asked the Attorney-General whether criminal charges under section 2 of the Official Secrets Act have been preferred against any person leaking information about the Government's intention to expand the Territorial Army.

No information has been referred to me on this matter which gives rise to the question of criminal charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils, and what percentage, remain at school after they reach the age of 16 years and after 17 years in each local education authority in January 1983 and January 1984; which of these local education authorities gave education maintenance awards in each of these years; and what was the average size of award made and total number made in each local education authority.

The numbers and proportions of pupils remaining at maintained schools after 16 and 17 years in each local education authority in England in January 1983 are as follows. Equivalent figures for January 1984 are not yet available. Information on the average size and number of educational maintenance awards is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made on the care in the community initiative aimed at enabling long-stay patients to leave hospital and be cared for in the community; and when the relevant provisions of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act will be brought into force.

The Government aim to provide care at home or in small homely units near to a patient's home in all those cases where an elderly patient or a mentally ill or mentally handicapped person would be better cared for in that way. We feel that this is a better and more civilised way of supporting many people, particularly those who would otherwise become unwilling or unhappy long stay patients in large hospitals or institutions.We are therefore bringing changes in the law which extend the so-called joint finance arrangements into force on 1 April. From that date health authorities will be able to help finance education for mentally and physically disabled young people, and housing, as well as personal social services. This extension of the joint financing arrangements removes an unnecessary legal obstacle to the joint planning that we encourage health and local authorities and voluntary bodies to engage in on behalf of elderly and disabled patients. It helps authorities to match services more closely to the needs of individual people and to achieve a more effective use of the money that we make available. Health authorities can use their normal resources as well as their joint finance allocations —which we have now raised to £100 million in 1984–85—in supporting community services.Voluntary organisations as well as local authorities and other housing bodies can take part in joint schemes and receive support from NHS funds. We want to see the voluntary organisations play their full part and so we are now making statutory provision for voluntary organisation representatives on the joint consultative committees of health and local authorities. An order has been laid before the House giving three seats for voluntary organisations on every joint consultative committee and prescribing the way in which the appointments are to be made. We believe that it is very important that the voluntary organisations themselves should choose their new representatives. The order comes into force on 1 April and the appointments should be made by not later than 1 January 1985.Finally, we have now set up a programme of care in the community pilot projects. Ten have been selected so far from over 120 applications, for starting in 1984, and the authorities have been asked to go ahead. A few more projects are still under consideration. A further selection will be made in the autumn for starting in 1985. We are setting aside some £16 million over four years to provide finance from the Government for the initial costs.The whole purpose of these projects is to improve the quality of life for people who need not remain in hospital. Assessment of each person's individual needs and the provision of appropriate support are therefore central features. We shall monitor and assess each project in terms of quality of life and value for money and publicise the results. Some of these projects will also help in the running down of some of the old unsuitable hospitals, which ought not to play a part in a modern civilised system of care for elderly, mentally ill and mentally handicapped people.We are issuing today guidance to health and local authorities on the implementation of the new statutory provisions. Copies of this guidance, and details of the selected pilot projects, have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Security Commission has reported on the case of L/Cpl Aldridge; and when the commission's report will be published.

I announced on 20 January 1983 that, after consultation with the right hon. Gentleman the then Leader of the Opposition, I had asked the Security Commission to investigate and report on the circumstances in which breaches of security had, or might have, occurred, arising out of the case of L/Cpl P.L. Aldridge, who had been charged with an offence under section 7 of the Official Secrets Act 1920, and to advise in the light of the investigation whether any change in security arrangements was necessary or desirable.The Security Commission's findings are being published this afternoon as a Command Paper which comprises the full text of the Commission's report, save for an appendix containing highly classified information which it would not be in the public interest to publish.Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act 1920 makes it an offence to do an act preparatory to the commission of an offence under the Official Secrets Act 1911. Aldridge's preparatory act was the setting up of arrangements to communicate with the Russians, and the relevant offence he was preparing to commit was the communication, to the Russians, by means of those arrangements, of a classified document. As a result of their inquiries the Commission concludes that no classified information was in fact passed on. Aldridge's attempts to sell this country's secrets were frustrated and he was in due course identified and brought to justice by the co-operation of the Security Sell ice and the army.An undoubted breach of security gave Aldridge the opportunity to remove a highly classified document and the Commission directed its attention to specific breaches of prescribed procedures or short-comings in the procedures themselves which could be considered of some direct relevance as having facilitated Aldridge's removal of the document. It has made the following recommendations for improving security procedures:

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 29 March.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I am holding a reception for the British winter olympics team.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the progress made in seeking reforms in the structure and policies of the European Economic Community.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made to the House yesterday, at column 295.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the outcome of the latest European Council.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made to the House on Wednesday 21 March 1984, at column 1049.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing what each member state receives from the EEC by way of support from agriculture and the amount paid into the EEC for such support expressed as a proportion of its contribution equal to agriculture's share of the total EEC budget.

The following table shows member states' receipts in 1982 from the EAGGF and their gross contribution to the Community budget for that year expressed as a percentage of own resources payments. These do not take account of the budget refunds.

asked the Prime Minister what assessment the Government have made of the economic gains and losses of membership of the EEC; and if she will publish the findings in the Official Report.

I refer the hon. Member to the fact sheets "Britain in the European Community 1973–83", which the Government published last year to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Kingdom's accession and to the supplement to the October 1982 economic progress report on "The European Community Budget". Copies are in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister what effect the quotas for milk which were rejected by the Irish Government at the recent summit of the EEC Council of Ministers would have had on milk output in the United Kingdom and other EEC countries in the current and future years; and how this compares with output in 1972.

The quota arrangements for the Irish Republic which were rejected at the European Council would not have affected the output levels in the United Kingdom or other Member States. But I do not accept that Ireland could be excluded from the supplementary levy system which is essential to bring the budgetary costs of the milk sector under control.

asked the Prime Minister whether the EEC Council of Ministers at its recent summit considered imposing further restrictions on imports from third countries by means of discriminatory taxation or oherwise; and, in particular, whether it considered measures which would limit the use of cereal substitutes and vegetable oils.

The Foreign Affairs Council decided on 21 February that the opening of negotiations with the United States over the stabilisation of their exports to the EC of cereal substitutes could be considered only as an adjunct to agreement on wider reforms of the common agricultural policy; this remains the position. A number of member states, including the United Kingdom, continue to express strong opposition to any tax on oils and fats.

asked the Prime Minister if she will seek to ensure that there is no role for the European Assembly in relation to future refunds to the United Kingdom as part of any settlement of the problem of the United Kingdom budgetary contributions.

Difficulties have arisen with the European Parliament in the past because the Parliament has objected to the ad hoc nature of United Kingdom refunds. Agreement in the Council on a systematic and lasting mechanism for the fair sharing of financial burdens on the lines that we are seeking will, I hope, ensure that such difficulties do not arise in future.

asked the Prime Minister what account the European Economic Community Council of Ministers at its recent meeting took of national aids to the dairy sector when considering the regime for milk; and whether she will give particulars of these aids.

National aids to the milk sector may be paid only within terms agreed by the European Community. It follows that the Council of Ministers took full account of these at its recent meeting when it agreed that, from 1 March 1984, agricultural grant support for investment directly related to milk production should be suspended.

asked the Prime Minister what estimate was given to the European Economic Community Council of Ministers at the recent summit of the increase in own resources in real terms in the foreseeable future if the value added tax element were not increased; and if she will give particulars.

The Commission paper before the European Council estimated that there was likely to be a modest increase in real terms in the VAT yield within the existing 1 per cent. ceiling, but that this would be offset by a fall in real terms in the value of customs duties and agricultural levies. No figure was given.

asked the Prime Minister what plans were considered by the European Economic Community Council of Ministers at the recent summit for European Economic Community spending in areas other than agriculture; and whether she will publish particulars in the Official Report.

The European Council considered a proposal to increase spending in real terms on the structural funds—that is the regional fund, the social fund and the guidance section of the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund. A number of proposals for new Community policies, or the development of existing policies were also considered. Most of the latter, for example simplification of trade and customs formalities, standards harmonisation, liberalisation of trade in services (notably transport and insurance) would not involve extra Community expenditure.

asked the Prime Minister what explanation was given to the European Economic Community Council of Ministers at the recent summit regarding the purposes for which the increase in value added tax own resources to 1·4 per cent. was required; what that increase would mean in real terms; how much of the increase would have to be spent on agriculture; and if she will give particulars.

The justification for an increase in the VAT ceiling to 1·4 per cent. would rest on the costs of enlargement, some growth in real terms in the structural funds and the development of new Community policies. On the basis of 1984 figures, raising the VAT ceiling to 1·4 per cent. would add some £3,450 million to the Community's present own resources base—an increase of about 23 per cent. The extent to which any increase would be devoted to agriculture would depend on how effectively agricultural spending was curbed. In the absence of overall agreement at the European Council on this point and on the other conditions which we have established, I did not agree to any increase in the Community's resources.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has asked for, and secured, the agreement of the other members of the European Economic Community Council to a strict financial guideline for expenditure under the common agricultural policy.

The European Council made substantial progress on securing control of agricultural spending by, first, an annual limit on overall expenditure, and, second, a strict financial guideline on agricultural spending.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has asked for, and secured, the agreement of the other members of the European Economic Community Council to a limitation on the power of the European Economic Community Assembly to propose increases in spending on agriculture.

The power of the European Parliament to propose increases in spending on agriculture is already constrained by article 203 of the treaty, which gives the Council ultimate control over obligatory spending.

asked the Prime Minister whether the European Economic Community Council of Ministers at its recent summit meeting considered the problems created for the United Kingdom fishing industry by the common fisheries policy.

The common fisheries policy was not discussed at the recent European Community summit meeting.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing the British fishing catch each year since 1970 in United Kingdom waters and in more distant waters subject to agreements between the European Economic Community and the states concerned.

Comprehensive information in the form required is not readily available.The following figures relate to total catches by United Kingdom vessels in all waters, including those of the member states of the European Community and other countries. Care should be taken in comparing these figures from year to year due to variations in the quantities of the many different species making up the total catch.

asked the Prime Minister whether, at any recent meetings between Ministers and the National Coal Board, they discussed during the course of those meetings (a) the seeking by the National Coal Board of an injunction against the National Union of Mineworkers or (b) the policing of the miners' dispute.

When they meet representatives of the National Coal Board, my colleagues discuss various aspects of the industry touching on their respective responsibilities.

asked the Prime Minister whether United Kingdom capacity for making trucks of over 3·5 tonnes gross weight is sufficient to meet the needs of the armed services in a full-scale conventional war; and if she will publish in the Official Report a table showing United Kingdom output of such trucks each year since 1978 and particulars of truck-making plants which have been closed down over this period.

There is more than enough United Kingdom truck-making capacity which could be readily adapted to the manufacture of military trucks, which are today based primarily on the designs of the commercial truck manufacturing industry.Since 1978, three truck-making plants have been wholly closed: Seddon Atkinson's factory at Walton-Le-Dale (1981), and two Leyland vehicles plants: Guy Motors at Wolverhampton (1982) and AEC at Southall (1979). There has in addition been considerable restructuring and facility rationalisation throughout the industry.United Kingdom output of trucks over 3·5 tonnes gross vehicle weight, including motive units, is shown in the table following:

asked the Prime Minister if the speech made by the Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office, the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Butler) on 15 March, represents Government policy.

I understand that my hon. Friend was commenting on levels of crimes of violence and the population in Northern Ireland in 1981 and 1982 and those in various regions of England in the same year. He was not seeking to make a statement of Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if she will provide a breakdown of the £650 million provided for Merseyside over the past few years, referred to in her answer of 22 March, Official Report, column 1176.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Woodcock) on 18 November 1983 at columns 599–601.

asked the Prime Minister if she intends to amend the rules relating to ministerial conduct, particularly those relating to clash of interests.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Sedgemore) on 18 January 1984 at column 243.

asked the Prime Minister whether, under the rules of ministerial conduct, Ministers are expected to try to ensure that their immediate family alerts them to involvements which could be construed as giving rise to a clash of interests for the Minister.

I set out the general principle in my reply to the hon. Member for Wrexham on 23 January 1984 at column 380. Its application is a matter for individual Ministers.

asked the right hon. Member for Taunton as Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, what is the number of persons engaged in the Exchequer and Audit Department who are paid over £40,000, between £30,000 and £40,000, between £20,000 and £30,000, between £10,000 and £20,000 and under £10,000, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the health authorities in Wales which have contracted out to private companies (a) cleaning, (b) catering and (c) laundry work.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to a question by the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on 12 March at column 69–70.

The Exchequer and Audit Department became the National Audit Office on 1 January 1984.The numbers of persons currently engaged is 827. Their levels of salary fall into the following bands:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many children in Wales are currently in classes of 30, 35 and 40 pupils, respectively, under primary and secondary school headings.

The latest available information is given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will detail the grants given by his Department to the following public or private schools and colleges in Wales for each of the years 1979–80 to 1983–84: Christ college, Brecon, Howell's school, Denbigh, Howell's school, Llandaff, Lowther college, Monmouth school for boys, Monmouth school for girls, Penrhos college and Rydal school, Colwyn bay.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much Her Majesty's Government are prepared to contribute to the International Development Association's supplementary fund; and if this contribution will be made regardless of whether the United States of America or any other donors make a contribution.

No formal negotiations have yet taken place on supplementary financing for IDA. The management intends to seek additional resources of up to $3 billion, assuming a United States share of 25 per cent. Our potential contribution to funding of that order would be some £134 million based on the British share and on the exchange rates that obtained for IDA 7. Our contribution, like that of many other donors, will depend on equitable burden-sharing arrangements; it would not, however, be conditional upon United States participation, although we would hope that it would eventually join in.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North of 13 February, Official Report, column 71, if he will compare current and capital Government expenditure in 1979–80, 1982–83 and 1983–84, showing receipts from the sale of council houses and other assets separately, and also showing the percentage change at constant prices.

The figures for local authority current and capital expenditure in the United Kingdom, on the basis of Cmnd. 9143, are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the increase in construction in 1984–85 which will take place as a result of industrial buildings allowances.

The latest forecast by the joint forecasting committee of the civil engineering and building EDCs suggests that there will be a marked increase in industrial building work in 1984. It is not possible to isolate the effects of the availability of the industrial buildings allowances on levels of activity in the construction industry from other factors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Government incentives to investment in industry are given in (a) West Germany, (b) Japan, (c) the United States of America and (d) France; and how they compare with those available in the United Kingdom.

Comparisons of this kind present a number of dificulties. I refer the hon. Member to the recently published OECD study on international investment and multinational enterprises which includes a survey of investment incentive policies in OECD member countries. After the Budget changes have been fully implemented, the rates of capital allowance for the generality of plant and machinery investment in the United Kingdom will become comparable with those in most other countries and the proposed main corporation tax rate of 35 per cent. will be significantly lower than for most of our major competitors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gross cost to the Exchequer of servicing and redeeming gilt-edged stocks held by pension funds for 40 years at the present 20-year yield basis, and the corresponding figure for index-linked stock assuming that inflation averages the amounts shown in the medium-term financial strategy.

Estimates of the cost over an) period of servicing and redeeming gilt-edged stocks held by pension funds depend upon assumptions about the path of inflation over the whole life of the stocks.These stocks have varying maturity dates, the last of which is in 2020. The cost of financing both types of stock will depend upon the course of inflation over this period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the saving on an income basis to the Exchequer if the securities held by pension funds were to be converted into index-linked stocks on the presented weighted-average yield of such stocks on a fully taxed basis.

Pension funds held some £18·3 billion of gilt-edged at the end of March 1983, of which most was in conventional—that is, non-index-linked—form. The stocks are of varying maturities, some of which are not due to be redeemed until 2020. The saving or cost of conversion of conventional gilt-edged stocks to indexed stocks at current yields, if such a conversion were possible, would depend on the course of inflation over the lives of the stocks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government intend to meet the pressures to spend more on maintaining and improving the stock of capital assets in the public sector, discussed in paragraph 42 of Cmnd. 9189 by increasing the real level of capital expenditure in future years.

The Government do not believe there is any self-evidently correct level of or target for capital spending in aggregate. The case for more public sector capital spending can be considered only on the basis of rigorous individual project assessments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of the excess of payments to the European Economic Community against rebates received since the United Kingdom's entry in 1972; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom's net payments to the European Community in the period 1 January 1973 to 31 December 1983, taking into account refunds received, amounted to £4,777 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the withdrawal of the trade unions from the National Economic Development Council, he will make a statement on its future.

The TUC's decision not to attend the council until further notice is regrettable, but I understand that the economic development committees — EDCs — are not affected by it. It would not be right to take hasty decisions. But if the absence of the TUC members were to be prolonged, it would inevitably raise questions about the future of NEDC.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the arrangements for remunerating Government non-competitive contracts are to be changed as a result of the fourth general review carried out by the review board for Government contracts.

The review board for Government contracts was asked to expand its fourth review to cover the arrangements for remunerating Government non-competitive contracts established under the 1968 agreement between the Government and the Confederation of British Industry.—[Vol. 21, c. 289–90.] In its report, submitted to the Government and the CBI at the end of January 1984, the review board recommends that the principle of comparability with rates of return elsewhere in the economy should continue to play a key role in determining the target rate of profit paid on Government non-competitive contracts. But comparison should be made with an analogue group wider than that relating to manufacturing industry, which has previously been used. The existing arrangements for triennial reviews of the target profit rate should be supplemented by limited annual reviews so that changes in the rate of return elsewhere in the economy, and in other economic circumstances can be reflected more quickly in the profit rate. The target profit rate should be expressed on a "semi-CCA" basis, allowing for the historic cost figures to be adjusted by the inclusion of current cost based depreciation and fixed asset values.Specifically the review board recommends that a target rate of profit on capital employed of 11 per cent. on a "semi-CCA" basis should be introduced as soon as possible. The historic cost-based equivalent is 15·5 per cent. which will apply until the transition to a "semi-CCA" basis is achieved by individual contractors. The present profit rate is 20 per cent. on capital employed —historical cost basis.The review board report, copies of which have been placed in the Library, also contains a number of other recommendations proposing changes in certain arrangements and accounting conventions, a few of which are unacceptable to the Government. The negotiating committee of the CBI representing the contractors has not been willing to accept the exclusion of those unacceptable recommendations.The Government having considered the representations made to them, have decided on the following:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances the Inland Revenue allows employers to transform retirement benefits into tax-free cash sums before retirement age while the employees remain in employment; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest estimates for the current year, and projections for the next three years, of the running costs of each Government Department, with as precise a separation as is practicable of civilian and military expenses in the Ministry of Defence.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now intends to subject invalidity benefit to tax; and if he will make a statement.

As I said in my reply to the right hon. Member on 26 October 1983, at column 97, we have postponed for the time being our intention to bring invalididy benefit into tax. I have nothing to add to that reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue is obtained from income tax on employees in respect of the following employer-provided facilities: (a) creche, (b) shops with subsidised prices, (c) dining rooms, (d) gymnasia, (e) car parks, (f) sports facilities and (g) travel concessions; and if he will make a statement outlining changes in revenue practice in assessing such benefits since 1979.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library full details of the present arrangements for payment of Civil Service motoring costs, the basis on which these are calculated, the criteria on which cars are provided and the circumstances under which official drivers are made available.

Full details of the present arrangements for payment of Civil Service motoring costs are contained in paragraphs 4472 to 4668, 4940 to 4949 and 7460 to 7577 of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, a copy of which is in the Library.The basis for calculating the Civil Service standard rate of motor mileage allowance (that is, the rate payable where the use of a private car on official business is approved by the employing Department) is the AA schedule of motoring costs for a vehicle in the 1001 to 1500 cc range. The standard rate (currently 25·8p a mile) is, however, payable only for the first 9,000 miles driven in a financial year, subsequent mileage being reimbursed at the lower rate of 14p a mile, which is based on the AA figures for running costs but enhanced to take account of additional depreciation caused by high mileage. The Civil Service public transport rate (that is, the rate payable where the Department regards it as reasonable for public transport to be used) was originally calculated by reference to average rail fares and is updated annually to reflect movement in the fares element of the retail price index. The current rate is 13·2p a mile.Details of the arrangements under which cars and drivers may be made available to Civil Servants are contained in paragraphs 2244 to 2349 of the "Establishment Officer's Guide", a copy of which is also available in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received about changes in the law about tax relief for charitable bodies; and whether he will list the names of the organisations and the individuals who have made such representations.