asked the Attorney-General if he will consider amendments to the law to avoid the practice referred to as gazumping.

In its report on "Subject to Contract" agreements—Law Com. No. 65—which was published in 1975, the Law Commission concluded that the practice referred to lies very largely in the area in which reliance must be placed on social and moral restraints, and is outside the field proper to legal sanctions. It recommended against any change to the law and this has been accepted by successive Administrations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has yet taken a decision to close any skillcentres; and if he will make a statement.

The Manpower Services Commission decided last year that the Skillcentre Training Agency should in future operate on a trading basis, and has recently proposed a business plan, which would provide for full cost recovery by 1986–87. The extent to which this will require closure of skillcentres will depend on the success of the agency's efforts to improve efficiency and increase business, which the commission proposes to review in September of this year. It is intended that the available resources should be used most cost effectively and that we optimise the relevance of training provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out in the Official Report the reasons for the continuous increase in the total cost of administration of his Department since 1979; what steps he is taking to reduce these costs; and if he will make a statement.

The main reason for the increase in the cost of administration of my Department was the rise in unemployment. Nevertheless the administration costs of the unemployment benefit service expressed as a ratio of the amount of benefits paid has fallen from 8·8 per cent. to 5·8 per cent. over the period 1979–80 to 1982–83.The Department is co-operating fully in the Government's drive for improved financial management, notably in developing its management accounting and operational review arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the percentage increase in unemployment since June 1979 in each of the Wakefield, Huddersfield, Castleford, Pontefract, Normanton, Barnsley, Dewsbury and Hemsworth travel-to-work areas; and if he will make a statement.

The following table gives, for each travel-to-work area specified, the percentage change in the numbers of registered unemployed between June 1979 and October 1982, and the percentage change in the number of unemployed claimants between October 1982 and January 1984. It also gives comparable figures for Pontefract and Normanton jobcentre areas (which form part of the Castleford travel-to-work area) and Hemsworth jobcentre area (which is part of the Wakefield travel to work area).

	Percentage change
	June 1979–October 1982 (Registered unemployed)	October 1982–January 1984 (Unemployed claimants)
Wakefield TTWA	+130·6	+3·1
Huddersfield TTWA	+225·8	-7·7
Castleford TTWA	+120·0	+4·3
Pontefract JCA	+109·4	+5·6
Normanton JCA	+130·3	+3·9
Barnsley TTWA	+129·8	+0·2
Dewsbury TTWA	+213·2	+0·8
Hemsworth JCA	+95·5	-1·8

Comparisons between 1982 and 1984 are affected by the provisions announced in the 1983 Budget which meant that some men aged 60 and over no longer had to sign on at an unemployment benefit office. The effect nationally was about 0·5 per cent.; estimates of the effect at local level are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were registered as unemployed in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area in Jaunary 1979 and January 1984, respectively.

In January 1979, the number of people registered as unemployed in the Stoke-on-Trent travel-to-work area was 8,427. The number of unemployed claimants in the area in January 1984 was 25,070.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider increasing the £40 a week allowance under the enterprise allowance scheme.

I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the allocation of funding by Her Majesty's Government for the technical and vocational education initiative has operated to the detriment of the smallest education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 February 1984, c. 389]: The selection of local education authorities for support under the technical and vocational education initiative was made solely on the grounds of the quality of the schemes submitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why his Department resisted the proposal that the Archway road inquiry should hold some evening sessions.

It is incorrect to say that my Department has resisted the proposal that the Archway road should hold some evening sessions. On the contrary as was clearly stated in position paper No. 2:

"The Department of Transport's view is that wherever possible normal inquiry hours (Tuesday to Friday 10 am–5 pm) should be followed. Where there is a demand for an evening session to allow those to attend who otherwise would find it impossible, the Department would not resist a limited number of evening sessions."

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the outcome of his Department's consultations with Hertfordshire county council on a lorry ban zone to cover Wheathampstead.

The county council proposes to make an order banning heavy goods vehicles from a large area round St. Albans, including Wheathampstead, except for access. The order will not apply to motorways and there are no other trunk roads within the area. The council consulted my Department because of our responsibility for motorways and trunk roads and the need to erect signs on the approaches to the area. The Department has agreed to the provision of such signs on nearby motorways and trunk roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list his powers in relation to the imposition of restrictions on the movement of goods vehicles in London, including a ban on heavy lorries during certain hours or at all times; and what are the statutory processes involved.

The GLC has a duty under section 84(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular traffic in London. Section 84A of that Act gives the Secretary of State powers to issue a direction:

i. requiring the GLC to make an order for a specified purpose; or

ii. prohibiting the GLC from making or bringing into operation an order where he is satisfied that it is not satisfactorily discharging its duty.

If the GLC fails to comply with such a direction, the Secretary of State may exercise any power conferred on the GLC and recover the costs.The Secretary of State may also make an order varying or revoking any order the GLC might make if, having regard to any matters appearing to him to be relevant, there are special circumstances which make it expedient to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated cost of the proposed widening and other road works at the junction of the A339 and the access road to the Royal Air Force base at Greenham common; what is the purpose of this scheme; and what consultations have been carried out with local residents.

The estimated cost of the scheme is about £150,000. Its purpose is to improve the safety and free flow of through traffic and also that turning into or out of the access road to the base. All householders whose private means of access will be temporarily affected by the road works have been consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the conclusions of the review of statutory procedures for the adoption of private roads.

Later this year after any necessary further consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the British Railways Board intends to bring its accounting year into line with that of the Government.

Since its creation in 1962, the British Railways Board has produced calendar year accounts. Parliament and the Government, however, work to a fiscal year. This has in the past caused problems for both the board and the Government, particularly in connection with the setting and monitoring of the board's external financing limits and the grant for the public service obligation. I have therefore agreed with the board that it should change to a fiscal year accounting system, with effect from next year. This will involve the board in producing a transitional set of accounts covering the 15-month period from 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985. Thereafter the board will produce an annual report and accounts each year to the end of March. All these reports will be laid before Parliament in the normal way. I have asked the board, barring unforeseen circumstances, to publish its accounts each year in time for hon. Members to study them before the summer recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a corrected version of his reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 15 February, Official Report, c. 210, relating to concessionary fares, in view of his Department's letter of 17 February.

Pursuant to my reply of 15 February 1984, at c. 210, following is the correct reply:

"The individual pieces of legislation concerned empower local authorities, where they consider it appropriate, to subsidise travel by specific categories of people. It is scarcely logical to argue that this therefore justifies creating a new universal statutory obligation."

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to reduce the number of car thefts in England and Wales, giving an indication of current figures.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what annual savings will result from the proposed abolition of the Greater London council as an institution as opposed to any savings that may arise from subsequent policy changes by successor bodies in the level of services provided;(2) if he will now estimate the costs of change and how they will be met in the event of the Greater London council being abolished.

It is not possible to give detailed estimates of savings or transitional costs at this stage. Much will depend on decisions to be made by the London borough councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the damage done by acid rain to lakes and forests in the county of Cumbria; and what the cost has been in terms of loss of revenue to (a) forestry and (b) fish stocks, since 1975;(2) what information he has on the effects of acid rain on the fish population in the rivers and lakes in Cumbria; and if there is any indication of which species of fish are most vulnerable to the effects of acid rain.

The connection between acid rain deposition and the acidification of waters in certain areas, including Cumbria, is not yet fully understood and is the subject of research. No information is at present available on the effect of acid deposition on fish populations or, hence, on related costs; two isolated fish kills on the Rivers Esk and Duddon have been attributed to the effects of acidity. Research has shown that salmonids (salmon and sea trout) are the most sensitive species. There is no evidence of damage to forests due to acid deposition in Cumbria, or elsewhere in the United Kingdom. There is therefore no loss of revenue to forestry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to be able to make a statement on current European Economic Community proposals for a reduction of emission of sodium dioxide; and what steps he will take to ensure that these recommendations are implemented in the United Kingdom.

The European Commission has recently published proposals which include a requirement for member states to reduce sulphur dioxide emission from large combustion plants by 60 per cent. by 1995, based on 1980 levels. The proposals have major financial and other implications which the Government is considering and will be the subject of negotiation within the Community. The question of implementation does not arise at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply, 15 February, Official Report, c. 183, regarding the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, if he will indicate when a direction is to be issued to Hertfordshire county council; and what form it will take.

The county council has notified its intention to publish the draft revision of its definitive map and statement of public rights of way within the next few weeks and a direction to abandon it will be issued after the four-month objection period has expired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many responses he has received from the Greater Manchester county area concerning the abolition of metropolitan councils; and how many were favourable and how many were unfavourable.

The list my right hon. Friend has placed in the Library indicates the local authorities from the Greater Manchester county area who have responded. A full list of respondents from a particular area could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce the names of the chairman and members of the committee of inquiry on the management of privately-owned blocks of flats.

The committee will be chaired by Mr. E. G. Nugee, TD, QC. The other members will be:

Professor J. E. Adams, LLB: Professor of Law, Queen Mary College, London.

Mr. C. A. Coward, FRICS: Managing Director, S. G. Whitaker Ltd.

Mr. A. V. George: Solicitor.

Mr. C. Hamnett: Lecturer in Geography, Open University.

Councillor J. Mills: London Borough of Camden.

Mr. J. M. Nicholls, FRICS: General manager, Sun Life Properties PLC.

Sir D. Tebbit, GCMG: Director-General, British Property Federation.

Mrs. P. Turner: Executive Committee Member, Federation of Private Residents' Associations.

Mr. J. Wheeler, JP, MP: Westminster, North.

I expect the committee to start work shortly, and I hope it will be able to report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance is being provided by his Department for the scheme sponsored by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders knows as STAGES.

I have been asked to reply.The STAGES scheme operates as a community project under the Youth Training Scheme and receives assistance towards approved staff salaries, trainees' allowances and other costs. Assistance has also been provided towards building alterations, rent and rates and material costs by the inner city partnership initiative through the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had about the plight of starving children in Uganda; whether he intends to increase aid to Uganda to alleviate this; and if he will make a statement.

One hon. Member has written to me on behalf of a constituent and I have had discussions with interested British voluntary agencies. There is no widespread famine in Uganda. Special problems of food and water supply and distribution have arisen in certain areas. Inevitably those who suffer most in such circumstances are children and the elderly. Between May and October last year the ODA disaster unit provided almost £285,000, mainly through Oxfam and Save the Children Fund, for relief purposes; we recently contributed a further £50,000 to a League of Red Cross Societies appeal. The Uganda Government have set up a relief organisation and President Obote has appealed for international help. In response we have committed an additional £250,000 for the relief and resettlement of displaced persons. If more needs to be done I will consider further requests sympathetically within our resources.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the level of interest rates each quarter in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and West Germany for each quarter since May 1979 together with (a) the public sector borrowing requirement as a percentage of gross domestic product and (b) the change in the balance of payments.

The following table gives three-month interest rates as requested.

Nominal short-term interest rates (per cent. per annum)
	United Kingdom	United States of America	West Germany
1979
Second quarter	12·2	10·1	6·0
Third quarter	14·1	10·9	7·3
Fourth quarter	15·7	13·7	9·3
1980
First quarter	17·7	15·2	9·2
Second quarter	17·2	11·5	10·2
Third quarter	16·1	10·0	9·2
Fourth quarter	15·6	15·8	9·5
1981
First quarter	13·3	15·8	11·4
Second quarter	12·5	16·8	13·1
Third quarter	14·2	17·3	12·8
Fourth quarter	15·7	13·2	11·2
1982

	United Kingdom	United States of America	West Germany
First quarter	14·4	14·3	10·2
Second quarter	13·4	14·1	9·2
Third quarter	11·5	11·5	8·9
Fourth quarter	9·9	9·1	7·2
1983
First quarter	11·1	8·5	5·7
Second quarter	10·2	8·8	5·4
Third quarter	9·8	9·6	5·7
Fourth quarter	9·4	9·4	6·3

Three-month inter-bank rates are used for the United Kingdom and West Germany while for the United States comparable rates are those on three-month certificates of deposit.

asked the Prime Minister what are the rules applicable to civil servants promoting the sale of British goods and services overseas, when members of their families are involved in a private capacity in such promotional activities.

The rules are that civil servants must not subordinate their duty to their private interests; they must not put themselves in a position where their duty and their private interests conflict, and they must not make use of their official position to further those interests. An officer who comes into official contact with any matter concerning a business organisation in which he has an interest must disclose his interest to his Department. Subject to this, there are no specific restrictions on the outside business interests of civil servants. It is the implicit and well understood assumption that private interests may include those of a spouse. The rules which are especially relevant are at paragraphs 9870, 9874, 9875 and 9879 of the Civil Service Pay and conditions of Service Code, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to agree to any proposals for increasing the power of the European Economic Community Assembly or for reducing the power of the member states to veto proposals in accordance with the formula agreed by President de Gaulle.

The European Parliament's powers are laid down in the Community treaties and could be changed only by the unanimous agreement of all members states. We see no need for any increase in the powers of the Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister what consideration has been given by the European Economic Community Council of Ministers to the application of the unanimity rule in their proceedings, following the occasion when a United Kingdom vote on an agricultural prices proposal was overridden by a majority vote.

Decision-making procedures in the Council of Ministers were considered during the negotiation of the solemn declaration on European union, which was signed on 19 June 1983. Statements made on that occasion by the United Kingdom and four other member states recorded the view that, where a member state considered its very important interests to be involved, the discussions should be continued until unanimous agreement was reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many CS rounds have been purchased or ordered for use by police forces, and how many for the Metropolitan police.

Records of CS rounds purchased or ordered for use in criminal sieges are not kept centrally. Approximately 1,200 CS rounds have been purchased or ordered by forces in England and Wales for public order use. It would not be sensible to give details of the distribution of this equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many plastic bullets have been purchased or ordered for use (a) by police forces and (b) for the Metropolitan police.

Approximately 20,000 plastic baton rounds have been purchased or ordered by forces in England and Wales. It would not be sensible to give details of the distribution of this equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate for each police force area, for the last year for which figures are available, the number of stops and searches made under section 23(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and, in each case, the number of persons charged.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the types and amounts of controlled drugs seized by each police force in the last year for which figures are available.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 to cover Vietnamese boat people and other non-Commonwealth groups of immigrants.

We have no such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of persons detained in 1983 under Immigration Act powers in prison department establishments on completion of a custodial sentence.

I regret that this information is not available. The available information relates to those persons awaiting deportation who were detained for more than two months on completion of a custodial sentence. There were 29 such persons in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will provide a table indicating the period of time spent in prison department establishments for the latest convenient date of persons detained under Immigration Act powers, showing the numbers detained for not more than one, two, three, four, five and six months, respectively.

On 16 February 1984, 201 persons were so detained. The information requested about their period of detention is as follows:

Not more than	Numbers
One month	89
Two months	40
Three months	29
Four months	14
Five months	19
Six months	2

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notices of intention to deport were served under section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971 in 1982 and 1983 by month, or, if not available, by quarter.

The information is as follows:

Month	1982	1983
January	6	10
February	10	8
March	10	15
April	7	12
May	3	7
June	7	1
July	2	7
August	10	7
September	8	7
October	6	11
November	1	16
December	2	10
Total	72	111

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people treated as illegal entrants in 1983 were granted temporary release (a) on detention and (b) subsequent to detention; and how many then absconded.

The numbers are as follows:

(a) 236 of whom seven absconded;

(b) 39 of whom one absconded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases since 1 July 1983, of the total recommended for deportation with no custodial sentence, a court directed release under section 64 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 (a) subject to conditions and (b) without conditions.

Out of a total of 173 such cases, the courts directed release subject to conditions in 31 and without conditions in 87.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the present allowances to persons who are deported for subsistence on their journey home; and how the provision of allowances is administered.

The allowances are £2·50 for deportation to the Republic of Ireland, £4 to Europe and £9 to other countries.The provision of the allowance is administered through the police who may claim reimbursement from the Department where there has been a charge on public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation for a national referendum on corporal punishment; and if he will make a statement.

No. We see no grounds for treating this question exceptionally by submitting it to a referendum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the annual reports made to his Department by chief constables of police to be prepared in such a manner as to make practicable consolidation of information on the topics dealt with in these reports and to ease the making of comparisons between police areas.

Chief constables' annual reports are made to their police authorities in the first instance and the precise form is a matter for local decision. Certain information about both individual forces and particular topics is published in the annual reports of HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding his Department will make available for Vietnamese refugees next year; what has been made available to date; and if he will make a statement.

The level of funding to be provided by the Home Office in 1984–85 to the three refugee agencies working with Vietnamese refugees will be decided as soon as my right hon. and learned Friend has fully considered detailed proposals for a further programme of work which were received earlier this week.Home Office funding of the agencies' work with Vietnamese refugees from the earliest payments in July 1977 up to March 1985 totalled some £15·4 million. Funding from the Department in the current financial year is expected to total some £723,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responses he has had to the White Paper on animal welfare; and if he will make a statement.

Since the White Paper was published in May 1983 we have received about 2,500 letters offering comments on the proposals contained in it. These comprise 23 from universities and teaching hospitals; 20 from scientific or professional bodies; 19 from companies or trade organisations; 13 from animal welfare groups; 11 from other bodies; 307 from hon. Members; and about 2,000 from members of the general public.The Government's proposals have been widely welcomed and there is general support for our decision to introduce new legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations his Department has had with Welwyn Hatfield district council regarding the council's compliance with its statutory obligations relating to civil defence; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has had no recent consultations with the council about its statutory civil defence obligations. In March 1983 the council declared its opposition to the proposed regulations but no further representation has been made since they came into force on 1 December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the police flats in Ryder court, Church road, Leyton, are currently empty; what proportion that is of the total number of flats in the court; what is the average period of time that the currently empty flats have been vacant; what is the longest time a flat has been empty; and whether there are any proposals to obtain near full occupancy.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the flats have been vacated gradually since February 1982, and all 23 have been empty since last October. Negotiations are in progress for their sale by the Metropolitan police to a housing association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many marches were banned under the Public Order Act in each of the past 10 years.

The numbers of processions affected by orders in England and Wales prohibiting processions under section 3(2) or section 3(3) of the Public Order Act 1936 are not recorded. Following is information about the number of such orders:

Year	Number of Orders
1974	3
1975	0
1976	0
1977	1
1978	3
1979	0
1980	6
1981	45
1982	13
1983	9

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women have been held for the following periods on remand at Winson green prison in each of the last three years: one month, three months, six months, nine months and 12 months to the nearest month, respectively; and what were the comparable figures for 1975.

The information requested is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many motor cars he anticipates will be exported from the United Kingdom into Japan during 1984; and how many motor cars he expects to be imported into the United Kingdom from Japan.

It is too early to judge either figure. But the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders expects its Japanese counterpart to continue to export prudently during 1984 and the Government and the European Commission will continue to press the Japanese further to open their domestic market to imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the reason for the increase in export unit values and for the drop in import unit values since the spring of 1983 in the case of passenger motor cars.

There are numerous influences on short-term movement in unit values. It is not generally possible to allocate specific causes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Government are monitoring the programme of the low-use rental rebate scheme introduced by British Telecom in January 1983; and whether they have any proposals to alter the current rate relating to telephone standing charges.

The Government do not monitor the low-use rental rebate scheme. This is a matter for the board of British Telecom, as is the rate of telephone standing charges. However, I understand that nearly 3 million customers benefit from the rebate, and the cost to BT will exceed £18 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the percentage reduction in the volume of manufacturing output between 1978 and 1983; and what proportion of this is represented by the reduction in the volume of exports of manufacture;(2) what was the percentage reduction in the volume of manufacturing output between 1978 and 1983; and what proportion of this is represented by the increase in the volume of imports of manufactures.

Between 1978 and 1983 manufacturing output declined by 13 per cent.Many factors influence the level of manufacturing output including the volume of exports of manufactures. It is not possible to apportion changes in output between the various factors in any meaningful way.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will take active steps to implement the EEC Directive on noise emissions from railway vehicles published by the European Commission on 29 December 1983.

A draft European Community directive on noise emissions from railway vehicles was submitted to the Council by the Commission in December. No discussions have yet taken place. Implementation is not possible in advance of agreement on the final form of the directive.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what conclusions he has drawn from the study of multinational investment strategy recently published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office concerning the effect of European Economic Community membership on investment in manufacturing in the United Kingdom by foreign-owned multinationals since United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community.

The study conducted by Professor Hood and Mr. Young to which I take it reference is made was not specifically concerned with the effects of Community membership. Nevertheless, the data on trends in foreign direct investment presented in the study provide some indirect evidence that the impact of Community membership on such investment in the United Kingdom was positive.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the tonnage of steel imported from and exported to the European Economic Community in 1983 and 1970, respectively; and if he will provide corresponding figures for the rest of the world.

The following is the information:

United Kingdom trade in steel industry products
'000 tonnes
	1970		1983
	EC *countries	Non-EC countries	EC countries	Non-EC countries
Imports from	642	1,601	2,363	982
Exports to	734	3,108	1,475	2,450
Source: Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau compiled from Her Majesty's Customs and Excise statistics.
* Including Denmark, Greece and Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on rationalisation of the engineering steels sector.

My right hon. Friend and I met the Chairmen of BSC and GKN on 21 February 1984, to discuss proposals (known as Phoenix 2) jointly agreed and submitted by the companies for rationalisation of the United Kingdom engineering steels sector.At this meeting the Chairmen presented proposals to create an internationally competitive engineering steels industry by bringing together the public and private sectors. The proposals involve additional investment and some further rationalisation of capacity.My right hon. Friend and I welcomed the proposals and the prospect of improving competitiveness in this sector to secure the future of the industry within the private sector. The Government will now give detailed consideration to these proposals including the competition policy aspects.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) whether the lower prices charged for German exports to other European Economic Community countries, compared to the prices charged to the rest of the world, apply to exports to the United Kingdom; and whether United Kingdom exports to the European Economic Community are likewise sold at lower prices than to the rest of the world;(2) whether he will publish in the

Information is not available on the price of German exports to the United Kingdom, nor on the price of United Kingdom exports to the other countries of the European Community. The available information is in the table.

Export average values indices
1980=100
	United Kingdom trade with World		Federal Republic of Germany trade with European Community
	Manufactures*	Finished Manufactures†	Manufactures*	Finished Manufactures†
1976	63·6	62·1	89·0	88·2
1977	73·8	72·8	90·4	91·1
1978	80·6	81·2	90·8	93·1
1979	89·5	89·9	94·1	94·5
1980	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0
1981	105·8	107·8	105·7	105·5
1982	112·0	114·7	110·2	110·9
1983	121·3	125·3	n.a.	n.a.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the reasons for the 11 per cent. reduction in exports since 1980 and for the 37 per cent. increase in imports of finished manufactures in the first nine months of 1983.

Such changes have to be viewed in the context of our overall trading position which has shown a large surplus in each of the last four years. The prospects for exports are excellent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry further to the reply of 3 February concerning the volume of exports of finished manufactures, Official Report, c. 380, why the Laspeyres series shows a larger increase that the Paesche series before 1979 and worse afterwards; and which series is to be preferred for estimating the change in the United Kingdom competitive position internationally.

The effect of using a Laspeyres volume index is to introduce an upward bias into volume movements since the base year and a downward bias into volume movements prior to the base year. The Paasche volume index produces the opposite effect.Preference for either index is usually determined by practical considerations such as the purpose for which the index is to be used and the problems of compilation. For comparisons such as the hon. Member has asked me to make the Fisher Ideal Index—the geometrical mean of the Paasche and Laspeyres — seems to be the most appropriate. The relevant figures are as follows: —

Export Volume Index: Finished Manufactures OTS basis—Percentage change on previous year Fisher Ideal Index
	Per cent.
1975	+5
1976	+3½
1977	+4½
1978	-2½
1979	-2
1980	+3½
1981	-4½
1982	+½
1983	-5½

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the trade deficit in finished manufactures with the European Economic Community and with the rest of the world on a balance of payments basis for each year since 1970 and for each quarter since the beginning of 1981.

The available information is as follows.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now change the rules governing political risk cover from the Export Credits Guarantee Department to allow an increase from six months to one year for chemicals for export to developing and some Eastern bloc countries, in view of the present decline in trade for these export markets.

The existing arrangements for supporting exports of chemicals are agreed between ECGD and its opposite numbers in other countries. I have considered my hon. Friend's suggestion, but do not think that any change is justified at present. ECGD will not support credit terms exceeding six months, save for certain very large contracts for agricultural chemicals on 12-months credit, or where longer credit is necessary to match terms being supported by other official credit insurers. Any evidence of such support by others would be given serious consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for each year from 1973, how much of the European coal and steel community levy on United Kingdom production of coal and steel relates to production in Welsh mines and plants.

[pursuant to the reply, 20 February 1984, c. 377–8]: The annual sums paid under the ECSC levy in respect of coal and steel production (A) Wales and (B) the United Kingdom are estimated as follows:

Coal (including open-cast but excluding tip coal)
	Levy for mines in Wales	Total UK levy	(A) as percentage of(B)
	£ million (A)	£ million B
1973	0·19	1·95	9·8
1974	0·27	2·96	9·1
1975	0·32	3·73	8·6
1976	0·48	5·67	8·4
1977	0·56	6·38	8·7
1978	0·66	7·10	9·3
1979	0·64	7·52	8·5
1980	0·66	7·90	8·4
1981	0·79	9·28	8·5
1982	0·91	11·25	8·1

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will advise British Telecom to issue no further licences under the provisions of the British Telecommunications Act 1981.

[pursuant to the reply, 20 February 1984, c. 378]: As part of the continuing liberalisation of the Government's telecommunications policy we are discussing with British Telecommunications the terms of the general authority to grant licences to run telecommunication systems which was issued to it under section 15(1)(b) of the British Telecommunications Act 1981. The views expressed by other telecommunications industry interests have also been taken into account. I hope to be in a position to let the House know the outcome of these discussions early next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will be consulting the telecommunications industry before each new general licence is issued under the Telecommunications Bill.

[pursuant to the reply, 20 February 1984, c. 378]: Before granting general licences my right hon. Friend consults representatives of the relevant sectors of the telecommunications industry, including the operators, the manufacturers and those who provide specialist services. He will continue this practice after the Telecommunications Bill is enacted.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received any proposals for the privatisation of British Steel Corporation Light Products; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 21 February 1984, c. 452]: Although I understand the corporation is discussing with the private sector possible proposals involving individual businesses within Light Products, no proposals have yet been submitted to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of housing capital expenditure in the first half of 1983–84 for each local authority in Wales.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Housing Capital Expenditure 1 April 1983 to 30 September 1983
£000
	Gross expenditure	Receipts	Net expenditure
Alyn and Deeside	1,375	560	815
Colwyn	987	280	707
Delyn	1,010	901	109
Glyndwr	983	311	672
Rhuddlan	478	300	178
Wrexham Maelor	1,604	499	1,105
Carmarthen	3,275	563	2,712
Cercdigion	2,629	589	2,040
Dinefwr	464	188	276
Llanelli	1,931	1,271	660
Preseli	1,246	1,136	110
South Pembroke	1,899	1,073	826
Blaenau Gwent	4,268	861	3,407
Islwyn	2,892	2,217	675
Monmouth	2,769	1,122	1,647
Newport	5,490	2,281	3,209
Torfaen	2,705	2,195	510
Aberconwy	927	465	462
Arfon	2,018	521	1,497
Dwyfor	1,124	184	940
Meirionnyd	1,448	489	959
Ynys Mon	1,298	341	957
Cynon Valley	1,832	784	1,048
Merthyr Tydfil	1,951	912	1,039
Ogwr	3,218	2,456	762
Rhondda	5,911	666	5,245
Rhymney Valley	2,835	1,549	1,286
Taff Ely	4,925	1,527	3,398
Brecknock	1,120	736	384
Montgomery	1,051	499	552
Radnor	657	400	257
Cardiff	7,274	4,374	2,900
Vale of Glamorgan	1,740	1,728	12
Afan	1,012	1,217	-205
Lliw Valley	2,172	427	1,745
Neath	1,883	537	1,346
Swansea	4,437	1,353	3,084
TOTAL DISTRICTS	84,838	37,512	47,326

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has as to the number and percentage of families in Wales whose income is (a) less than £100 per week and (b) less than £150 per week.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report for each quarter since January 1979 the unemployment figures for (a) Wales and (b) each county in Wales, by sex, duration and age, using the age categories (i) under 18, (ii) 18, (iii) 19, (iv) 20 to 24, (v) 25 to 29, (vi) 30 to 34, (vii) 35 to 44, (viii) 45 to 49, (ix) 50 to 54, (x) 55 to 59, (xi) 60 to 64, (xii) 65 years and over and (xiii) total, all ages.

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the number of unfilled vacancies in (a) Wales and (b) each county in Wales in (i) October 1979, (ii) January 1980, (iii) October 1983 and (iv) January 1984.

There are no comprehensive figures relating to the total numbers of vacancies in the economy at any one time.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current recorded rate of unemployment in Wales for people aged 18 to 25 years; and what was the rate of unemployment for this age group in 1979.

Unemployment rates by age groups are not available. However, the latest age and duration analysis of unemployed claimants which relates to January 1984 indicates that 60,909 were aged 18 to 24 years. Comparable information for 1979 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total of unemployed young people aged (a) 17 years, (b) 18 years and (c) 18 to 25 years who have been out of work for 52 weeks or more.

The information is not available in the precise form requested. The latest age and duration analysis of unemployed claimants which relates to January 1984 categorises the figures as follows:—

Unemployed for over 52 weeks
Aged	Numbers
17 years	973
18 years	2,599
19 to 24 years	17,465

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many times Welsh Office Ministers have met the Chairman of British Rail and senior British Rail executives to discuss railway transport matters peculiar to the Principality in each of the last three years.

I have met the Chairman of British Rail on three occasions over the last three years, the last occasion being on 12 December 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh local education authorities are involved in the technical, vocational and educational initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Six local education authorities in Wales are involved with the technical and vocational education initiative (TVEI). Clwyd LEA is already running one of the original 14 pilot schemes and the proposals submitted by Gwent, Gwynedd, Mid Glamorgan, Powys and West Glamorgan LEAs have been accepted, subject to agreement on detailed terms, for the extension of the scheme from September 1984. My right hon. Friend and I are very pleased that the LEAs in Wales have responded so well to this initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the decline in real terms value of the expenditure projections for Wales in the White Paper of Thursday 16 February for the years 1984–85, 1985–86 and 1986–87.

As explained in the White Paper (Cmnd. 9143-I, page 11), the plans for future years are in cash. Figures for programme totals adjusted for general inflation using the gross domestic product deflator assumption given in the autumn statement, will be found in table 1.14 of the White Paper. The relevant figures for Wales are:

£ million base year 1982–83
1983–84	1984–85
2,464	2,345

No other figures are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the EEC subsidy for the consumption of milk in schools has been used each year since that subsidy became available.

There is no upper limit to payments, which have been as follows:

	£
1978	7,722,600
1979	15,856,367
1980	19,561,472
1981	14,338,208
1982	14,782,095
1983	*20,376,862
* Provisional.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the amount of milk taken up by each county for consumption in private schools;(2) what is the amount of milk taken up by each county for consumption in maintained schools.

I regret that this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing his best estimate of the amount of subsidy paid on sheepmeat reared on hill farms in the latest accounting period, together with subsidies/payments made in respect of cattle reared on such farms.

The latest estimates of the total amounts paid in 1983 to livestock farmers in the less-favoured areas defined under Council directive 75/268 are as follows:

£ million
	Sheep	Cattle
Hill livestock compensatory allowances	51·5	39·1
Sheep annual premium	13	—
Suckler cow premium	—	12·5

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial benefit education authorities have gained from using the EEC subsidy for the consumption of milk in schools in each year since the milk subsidy became available.

The subsidy is reflected in the prices charged to schoolchildren and is not a financial benefit to local authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that any legislation introduced by the European Economic Community concerning the stocking rate for square centimetres of bird in battery cages is equally accepted and enforced throughout the European Economic Community.

In discussions within the European Community on the draft directive prescribing welfare standards for laying hens in battery cages, we have stressed the importance of full implementation throughout the Community, and the need for an effective system for monitoring enforcement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of food consumed in the United Kingdom was imported in 1983.

Complete figures will not be available until later this year but forecasts of the outturn for 1983 suggest that some 48 per cent. of food for consumption in the United Kingdom was imported. The United Kingdom is however a significant exporter of food and agricultural products and imports net of exports account for about 40 per cent. of domestic consumption.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that there is no time lapse when figures are released concerning import and export of eggs and poultrymeat.

I have been asked to reply.Figures are always released as soon as they become available following normal processing and checking procedure. The release of the monthly overseas trade figures has not diverged from the published timetable during the last year. However, the 10-day surveillance statistics including those for trade in eggs and poultrymeat required by the EC were delayed during January. This was due to a processing fault which has now been overcome.

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts how many submissions received by the office of arts and libraries on the arts consultative paper which accompanied Cmnd. 9063 were in complete support of the Government's proposals.

[pursuant to his reply, 17 February 1984, c. 350]: Eight responses expressed complete support and suggested no changes. A much larger number indicated general support or acceptance of the Government's proposals, but also suggested alternative funding solutions for individual arts bodies affected by local government reorganisation. As my noble Friend has indicated, the Government are confident that current overall levels of public expenditure can be maintained on arts activities in the GLC and metropolitan county areas following local government reorganisation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received regarding the tax allowance for clothes considered essential for employment; and if he will make a statement.

In the last 12 months Treasury Ministers have received eight letters on this subject from right hon. and hon. Members and two from members of the public asking for additional relief in individual cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions it is the practice of collectors of taxes to issue two identical demands for the same liability within 24 hours of each other; and whether he will ask the Board of Inland Revenue to take steps to cease this practice.

	£bn (percentage of total revenues)
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983*
Income tax	20·5	24·3	27·5	30·3	31·5
	(29·9)	(29·0)	(28·5)	(27·8)	(27·0)
Central government expenditure taxes†	20·2	24·6	28·0	32·3	35·0
	(29·6)	(29·3)	(28·9)	(29·6)	(30·0)
LA rates	6·5	8·2	10·4	12·1	12·4
	(9·5)	(9·8)	(10·7)	(11·1)	(10·6)
Employees' social security contributions	4·6	5·6	7·0	8·6	10·0
	(6·7)	(6·7)	(7·2)	(7·9)	(8·6)
Employers' social security contributions	6·9	8·3	8·9	9·5	10·6
	(10·2)	(9·9)	(9·2)	(8·7)	(9·1)
Other company taxation‡	8·5	11·5	13·3	14·6	15·4
	(12·5)	(13·7)	(13·8)	(13·4)	(13·2)
* Estimate.
† VAT, Customs and Excise duties, VED, stamp duty, gas levy and miscellaneous expenditure taxes.
‡ CT, NIS, North sea taxes and oil royalties.

Inland Revenue instructions to collectors of taxes do not provide for any such practice. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and will write to me with details, I will look into it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will identify the areas of improved efficiency in income tax administration arising from the systematic entry of taxpayers' dates of birth in Inland Revenue computer records during the setting up of the new computerised pay as you earn system.

Knowing taxpayers' dates of birth helps the Inland Revenue to identify taxpayers who may be entitled to the age allowance and those likely to receive a taxable retirement pension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of Government revenue contributed by the corporate sector in each of the EEC states, distinguishing between company and corporation taxes, employers' social security contributions, local taxes and other taxation, for each year since 1979.

Information in the form requested is not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing revenue raised during each year since 1979 from each of the following; personal incomes, central Government expenditure taxes, local government rates, employees' social security contributions, employers' social security contributions and other company taxation; and if he will express each as a percentage of total revenues.

The information requested is given in the table. Figures are given in £ billion, and as a percentage of total revenues, that is, central Government taxes together with local authority rates and national insurance contributions. NIS has been included in other company taxation. Note that the percentages do not sum to 100 per cent. because of the exclusion of capital taxes.