asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the draft order for construction of the Dunblane bypass; and how many route surveys have been carried out since the project was first mooted.

Publication of a draft order to establish the line for a bypass is planned for the early summer of 1985. Two surveys have been carried out since the need for a bypas was accepted in principle by the Secretary of State in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take as a result of the report of the Committee of Public Accounts on the sale of Hamilton college of education.

The Government's formal reply was published in a Treasury minute on 12 March 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to meet the Clyde port authority to discuss the decline in operations and activities on the river Clyde.

My right hon. Friend and I would be prepared to meet representatives of the Clyde port authority if they wished to see us, though ports matters are the immediate responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will next meet the chairman of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss with him the employment prospects for Scotland, and for Lanarkshire in particular.

My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans to meet the chairman of the Confederation of British Industry. Scottish Office Ministers, including myself, frequently meet CBI representatives when discussion of the Government's economic strategy, including industrial and employment prospects, usually occurs. The last such occasion was on 20 January when my right hon. Friend met the chairman and director of CBI Scotland about the CBI's Budget representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when a decision will be made on the proposal to afforest the Creag Meagaidh site of special scientific interest.

I am still considering the case but I hope that a decision can be announced soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about current business confidence in Scotland.

I welcome the rise in business confidence reported in the latest CBI survey. I am sure this will be reinforced by the measures announced yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the continuing role of the urban programme in Scotland.

The purposes for which we intend to use the urban programme remain as stated by my right hon. Friend in his answers of 4 February 1981, at columns 134–35 and 18 June 1982, at column 357.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the recent schemes set up by some local authorities in Scotland to assist small businesses.

The Government recognise that local authorities have a valuable role to play in assisting industry in their areas. We particularly welcome support for our policy to develop the small firms sector by easing the planning regime, reducing bureaucratic burdens and where appropriate in introducing special schemes of assistance.Local authority support for small firms should, however, be complementary to other existing forms of assistance from either the private sector or Government and their agencies in order that it does not unnecessarily increase public service manpower costs, nor displace private sector financing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many days have been lost through industrial action in his Department during the last three months.

2,855 man-days were lost over three separate occasions in the Scottish Office, my three minor departments and the Scottish court service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the drop in salmon, grilse and sea trout catches by rod and net over the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement.

The catch statistics for Scotland (including the whole of the Tweed) for the years 1953 to 1982 are as follows. The figures show significant variations from year to year.

Annual numbers of salmon, grilse and sea trout caught by rod and net during the period 1953 to 1982
Year	Rod			Net
	Salmon	Grilse	Sea Trout	Salmon	Grilse	Sea Trout
1953	43,720	6,383	45,754	167,492	134,638	107,649
1954	54,289	4,872	52,888	200,646	111,342	124,062
1955	46,492	4,147	37,999	207,125	130,993	158,676
1956	48,463	7,686	56,564	151,187	108,124	126,105
1957	64,461	9,645	59,951	155,164	185,589	166,358
1958	61,487	9,462	59,819	162,535	190,063	146,832
1959	47,435	3,605	47,466	221,766	111,453	190,189
1960	54,886	6,458	46,535	149,584	187,061	170,933
1961	48,223	6,720	41,497	130,340	148,853	170,991
1962	61,527	10,602	56,672	151,047	269,758	222,286
1963	72,167	9,239	54,550	199,556	160,021	171,190
1964	68,952	13,005	60,384	198,891	269,677	198,708
1965	68,536	9,693	70,581	157,019	203,468	217,750
1966	63,145	8,719	75,417	160,591	205,548	169,610
1967	62,977	14,819	62,851	198,550	328,344	246,003
1968	45,778	6,838	41,451	169,023	212,443	165,476
1969	43,628	8,441	37,803	168,377	341,812	116,708
1970	49,077	13,752	42,684	119,364	226,843	131,866
1971	41,447	8,078	40,875	120,154	254,082	116,541
1972	52,895	6,751	37,744	165,128	244,714	113,175
1973	58,534	7,772	35,273	179,386	285,318	105,997
1974	50,344	9,576	39,843	138,013	279,840	118,942
1975	61,021	7,231	35,719	146,957	215,133	97,634
1976	40,855	7,819	35,336	73,727	180,673	90,114
1977	55,783	8,784	32,079	83,204	185,480	83,804
1978	66,126	11,270	30,511	96,828	193,200	93,555
1979	65,921	15,244	39,512	66,588	171,922	102,518
1980	59,337	11,167	39,716	113,251	110,274	145,029
1981	51,006	12,287	45,736	123,715	138,451	160,580
1982	47,915	16,839	33,695	80,327	191,222	122,312

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the implications for the Scottish economy of the formal cancellation by BP of its contract with Scott Lithgow for the construction of a semi-submersible rig.

Since British Shipbuilders and the parties interested in taking over Scott Lithgow have each indicated their intention to complete the rig, there would not appear to be any implications for the Scottish economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation providing that there is a minimum strength for Scotch whisky marketed in Scotland of 40 per cent.

Along with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food I am considering the making of regulations which would include a minimum strength. We shall shortly be announcing our decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school leavers in Scotland are either unemployed or on the youth training scheme.

The term school leaver normally refers, in the unemployment context, to the number of 16 and 17-year-olds who have completed full-time education and have not had any subsequent employment.At 9 February 1984, the latest date for which the information is available, there were 21,221 such young people in Scotland claiming benefit who had left school in 1982 and 1983. By the same date 33,687 school leavers had entered the youth traininge app scheme in Scotland, mostly at age 16, since the scheme's inception in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about unemployment in Scotland.

The subject of unemployment has been raised with my right hon. Friend recently at meetings with the STUC and other bodies, and in correspondence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to produce a housing plan for Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Policy objectives for housing in Scotland are set out in the "Government's Expenditure Plans 1984–85 to 1986–87" (Cmnd. 9143-II) published on 16 February 1984 and in the Commentary on the Scottish programme published on 6 March. I am not clear as to what would be involved in a housing plan for Scotland and have no plans to publish one.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will introduce arrangements for a personal travel service for renal dialysis patients from Ayrshire, Dumfries and Galloway receiving treatment in Glasgow hospitals.

Nearly all such patients travel by ambulance, and few use their own cars, the hospital car service or public transport. I see no need for any other arrangements for conveying these patients to and from Glasgow for treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tea ladies are employed in the National Health Service in Scotland.

The grade of tea lady is not a designated Whitley grade within the NHS and it is not therefore possible to provide the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now announce his decision on the line of the M80 at Cumbernauld; and if he will make a statement.

Consultants reports on the various options for improving the Stepps to Haggs route indicated a need for two additional traffic surveys, which have been commissioned. I hope to reach a conclusion on the optimum proposed route later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current rate of unemployment among building trade workers in Scotland; what was the comparable rate in 1978; what are these rates as expressed in numbers of electricians, bricklayers, joiners, painters, plasterers and slaters; and what are the future prospects.

The information requested is not available. The industrial and occupational analyses of unemployment were discontinued in 1982. Estimates of unemployment by broad sectors of industry and occupational groups are expected to be available for Scotland in due course from the 1983 labour force survey.Provisional figures for new construction orders showed an increase or nearly a quarter between 1982 and 1983. The best prospects for the industry lie in government continuing their overall policy of creating a sound economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average annual number of unemployed in the Midlothian district council area in each year since 1980; and what was the average annual number of job vacancies and their descriptions.

Precise figures are not available for Midlothian district. However, the average annual number of unemployed registrants in the combined jobcentre areas of Dalkeith, Loanhead and Penicuik in 1980, 1981 and 1982 was 2,759, 3,880 and 4,915 respectively. In October 1982 the method of calculating unemployment was changed from a registrant to a claimant based count. The average annual number of unemployed claimants in 1983 was 4,275.Over the same period the averge number of vacancies notified to these jobcentres which remained unfilled at the four counts during each year was 77, 97, 109 and 161 respectively. The breakdown of each annual figure is as follows: One in primary industries, 15 in manufacturing industries, 13 in construction industries and 48 in service industries for 1980; Three, 12, 9and 73 respectively for 1981; Two, eight, 11 and 89 respectively for 1981; and four, 27, 23 and 106 respectively for 1983.Vacancies notified to Great Britain jobcentres are estimated to be about one-third of all available vacancies. Moreover, the number remaining unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified or filled. for each of the years from 1980 to 1983, the number of people placed in employment by the three Midlothian jobcentres was 1,189, 1,198, 1,488 and 1,756 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to assess the present state of the housing stock in the public sector in Scotland.

This is primarily a matter for local housing authorities, whose housing plans and checklists provide the Secretary of State with information on the condition of the public sector housing stock.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from local authorities and nationalised industries in the Grampian region for additional financial aid due to the severe storms which have taken place in that area since Christmas.

I have been informed by the convener of Grampian regional council that the council will be asking for special financial assistance towards abnormal expenditure incurred during the severe weather. A letter from the chief executive has indicated that details of the expenditure will be sent to my Department once the costs have been analysed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in improving the joint financing arrangements between health boards and local authorities.

I am reviewing the operation of the joint planning and support finance scheme with a view to encouraging easier and more effective collaboration between health boards, local authorities and other agencies involved in the provision of community care.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects Caledonian MacBrayne to report on its examination of the cost structure for ferry fares.

The company will keep its fare structure under regular review on the basis which I set out on 21 February, at column 697. I hope that they will report shortly on progress with this and with the other recommendations made by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to make a statement on the ninth report of the Committee of Public Accounts of Session 1983–84.

The Government's formal response to the report was published on 12 March 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to restore public confidence in breath test machines; and if he will review instructions to the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding the use of the Lion Intoximeter 3000.

Following recent reports in the Daily Express, we have sought to inform the public of the safeguards which exist both as regards the machine itself and the procedures laid down for its use.The machine is programmed to carry out its own calibration checks, both a pre-test check before receiving the subjects' samples and a post test check after the analyses have been completed. If the first check shows that the machine is not measuring accurately it will automatically stop and will not accept the person's breath sample. If the first check is satisfactory but the second check shows the machine to be out of calibration, a visual display coupled with a specific indication on the print-out will convey to the operator that the machine is defective in this respect and he should then use another machine or adopt the blood test procedure. In addition, under the provisions of the Transport Act 1981 a person is entitled to a blood or urine test if the reading on the machine print out falls between the legal maximum of 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood and 50. This provides a wide safety margin against any imperfections in a machine.We are continuing, and shall continue, to examine carefully all reports on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department was last in contact with Lion laboratories about intoximeters; and if he will make a statement.

Home Office officials have been in frequent contact with the manufacturers of both the Lion intoximeter and the Camic breath analyser about a variety of matters, including inquiries from solicitors about particular cases, details of servicing of particular instruments, and general discussions on routine maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of people (a) addicted to controlled drugs and (b) convicted of drugs offences and the numbers and weight of seizures of controlled drugs in each of the last five years in the Welwyn and Hatfield district and the county of Hertfordshire; and if he will compare those figures with the national figures for the same period.

Information about narcotic drug addicts known to the Home Office in the Welwyn and Hatfield area could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information for 1982 for the Hertfordshire police force area and the United Kingdom as a whole is given in table 15 of "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs, United Kingdom, Supplementary Tables, 1982". Corresponding figures for 1978 to 1981 are given in table 5 of "Treatment and Rehabilitation, Report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs". Figures for 1983 are not yet available. I will reply to the other parts of the Question as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were registered drug addicts in Liverpool and on Merseyside at the latest available date; and what were the figures for June 1979.

The latest available information about narcotic drug addicts known to the Home Office in the Merseyside police force area was published in table 15 of "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs, United Kingdom, Supplementary Tables, 1982". Corresponding figures for 1979 were published in table 5 of "Treatment and Rehabilitation, Report of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs". Copies of both publications are in the Library of the House. Separate information for Liverpool could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the most up-to-date statistics regarding the numbers of people (a) who have been the subject of stop and search and (b) who have been arrested and not charged in (i) the Metropolitan police divisions Y and N and (ii) by officers from Hornsey road and Highbury vale police stations.

I refer the hon. Member to the information for 1982 given in reply to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Dubs) on 17 November 1983, at columns 514–15. Information for 1983 will be available shortly and I shall send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been under section 11(1) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 concerning offences in relation to self-locking snares and under schedule 6 for each year since it came into effect.

Information collected centrally does not separately distinguish prosecutions under subsections of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. However, the records available to us, which may be incomplete, show no prosecutions under section 11 of the Act completed by the end of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial assistance has been given by the Government to marriage guidance councils in the years 1981–82 and 1982–83; and what is the estimate for 1984.

In 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84 the following grants have been made by the Home Office towards the training and headquarters expenses of marriage guidance organisations:

	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
	£	£	£
National Marriage Guidance Council	704,000	750,000	788,000
Institute of Marital Studies	220,000	238,700	253,350
Catholic Marriage Advisory Council	91,000	98,750	103,700
Family Welfare Association	14,000	15,200	15,950
Jewish Marriage Education Council	5,000	5,000	5,000

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has made the following grants in the same years: £23,000, £23,000, and £31,000 to the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council in support of the cost of its medical services; and £20,000, £20,000 and £35,000 to the National Marriage Guidance Council for the training of its councellors in the treatment of sexual difficulties.Provision for 1984–85 will be included in the Estimates to be presented to the House shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legal proceedings have been instituted against fox hunts for (a) trespass and (b) cruelty in each year since 1979.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Prison Officers Association on the payment of a daily allowance to officers working in prison units when a dirty protest is taking place; and if he will make a statement.

None; nor have we received any claim for such an allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people (a) applied for and (b) were granted British citizenship by (i) naturalisation, (ii) registration and (iii) registration as a minor in each month since January 1983.

The number of (a) applications for, and (b) grants of British citizenship since January 1983 is as follows:

(a) Applications
	Naturalisation	Registration	Minors
1983
January	1,459	*9,593	*1,734
February	1,713	13,356	80
March	2,048	12,361	688
April	1,798	5,745	1,133
May	1,005	2,254	684
June	862	1,665	637
July	1,111	1,900	865
August	1,000	1,904	709
September	1,121	1,989	778
October	1,110	1,803	730
November	1,237	1,780	806
December	902	1,308	589
1984
January	1,003	1,559	672
February	1,237	1,736	786
Totals	17,606	58,953	10,891
* The figure for minor applications in January 1983 includes applications made under the British Nationality Act 1948, thereafter any such applications are included in the figures for registration. No separate figures are available.

(b) Grants
	Naturalisation	Registration	Minors
1983
January	89	484	124
February	213	5,598	759
March	683	3,316	989
April	587	3,301	803
May	535	4,257	876
June	563	3,658	743
July	818	4,553	1,060
August	1,062	4,718	1,303
September	694	3,078	755
October	743	3,109	800
November	777	3,376	847
December	643	4,005	792
1984
January	809	4,960	1,054
February	526	5,095	820
Totals	8,742	53,508	11,725

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps as soon as possible to sell unwanted prison houses lived in by prison officers and their families to them at market value, less a substantial discount.

The Prison Officers Association raised this matter with the prison department in October last year, and it has been included in current discussions on the future of the entitlement to free quarters or a housing allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a code of practice dealing with the personal data held on the computer system of the Metropolitan police C department; whether he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

No, but I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that officers who have access to the computer facilities dedicated to C department must comply with security operating procedures which govern the handling of information held on those computer facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a code of practice dealing with the personal data held on the computer system of the immigration department at Bootle; whether he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will snake a statement.

The computer system was designed in accordance with guidelines issued by the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency and now embodied in its information technology guide. The guide embraces security and privacy considerations.I understand that a copy of the guide is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is a code of practice dealing with the personal data held on the computer system of the broadcasting receiving licensing centre in Bristol; whether he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

There is no formal code of practice, but written instructions applying to the computer system as a whole include a provision that data may only he retrieved on the written authority of one of a small number of designated NTVLRO senior officers; and all NTVLRO staff with access to personal data are instructed that it may not be disclosed to a third party.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to announce who will chair the departmental committee which he proposed to study the system of adjudications in prison.

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Peter J. Prior has agreed to act as chairman of the committee on the prison disciplinary system. I shall announce the names of the other members shortly. I have told Mr. Prior that I would like the committee to report within 12 months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he will take to deal with the leak of some of his Budget measures to The Guardian before 1 March.

In recent weeks there have been indications which give rise to a suspicion of unauthorised disclosure of classified information. My right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has arranged with the Director of Public Prosecutions for a police investigation, which is under way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the total acreage of property owned by the Crown Estate in London.

None. A list of the properties of the Crown Estate in London can however be found on pages 24–26 of the Crown Estate Commissioners annual report published in 1980. This list will be updated in the commissioners next report, which will be published later this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much taxation increased as a percentage of gross domestic product between 1978 and 1982 and between 1978 and the latest available date; and by how much the number of taxpayers has fallen over the same periods.

Total taxation (excluding national insurance contribution) as a percentage of gross domestic product at market prices increased by 4 per cent. between 1978–79 and 1982–83 and by 3·2 per cent. between 1978–79 and the first three quarters of 1983–84. Between the same periods income tax paid by persons decreased by 0·3 per cent. and 0·8 per cent. respectively.The number of taxpayers is provisionally estimated to have fallen by 1·3 million between 1978–79 and 1982–83.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each year since 1978 the increase in sterling M3 and the increase in prices; and what is his current estimate of the time lag between an increase in the money supply and an increase in prices.

Sterling M3 is published in table 11.1 of "Financial Statistics" and price indices on page 42 of Economic Trends. Over the medium to long term there is a relatively stable relationship between the growth of the principal monetary aggregates and the rate of inflation, but at any time the precise relationship will depend on the circumstances prevailing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is a code of practice dealing with the personal data held on the computer system of the Inland Revenue dealing with pay-as-you-earn; whether he will place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Access to personal data held on these computer systems is restricted to Inland Revenue staff concerned with the operation of PAYE. The Taxes Management Act 1970 requires all Inland Revenue staff to make a declaration of secrecy when they are appointed. I have placed a copy of the form of declaration in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of invalidity pensioners (a) who would not be liable to tax if their benefit were taxable and (b) whose tax liability would be less than their loss through the 5 per cent. abatement of invalidity pension.

[pursuant to his reply, 12 March 1984, c. 58]: It is estimated that, at 1983–84 levels, about one quarter of the 900,000 recipients of invalidity pension would not be liable to income tax if invalidity pension were taxable and if the 5 per cent. abatement had been restored throughout the year.I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the required analysis has been completed.

asked the Attorney-General how many people currently imprisoned in Northern Ireland awaiting trial on the evidence of supergrasses have previously faced trial on the evidence of a different supergrass.

Statistics directly relating to these matters are not separately maintained, but an examination of the cases of persons who presently stand charged and in custody awaiting trial for terrorists offences and at whose trial an accomplice will give evidence for the Crown indicates that there are seven such persons who have previously been tried for terrorist offences in cases where another accomplice gave evidence for the Crown and a further three who were previously held in custody having been implicated by other accomplices who did not give evidence.

asked the Attorney-General how many people have been granted (a) total and (b) partial immunity from prosecution in return for giving evidence for the Crown in Northern Ireland for each of the last 14 years.

No immunity from prosecution is subject to any condition that the person receiving immunity will give evidence. The decision whether to grant immunity from prosecution to any person is taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland personally. The principles and practices followed by the director in this connection were set out in my written answer on 24 October 1983 to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Spencer).

asked the Attorney-General what part will be played by the Street committee in the consideration by the Government of their response to the recommendations about non-solicitor conveyancing in the report of the Benson commission; and if he will make a statement.

The Government will take their decision in the light of the committee's report.

asked the Attorney-General (1) over what time span the review being carried out into the improvement of the speed of access for the public to information contained in wills kept at Somerset House is planned; whether the review is being carried out independently; and when he expects a report to be made;(2) what steps are being taken by his Department to improve and speed up access to wills kept at Somerset House by the use of modern technology.

No review is being carried out in a formal sense, but officials in the Lord Chancellor's Department are considering the possibility of introducing further modern technology into the principal registry of the Family Division at Somerset House to improve access to wills and grants of representation. The microfiche search machines, which have for some years now been kept up to date by computer and use of which is available to the public free of charge, will very shortly be replaced by electronic models, these being the first production machines of their kind to be installed anywhere in the country. A new microfiche reader-printer is also on order, and this is expected to provide copy grants quicker, and of a greater clarity, than hitherto. Clarity of original grants, and consequently of copies, is to be improved by the provision of new electronic typewriters throughout the Family Division. Other possibilities are also under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report those organisations which he consulted over the licensing of gas installers when responsibility for gas safety rested with his Department; and whether he is satisfied that consultations were held with representatives of the majority of the gas installing industry.

Formal consultation on this issue had not begun before responsibility for it was transferred to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. He is considering options for regulation of installers of gas appliances. All interested parties, including associations representing gas installers, will be consulted before any new scheme is introduced.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many days have been lost through industrial action in the Crown Office during the last three months.

During the last three months seven and a half man-days have been lost through industrial action in the Crown Office.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect of the policy of non-harassment of travelling people in Stirling.

The policy of non-harassment relates only to unauthorised camping. One factor affecting the decision in a particular case to depart from it is the availability of alternative sites. I understand it is now the decision of Stirling district council to provide such sites.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will modify the rule whereby advocates-depute must obtain the permission of a Law Officer before accepting a reduced plea in serious cases in the High Court.

No. The rule applies in murder or rape cases only. Permission is not required after the reading of evidence has begun.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland, if he is satisfied with the current legal status of charitable organisations based in Scotland.

I am not aware of any difficulties presently being encountered in relation to the legal status of charitable organisations based in Scotland.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he is satisfied with the application of the Matrimonial Homes (Family Protection) (Scotland) Act 1981 so far as it concerns the Crown Office.

The only sections of the 1981 Act which directly involve procurators fiscal are those dealing with the procedure following the arrest of a spouse for breach of interdict. I am satisfied that procurators fiscal are applying these provisions properly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department has requested local authorities in Wales to submit plans and policies for the teaching of the Welsh language.

Local education authorities were asked in Welsh Office circular 59/83 to report, by 30 April 1984, on their progress in drawing up a policy for Welsh language and Welsh medium work in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to set up an aerial archaeological survey of Wales, in order to identify, codify and publish a comprehensive list of possible sites of archaeological interest.

Steps have already been taken by my right hon. Friend with a view to trial survey work being undertaken in Wales during 1984–85. It is expected that this work will be done with the help of the archaelogical trusts in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by what percentage unemployment in Wales has increased among school leavers during the past year; what were the corresponding figures for the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

Between February 1983 and February 1984 numbers of unemployed school leavers in Wales decreased by 1,262 from 7,109 to 5,847, or by 17·7 per cent. The figures for the past five years are as follows:

February (all years)	Number	Per cent.
1978	2,920	—
1979	2,369	-18·9
1980	2,202	-7·0
1981	4,555	+106·9
1982	7,066	+55·1
1983	7,109	+0·6

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how pig producers' returns in Wales compare with prices paid to Danish and Dutch pig producers; and if he will make a statement.

Prices secured by Welsh producers are in line with those of the rest of the United Kingdom. For the week ending 23 February 1984 the EEC pigmeat reference prices which reflect the weekly average market price in each Member state were as follows:

Country	p/kg deadweight
Denmark	97·46
Netherlands	89·24
United Kingdom	94·02

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs have been created in each category of the standard industry classification since 1979 (a) on Merseyside, (b) in Knowsley and (c) in Kirkby.

Local area statistics for the areas concerned are not yet available for the period since 1978. The only relevant information available to the Department relates to the opening of new manufacturing plants with more than 10 employees and this information is inevitably not comprehensive due to delays associated with its collection. It indicates that since 1979 18 new plants have opened involving 600 jobs in the metropolitan county of Merseyside; two of these plants are located in the district of Knowsley and one of these in that part covered by the Kirkby employment office area. The main industries in which the openings have occurred in Merseyside county are chemicals and allied industries (60 per cent. of the jobs generated), and mechanical and electrical engineering (20 per cent.).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the number of new plants opened each year (a) on Merseyside, (b) in Kirkby and (c) in Knowsley since 1960, and the number that have since closed.

The Department's records of openings cover only those manufacturing plants with more than 10 employees. Comprehensive information is not available for the period prior to 1966; nor for the period since 1982 due to delays associated with its collection. A breakdown of the number of openings by year, together with details of the number of these which have subsequently closed, are given in the table for Merseyside metropolitan county, the district of Knowsley and Kirkby employment office area.

The Number of Openings of Manufacturing Plants 1966–82
Year of opening	Mersey-side Metropolitan County	Knowsley district		Kirkby EOA
	No. of openings	(of which now closed)	No. of openings	(of which now closed)	No. of openings	(of which now closed)
1966	10	(3)	—	—	—	—
1967	11	(—)	1	—	1	—
1968	9	(2)	1	—	—	—
1969	13	(2)	3	—	2	—
1970	15	(3)	3	(2)	—	—
1971	17	(2)	5	—	2	—
1972	14	(4)	2	(1)	1	(1)
1973	21	(2)	1	(1)	—	—
1974	17	(3)	2	(1)	2	(1)
1975	16	(1)	4	—	3	—
1976	14	(2)	2	(1)	1	—
1977	17	(1)	4	—	1	—
1978	11	(—)	2	—	—	—
1979	9	(1)	—	—	—	—
1980	10	(—)	—	—	—	—
1981	16	(2)	4	(1)	2	(1)
1982	3	(—)	—	—	—	—
1966–82	223	(28)	34	(7)	15	(3)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many jobs have been lost in each category of the standard industry classification in each year since 1979 (a) on Merseyside, (b) in Knowsley and (c) in Kirkby;

Comprehensive information on the number of jobs lost is not available for the period since 1979. The latest information available to the Department concerning the closure of manufacturing plants with more

The closure of manufacturing plants 1979–82* Merseyside Metropolitan county
Closures
	1979		1980	1981		1982	1979–82
Sic Order (1968)	Number	Jobs involved	Number	Jobs involved	Number	Jobs involved	Number	Jobs involved	Jobs involved
III	6	2,200	4	..	5	2,170	—	—	4,530
V	2	†..	1	..	2	..	—	—	..
VI	1	..	1	..	2	..	—	—	..
VII	1	..	5	1,490	4	500	1	..	1,230
IX	1	..	4		2		—	—	1,120
X	1	..	2	..	1	..	1	..	810
XI	—	..	2	..	1	..	—	—	..
XII	1	..	3	..	—	..	1	..	620
XIII	—	..	2	500	3	740	—	—	700
XV	2	..	5		5		1	..	730
XVI	2	..	1	..	1	..	—	—	..
XVII	2	..	4	..	3	..	—	—	1,140
XVIII	2	..	3	..	4	..	2	..	1,140
XIX	2	..	2	..	3	..	—	—	4,470
TOTAL	23	7,240	39	4,800	36	5,290	6	420	11,750
* The table includes only closures of manufacturing plants which have employed more than 10.
† Not disclosed for reasons of confidentiality.

Number of closures of manufacturing plants 1979–82* District of Knowsley and Kirkby Employment office area
Year of closure
	1979		1980		1981		1982
Sic order (1968)	Knowsley†	Kirkby	Knowsley	Kirkby	Knowsley	Kirkby	Knowsley	Kirkby
III	1	1
V			1	1
VI	1	1			1	1
VII			2	—	1	1
IX			2	1
X							1	1
XVI			1	1
XVII					1	1
TOTAL‡	2	2	6	3	3	3	1	1

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the personal data held on computer by the National Girobank for a person holding an account.

This is a matter for National Girobank. However, it informs me that the information it holds on computer about personal account holders is: name, address, nominated post office for withdrawals, account number and account details.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the balance in manufacturing trade with the Common Market and the rest of the world, respectively, in 1983; and if he will publish a table showing the comparable figures in each of the years from 1970.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the latest number of enterprise agencies operating in the United Kingdom.

There are 193 local enterprise agencies in existence in the United Kingdom including all those organisations that have been approved as local enterprise agencies under section 48 of the Finance Act 1982 before starting to operate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 8 March regarding compensation for letters (a) how much of the compensation paid in 1982–83 was in respect of ordinary letters and (b) how much of the compensation paid in each of the years was attributable to (i) registered letters and (ii) recorded delivery letters; and, in all cases, how many letters in each category were involved.

The information is as follows:

	£
(a) £359,000 of the compensation paid was in respect of ordinary letters
(b) (i) Registered letters:
1972–73	213,300
1982–83	1,325,000
(ii) Recorded delivery:
1972–73	3,700
1982–83	76,000

The Post Office measured the numbers of complaints involved on the basis of individual items for 1972–73, and on the number of cases reported for 1982–83.

	Numbers
Registered letters:
1972–73	4,484
1982–83	5,756
Recorded delivery:
1972–73	2,085
1982–83	4,957
Ordinary letters:
1982–83	38,174

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 8 March regarding compensation for letters, how much of the compensation paid in each of the years related to losses on British Rail.

The Post Office does not keep separate records showing what part of the compensation paid is related to the losses on British Rail.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) registered letters and (b) recorded delivery letters were handled by the Post Office in 1982–83 and 1972–73, respectively.

Numbers of letters handled by the Post Office were:

	Million
(a) Registered letters:
1972–73	25
1982–83	21·5
(b) Recorded delivery:
1972–73	26·5
1982–83	27·3

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the volume of mail carried in 1982–83, or the last year for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for 1972–73.

Total letter volume
	Million
1982–83	10,255
1972–73	10,740

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken by the Post Office to reduce losses due to pilferage.

Theft from the post is investigated by the Post Office investigation department and offenders are prosecuted. The available evidence points to the lowest incidence of theft occurring while the mail is in the Post Office's direct possession. All major sorting offices have watching galleries, which act as a detective aid and also as a deterrent. Operational measures include scheduled and snap inspection of the mail service and internal campaigns reminding staff of the need for maximum mail security. There is a continuing dialogue between the Post Office and its chief carrier—British Rail—to improve the security of mails in transit and the investigation department works closely with the British Transport police. Over the past few years the department has been computerising its crime records, and has recently acquired a larger computer so more records can be held, so that patterns of crime can be quickly identified leading to swift detection of offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the Post Office keeps no record of complaints about pilfering; if he will now ask it to do so; and if he will make a statement.

Since postal packets can go astray or become damaged for a variety of reasons, only one of which is theft, it is not possible to identify which of those items reported lost or damaged have been subjected to pilfering. Where there is suspicion that a crime has been committed the case is referred to the Post Office investigation department. Problems connected with pilfering fall within the operational responsibilities of the Post Office by virtue of the powers contained in the Post Office Act 1969. It is therefore not a matter which my right hon. Friend has powers to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases were referred to the Post Office investigation branch in 1983 and 1973, respectively.

The total number of crimes involving mail losses referred to the investigation department was:

	Numbers
1982–83	14,767
1972–73	13,678

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the profit made by the Post Office in 1982–83; what was the profit for the comparable activities in 1972–73; and if he will express both figures on a consistent basis.

In 1982–83 the Post Office, excluding National Girobank, made a profit of £131·6 million. In 1972–73 the postal business made a loss of £42·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer of 8 March regarding complaints received by the Post Office, if he will break down the totals given by postal regions.

The number of complaints broken down on a regional basis were:

	1972–73	1982–83
London Postal Region (Inner)	6,138	4,956
London Postal Region (Outer)	4,444	4,511
Eastern Postal Region	5,205	6,762
Midland Postal Board	6,437	7,200
North Eastern Postal Board	5,247	7,108
Northern Ireland Postal Board	977	958

					Local Authority Dwellings Let to New Tenants
(Thousands)
Standard regions	1976–77		1977–78		1978–79		1979–80		1980–81		*1981–82		*1982–83
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
Northern	16	7	17	6	16	7	17	8	20	6	18	5	19	5
Yorkshire and Humberside	22	9	24	9	24	9	26	10	28	9	24	7	25	7
East Midlands	19	6	21	6	22	6	20	5	18	5	16	4	18	4
Greater London†	32	27	33	26	27	29	23	28	26	24	22	25	17	23
Rest of South East	43	11	46	11	39	13	26	12	26	12	22	10	22	10
East Anglia							7	3	7	2	5	2	6	2

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sorting offices have been closed by the Post Office since 1972–73; and if he will list them in the Official Report.

This information is not held centrally by the Post Office and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the cost of electronic sorting mail equipment installed by the Post Office in each year since 1972–73.

Letter and parcel sorting equipment purchased in the years 1972–73 to 1982–83 is:

	£ million
1972–73	1·0
1973–74	0
1974–75	0·1
1975–76	0·1
1976–77	2·5
1977–78	3·4
1978–79	4·8
1979–80	7·1
1980–81	8·6
1981–82	10·2
1982–83	9·3

Information on the costs of sorting equipment installed each year is not held.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority dwellings were let to new tenants in the years 1976–77 to 1982–83, inclusive, by region (a) through the waiting list, normal allocation and (b) other.

Information provided by local authorities in their annual HIP returns is as follows: