The only staffing change in the British military advisory team in Bangladesh since 23 November 1983 is the current changeover of officer filling the Captain RN post. The number and level of the posts remain unaltered. The estimated cost of the mission in 1983–84 is about £205,000.

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.

[pursuant to his answer, 26 January 1984]: The Nimrod by which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence returned from the Falklands to the United Kingdom was coming back from an operational detachment and no additional cost arose.Movement of personnel and freight to and from the Falklands is carried out by means of MOD-owned aircraft and ships and chartered aircraft and ships, often with passengers and freight combined on the one journey. It is not possible therefore to provide precise estimates of average costs for service personnel travelling by different methods. The normal method of return from the Falklands for service personnel is by either MOD-owned or chartered ship to Ascension island and then by RAF VCIO to the United Kingdom. The average passenger cost for such a journey depends on the operating costs of the ships concerned. This information is not available as the costs are not in all respects attributable to individual vessels. The other method is by RAF Hercules to Ascension island and then by VC10 to the United Kingdom, for which the average extra cost to the Department per passenger is some £650.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what statistical series are kept by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys which relate to divorce.

Regular and detailed statistical series relating to divorce are published annually in the reference volume "Marriage and Divorce Statistics"—the OPCS FM2 series of publications; annually in the OPCS monitor on divorces which provides summary statistics and some comparisons with previous years; and in table 15 of the OPCS quarterly journal Population Trends. All these series relate to numbers in England and Wales. The series are too numerous to list individually, but among the tables published are those relating to divorces by age at divorce, age at marriage, duration of marriage, children of divorcing couples, previous marital condition, fact proven at divorce, divorce petitions filed and the interval between petition and divorce.

Major Hospital Schemes under Construction at 26 January 1984
Region	Project/Scheme	Estimated year of practical completion
Northern	Furness (Barrow) DGH scheme 1 phase 1	1984
Northern	North Tyneside scheme 1 phase 1	1984
Northern	Queen Elizabeth Gateshead scheme 3 phase 3	1985
Northern	Royal Victoria infirmary scheme 1 phase 4	1984
Yorkshire	Scarborough DGH phase 1	1986
Trent	Derby city phase 1	1986
Trent	Glenfield DGH phase 1	1984
Trent	Lincoln county phase 1	1984
Trent	Northern general phase 1C	1985
North West Thames	Hemel Hempstead phase 1	1986
North West Thames	St. Mary's W2 phase 1B	1987
North West Thames	Watford (Shrodells wing) phase 3	1984
North East Thames	Broomfield phase 5	1984
North East Thames	Colchester DGH phase 2	1984
North East Thames	Harold Wood hospital phase 1	1986
North East Thames	Homerton (Eastern) phase 1	1985
South East Thames	Kent and Sussex—Tunbridge Wells phase 1	1985
South East Thames	Lewisham DGH phase 1A	1985
South East Thames	Orpington phase 1	1984
South West Thames	St. George's block G2 and F phase 2	1985
Wessex	Royal Hants county Winchester phase 4	1985
Wessex	Royal South Hants. Southampton phase 3	1986
South Western	West Somerset (Musgrove park) DGH phase 1	1985
South Western	Weston-super-Mare new hospital	1986
West Midlands	Bromsgrove Redditch DGH phase 1 contract 2	1986
Mersey	Halton DGH phase 2	1984

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has regarding the import of human organs into the United Kingdom for use in private and National Health Service hospitals; and what were the countries of origin.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the planned capital projects for the building of hospitals in England for the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, respectively, and also list those hospitals which he expects to be commissioned in 1984 and 1985.

Following is a list of major hospital projects under construction at 26 January 1984 with expected practical completion dates in the years shown. The Department does not have a comprehensive list of projects with a building and engineering cost under £5 million, as responsibility for these is wholly delegated to health authorities. Additional information about health authorities' intentions over the next 10 years will be included in the strategies to be submitted to the Department in outline in May 1984 and in full in March 1985 in accordance with health circular (84)2, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the sums accruing to physically disabled and handicapped persons in hospitals and residential homes, after meeting all board and lodging payments, are used to fund holidays or trips, or provide special treats and are not simply allowed to accumulate unspent and unused.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of (a) male and (b) female doctors are engaged in medical practice one, three, five, 10 or 15 years after qualification.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether any pensioners who have opted to receive their pension by bank transfer received their Christmas bonus after Christmas.

All payments of Christmas bonus made by bank transfer were dispatched in time for bank accounts to be credited before Christmas. If the hon. Member has information about any particular case of delay and will let me have details, I will arrange for it to be investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many one-parent families there are in (a) the London borough of Brent and (b) greater London as a whole; and what proportion of the total population of those areas they represent in each case.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled people there are in (a) the London borough of Brent and (b) greater London as a whole; and what proportion of the total population of those areas they represent in each case.

No such figures are available, partly because registration is voluntary and partly because there is no system of registration for people with mental disabilities. However, the numbers of physically and sensorily disabled people registered with local authorities at 31 March 1980—the latest date for which a full set of statistics is available in the form required—were as follows:

	Brent	Greater London
Blind/partially sighted	901	24,932
Deaf/hard of hearing	341	13,683
General classes	4,744	163,747
Total	5,986	202,362

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total volume of expenditure on unemployment and unemployment-related benefits in Wales expressed in constant prices for each year from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Expenditure in Wales since 1978–79 on unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit for unemployed people is estimated to have been as follows:

	Unemployment benefit		Supplementary benefit
Year	Cash	at 1982–83 prices	Cash	at 1982–83 prices
	£ million	£ million	£ million	£ million
1978–79	44	71	42	68
1979–80	41	57	41	57
1980–81	86	103	67	80
1981–82	119	127	112	120
1982–83	84	84	164	164

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate for 1983–84 and 1984–85 of (a) the net savings to central Government and (b) the net cost to local Government of the transfer of certain housing benefit responsibilities.

The Department's estimates of gross savings to central Government as a result of the introduction of the housing benefits scheme are £30 million in 1983–84 and £31·5 million in 1984–85. The net savings in 1983–84 will depend on the amounts of subsidy claimed by local authorities for housing benefit administration costs. Although these are likely to be higher than current provision, no firm estimate can yet be given and it is not therefore possible to make a forecast for 1984–85. The net costs to local Government in both 1983–84 and 1984–85 will be nil.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing for 1983 the value of commitments made by the European regional development fund towards (a) industrial developments and (b) infrastructure projects in each of the counties of Wales.

The information is as follows:

European Regional Development Fund Aid Committed to Wales in 1983
	Infrastructure	Industry	Total
	£ million	£ million	£ million
Clwyd	3·2	6·6	9·8
Dyfed	1·7	—	1·7
Gwent	7·1	3·8	10·9

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the planned capital projects for the building of hospitals in Wales for the years 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988, respectively, and also list those hospitals which he expected to the commissioned in 1984 and 1985.

The information in respect of major hospital developments costing over £2 million is as follows:

(£000s)
District and scheme	Total costs
Building and redevelopment in course of construction or due to start in 1984
Clwyd
Wrexham DGH Scheme 1	13,211
Wrexham Staff Residential	2,268
East Dyfed
St. Davids Carmarthen	2,270
Bryntirion Phase II	2,658
Llanelli General Hospital*	19,100
Gwynedd
Ysbyty Gwynedd	33,543
Mid Glamorgan
Bridgend DGH	22,450
St. Tydfils Adaptations 2	3,302
Powys
Ystradgynlais Community Hospital*	3,222
South Glamorgan
Llandough Obstetrics and Associated Works*	7,719
Prince of Wales Orthopaedic Renovations	3,300
West Glamorgan
Morriston Nucleus + Upgrading	16,672
Morriston Geriatric Scheme*	2,700
Neath OPD	2,090
Singleton Pathology/Mortuary*	3,000
Hospital buildings and redevelopments provisonally programmed to start in 1985–86–1988–89
Clwyd
Wrexham DGH Phase II	12,000
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd Obstetric, Gynaecology + Special Care Baby Departments	4,000
East Dyfed
West Wales General Hospital—Replacement facilities for geriatric patients	2,000
Gwent
Royal Gwent Scheme VI, VII	9,000
Mid Glamorgan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many students from the People's Republic of China are studying in Wales.

In 1982–83, the latest year for which information is available, seven students from the People's Republic of China were studying at establishments of higher and further education in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the net impact on total local government expenditure in Wales of the reductions in the national insurance surcharge payable by local authority employers in 1982–83 and 1983–84.

The reductions in the national insurance surcharge announced in 1982 did not take effect for local authority employers until 6 April 1983. As a consequence, surcharge payable in the present financial year was reduced from 3·5 per cent. to 2·5 per cent., yielding an expenditure saving of approximately £8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those additional functions for which local authorities in Wales have become responsible since 1979.

Swansea city council and Delyn borough council have become enterprise zone authorities and the statutory processes are under way for a further zone designation in the districts of South Pembrokeshire and Preseli. In 14 districts where the special community reviews have been completed— Afan, Cynon Valley, Aberconwy, Swansea, Newport, Dwyfor, Colwyn, Neath, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhuddlan, Merthyr Tydfil, Radnor and Islwyn — the district councils have assumed responsibility for reviewing the boundaries and electoral arrangements of the communities within their districts under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972. All other district councils will assume this responsibility in due course. Within the field of my responsibilities no other additional functions have been imposed on local authorities since 1979. A number of requirements concerning long-standing functions have been varied—for example, since 1981 local authorities have been required to charge prescribed fees for planning applications — but changes of this nature are not regarded as additional functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many United Kingdom-registered vessels and foreign-registered vessels, respectively, have been piloted in United Kingdom ports and coastal waters during the past 12 months.

In the year ended 31 December 1982—the latest period for which figures are available — there were 69,754 acts of pilotage on United Kingdom-registered vessels and 151,834 on foreign-registered vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his responsibilities for the provision and maintenance of pilotage services in United Kingdom ports and coastal waters, and the contribution of such services towards safety of navigation and the protection of the environment in such areas.

Although my right hon. Friend has a general concern for the safety of navigation and for marine pollution questions, he has no direct responsibility for the provision and maintenance of pilotage services in United Kingdom waters. These are matters for pilotage authorities, which are largely autonomous bodies with local responsibilities defined in pilotage orders and byelaws made under legislation now consolidated in the Pilotage Act 1983. However, these orders may be made by my right hon. Friend — on application by an interested party or by the Pilotage Commission—and, although he is not himself empowered to promote byelaws, he may reject or amend those that are put to him as he sees fit, and they cannot take effect without his consent. He also has powers under the Act in relation to pilotage authorities' lists of charges and to their actions in pilotage certification, and these bear closely on the provision and maintenance of services.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement assessing the initial consequences of increasing the weight limits for heavy lorries; and if he will publish regular reviews of changes in lorry traffic resulting from this change.

We estimate that some 11,000 vehicles are now operating at heavier weights permitted since May 1983. It is too early to make an assessment of the effect on lorry traffic and freight activity. We are monitoring the position through our regular surveys, and information will be published annually in "Transport Statistics Great Britain" and "The Transport of Goods by Road".

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce the date of the inquiry into the proposal to increase tolls on the Severn bridge.

I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will now announce his plans, together with the cost of carrying out the essential repair work, on the Severn bridge.(2) if he has now concluded his studies regarding a feasibility study into a second crossing of the Severn; and when he will be making a public announcement.

I have nothing to add to my statement to the House on 17 November 1983.—[Vol. 48, c. 1010.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what reply he has given to the West Midlands county council following its application to him for additional grant to enable it to construct the black country route between Bilston and the M6 motorway; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my answer on 21 December to the question from my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hall Green (Sir R. Eyre).—[Vol. 51, c. 230.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the percentage of the total space in the Palace of Westminster used for (a) keeping archives, (b) the Lord Chancellor's apartments, (c) House of Lords rooms,(d) House of Commons and Members' apartments,(e) residences of Mr Speaker and the Serjeant at Arms and (f) refreshment departments.

Allocations of space within the Palace of Westminster are a matter for the authorities of the two Houses, and my Department does not keep records in a way that would enable this question to be answered. I have, however, written to my hon. Friend inviting him to inspect plans of the building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total local government spending in England in constant prices from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Total local government spending, on the same basis as shown in the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 8789) and deflated by the GDP deflator, from 1979–80 to 1982–83 is estimated as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage of local authority expenditure in England met by central Government funds each year from 1979 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Estimates of the proportion of local authority relevant expenditure—at outturn or budget—met by aggregate Exchequer grant are as follows:

	Per cent.
England and Wales
1979–80	60·0
1980–81	58·3
England
1981–92*	54·8
1982–83*†	51·2
1983–84*‡	49·9
Figures of grant after holdback taken from latest RSG supplementary reports for each year.
† Relevant expenditure based on revised estimates supplied by local authorities.
‡ Relevant expenditure based on local authority budgets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Property Services Agency chose a general condition works one contract when deciding on the form of contract for the construction of the Falklands airport.

The Property Services Agency bases all its major construction contract conditions on "General Conditions of Government Contracts for Building and Civil Engineering Works—Edition 2: Form GC—Works—1". There was no reason to treat the Mount Pleasant airfield contract differently.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest figure in his possession for the cost of the Falklands airport.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 26 October 1983.—[Vol. 47, c. 280.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the general terms of a general conditions works one contract.

I have placed a copy of the document in the Library, and sent a copy to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how long after the coming into force of the Diseases of Fish Act 1983 he expects to lay before the House the draft of an order under section 1(9) of that Act.

Before my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales could make such an order, consultations would be needed with the United Kingdom interests concerned. We hope to be in a position to start such discussions shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the export of live food animals to Italy.

To date, licences under the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981 to export live food animals to Italy have been issued only when transportation is by air. However, we are now prepared to consider applications for licences to export food animals to Italy by road. The decision has been taken in the light of the progress which has now been made within the European Community in implementing the directives which safeguard the welfare of animals during international transport. Animals travelling to Italy will have the continuous protection of the directives 77/489 and 81/389/EEC which establish common rules for the fedding, watering and general care of the animals.Under the provisions of directive 81/389/EEC each consignment of exported food animals is accompanied by an international certificate on which certain information is recorded. This information includes certification by a veterinary inspector that the animals are fit to travel, and the time when the animals were loaded for export. Where applicable, details of the location and timing of feeding and watering en route are subsequently added. The authorities in the member states of transit and of destination must check this certificate and take it into account when discharging their obligation to enforce the Community rules.In addition to the arrangements under the directive, a special surveillance system will be introduced to gather additional information on the conditions in which food animals travel by road from Great Britain to Italy. This system has been devised in discussions with the state veterinary authorities in both France and Italy, which will be co-operating in the monitoring and recording of data on the animals' welfare both en route and on arrival. The additional surveillance will add significantly to our knowledge of the welfare aspects of international animal transport. The state veterinary service will be accompanying certain consignments to their Italian destinations.Animals travelling by road to Italy—as indeed to any destination abroad — are given the protection of the Export of Animals (Protection) Order 1981. Under this, Agriculture Ministers grant export licences only if they are satisfied that the arrangements for transporting the animals to their final destination are such as to protect them from unnecessary suffering. All export applications will continue to be scrutinised rigorously taking account of all available information. Exporters are today being notified of this change in arrangements and of the terms under which licenses may be granted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the training of poultrymeat inspectors.

The Government have decided to fund a limited programme to enable local authorities to recruit and train poultrymeat inspectors in Great Britain.The assistance, which will be paid in the financial years 1983–84 and 1984–85, will cover recruitment and training costs, salaries and associated costs, and travelling costs, up to a limit of £195,000.This scheme is intended as a temporary measure to prevent the poultrymeat inspection service from deteriorating pending agreement on a uniform system of poultrymeat inspection throughout the European Community. We will now be discussing with the local authorities and the poultry industry where the training priorities lie. Payment will be made under the Minister of Food (Financial Powers) Act 1949. A supplementary estimate for Class III, Vote 3, will be presented to Parliament shortly, but the cost of this service in 1983–84, £65,000, will be contained within the existing cash limit for the Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables available regularly in Hong Kong is (a) brought into the territory from the People's Republic of China, (b) supplied from within the New Territories and (c) supplied from the ceded territory of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Stonecutters.

During 1983, the People's Republic of China accounted for an average of 43·1 per cent of Hong Kong's supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. 18·6 per cent. of Hong Kong's supply of fresh fruit and vegetables was produced locally in 1983. It is not possible to provide separate figures for different parts of the territory.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the average daily figure for the import into Hong Kong of pigs from the People's Republic of China for the latest convenient date.

In 1983, the daily average figure for Hong Kong's imports of pigs from the People's Republic of China was 8,400.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much trade from the People's Republic of China passes through Hong Kong; what proportion is goods and services; what trends he envisages in this trade; and what financial benefit is derived by the United Kingdom from this trade.

The following table shows total re-exports from Hong Kong of goods from China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total level of investment of the Government of the People's Republic of China and their offshoots, in the territory of Hong Kong, to the latest date for which this information is available.

It is difficult to provide an accurate total. Thirteen banks in the Bank of China group and 12 manufacturing companies of some substance, known to involve interests from the People's Republic of China, operate in Hong Kong. Direct investment in eight of the manufacturing companies, for which figures are available. is estimated at HK$549 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the fresh water supply for the territory of Hong Kong is supplied from (a) the People's Republic of China, (b) the New Territories and (c) the ceded territory of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Stonecutters.

In 1984, 41 per cent. of Hong Kong's water supply will be derived from the People's Republic of China, 56 per cent. from the New Territories and 3 per cent. from Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and Stonecutters Island.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current and anticipated exchange of power supply as between Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China.

At present the China Light and Power Company in Hong Kong sells a small amount of power to the Guangdong Power Company in China. The Government of the People's Republic of China are planning the construction of a nuclear power station in Guangdong province, south China. It is envisaged that when the nuclear power station comes into operation, in the early 1990s, approximately 70 per cent. of the total power produced will be sold to Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate for 1983 the number of (a) legal and (b) illegal immigrants into Hong Kong from the People's Republic of China; and how many in category (b) were compulsorily repatriated.

During 1983, 26,701 immigrants from the People's Republic of China entered Hong Kong legally for settlement. About 9,000 illegal immigrants are estimated to have entered Hong Kong from China in 1983. Some 8,191 were repatriated, including some who had entered illegally in 1981 and 1982 but who were not apprehended until 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British students are presently studying in the People's Republic of China.

According to our records and information supplied by the relevant educational establishments, there are some 95 British students at present studying in the People's Republic of China.

£000s
	Export marketing research	Inward missions	Non-official trade organisations	Overseas projects group	Market entry guarantee scheme	Overseas trade fairs	Total
1974–75	1	12	—	—	—	208	221
1975–76	3	18	4	—	—	148	173
1976–77	3	7	—	—	—	174	184
1977–78	2	7	—	—	—	77	86
1978–79	5	—	—	—	—	43	48
1979–80	3	3	—	—	—	—	6
1980–81	6	1	—	—	—	†35	42
1981–82	11	21	—	—	26	†102	160
1982–83	28	33	—	100	—	†162	323
1983–84*	N/A	2	—	100	70	71	243
* Estimated.
† Includes financial assistance with air fares.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will extend to the United Kingdom similar complete restrictions with regard to imports of Dundee specialties in jute as are in effect in France and Ireland.

The Government are always willing to consider the introduction of selective import controls in conformity with our international obligations. However, as the United Kingdom industry is aware, all Community and national restrictions on jute imports from India and Bangladesh were liberalised with effect from 1 January 1984 under the terms of the Community's agreements with those countries, and there is no justification for seeking their reintroduction. In respect of these countries, France and Ireland are now in the same position as the United Kingdom.However, unlike the United Kingdom, France and Ireland, by virtue of their pre-accession national restrictions, have retained the ability to restrain a wider range of jute products from other sources. For the United Kingdom to seek to extend its restrictions to cover a similar range of products would require a formal request for selective import controls. I am not convinced that this is justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the human rights record of the Iranian authorities is taken into account when his department is encouraging trade with Iran.

British companies are free, subject to export licensing regulations, to trade with all countries

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the gross value of British Overseas Trade Board direct expenditure on the promotion of exports to South Africa by way of support for participation in trade fairs and export marketing research and assistance to British businesses for each of the past 10 years, excluding amounts granted in support of outward missions.

The information is as follows:where there is a market for their goods unless an internationally recognised embargo is in force. There is no such embargo on trade with Iran.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the 1983 trade figure as between the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China; and if he will tabulate the latest relevant statistics.

Trade with China in the first 11 months of 1983 on an overseas trade statistics basis showed a crude deficit of £63 million, compared with one of £90 million in the corresponding period of 1982 — an improvement of 30 per cent. The latest detailed statistics of trade are published on page 28 of tables II (Imports) and V (Exports) of the November issue of the United Kingdom Overseas Trade Statistics, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date he commissioned the study entitled "UK Minerals Technology Market Study"; on what date it was received; and when he expects to make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the extent of Government assistance, financial and otherwise, extended to Cable and Wireless Ltd. on its recent contract with the Chinese authorities in Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China, for the supply of communications systems and equipment.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, following the statement by the Minister for Information Technology on 19 January, he has received the final report of the Harwell inspector on radioactivity measurements at the national physical laboratory, Teddington; and whether he will make a report available to the House.

Table 1
Value of Trade
	1983 (a)		1972
Units: £ million	Exports (fob)	Imports (cif)	Exports (fob)	Imports (cif)
Passenger cars	951	3,550	330	324
Commercial Vehicles (a)	459	564	179	39
Vehicle components (c)	1,674	1,379	(e) 356	(e) 100

I have now received the final report, and have today arranged for it to be deposited in the Library.

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.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 January 1984, c. 675]: Tables 1 to 4 provide the information readily available.

Table 4
United Kingdom Manufacturers Home Market Shares (h)
	1983	1972
Passenger cars	43·1	76·5
Commercial vehicles (j)	65·8	(1973) 86·2