asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 March.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. I also attended the memorial service for our late colleague Maurice Macmillan at St. Margaret's, Westminster. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the Government's help for the long-term unemployed in terms of income support and opportunities for training and education since May 1979.

Since May 1979 the Government have:

More than maintained price protection for those on supplementary benefit, which is the main source of income support for people unemployed for a year or more. In November 1983 the real value of supplementary benefit scale rates was some 5 per cent. higher than in November 1978;

Extended automatic-entitlement to the supplementary benefit long-term scale rate to unemployed men aged 60 or over;

Introduced the community programme to provide long-term unemployed people with temporary jobs of community benefit, including some element of training or opportunities for training. This programme was helping 112,000 people at the end of January 1984;

Made funds available to the Open University —£500,000 in 1983–84—specifically to assist unemployed students with fees; and

Introduced a three-year centrally funded development programme to improve educational opportunities for unemployed people, at a cost of £2·5 million.

Introduced the enterprise allowance scheme which provides a flat-rate allowance for up to 12 months as an incentive to those unemployed people who wish to set up their own businesses but are deterred from doing so because they would lose their entitlement to unemployment or supplementary benefit.

asked the Prime Minister what is the anticipated growth of the EEC's own resources in the next three years.

The Commission produces a triennial estimate of expenditure and resources each year. The latest of these was published with the preliminary draft general budget of the European Communities 1984, which is available in the Library of the House. The latest forecast covers the three years 1984 to 1986. The Commission's forecast is that the Community's own resources with a 1 per cent. VAT limit, will grow by 8 per cent. in 1985 and 8·7 per cent. in 1986. The next triennial estimate is due with the preliminary draft general budget for 1985, which should be available in June this year.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish in the Official Report a statement showing which of the objectives set out in economic progress report supplement of October 1983 for setting limits of expenditure under the European Economic Community budget can be achieved if agreement is reached only on the United Kingdom budget contribution.

As the economic progress report supplement makes clear, we are pressing for a lasting solution to the problem of budgetary imbalances, including the United Kingdom's net contribution. On its own, this would not directly set limits on EEC expenditure. But we are also pressing for a strict financial guideline for agricultural expenditure and for an overall limit on the budget. I have made it clear that both objectives need to be fulfilled before we will consider any increase in the Community's own resources.

asked the Prime Minister whether she drew the attention of the heads of Government at the Brussels summit to the imbalance of trade between the United Kingdom and the European Economic Community.

The balance of intra-Community trade was not specifically discussed at the Brussels European Council.

asked the Prime Minister whether, on the conclusion of her trip to Portugal in April, she will pay a short visit to Gibraltar before returning to the United Kingdom; and whether she will make a statement.

I have no plans to visit Gibraltar on that occasion.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will publish in the Official Report a table showing for 1981, 1982 and 1983 the increase in consumers' expenditure in real terms and the proportion of this accounted for by the fall in the savings ratio.

The following table shows the annual increases in consumers' expenditure measured at constant 1980 prices in the years 1981 to 1983.

asked the Prime Minister if Ministerial personal advisers have the status of temporary civil servants; and whether they are subject to the general principles of conduct pertaining in the Civil Service.

Ministerial personal advisers who are not civil servants are appointed personally by the Minister on terms and conditions laid down by him; these are as a rule similar to those applicable to civil servants, and will require them to follow similar rules of conduct. Personal advisers are answerable to the Minister concerned for their conduct.

asked the Prime Minister if she will ensure speedy co-operation between the Department of Health and Social Security, the Secretaries of State for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Trade and Industry, to encourage and support British companies to develop and expand the production and use of the British design of oxygen concentrators; if Her Majesty's Government will give their support to the expansion of this form of oxygen therapy; and if she will make a statement.

A number of companies already sell oxygen concentrators in this country, some of which are manufactured in the United Kingdom. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Health has recently commissioned from the accountants, Arthur Andersen and Company, a study of the arrangements for the supply of domiciliary oxygen. We will decide in the light of the results of the study the extent to which oxygen concentrators should replace the existing arrangements for the provision of existing therapy to domiciliary patients. I would hope that British manufacturers of concentrators will be able to compete effectively for any additional business that may result. I would expect the provisioning of oxygen equipment to be carried out in accordance with public procurement policy which is aimed at helping the development of the design, technology and competitiveness of suppliers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further reports he has received on the mental condition of Peter Sutcliffe; and if he will make a statement.

I have received recent reports from which I am satisfied that Sutcliffe's mental condition has seriously deteriorated and that he is now suffering from a grave form of mental illness. He could now represent a serious danger to prison staff and others. The reports indicate that he requires treatment which can only suitably be given in a hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the future of the Lyceum club, Liverpool.

I have today completed arrangements for the sale of the Lyceum to the Post Office for a purchase price of £320,000. The contract of sale includes conditions requiring that the principal historic and architectural features of the building should be restored and preserved. The Post Office has indicated that it will incorporate these features in a scheme of rehabilitation and conversion involving a variety of uses connected with its operations, including a branch post office and a philatelic retail centre. I am pleased that this important, historic Liverpool landmark has found a new owner and will soon have a new lease of life which will allow the public the fullest opportunity of enjoying and appreciating its outstanding qualities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any further consideration is being given to the S90 frigate design.

No. As stated in the answer by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement on 1 November 1983 to the hon. Member for Beverley (Sir P. Wall) at column 333 it was concluded that the S90 proposal was fundamentally unsuited to the key requirements of the Type 23 Frigate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what work has been undertaken by Vinten for his Department.

In recent years Vinten has undertaken a number of Ministry of Defence contracts for the supply of reconnaissance equipment, instrumentation and optical equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which private company has been awarded the contract for warehousing activities at the air publications and forms store, Woolwich; for how long a period; what is the estimated annual saving; and what other Ministry of Defence contracts have been awarded to the same company during the past 12 months.

The contract has been awarded to RCA Ltd., for five years from 1 October 1984. It is not Government practice to disclose details about the cost or nature of defence contracts, but the expected annual savings from the Woolwich contract are substantial. Over the last 12 months, and excluding a few small value orders, RCA Ltd, has been awarded 12 other defence contracts, on a range of subjects including for example, defence accommodation stores work at Royal Air Force Quedgeley.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has now completed his consideration of arrangements for the 40th anniversary ceremonies of the D-day landings; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that several thousand veterans have made arrangements with commercial tour operators to participate in the 40th anniversary ceremonies in Normandy on 6 June. I expect to be able to indicate shortly whether my Department will be able to offer any assistance to veterans.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total armaments import bill into the United Kingdom for each of the last 10 years.

I shall answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now answer questions seeking annualised information by country for arms imports.

No. A breakdown of defence equipment imports by region is given in table 2·8 of Volume 2 of the "Statement on the Defence Estimates 1983."

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how many licenses had been issued under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958; and how many applications were pending at the latest convenient date;(2) what is his estimate of the number of persons who should be licensed under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958, but who are not.

Section 1 of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 requires anyone carrying on the business of dealing in securities to be licensed, unless exempted by section 2 of the Act (for example by being a member of a recognised association of dealers in securities, such as the National Association of Security Dealers and Investment Managers). 527 businesses held a principal's licence to carry on the business of dealing in securities on 1 January 1984; and on that date 121 applications for principal's licences were under consideration. The equivalent figures for representatives' licences to deal in securities are 1,615 and 415 respectively.It is impossible to make any reasoned estimate of the number of people who may be carrying on a business which requires them to be licensed but who are not. Other factors apart, the need for a licence depends to a large extent on the individual circumstances. Over the past two years the number of intermediaries authorised to deal in securities (other than members of the Stock Exchange and certain other bodies) has more than doubled.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are taken to ensure that a director of an applicant company under the loan guarantee scheme has not previously been a director of a company that has received a loan under the scheme but since become insolvent; and if he will make a statement.

Under the loan guarantee scheme the banks are responsible for carrying out the commercial appraisal of all applications. As part of their assessment the banks will clearly need to take full account of the previous business experience of those who will be running the business. Leaflets on the scheme, and instructions to the banks, make it clear that applications will not be considered from businesses where the ownership or effective control rests with any person or any group of people who have been involved in the running or ownership of a business that resulted in a previous claim under the scheme's guarantee arrangements. With nearly 14,000 guarantees issued to date it would not be possible to ensure that all shareholders and directors of all these businesses are recorded and cross-checked without considerably increasing the cost and bureaucracy of operating the scheme. However, plans to computerise the scheme's operation will enable the Department to identify such cases rather more easily.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when British Telecom will be producing full audited accounts.

[pursuant to the reply, 26 March 1984, c. 7·8]: British Telecom produces full audited accounts in respect of each financial year ending 31 March. Their accounts for the 1983–84 financial year are due to be published in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether exemptions will be sought from the Stock Exchange rules for publicly quoted companies in the event of an offer for sale of British Telecom.

[pursuant to the reply, 26 March 1984, c. 7–8]: Exemptions from the prevailing rules would be sought if necessary but whether such exemptions would indeed be needed will not be clear until closer to the offer for sale.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the basis of depreciation used by British Telecom in its accounting practices;(2) what is the difference in British Telecom accounts between normal depreciation and supplementary depreciation.

[pursuant to the reply, 26 March 1984, c. 7–8]: The depreciation policies employed by British Telecom in respect of the financial year ending 31 March 1983 are explained in detail in the accounting policies section of the corporation's report and accounts for 1982–83, which were laid before Parliament in July 1983. This showed historical cost depreciation on fixed assets to be determined on a straight line basis so as to write off the historical cost over their useful lives. Supplementary depreciation was a further charge to take account of the replacement cost of fixed assets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when British Telecom's programme of installing digital exchanges will be complete.

[pursuant to the reply, 26 March 1984, c. 7–8]: BT aims, under its accelerated programme of digitalisation, to have two million digital exchange lines in service by 1986, double their original target. This will include 30 trunk units and 1,200 system X local exchanges. It intends to have completed the full digitalisation of the trunk network by the end of the decade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the ratio of net mortgage advances by building societies to the total prices paid for dwellings mortgaged by such societies in each of the years from 1979 to 1983.

Figures are not available in precisely the form sought by the hon. Member. The available figures are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) at what proportion of income of a married man with two children on average earnings, income tax and national insurance contribution has been taken, and at what rate in 1954, 1960, 1970, 1975, 1979 and in each succeeding year, including the position of such a family under the proposal contained in his Budget statement;(2) what proportion of earnings has been taken up by income tax and national insurance contributions, shown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for the United States of America and the United Kingdom the change in the incidence of (a) direct and (b) indirect taxation since 1979 for a person on average earnings so far as this can be calculated.

The figures in the following table give a comparison of (a) income tax and social security contributions (b) indirect tax payments as a percentage of gross earnings of an average production worker (APW). The APW is assumed to be a married man with a non-earning wife and two children. Indirect tax payments (excluding LA rates) are given only for the UK APW. These are based on a typical expenditure pattern for this earnings level derived from the family expenditure survey. Equivalent information for the US is not readily available.

Information is in the following table, which relates to a married man with two children aged under 11 with earnings equal to the average for full time adult male manual workers. The basis of the calculations is the most appropriate for comparisons with years before 1979–80 when child tax allowances were available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the Government paid to beneficiaries of pension funds in all the companies privatised from May 1979 to date to forgo the benefits then offered, including index linking.

Nothing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report all the fees and commissions paid to primary underwriters, sub-underwriters, financial advisers, legal advisers and stockbrokers in respect of the issues for Amersham International Ltd., Associated British Ports, British Aerospace, British Railways Board Hotels, Britoil, Cable and Wireless and the National Freight Corporation; and if he will name each firm concerned.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now update his answer of 9 February, Official Report, columns 745–46, on income and taxation for 1984–85.

[pursuant to his reply, 19 March 1984, c. 320]: Estimates for 1983–84 and 1984–85 are as follows. The figures for 1983–84 have been revised in the light of the most recent family expenditure survey.Underlying assumptions are the same as those for the previous answer; additionally, for illustration, average earnings are assumed to be 6½ per cent. higher, and retail prices 4½ per cent. higher in 1984–85 than this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has allowed the Ministry of Defence to carry forward into the next financial year up to £387 million from the current year's budget.

[pursuant to his reply, 22 March 1984, c. 531]: Under the end year flexibility scheme for central Government Departments announced by my right hon. Friend on 7 July 1983, at column 412, the Ministry of Defence will be able to carry forward an underspend on its equipment procurement and capital works programme of up to 5 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the likely effect of the drop in mortgage interest rate on the year-on-year retail price index by May.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1984]: It is estimated that the recently announced 1 per cent. cut in the mortgage interest rate will reduce the retail price index by 0·35 per cent., and will be fully reflected in the May index. This is an estimate of its direct effect, and does not take account of second round effects on this or any other components of the RPI.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his powers to levy income tax on the salaries of United Kingdom-based employees of the Commission of the European Communities and of the European Assembly; and, if different powers relate to different grades and nationalities, respectively, if he will include the differences in those powers.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1984]: Under the protocol on the privileges and immunities of the European Communities, which has direct legal effect in the United Kingdom, the salaries paid to officials and other servants of the Commission and the Assembly are exempt from national taxation regardless of grade or nationality, but liable to Community taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many retirement pensioners are currently liable for tax; how many would be liable for tax if the age allowance were raised by 12·5 per cent.; and how many will be liable for tax if the age allowance is raised by the amount specified in the Budget statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1984]: About 2·4 million single people over 65 or married couples with one partner over 65 are liable to income tax in 1983–84. If the age allowances were raised by 12·5 per cent. from their 1983–84 levels, about 2·2 million would be liable to tax in 1984–85, compared with 2·4 million under the Budget proposals and 2·5 million if age allowances for 1984–85 were not changed from their 1983–84 levels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of raising the age allowances by 12·5 per cent.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1984]: The cost of raising the age allowances and the aged income limit by 12·5 per cent. of their 1983–84 levels would be about £130 million more in a full year than the cost of the corresponding Budget proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will withhold his consent for any closures on the Central line, or of the Epping-Ongar line, pending the reorganisation of London Transport.

No such proposals have been put to me, nor so far as I am aware do they exist other than in GLC-fostered propaganda.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the number of heavy lorries now fitted with spray guards as recommended by his Department to the users of heavier lorries.

I understand that the principal supplier of spray suppressant devices in this country estimates that some 12,000 lorries have so far been fitted. I have recently circulated draft regulations which will in time result in all heavy lorries being fitted with these or other devices meeting the new British Standard AU 200.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the criteria for inspecting road bridges to determine whether they are being affected by heavy lorries.

The Department's system for the inspection of road bridges entails a general inspection of the representative parts of a bridge every two years and a principal inspection comprising the close examination of all parts of a bridge every six years. The Department's technical memorandum on the subject provides a list of all likely defects and damages that should be looked for and also a list of all the vulnerable parts of bridges that should be examined. A report is prepared after each inspection describing the conditions of the component parts of the bridge and identifying any need for repair work.

asked the Attorney-General if he can now make a statement on proposals for extending the principle of no-fault liability to road traffic accidents, as recommended by the Pearson commission.

asked the Sercretary of State for Energy how many shipments containing how much plutonium

Major drawbacks to the proposals of the Pearson commission on traffic accidents include their resource implications and the way in which they would discriminate between victims of accidents on the road and elsewhere. Although no final decision has been taken therefore, the Government have not sought to implement the proposals.

asked the Attorney-General what is the rate of conviction expressed as a percentage of the total number of cases tried on indictment in (a) the Leicester Crown court, (b) the Inner London Crown court, (c) the Snaresbrook Crown court and (d) the Old Bailey in each of the last three years.

Figures on the rate of conviction are collected for defendants committed for trial at the Crown court, rather than for cases as such. The following table shows the total number of defendants dealt with at each court during 1981, 1982 and 1983 and the percentage of that total who (a) pleaded guilty to all counts, (b) pleaded not guilty so some or all counts and were convicted and (c) pleaded not guilty to some or all counts and were acquitted.nitrate have been made from Dounreay to Sellafield; and whether any unexpected incidents have occurred during shipment.

I have nothing to add to the answer which my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Moore) gave on 31 January 1983, at column 33.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people have received redundacy payments from the National Coal Board between 1967 and March of the current year.

As the hon. Member is seeking information about payments from the NCB rather than via the redundant mineworkers pension scheme, it is a matter for the board and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the total costs of the coal mining industry are subsidence payments; if he will give total figures and those for each region for each of the last five years; and if he will subdivide the payments into those for (a) householders, (b) businesses and(c) landowners.

These are matters for the National Coal Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimate of nuclear power generating capacity brought on stream, in coal equivalent, in 1983; and what similar new capacity, in coal equivalent, is estimated for 1984.

I am advised by the CEGB that nuclear generating capacity brought on stream in 1983 had a designed output capacity of 600 MW and it is estimated that a further 3100 MW will be brought on stream in 1984.Actual capacity brought on stream in 1984 will be determined in the light of operating experience. It is not meaningful to consider these capacities in terms of estimated coal equavalent during plant commissioning and early operation.Matters concerning electricity generation in Scotland are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current trend in vacancies and its implications for future employment patterns in Wales.

The seasonally adjusted stock of unfilled vacancies notified to jobcentres in Wales rose throughout most of 1983. In recent months the level has fallen back slightly, but the fact that the stock in February 1984 was about 25 per cent. higher than a year ago is an important indicator though only one of many for future employment prospects. Vacancies notified to jobcentres represent only a part of the vacancies existing in the country as a whole at any one time.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many redundancies have been registered in Wales in each of the past five years.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the numbers of notified redundancies which occurred in Wales are estimated as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons who left school at the end of each of the summer terms in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, in Wales are now (a) in full-time permanent employment, (b) in full-time education, (c) on various youth training or temporary schemes and (d) unemployed.

Information in the form requested is available only in respect of 1983 and covers only 16-year-olds eligible to leave school in Wales that year. The figures based on information known to the careers service as at October 1983 showed that of 43,411 leavers 44 per cent. remained in school or full-time education, 37 per cent. were in youth training schemes or unemployed or awaiting a place on youth training schemes and 12 per cent. in employment. No firm information was available about the remaining 7 per cent. but some part would have found employment.Some additional information on an England and Wales basis and covering 16 to 17-year-olds at January each year is available in tables 13 and 14 of the "Digest of Statistics 1983" published by the Department of Education and Science, together with an earlier statistical bulletin 2/83 Educational and Economic Activity in People aged 16 to 19 Years in England and Wales from 1973/74 to 1981/82". Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many physically handicapped and disabled people are employed and in what positions in his Department; and what percentage of the total number of employees this represents.

The Welsh Office has currently 44 registered disabled persons employed in the following groups: administration 25, professional and technology 1, industrial 5, secretarial 4 and general service 9. This represents 2 per cent. of the total number of employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why he has decided to privatise two new dialysis units in Wales; when he expects these to be in operation; what is the estimated cost of the equipment and management of the units to be; and what patients will be charged for treatment.

We have not yet decided which organisation will operate the pilot subsidiary renal units which are expected to become operational in 1985. Equipment and management costs are in part dependent upon that decision but also upon the number of patients who can be clinically identified as potential beneficiaries of the facilities provided at the units. Treatment will be provided under the NHS and patients will not be charged for treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients in Wales are waiting for dialysis treatment.

All patients referred to existing renal units in Wales are offered dialysis according to their clinical need. However, many more patients might be referred when the main renal unit in Morriston and the two pilot subsidiary renal units at Carmarthen and Bangor are opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many tenanted houses owned by housing associations have been sold to sitting tenants in Wales; what are the names of the housing associations and their estates; and what number of these houses have been sold with a discount.

610 tenanted houses have been sold to sitting tenants including 542 co-ownership sales. Co-ownership dwellings are by nature sold at a reduced price. Details of discounts on other sales and of the names of housing associations and their estates are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many prefabricated reinforced concrete houses which were built before 1960 exist in each county of Wales; and, in each case, how many are in private ownership.

This information, based on district council areas, is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to improve public access to hospital waiting list information.

For many years the Welsh Office has produced from data provided by district health authorities a number of publications covering hospital waiting lists, including the "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for Wales", the "Bed Use Statistics" and most recently "Key Statistical Indicators". With the growing interest of professional and lay opinion in analysis of the quality, adequacy and efficient use of health services have come requests for waiting list information to be brought together in an easily digestible form related to individual hospitals.To meet that demand, the Welsh Office has produced a new, comprehensive booklet entitled "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin" which it is intended to produce twice a year, starting with waiting lists as at 30 September 1983. A copy of the booklet has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the number of applicants coming forward in the police service for selection and training in high command posts; to what reason he ascribes the fall in recent years in both the numbers and qualifications of senior officers offering themselves for such appointments; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the number of such posts which require to be filled each year is matched by suitably trained applicants from within the police service.

The number of suitably qualified candidates for posts of assistant chief constable and above is generally sufficient to provide police authorities with an adequate choice. In recent years, applications for senior command training have been running at a higher rate than previously, although 1983 was a disappointing year. More applicants for senior posts and courses would certainly be desirable. The many factors underlying the present position were explored earlier this year at a conference between the Home Office and chief constables, and a number of proposals were made which are being closely examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the average time taken to reach a decision on applications for asylum from citizens from Pakistan in (a) 1982 and (b) 1983;.(2) how many of the applications for asylum from citizens of Pakistan which were refused in

This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many applications for asylum were received from citizens of Pakistan in (a) 1982 and (b) 1983;.(2) how many applications for asylum from citizens of Pakistan received in 1982 are still pending;.(3) how many applications for asylum are pending from citizens of Pakistan;.(4) how many applications for asylum from citizens of Pakistan have been pending for

Fifty-six asylum applications were received from citizens of Pakistan in 1982 and 29 in 1983. At 21 March 1984, 43 such applications were pending, including three received in 1982 and 14 received in 1983. Eight applications have been outstanding for more than 10 months and five for between six and 10 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Libyans were recently deported on suspicion of being involved in recent bomb incidents.

Five.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the report of the working party on control in prisons will be completed; and if it will be published.

I understand that the control review committee expects to complete its report by the summer. It has not yet been decided whether the report should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the starting date for the construction of the new prison at Woolwich Arsenal and of the total cost involved.

We hope to achieve a start on site in January 1987. The estimated construction cost is £36·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has appointed any new advisers under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984.

Sir Brian Bailey, OBE, JP and Mr. John Marriage, QC have agreed to act as my advisers under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984 in addition to Mr. Hugh Carlisle, QC.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the representations he has received from Liverpool city council concerning the transfer of certain licensing functions of local authorities;(2) what is the estimate of loss of income to Liverpool city council following the transfer of certain licensing functions to local authorities.

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to give district councils power to charge fees for issuing certificates of suitability under section 79 of the Licensing Act 1964, but he is keeping the matter under review. The representations submitted by Liverpool city council on 13 March about this are being considered. We do not have the information on which to base an estimate of the income such fees might produce.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Metropolitan police force were asked to resign in 1983; how this compares with figures for the past five years; and whether he has similar figures available for other police forces in England and Wales.