Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 1 May 1984

Employment

Average Working Hours

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average hours worked each week by manual workers in industry at the latest available date; and how that compares with 1974, 1964 and 1954.

In October 1983 full-time manual men on adult rates in manufacturing industry worked an average of 42·6 hours a week. Broadly comparable earlier figures were 48·5 hours in 1954, 46·9 hours in 1964 and 44·0 hours in 1974.

Factory Inspectors

13.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will increase the number of factory inspectors in post.

Decisions on the staffing of the Factory Inspectorate are a matter for the Health and Safety Executive. I am advised that the executive is making arrangements to recruit, in the near future, up to 25 general factory inspectors.

Wages Inspectors

15.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will increase the numbers of wages inspectors.

46.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will increase the number of wages inspectors.

No. The Wages Inspectorate has 120 posts for inspectors. This is considered to be adequate.

Enterprise Allowance

16.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the enterprise allowance.

As my hon. Friend knows this scheme has proved highly successful and popular. I am glad to report to the House that the weekly allocation of places on the scheme is being raised from the current level of just over 600 to 1,000 from now until the end of July.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Stevens) in the Easter Adjournment debate, the future of the scheme in the medium-term is being considered as a matter of urgency.

Vocational Information

17.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the Manpower Services Commission will improve the provision of information to school leavers and others on vocational choice.

If my hon. Friend has any specific suggestions for improvement I shall see that they are considered by the commission.

Health And Safety Commission

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to alter the funding of the Health and Safety commission.

No.

Young Persons

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people between the ages of 16 and 21 years are currently being employed on temporary schemes funded by the Manpower Services Commission.

The estimated figure is some 300,000. I will, with permission, arrange for the relevant figures to be printed in the Official Report.Following is the information.

Measure	Numbers Currently Supported (end of March)
Community Industry	7,059
Community Programme	^*112,900
Enterprise Allowance	†26,899
Training in Industry	‡1,547
Youth Opportunities Programme	3,567
Youth Training Scheme	║251,516
^* Detailed information on the age of entrants to the programme is not available but it is estimated that 28 per cent. (31,600) of entrants were aged between 18 and 20.
† Detailed information on the age of the people supported by the scheme is not kept although 5,880 of the people covered were aged under 25.
‡ Detailed information on the age of people supported is not kept although approximately 700 first year apprentices were in the age group concerned.
║Of those currently supported it is estimated that 5 per cent. are employees. This figure excludes some 30,000 adult supervisors.

Unit Labour Costs

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figures for changes in unit labour costs in the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States of America and West Germany.

In the year to the fourth quarter of 1983 unit wage and salary costs in manufacturing rose by 2 per cent. in the United Kingdom and fell by 3 per cent. in Japan and in the United States, and by 4 per cent. in West Germany. The implication for jobs can be seen.

Employment Project Pack

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received a copy of the employment project pack produced by the Councils for Voluntary Service—National Association; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. We read the pack with interest and sent comments about it to the councils.

Labour Statistics

22.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate the increase in the number of people at work in the United Kingdom in 1983.

Between December 1982 and December 1983, the employed labour force in the United Kingdom increased by an estimated 144,000.

24.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been out of work for over a year at the latest available date; and how many of them are over 50 years of age.

On 12 January, the latest date for which the statistics are available, 1,188,014 unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom had been unemployed for over 52 weeks. Of these, 278,249 were aged 50 years and over.

27.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the latest figures for

April 1983
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	104	28	26	25	61	30	39	26	16	22	15	10	17	0	419
Over 1 and up to 2	9	15	12	17	80	36	34	46	25	30	23	24	34	0	385
Over 2 and up to 4	14	40	34	21	100	81	43	56	34	35	39	41	51	1	590
Over 4 and up to 6	6	27	33	24	99	70	40	39	21	34	30	42	44	0	509
Over 6 and up to 8	8	36	31	14	83	54	45	39	36	35	31	40	32	0	484
Over 8 and up to 13	22	69	83	52	236	141	101	99	72	74	79	79	86	0	1,193
Over 13 and up to 26	29	96	164	143	510	328	232	183	169	165	166	219	300	1	2,705
Over 26 and up to 39	45	123	195	177	517	280	222	200	171	161	192	269	375	2	2,929
Over 39 and up to 52	2	60	109	122	424	193	179	134	117	92	102	147	222	0	1,903
Over 52 and up to 65	0	21	69	110	257	158	140	114	75	77	88	115	180	2	1,406
Over 65 and up to 78	0	9	45	66	288	159	166	142	110	86	86	103	185	3	1,448
Over 78 and up to 104	0	19	71	115	375	235	177	195	136	128	128	176	304	1	2,060
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	24	66	601	376	372	319	297	251	231	329	482	5	3,353
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	3	193	151	101	101	73	63	93	106	143	0	1,027
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	36	54	57	70	61	81	139	131	157	0	786
Over 260	0	0	0	0	2	10	6	10	10	10	70	133	128	0	379
Total Males	239	543	896	955	3,862	2,356	1,954	1,773	1,423	1,344	1,512	1,964	2,740	15	21,576

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	84	28	17	13	41	24	16	12	6	11	3	5	0	260
Over 1 and up to 2	2	15	17	19	39	29	13	9	10	5	5	2	0	165
Over 2 and up to 4	9	43	33	38	74	49	34	14	19	18	7	12	0	350
Over 4 and up to 6	5	24	28	19	58	41	21	13	13	8	9	6	0	245
Over 6 and up to 8	6	26	23	15	57	31	23	17	9	6	8	7	0	228
Over 8 and up to 13	24	41	75	42	136	82	51	28	24	23	19	23	0	568
Over 13 and up to 26	28	78	114	109	281	174	99	63	37	51	37	71	0	1,142
Over 26 and up to 39	27	93	135	145	269	186	86	53	57	37	59	63	0	1,210
Over 39 and up to 52	1	32	56	78	205	125	58	43	33	25	40	41	1	738
Over 52 and up to 65	0	13	42	68	102	55	35	32	27	22	23	32	1	452
Over 65 and up to 78	0	5	34	47	104	43	23	19	25	23	12	36	1	372
Over 78 and up to 104	0	13	35	86	145	37	27	19	28	27	31	42	2	492
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	13	41	154	45	21	24	32	39	39	78	1	487
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	4	74	31	12	11	15	16	22	33	0	218
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	32	26	12	5	9	14	24	25	0	147
Over 260	0	0	0	0	4	5	2	1	2	0	21	31	0	66
Total Females	186	411	622	724	1,775	983	533	363	346	325	359	507	6	7,140

January 1984
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and Over	Total
One or less	7	21	20	20	88	56	52	42	35	27	22	24	25	0	439
Over 1 and up to 2	6	20	16	17	66	53	38	36	31	26	22	23	19	0	373
Over 2 and up to 4	5	23	22	16	91	50	42	34	29	20	25	24	26	0	407
Over 4 and up to 6	11	29	34	30	98	80	42	39	38	32	38	40	32	0	543

unemployed people registered at jobcentres in the constituency of Coventry, North-West, broken down by age, sex, and duration of unemployment and what are the comparable figures for March 1983.

As the reply contains a number of figures I will, with permission, circulate the reply in the Official Report.Following is the information.The following tables give the information for unemployed claimants in the Coventry jobcentre area, which is larger than the constituency, in April 1983 (not available for March) and January 1984, the latest date for which the quarterly statistics by age and duration of unemployment are available. The comparison between the two dates for males aged 60 and over is affected by the provisions announced in the 1983 Budget, which meant that some men aged 60 and over no longer had to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or National Insurance credits.

Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
Over 6 and up to 8	11	26	30	21	120	61	62	51	28	36	31	34	28	0	539
Over 8 and up to 13	21	63	66	64	239	131	102	118	94	77	66	102	104	0	1,247
Over 13 and up to 26	89	253	332	210	587	306	229	202	126	144	148	162	168	0	2,956
Over 26 and up to 39	8	101	136	132	416	202	155	120	101	82	128	166	148	0	1,895
Over 39 and up to 52	1	47	94	97	258	154	122	118	95	94	111	133	135	0	1,459
Over 52 and up to 65	0	24	59	76	217	153	106	78	80	89	77	99	97	0	1,155
Over 65 and up to 78	0	40	92	89	246	153	119	99	105	86	101	124	46	0	1,300
Over 78 and up to 104	0	3	69	127	394	221	189	168	124	115	121	206	54	0	1,791
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	29	99	531	323	292	323	227	212	167	257	67	0	2,527
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	13	387	294	257	224	227	210	209	271	53	1	2,146
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	87	94	61	70	35	41	67	79	14	0	548
Over 260	0	0	0	0	11	47	42	66	56	80	79	131	43	0	555
Total Males	159	650	999	1,011	3,836	2,378	1,910	1,788	1,431	1,371	1,412	1,875	1,059	1	19,880

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and ever	Total
One or less	7	14	25	27	91	42	32	25	15	9	12	7	0	306
Over 1 and up to 2	7	19	20	17	67	29	18	16	8	10	6	6	0	223
Over 2 and up to 4	5	14	22	25	81	39	18	15	13	13	8	6	0	259
Over 4 and up to 6	11	17	21	18	62	31	21	15	7	17	11	12	0	243
Over 6 and up to 8	8	17	31	11	75	47	21	5	10	5	7	10	0	247
Over 8 and up to 13	22	53	57	48	155	107	53	35	26	19	26	28	0	629
Over 13 and up to 26	82	205	336	172	376	219	115	84	61	73	71	76	0	1,870
Over 26 and up to 39	4	67	87	73	236	125	84	50	42	32	46	58	2	906
Over 39 and up to 52	3	44	74	58	144	126	65	39	36	36	30	32	1	688
Over 52 and up to 65	0	25	34	51	108	59	21	31	22	30	25	37	1	444
Over 65 and up to 78	0	25	56	59	105	48	21	21	30	25	21	44	1	456
Over 78 and up to 104	0	3	33	81	142	58	25	36	26	31	34	38	2	509
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	24	60	226	45	33	28	28	50	52	61	3	610
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	12	101	26	19	14	21	30	31	62	1	317
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	44	22	7	11	8	15	10	27	0	144
Over 260	0	0	0	0	16	25	10	8	9	11	17	40	1	137
Total Females	149	503	820	712	2,029	1,048	563	433	362	406	407	544	12	7,988

30.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment, both nationally and regionally; and if he will make a statement.

On 5 April, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,107,682. This figure and the corresponding regional figures were published in the unemployment press notice issued by the Department on 27 April, a copy of which is in the Library.

32.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment in the United Kingdom.

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of unemployed people in the United Kingdom.

On 5 April, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,107,682.

45.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people aged between 50 and 60 years have been unemployed for more than (a) one year, (b) two years and (c) three years, respectively.

The following table gives the numbers of unemployed claimants aged 50 to 59 years in the United Kingdom who, on 12 January, the latest date for which the statistics are available, had been unemployed for the lengths of time specified.

Duration in weeks	Number
Over 52 and up to 104 weeks	99,416
Over 104 and up to 156 weeks	60,771
Over 156 weeks	94,953

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the number of unemployed and the number of registered vacancies in the Southampton travel-to-work area; and how they compare with similar figures for 1983 and 1982, respectively.

Table 1 gives the number registered as unemployed in April 1982 and the numbers of unemployed claimants in April 1983 and April 1984 in the Southampton travel-to-work area. It also gives the figures on both bases for October 1982.Table 2 gives the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at jobcentres and careers offices in the Southampton travel-to-work area in April each year from 1982.

Table 1 Unemployed
	Number
Registered unemployed
April 1982	19,573
October 1982	21,596
Unemployed claimants
October 1982	19,612
April 1983	20,194
April 1984	20,166

The comparisons are affected by the change in the basis of the unemployment count in October 1982 and by the 1983 Budget provisions which meant that some men aged 60 and over no longer had to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits. The effect of the Budget provisions nationally was about one half of 1 per cent., estimates of the effect at local level are not available.

Table 2 Notified unfilled vacancies
April	At jobcentres	At careers offices
1982	863	21
1983	1,025	58
1984	1,253	56

Vacancies notified to jobcentres are estimated to be about one third of all vacancies in the country as a whole. Because of possible duplication, the figures for jobcentres and careers offices should not be added together. The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn, which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the 12-month period to December 1983, the number of people placed in jobs by jobcentres in the

Bermondsey	Males												April 1979
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	5	1	1	6	3	—	4	2	2	2	2	—	28
Over 1 and up to 2	3	1	3	7	3	6	3	3	3	3	2	—	37
Over 2 and up to 4	4	3	1	9	9	7	9	2	4	3	3	—	54
Over 4 and up to 6	8	—	1	11	6	4	4	3	3	2	2	—	44
Over 6 and up to 8	—	3	3	11	6	4	8	3	2	2	2	—	44
Over 8 and up to 13	2	2	7	26	14	8	16	1	7	6	6	—	95
Over 13 and up to 26	8	11	4	15	19	21	17	4	14	7	12	—	132
Over 26 and up to 39	2	2	2	13	13	7	24	10	8	9	9	—	99
Over 39 and up to 52	2	0	1	11	11	5	5	3	5	2	5	—	50
Over 52 and up to 65	—	1	—	5	11	4	8	4	3	4	2	—	42
Over 65 and up to 78	—	—	1	6	6	2	5	6	3	5	3	—	37
Over 78 and up to 104	—	2	2	3	3	5	10	4	3	7	12	—	51
Over 104 and up to 156	—	1	—	2	4	5	16	2	8	7	11	—	56
Over 156	—	—	—	2	2	3	14	15	12	12	21	—	81
Total Males	34	27	26	127	110	81	143	62	77	71	92	—	850

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	3	2	—	1	1	1	—	—	1	2	—	11
Over 1 and up to 2	2	2	2	1	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	8
Over 2 and up to 4	7	2	1	5	3	1	1	—	4	—	—	24
Over 4 and up to 6	—	2	—	4	2	—	1	—	—	—	—	9
Over 6 and up to 8	2	—	1	2	1	—	1	—	—	—	—	7
Over 8 and up to 13	2	6	3	7	2	1	—	1	—	1	—	23
Over 13 and up to 26	3	2	4	8	2	—	1	1	—	3	—	24
Over 26 and up to 39	1	1	4	5	5	1	1	1	2	—	—	21
Over 39 and up to 52	2	1	—	2	—	—	1	—	—	2	—	8
Over 52 and up to 65	—	1	—	5	2	2	—	—	3	—	—	13
Over 65 and up to 78	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	—	—	—	—	2
Over 78 and up to 104	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	1	1	—	4
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	2	1	—	—	4
Over 156	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	1	2	2	—	7
Total Females	22	19	15	42	19	8	8	7	14	11	—	165

Borough	April 1979												Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	2	—	—	3	2	—	2	—	1	—	—	—	10
Over 1 and up to 2	9	3	2	16	5	7	4	—	3	1	4	—	54
Over 2 and up to 4	9	11	10	27	9	9	10	4	7	2	4	—	102
Over 4 and up to 6	9	2	6	21	11	6	12	7	7	5	2	—	88
Over 6 and up to 8	13	11	4	22	12	7	16	9	6	5	6	—	111
Over 8 and up to 13	8	11	8	61	29	19	29	18	12	6	13	—	214

Southampton travel-to-work area was 11,468. It is estimated that, nationally, the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply of 17 February, Official Report, columns 339–40, if he will give a breakdown of those registered unemployed by sex, age and duration of unemployment in the following jobcentre areas: Bermondsey, Borough, Brixton, Camberwell, Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham, Stockwell and West Norwood.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1984, c. 557]: The following tables give the figures for registered unemployed in April 1979 (not available for May) and the figures for unemployed claimants in January 1984. The comparisons between the two dates are affected by the change in the basis of the unemployment count in October 1982 and by the 1983 Budget provisions which meant that some men aged 60 and over no longer had to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits.

Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
Over 13 and up to 26	11	10	15	63	55	52	56	27	30	11	22	1	353
Over 26 and up to 39	6	17	9	54	36	31	42	16	15	11	23	2	262
Over 39 and up to 52	3	10	7	32	22	20	41	21	10	16	17	1	200
Over 52 and up to 65	1	3	7	17	28	19	44	9	11	12	12	—	163
Over 65 and up to 78	—	1	3	22	13	17	17	8	11	10	11	1	114
Over 78 and up to 104	—	1	4	20	19	18	26	14	14	4	5	—	125
Over 104 and up to 156	—	2	1	7	19	17	32	17	13	19	7	2	136
Over 156	—	—	—	3	3	4	20	21	21	13	22	2	109
Total Males	71	82	76	368	263	226	351	171	161	115	148	9	2,041

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	4	1	—	4	—	—	—	—	2	—	—	11
Over 1 and up to 2	5	—	2	5	1	—	1	1	4	—	—	19
Over 2 and up to 4	2	2	5	7	—	2	3	1	2	2	—	26
Over 4 and up to 6	4	4	3	5	2	2	6	—	3	—	—	29
Over 6 and up to 8	4	1	3	11	4	2	3	—	1	1	—	30
Over 8 and up to 13	5	8	3	18	5	4	6	5	6	4	—	64
Over 13 and up to 26	6	9	7	21	11	4	14	12	4	4	—	92
Over 26 and up to 39	1	7	6	11	13	6	14	3	2	4	—	67
Over 39 and up to 52	1	5	3	8	4	4	4	1	3	5	—	38
Over 52 and up to 65	—	6	2	11	7	5	6	1	5	4	—	47
Over 65 and up to 78	—	2	1	3	2	—	3	2	2	1	—	16
Over 78 and up to 104	—	2	1	5	4	2	7	5	8	7	—	41
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	—	1	2	—	3	3	2	6	—	17
Over 156	—	—	1	2	1	—	5	3	5	10	—	27
Total Females	32	47	37	112	56	31	75	37	49	48	—	524

Brixton (includes Stockwell)	April 1979												Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	13	2	1	9	6	3	10	2	3	—	—	—	49
Over 1 and up to 2	11	11	12	24	17	7	12	5	5	2	2	—	108
Over 2 and up to 4	40	13	15	58	48	28	42	20	14	6	5	1	290
Over 4 and up to 6	29	10	12	87	37	27	33	11	15	8	11	—	280
Over 6 and up to 8	16	17	19	69	44	20	36	9	12	8	8	—	258
Over 8 and up to 13	30	26	32	123	97	60	89	34	19	14	20	1	545
Over 13 and up to 26	40	27	29	220	131	96	121	37	30	29	35	2	797
Over 26 and up to 39	15	18	35	157	103	67	91	32	33	26	40	1	618
Over 39 and up to 52	13	6	18	86	55	49	68	22	22	27	18	3	387
Over 52 and up to 65	3	3	15	51	52	34	53	19	17	12	19	—	278
Over 65 and up to 78	2	4	5	38	32	31	31	10	14	7	15	—	189
Over 78 and up to 104	—	4	4	48	32	21	49	33	16	18	20	1	246
Over 104 and up to 156	1	—	3	31	37	31	64	20	22	29	34	3	275
Over 156	—	1	—	19	27	26	72	28	48	48	46	10	325
Total Males	213	142	200	1,020	718	500	771	282	270	234	273	22	4,645

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	18	1	1	7	3	2	1	—	—	1	—	34
Over 1 and up to 2	18	6	2	6	3	3	3	2	3	3	—	49
Over 2 and up to 4	16	8	6	22	12	6	8	3	7	4	—	92
Over 4 and up to 6	12	10	13	34	14	7	15	—	—	6	—	111
Over 6 and up to 8	14	3	8	20	15	7	7	5	2	2	—	83
Over 8 and up to 13	29	20	16	61	31	11	19	6	15	6	—	214
Over 13 and up to 26	25	28	18	85	37	25	30	8	12	11	2	281
Over 26 and up to 39	17	14	14	53	23	14	25	14	12	14	2	202
Over 39 and up to 52	9	7	15	21	9	10	19	7	11	9	2	119
Over 52 and up to 65	1	5	7	18	15	4	4	8	4	4	2	72
Over 65 and up to 78	1	2	3	16	11	2	5	5	7	3	—	55
Over 78 and up to 104	1	1	4	15	5	3	2	3	5	5	—	44
Over 104 and up to 156	—	1	2	8	8	6	11	12	4	8	3	63
Over 156	—	—	—	4	2	1	8	6	6	12	1	40
Total Females	161	106	109	370	188	101	157	79	88	88	12	1,459

Camberwell	April 1979												Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	11	4	5	27	13	15	17	5	4	—	9	—	110
Over 1 and up to 2	6	6	8	32	15	9	24	9	7	4	3	—	123

Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
Over 2 and up to 4	17	13	17	55	30	20	28	8	7	10	4	—	209
Over 4 and up to 6	16	4	9	35	35	17	29	11	12	7	3	—	178
Over 6 and up to 8	9	11	11	38	24	20	22	10	5	4	9	—	163
Over 8 and up to 13	25	19	19	78	44	44	49	15	20	12	11	—	336
Over 13 and up to 26	15	28	44	121	90	69	66	24	29	27	39	1	553
Over 26 and up to 39	3	13	16	88	61	32	49	16	13	9	21	—	321
Over 39 and up to 52	6	1	12	37	35	23	38	18	15	10	8	4	207
Over 52 and up to 65	1	1	6	27	30	13	33	12	14	13	22	—	172
Over 65 and up to 78	2	—	7	12	16	15	25	11	4	16	5	—	113
Over 78 and up to 104	—	—	3	32	35	28	36	19	21	15	17	1	207
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	5	23	27	25	39	11	24	16	25	1	196
Over 156	—	—	1	13	18	17	33	19	23	24	47	2	197
Total Males	111	100	163	618	473	347	488	188	198	167	223	9	3,085

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	8	7	3	8	4	2	3	4	—	3	—	42
Over 1 and up to 2	13	2	7	13	5	2	4	1	4	—	—	51
Over 2 and up to 4	10	7	11	15	9	4	7	1	3	3	—	70
Over 4 and up to 6	15	7	10	10	4	2	3	4	2	4	1	62
Over 6 and up to 8	9	3	9	15	5	3	4	3	1	1	—	53
Over 8 and up to 13	13	11	8	33	18	10	17	7	4	3	—	124
Over 13 and up to 26	11	18	13	33	17	13	11	7	3	6	1	133
Over 26 and up to 39	3	4	9	25	11	7	16	6	11	9	1	102
Over 39 and up to 52	2	3	9	10	6	5	7	2	5	2	—	51
Over 52 and up to 65	—	1	8	10	2	3	4	2	6	3	—	39
Over 65 and up to 78	—	—	6	4	—	4	3	—	3	7	—	27
Over 78 and up to 104	—	—	7	3	1	2	2	3	4	5	1	28
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	1	5	—	2	1	3	7	3	—	22
Over 156	—	—	2	3	—	2	4	3	3	4	1	22
Total Females	84	63	103	187	82	61	86	46	56	53	5	826

Deptford and Greenwich	April 1979
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	6	4	2	25	14	7	20	6	6	8	4	—	102
Over 1 and up to 2	3	3	5	21	16	10	14	12	5	5	3	—	97
Over 2 and up to 4	12	6	13	29	17	16	30	15	10	7	4	—	159
Over 4 and up to 6	8	3	10	31	25	15	19	11	5	7	4	—	138
Over 6 and up to 8	6	4	3	19	10	6	25	7	6	9	4	2	101
Over 8 and up to 13	8	5	5	54	39	20	32	22	13	16	6	1	221
Over 13 and up to 26	8	11	10	78	53	44	66	24	27	21	27	—	369
Over 26 and up to 39	5	1	17	57	47	37	33	18	19	11	20	—	265
Over 39 and up to 52	1	—	11	32	24	25	32	15	15	12	21	2	190
Over 52 and up to 65	2	3	3	7	14	9	17	13	8	11	16	—	103
Over 65 and up to 78	7	2	—	12	11	17	18	5	9	7	13	1	102
Over 78 and up to 104	1	1	2	13	10	13	27	8	11	7	9	—	102
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	—	10	9	17	29	7	17	14	16	4	123
Over 156	—	—	—	4	6	10	18	13	14	19	23	—	107
Total Males	67	43	81	392	295	246	380	176	165	154	170	10	2,179

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	1	2	6	6	1	1	4	1	3	2	—	27
Over 1 and up to 2	4	2	1	6	4	1	2	—	—	1	—	21
Over 2 and up to 4	6	1	5	12	2	1	2	2	1	1	—	33
Over 4 and up to 6	7	1	2	8	6	1	2	1	2	1	—	31
Over 6 and up to 8	5	2	5	11	2	1	3	1	—	—	—	30
Over 8 and up to 13	10	3	6	20	14	5	5	1	5	1	—	70
Over 13 and up to 26	7	7	8	28	12	6	11	4	5	3	—	91
Over 26 and up to 39	6	2	9	30	9	5	5	6	1	8	—	81
Over 39 and up to 52	4	4	5	11	7	5	4	—	2	3	—	45
Over 52 and up to 65	4	1	2	3	2	2	1	2	1	1	—	19
Over 65 and up to 78	2	3	2	6	1	—	1	2	1	3	—	21
Over 78 and up to 104	—	—	2	4	2	—	1	2	2	1	—	14
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	—	2	3	1	4	2	4	1	—	17
Over 156	1	—	—	1	—	—	3	2	2	—	—	9
Total Females	57	28	53	148	65	29	48	26	29	26	—	509

Lewisham												April 1979
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	8	8	2	22	11	5	5	6	7	1	14	—	89
Over 1 and up to 2	11	8	5	15	11	—	7	II	3	3	7	1	82
Over 2 and up to 4	16	16	5	31	31	18	16	13	3	10	11	—	170
Over 4 and up to 6	13	6	10	48	23	12	26	8	8	10	13	—	177
Over 6 and up to 8	13	14	10	62	40	19	29	16	12	7	13	—	235
Over 8 and up to 13	16	15	22	77	51	43	37	13	20	19	16	—	329
Over 13 and up to 26	9	14	21	81	77	38	63	31	29	27	40	1	431
Over 26 and up to 39	10	9	6	58	42	42	32	14	13	30	26	5	287
Over 39 and up to 52	4	5	10	57	39	22	27	11	11	11	26	1	224
Over 52 and up to 65	2	3	1	30	20	13	27	10	7	9	19	2	143
Over 65 and up to 78	—	—	2	18	18	14	17	7	3	9	22	—	110
Over 78 and up to 104	—	—	2	3	12	8	20	5	7	10	19	—	86
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	—	7	4	11	17	5	8	11	30	—	93
Over 156	—	—	—	5	13	10	27	33	28	45	71	1	233
Total Males	102	98	96	514	392	262	354	175	159	199	327	11	2,689

Female
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	10	5	6	9	8	1	4	1	1	1	—	46
Over 1 and up to 2	19	8	2	9	2	1	5	3	—	2	—	51
Over 2 and up to 4	16	12	10	21	5	6	8	3	1	1	—	83
Over 4 and up to 6	18	4	11	9	5	4	3	2	3	3	—	62
Over 6 and up to 8	10	5	6	11	6	7	11	3	9	2	—	70
Over 8 and up to 13	24	17	13	33	7	3	7	5	6	7	—	122
Over 13 and up to 26	20	9	12	43	17	8	12	3	5	6	1	136
Over 26 and up to 39	3	6	]7	34	8	7	10	10	8	6	—	99
Over 39 and up to 52	3	2	3	12	3	5	3	2	5	5	—	43
Over 52 and up to 65	—	5	2	5	4	—	2	3	4	10	—	35
Over 65 and up to 78	1	1	1	5	2	3	3	1	3	3	—	23
Over 78 and up to 104	—	4	1	2	5	—	1	1	3	6	—	23
Over 104 and up to 156	1	—	—	2	2	—	2	6	6	2	—	21
Over 156	1	—	—	4	—	3	5	4	8	9	—	34
Total Females	126	78	74	199	74	48	76	47	62	63	1	848

Streatham (includes West Norwood)												April 1979
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	—	—	2	3	3	2	3	2	—	1	1	—	17
Over 1 and up to 2	1	—	2	1	3	3	1	—	1	1	2	—	15
Over 2 and up to 4	3	1	4	15	9	2	6	4	2	2	1	—	49
Over 4 and up to 6	1	2	6	12	8	7	5	2	3	1	2	—	49
Over 6 and up to 8	3	1	3	10	14	1	8	5	2	—	5	—	52
Over 8 and up to 13	2	9	11	34	18	12	21	5	4	7	12	—	135
Over 13 and up to 26	6	6	6	43	34	32	26	10	7	8	13	—	191
Over 26 and up to 39	4	6	4	30	33	22	23	3	7	6	14	1	153
Over 39 and up to 52	2	8	3	17	17	10	21	6	8	1	7	—	100
Over 52 and up to 65	1	—	5	13	12	9	11	4	3	5	1	—	64
Over 65 and up to 78	—	1	2	6	4	2	7	5	6	1	1	—	35
Over 78 and up to 104	—	1	—	5	6	1	8	—	1	1	5	—	28
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	1	2	4	3	7	7	1	4	2	—	31
Over 156	—	1	1	1	2	2	4	2	1	4	5	—	23
Total Males	23	36	50	192	167	108	151	55	46	42	71	1	942

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	Under 18	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	—	—	—	4	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	5
Over 1 and up to 2	—	—	—	2	2	1	1	—	—	—	—	6
Over 2 and up to 4	4	2	1	10	4	1	—	—	—	3	—	25
Over 4 and up to 6	2	3	3	7	4	1	2	1	—	—	—	23
Over 6 and up to 8	2	2	2	5	—	3	4	2	1	—	—	21
Over 8 and up to 13	2	5	6	13	8	8	4	1	1	1	—	49
Over 13 and up to 26	4	6	4	15	11	4	4	3	4	2	1	58
Over 26 and up to 39	—	5	3	25	10	7	12	3	3	4	—	72
Over 39 and up to 52	—	2	2	15	4	1	7	2	—	1	—	34
Over 52 and up to 65	1	4	4	6	1	3	4	—	1	2	—	26
Over 65 and up to 78	—	2	1	—	1	2	—	—	4	1	—	11
Over 78 and up to 104	—	1	—	3	—	—	1	2	2	1	—	10
Over 104 and up to 156	—	—	—	2	1	1	—	1	1	—	—	6
Over 156	—	—	—	—	2	1	—	—	1	2	—	6
Total Females	15	32	26	107	49	33	39	15	18	17	1	352

Bermondsey	Male														January 1984
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 andover	Total
One or less	0	2	6	5	17	13	3	8	3	3	4	3	0	0	67
Over 1 and up to 2	1	4	1	2	18	5	8	4	5	6	4	4	5	0	67
Over 2 and up to 4	0	2	1	2	12	7	4	2	4	2	4	2	0	0	42
Over 4 and up to 6	6	5	1	3	26	8	5	10	2	4	1	9	1	0	81
Over 6 and up to 8	1	0	4	2	18	16	10	7	6		5	5	3	0	84
Over 8 and up to 13	5	7	8	8	41	31	21	24	16	16	19	13	12	0	221
Over 13 and up to 26	23	24	18	18	102	53	52	26	27	29	27	28	11	0	438
Over 26 and up to 39	0	12	10	12	53	34	33	27	15	20	17	21	14	0	268
Over 39 and up to 52	1	8	7	9	52	23	29	17	14	15	13	16	12	0	216
Over 52 and up to 65	0	2	4	5	45	21	14	23	15	10	9	11	4	0	163
Over 65 and up to 78	0	11	5	4	33	24	16	16	12	9	12	16	1	1	160
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	6	5	42	43	21	28	19	16	19	18	3	0	220
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	2	8	61	71	42	43	26	22	23	25	1	0	324
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	4	23	40	31	27	12	16	12	25	5	0	195
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	5	7	7	6	6	13	5	4	0	0	53
Over 260	0	0	0	0	0	5	3	5	10	8	11	12	3	0	57
Total Males	37	77	73	87	548	401	299	273	192	196	185	212	75	1	2,656

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	3	3	1	2	11	4	3	0	2	1	0	2	0	32
Over 1 and up to 2	1	3	2	4	12	2	2	1	2	0	0	1	0	30
Over 2 and up to 4	0	0	4	0	2	5	1	1	0	2	1	4	0	20
Over 4 and up to 6	0	1	4	1	14	2	0	1	2	4	3	1	0	33
Over 6 and up to 8	3	0	4	2	12	2	4	1	0	2	0	3	0	33
Over 8 and up to 13	0	10	6	2	23	14	8	1	4	5	4	7	0	84
Over 13 and up to 26	15	14	11	15	56	24	15	8	13	12	3	8	0	194
Over 26 and up to 39	0	7	8	3	25	17	5	5	4	5	1	7	0	87
Over 39 and up to 52	0	1	7	7	25	10	5	3	3	1	3	1	0	66
Over 52 and up to 65	0	2	7	4	13	4	3	5	3	2	2	1	0	46
Over 65 and up to 78	0	2	1	5	13	4	5	0	2	4	2	2	1	41
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	5	8	16	5	2	3	1	4	2	1	0	47

Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	4	4	14	11	6	4	6	3	4	8	0	64
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	2	7	3	3	1	3	0	3	2	0	24
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	7
Over 260	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	1	0	4
Total Females	22	43	64	59	247	107	62	34	45	47	31	50	1	812

Borough	Males														January 1984
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	4	9	4	6	30	16	14	14	8	3	4	3	4	0	119
Over 1 and up to 2	5	8	7	7	22	23	12	11	8	10	5	8	5	0	131
Over 2 and up to 4	3	3	6	7	20	21	14	8	8	4	3	7	3	0	107
Over 4 and up to 6	10	10	5	7	49	27	13	12	13	10	10	6	3	1	176
Over 6 and up to 8	8	8	7	3	34	18	15	5	10	8	11	8	6	0	141
Over 8 and up to 13	12	15	8	16	91	61	28	31	28	22	11	14	12	0	349
Over 13 and up to 26	47	40	26	26	170	99	68	48	41	38	38	35	13	0	689
Over 26 and up to 39	4	26	10	24	126	78	56	43	31	28	19	16	18	0	479
Over 39 and up to 52	2	8	16	26	92	72	37	30	16	38	21	19	19	1	397
Over 52 and up to 65	0	6	13	11	73	60	34	19	16	26	24	25	9	1	317
Over 65 and up to 78	0	19	12	13	61	48	27	24	18	20	14	21	7	0	284
Over 78 and up to 104	0	2	15	11	94	77	54	39	31	39	23	32	7	0	424
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	11	23	112	83	69	47	42	55	36	26	13	0	517
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	3	45	57	39	34	30	34	32	35	6	0	315
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	3	13	10	10	17	12	8	9	9	0	91
Over 260	0	0	0	0	2	3	6	17	11	10	16	22	13	5	105
Total Males	95	154	140	183	1,024	756	496	392	328	357	275	286	147	8	4,641

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	1	3	4	7	18	9	5	2	1	0	0	0	0	50
Over 1 and up to 2	4	4	6	2	20	12	5	2	5	3	1	4	0	68
Over 2 and up to 4	1	5	4	4	9	5	2	3	3	2	2	4	0	44
Over 4 and up to 6	2	10	2	12	23	11	7	2	2	3	3	1	0	78
Over 6 and up to 8	6	8	1	4	19	14	4	1	0	2	2	2	0	63
Over 8 and up to 13	12	12	13	13	51	29	12	3	6	5	4	4	0	164
Over 13 and up to 26	30	27	42	29	90	46	11	10	13	12	16	16	0	342
Over 26 and up to 39	2	19	21	14	66	32	7	11	10	12	13	5	0	212
Over 39 and up to 52	1	10	12	13	42	18	8	6	5	9	8	8	0	140
Over 52 and up to 65	0	3	11	11	15	12	3	2	3	5	4	8	0	77
Over 65 and up to 78	0	18	7	10	24	7	6	7	4	5	7	5	0	100
Over 78 and up to 104	0	1	10	16	34	12	11	7	11	8	4	5	0	119
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	8	18	43	9	4	9	9	8	11	12	2	133
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	4	5	5	6	6	1	5	11	7	1	51
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	3	4	0	0	1	1	3	2	0	14
Over 260	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	0	0	3	3	6	6	22
Total Females	59	120	141	157	463	225	94	71	74	83	92	89	9	1,677

Brixton	January 1984
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	4	9	9	9	47	21	10	10	11	5	7	3	4	0	149
Over 1 and up to 2	4	4	5	8	38	19	6	11	3	8	7	8	12	2	135
Over 2 and up to 4	3	3	8	4	26	22	14	7	5	8	8	5	6	0	119
Over 4 and up to 6	3	6	10	8	44	45	24	14	14	16	5	3	8	2	202
Over 6 and up to 8	4	11	9	14	56	28	16	9	6	10	9	6	7	1	186
Over 8 and up to 13	17	19	31	18	126	106	41	38	22	17	16	12	10	1	474
Over 13 and up to 26	41	54	57	66	264	170	90	47	45	34	41	20	31	3	963
Over 26 and up to 39	6	35	32	27	182	120	62	39	41	36	28	26	22	1	657
Over 39 and up to 52	2	16	33	19	153	100	61	41	36	27	25	33	15	4	565
Over 52 and up to 65	0	12	16	17	89	95	47	31	27	32	18	23	15	0	422
Over 65 and up to 78	0	16	15	24	79	54	47	20	44	22	16	17	3	2	359
Over 78 and up to 104	0	3	18	23	154	114	64	38	44	45	39	28	7	1	578
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	12	32	169	113	90	65	65	50	47	50	12	2	707
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	9	94	73	41	37	31	29	45	37	13	0	409
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	11	15	10	16	11	12	10	16	8	0	109
Over 260	0	0	0	0	4	8	10	9	12	14	7	20	3	4	91
Total Males	84	188	255	278	1,536	1,103	633	432	417	365	328	307	176	23	6,125

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	5	10	4	3	35	11	9	3	3	2	1	3	0	89
Over 1 and up to 2	4	2	5	1	39	6	5	6	4	1	2	0	0	75
Over 2 and up to 4	2	0	7	7	13	12	7	1	2	3	2	4	0	60
Over 4 and up to 6	4	3	5	6	31	13	11	8	4	2	7	3	0	97
Over 6 and up to 8	0	3	8	3	22	19	8	5	3	4	4	2	0	81
Over 8 and up to 13	8	19	20	13	70	25	12	12	5	7	7	6	0	204
Over 13 and up to 26	44	44	51	44	174	62	44	21	19	18	17	12	0	550
Over 26 and up to 39	5	20	20	25	97	60	25	13	12	16	12	5	0	310
Over 39 and up to 52	3	13	16	16	75	24	12	12	4	20	12	9	0	216
Over 52 and up to 65	0	4	9	10	30	20	7	5	5	4	7	6	0	107
Over 65 and up to 78	0	7	10	14	43	20	10	8	3	7	8	8	0	138
Over 78 and up to 104	0	1	16	17	42	17	11	6	10	8	15	12	1	156
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	4	17	46	28	9	9	5	18	9	9	5	159
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	4	24	11	2	2	7	8	12	4	4	78
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	5	4	2	1	4	3	2	4	1	26
Over 260	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	2	6	3	0	15
Total Females	75	126	175	180	746	332	175	112	93	123	123	90	11	2,361

Camberwell	Males													January 1984
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	8	14	12	14	45	39	20	12	10	6	8	5	2	0	195
Over 1 and up to 2	3	13	17	10	56	36	22	14	10	10	13	6	13	0	223
Over 2 and up to 4	3	5	8	5	37	28	19	13	9	6	4	6	6	1	150
Over 4 and up to 6	13	18	16	21	67	35	18	17	21	12	9	9	7	0	263
Over 6 and up to 8	8	10	14	14	50	48	21	17	13	7	13	12	9	0	236
Over 8 and up to 13	15	33	29	38	159	87	53	51	36	21	26	22	20	0	590
Over 13 and up to 26	50	74	75	59	310	201	111	85	62	56	52	50	32	0	1,217
Over 26 and up to 39	7	48	44	48	211	142	87	59	40	39	35	41	23	0	824
Over 39 and up to 52	2	30	24	43	164	92	51	51	41	35	37	36	15	0	621
Over 52 and up to 65	0	12	19	25	114	86	57	47	43	36	20	30	21	0	510
Over 65 and up to 78	0	22	30	28	118	78	52	34	21	40	35	26	3	1	488
Over 78 and up to 104	0	4	28	32	160	129	72	54	50	61	56	57	12	1	716
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	16	26	168	123	111	90	72	61	72	61	24	0	824
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	5	75	82	71	58	48	85	53	21	0	0	498
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	16	24	24	19	19	11	19	14	7	0	153
Over 260	0	0	0	0	3	11	10	11	14	22	23	39	11	0	144
Total Males	109	283	332	368	1,753	1,241	799	632	509	508	475	435	205	3	7,652

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	6	4	12	14	35	20	8	13	7	1	6	2	0	128
Over 1 and up to 2	4	8	15	11	28	13	9	4	2	1	6	1	0	102
Over 2 and up to 4	0	4	3	7	15	14	5	6	3	4	3	3	0	67
Over 4 and up to 6	5	8	10	6	51	18	12	9	10	3	4	2	0	138
Over 6 and up to 8	4	10	11	12	21	22	11	5	4	4	7	2	0	113
Over 8 and up to 13	16	21	24	29	73	45	26	12	7	12	13	10	0	288
Over 13 and up to 26	50	44	57	41	147	51	51	27	25	34	17	18	0	562
Over 26 and up to 39	2	18	27	38	114	49	24	10	21	16	20	18	0	357
Over 39 and up to 52	1	15	22	12	70	34	9	10	13	11	15	16	0	228
Over 52 and up to 65	0	10	20	14	46	24	5	4	9	15	10	11	0	168
Over 65 and up to 78	0	15	14	20	40	9	7	15	9	11	8	7	0	155
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	17	17	57	24	5	8	7	13	13	21	0	182
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	8	15	59	22	5	7	8	11	17	20	0	172
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	3	21	7	7	7	4	4	4	11	0	68
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	5	1	2	1	4	2	3	6	0	24
Over 260	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	3	1	3	8	13	0	31
Total Females	88	157	240	239	783	353	188	141	134	145	154	161	0	2,783

Deptford/Greenwich	January 1984		Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	2	6	5	3	29	15	14	13	6	6	2	3	6	0	110
Over 1 and up to 2	2	1	4	4	22	17	8	5	2	2	1	6	9	0	83
Over 2 and up to 4	0	2	4	2	19	16	13	7	3	8	7	9	1	0	91
Over 4 and up to 6	2	2	9	8	45	35	16	15	12	9	6	5	1	0	165
Over 6 and up to 8	1	5	7	8	31	28	13	7	15	8	9	9	6	0	147
Over 8 and up to 13	12	18	24	19	90	54	32	30	22	20	16	14	11	0	362
Over 13 and up to 26	26	24	37	36	179	103	54	47	49	37	31	28	30	0	681
Over 26 and up to 39	0	18	24	27	128	84	49	34	30	31	32	25	21	1	504
Over 52 and up to 65	0	10	8	17	69	43	36	36	17	16	15	12	7	0	286
Over 65 and up to 78	0	12	10	7	60	48	32	23	19	18	15	16	3	0	263
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	12	14	106	69	58	38	44	26	36	32	5	0	440

Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	2	15	103	89	59	50	47	55	45	55	7	0	527
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	5	56	51	32	33	29	30	27	29	1	0	293
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	5	11	14	7	13	10	7	17	0	0	84
Over 260	0	0	0	0	1	4	2	4	5	10	15	25	2	0	68
Total Males	46	111	163	180	1029	719	470	387	336	309	301	305	126	1	4483

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	2	3	4	5	25	8	4	2	2	2	0	2	0	59
Over 1 and up to 2	1	3	3	6	20	8	1	1	1	1	3	5	0	53
Over 2 and up to 4	0	2	5	1	21	11	5	6	0	4	3	2	0	60
Over 4 and up to 6	4	4	4	4	17	18	7	0	2	5	1	2	0	68
Over 6 and up to 8	4	10	3	8	17	10	3	2	1	1	1	3	0	63
Over 8 and up to 13	5	6	14	11	54	25	13	9	10	6	6	7	0	166
Over 13 and up to 26	15	19	27	22	107	43	23	18	13	9	6	7	0	309
Over 26 and up to 39	2	14	13	15	81	28	18	8	6	8	8	7	0	208
Over 39 and up to 52	0	6	11	14	39	18	7	4	6	7	12	8	0	132
Over 52 and up to 65	0	3	10	6	35	13	5	5	7	6	9	4	0	103
Over 65 and up to 78	0	9	10	7	32	12	8	2	7	6	4	2	0	99
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	12	7	28	13	4	3	7	3	6	7	0	90
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	1	12	29	12	3	5	8	12	7	9	0	98
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	2	13	5	5	4	1	2	10	6	0	48
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	1	2	1	3	0	11
Over 260	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	1	5	1	0	10
Total Females	33	79	117	120	520	227	106	71	72	75	82	75	0	1577

Lewisham														January 1984
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	13	22	17	11	31	25	12	13	12	9	7	7	10	0	189
Over 1 and up to 2	6	3	7	4	44	18	11	18	12	8	9	12	16	0	168
Over 2 and up to 4	1	5	10	16	45	27	29	7	17	18	10	13	7	0	205
Over 4 and up to 6	10	14	16	24	68	50	23	28	12	22	8	11	15	0	301
Over 6 and up to 8	14	14	14	12	71	24	28	17	15	15	17	14	18	0	273
Over 8 and up to 13	18	27	36	40	146	75	66	34	26	39	39	37	40	0	623
Over 13 and up to 26	91	89	115	106	268	172	108	93	53	61	66	72	69	0	1,363
Over 26 and up to 39	2	47	41	46	213	112	74	53	44	50	30	54	41	0	807
Over 39 and up to 52	3	35	25	36	136	95	65	45	36	34	32	38	45	0	625
Over 52 and up to 65	0	19	25	35	99	61	57	54	35	31	33	31	32	1	513
Over 65 and up to 78	0	41	29	29	112	69	25	27	43	25	34	40	16	0	490
Over 78 and up to 104	0	2	28	39	157	87	60	72	52	51	45	58	22	0	673
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	22	35	190	133	97	86	65	66	75	76	16	0	861
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	9	87	71	52	45	47	50	44	45	8	0	458
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	10	16	18	13	15	11	16	19	6	0	124
Over 260	0	0	0	0	1	9	4	7	13	18	18	29	20	0	119
Total Males	158	318	385	442	1,678	1,044	729	612	497	508	483	556	381	1	7,792

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	4	12	12	14	27	15	7	6	4	3	2	2	0	108
Over 1 and up to 2	1	7	8	8	35	21	9	3	6	3	3	8	0	112
Over 2 and up to 4	4	10	9	10	29	16	12	7	9	4	6	3	0	119
Over 4 and up to 6	6	13	14	7	39	23	12	5	5	6	3	3	0	136
Over 6 and up to 8	9	16	15	16	32	21	12	9	4	4	3	4	0	145
Over 8 and up to 13	16	24	18	28	89	40	12	10	18	19	10	9	0	293
Over 13 and up to 26	52	71	83	74	181	84	31	30	30	17	23	30	1	707
Over 26 and up to 39	3	35	39	32	117	49	18	17	19	20	24	14	1	388
Over 39 and up to 52	0	25	24	18	64	39	15	11	15	22	8	19	0	260
Over 52 and up to 65	0	14	16	24	24	11	11	7	8	18	10	14	0	157
Over 65 and up to 78	0	24	18	15	40	13	3	2	11	11	5	9	0	151
Over 78 and up to 104	0	1	23	18	50	13	13	15	17	20	17	18	0	205
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	9	11	56	10	5	15	13	22	21	27	0	189
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	1	18	12	5	2	7	6	12	10	0	73
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	5	4	5	0	1	0	3	5	0	23
Over 260	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	3	1	4	7	14	0	34
Total Females	95	252	288	276	806	372	174	142	168	179	157	189	2	3,100

Stockwell
Males
														January 1984
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	0	6	7	6	26	15	13	12	10	4	7	6	5	0	117
Over 1 and up to 2	4	1	4	2	27	23	15	6	6	3	6	6	5	0	108
Over 2 and up to 4	1	3	6	3	15	12	15	8	8	2	4	4	5	0	86
Over 4 and up to 6	6	5	6	10	26	17	24	10	8	9	7	5	2	0	135
Over 6 and up to 8	2	3	6	10	41	32	21	11	12	10	12	5	11	2	178
Over 8 and up to 13	9	11	17	11	84	64	37	33	22	14	11	21	19	0	353
Over 13 and up to 26	26	29	39	34	175	155	77	53	45	35	28	45	27	1	769
Over 26 and up to 39	2	27	20	26	138	96	58	53	28	24	24	23	17	0	536
Over 39 and up to 52	1	15	19	21	99	64	49	23	27	26	28	22	14	3	411
Over 52 and up to 65	0	2	11	15	79	56	31	22	15	14	23	24	11	2	305
Over 65 and up to 78	0	18	13	14	67	53	36	18	20	17	22	14	9	2	303
Over 78 and up to 104	0	1	13	17	92	63	47	32	40	31	37	31	6	0	410
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	10	18	103	108	80	59	36	47	46	32	11	1	551
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	2	57	57	41	38	32	39	20	34	8	0	328
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	2	15	5	2	10	13	9	13	5	0	74
Over 260	0	0	0	0	2	9	9	12	11	16	18	12	2	0	91
Total Males	51	121	171	189	1,033	839	558	392	330	304	302	297	157	11	4,755

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	0	2	4	4	16	6	3	1	1	1	3	2	0	43
Over 1 and up to 2	1	2	2	6	12	8	4	3	3	1	1	1	0	44
Over 2 and up to 4	2	1	2	3	20	9	3	3	1	3	2	1	0	50
Over 4 and up to 6	1	3	5	3	20	11	4	5	5	3	5	2	0	67
Over 6 and up to 8	4	6	5	5	26	10	10	3	2	1	3	1	0	76
Over 8 and up to 13	4	16	15	5	51	28	7	10	5	6	3	4	0	154
Over 13 and up to 26	16	20	32	31	109	55	26	11	14	14	15	7	0	350
Over 26 and up to 39	2	11	27	16	88	34	24	9	10	7	6	6	0	240
Over 39 and up to 52	0	6	12	8	35	21	12	6	6	10	5	11	0	132
Over 52 and up to 65	0	2	1	7	25	11	6	12	6	10	4	7	0	91
Over 65 and up to 78	0	7	11	8	24	11	8	6	2	4	3	5	0	89
Over 78 and up to 104	0	2	4	8	43	14	7	7	10	9	4	9	0	117
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	4	9	37	20	7	11	11	12	9	5	1	126
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	1	24	7	4	0	1	4	8	10	1	60
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	3	2	0	1	3	2	0	1	0	12
Over 260	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	2	1	0	2	2	0	10
Total Females	30	78	124	114	533	249	126	90	81	87	73	74	2	1,661

Streatham														January 1984
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	1	3	3	1	18	11	9	3	5	3	3	4	5	0	69
Over 1 and up to 2	1	2	5	5	21	16	4	6	4	1	2	3	4	0	74
Over 2 and up to 4	2	4	6	5	19	15	11	6	3	5	0	2	2	0	80
Over 4 and up to 6	3	5	8	1	30	13	13	7	5	6	4	10	2	0	107
Over 6 and up to 8	2	6	6	4	21	21	12	9	10	11	7	4	4	2	119
Over 8 and up to 13	5	8	12	15	78	22	17	11	8	14	9	13	13	3	228
Over 13 and up to 26	14	13	31	36	113	62	51	32	35	17	26	21	21	1	473
Over 26 and up to 39	1	16	7	14	112	48	25	25	14	10	11	11	9	0	303
Over 39 and up to 52	1	11	11	10	49	44	21	18	14	12	15	19	8	0	233
Over 52 and up to 65	0	2	6	7	38	29	17	12	12	11	5	7	5	2	153
Over 65 and up to 78	0	6	6	11	37	19	29	11	9	13	17	9	5	1	173
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	9	8	36	44	22	25	17	23	21	21	1	1	228
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	8	10	51	40	38	30	23	31	20	20	4	0	275
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	6	26	30	25	12	18	13	18	13	4	2	167
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	5	8	3	7	3	9	6	11	5	0	57
Over 260	0	0	0	0	3	1	5	5	2	5	6	6	1	0	34
Total Males	30	76	118	133	657	423	302	219	182	184	170	174	93	12	2,773

Females
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	Total
One or less	1	2	2	4	21	9	4	5	0	0	4	2	0	54
Over 1 and up to 2	3	3	0	3	16	6	4	3	2	5	2	2	0	49
Over 2 and up to 4	0	2	2	4	9	9	0	4	3	3	3	0	0	39
Over 4 and up to 6	1	1	4	4	19	12	3	4	1	4	2	2	0	57
Over 6 and up to 8	2	1	4	4	17	9	2	6	2	2	5	0	0	54
Over 8 and up to 13	3	12	8	11	30	8	6	5	6	6	3	7	0	105
Over 13 and up to 26	14	18	19	20	75	40	16	14	10	11	12	10	0	259
Over 26 and up to 39	0	7	8	11	37	20	13	10	6	3	4	12	0	131
Over 39 and up to 52	0	5	7	5	17	10	12	8	4	7	5	7	0	87

Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	Total
Over 52 and up to 65	0	2	5	8	19	6	7	4	1	5	5	6	0	68
Over 65 and up to 78	0	5	2	5	16	5	4	3	1	7	1	4	0	53
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	6	5	15	9	5	4	1	7	5	5	0	62
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	5	9	16	6	8	5	6	6	6	8	1	76
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	0	7	5	0	4	2	9	5	1	1	34
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	2	0	1	2	1	0	8
Over 260	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	1	0	1	0	2	0	8
Total Females	24	58	72	93	316	158	84	82	45	77	64	69	2	1,144

West Norwood														January 1984
Males
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	2	3	0	4	6	10	1	4	3	2	1	1	0	0	37
Over 1 and up to 2	0	1	3	1	16	5	1	2	2	0	1	3	8	0	43
Over 2 and up to 4	0	0	1	1	9	1	1	4	3	3	3	0	0	0	26
Over 4 and up to 6	0	6	2	1	12	8	7	8	2	4	2	4	1	0	57
Over 6 and up to 8	1	3	3	3	11	7	7	5	4	2	2	2	6	0	56
Over 8 and up to 13	3	10	10	7	40	27	13	11	4	3	2	8	6	0	144
Over 13 and up to 26	25	13	16	12	64	30	34	17	13	12	11	9	9	2	267
Over 26 and up to 39	2	8	7	8	37	25	17	16	15	5	10	14	11	1	176
Over 39 and up to 52	0	6	5	11	27	22	17	10	5	10	18	11	9	0	141
Over 52 and up to 65	0	5	5	2	32	21	10	7	8	5	6	12	7	2	122
Over 65 and up to 78	0	9	4	5	29	11	10	7	6	5	4	11	2	0	103
Over 78 and up to 104	0	1	10	5	27	15	18	14	14	10	6	6	1	1	128
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	4	6	29	26	26	18	15	15	14	8	5	0	166
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	0	12	13	8	13	9	12	4	9	1	2	83
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	2	2	4	2	4	3	4	5	1	0	27
Over 260	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	0	1	4	1	6	4	0	20
Total Males	33	65	70	66	354	224	176	138	108	95	79	109	71	8	1,596

Female
Duration of unemployment in weeks	16	17	18	19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60 and over	Total
One or less	2	2	3	1	7	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	19
Over 1 and up to 2	0	0	0	2	5	6	0	1	1	3	3	2	0	23
Over 2 and up to 4	0	1	2	1	5	2	1	0	3	1	1	0	0	17
Over 4 and up to 6	1	3	1	1	5	2	4	0	2	2	1	1	0	23
Over 6 and up to 8	2	4	2	4	7	4	4	2	1	2	1	3	0	36
Over 8 and up to 13	4	4	2	1	17	11	3	1	1	3	3	3	0	53
Over 13 and up to 26	9	13	9	12	40	12	9	12	3	6	8	8	0	141
Over 26 and up to 39	0	5	9	7	18	6	6	4	5	6	5	3	0	74
Over 39 and up to 52	0	0	5	2	15	4	6	1	3	4	4	3	0	47
Over 52 and up to 65	0	4	5	2	14	11	2	2	6	4	4	3	0	57
Over 65 and up to 78	0	5	2	6	9	2	3	3	0	3	4	3	0	40
Over 78 and up to 104	0	0	3	5	8	5	2	3	3	4	6	1	0	40
Over 104 and up to 156	0	0	2	4	13	4	3	6	5	4	3	3	0	47
Over 156 and up to 208	0	0	0	1	8	2	1	0	2	1	2	1	0	18
Over 208 and up to 260	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	4
Over 260	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	2	0	5
Total Females	18	41	45	49	172	75	46	35	35	44	46	38	0	644

Skillcentre Courses

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the main courses which have been added to skillcentre programmes over the past two years and detail those courses which have been discontinued over the same period; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not readily available in the precise form requested. The main courses introduced into skillcentre programmes over the past two years have been in new technology subjects such as electonics, robotics and computer numerically controlled machines. There are no areas of training from which skillcentres have wholly withdrawn over this period although some provision has been reorganised or reduced in accordance with demand.

Jobcentres

25.

asked the Secretary of State for Employent if he is satisfied with the present jobcentre system.

The Manpower Services Commission last week approved in principle a new strategy designed to improve the service's accessibility to job-seekers at a reduced cost to the taxpayer. We expect to receive its proposals shortly.

28.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received concerning future plans for jobcentres.

This Department has received a number of letters from Members of Parliament and others about the Manpower Services Commission strategy for the future development of the employment service.

43.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he intends to take to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the jobcentre network.

The Manpower Services Commission has recently approved in principle a strategy for the future development of the employment service which takes advantage of recent advances in technology to improve the accessibility of the service and at the same time reduces the cost to the taxpayer. It is planned that there will be more jobcentre outlets but more variations between offices in the type of service provided.

44.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of people placed in jobs by jobcentres in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The information requested is listed below:

Year ending	Number of Placings
4 December 1981	1,467,112
3 December 1982	1,541,221
2 December 1983	1,747,611

There is likely to have been a substantial number of people who found jobs other than through the jobcentres. Nationally it is estimated that about a quarter of all engagements are made through jobcentres.

Regional Benefit Investigation Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the cost of the regional benefit investigation schemes; and if he is satisfied that they are cost-effective.

The total cost of the regional benefit investigation teams in a full year is estimated at £1· 6 million. I am satisfied that they are cost-effective.

Job Release And Job-Splitting Schemes

29.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have used, in the last three months for which figures are available, the job release scheme and the job-splitting scheme; how much have both schemes cost for the same period; and how much it has cost to publicise each scheme.

In the period January to March 1984, the last three months for which figures are available, 13,626 people have joined the job release schemes. In the same period 102 jobs have been split under the job-splitting scheme providing 204 part-time jobs. At the end of March a total of 95,000 people were covered by the job release schemes and 836 by the job-splitting scheme.

Expenditure on the job release schemes and the job splitting scheme over the same period has been £64,729,000 and £84,000 respectively.The total cost of advertising the job release schemes has been £2,149,458, the job-splitting scheme £423,208.

40.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what the latest figures are for take-up of the job-splitting scheme; and whether he will make a statement.

By the end of March 1984, 836 jobs had been split under the job-splitting scheme, providing 1,672 part-time job opportunities.It was always expected that the scheme would take time to build up as employers and employees consider its potential advantages. The scheme is open for applications until 31 March 1985 and we shall continue to monitor progress closely.

Women

31.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to increase full-time employment opportunities for women.

I refer the hon. member to my reply to the hon. member for Leeds Central (Mr. Fatchett) on 20 March at column 401.

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women were unemployed at the latest available date; and what percentage change this represents since 1979.

On 5 April 1984, the number of unemployed female claimants in the United Kingdom was 927,622. This represented an increase of 182·7 per cent. since April 1979.

Youth Training Scheme

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the implications of the proposed cutback in mode B1 places under the youth training scheme funding.

The Government believe that as many as possible of the young people entering the youth training scheme should be catered for under employer-based schemes. In the circumstances we are satisfied that we shall need fewer places in training workshops and community projects in 1984–85 than were approved during the first year of the scheme. We are satisfied that suitable training places will be available on the scheme to meet the needs of all eligible youngsters seeking places in the coming year.

35.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest available figures for the number of places on mode A and B1 on the youth training scheme which have been taken up.

At the end of February there were 185,465 young people in training on mode A schemes and 55,319 in training on mode B1 schemes in Great Britain.

41.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the statistical basis for the assumption that mode A of the youth training scheme provides young people with a better chance of finding employment than mode B; and if he will make a statement.

Schemes based in firms provide the most realistic work place experience and training and this reflects the view of the youth task group which firmly believed the scheme should be primarily employer based. Whilst the youth training scheme can offer no guarantee of employment on completion of training it will enhance the employment prospects of young people by better equipping them to meet the demands of the labour market.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many managing agents and sponsors under the youth training scheme are registered under the Factories Acts.

The information requested is not available.From 1 April 1984, all new and renegotiated youth training scheme contracts require that managing agents and other providers give the Manpower Services Commission a written assurance that they have complied with any statutory requirements on the notification of their undertakings. They must also inform the commission that similar written assurances have been obtained from their subcontractors.

Part-Time Work

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were employed in part-time work in 1983.

The information for 1983 is available for females only. The following table gives the estimated numbers of females in part-time employment in Great Britain at each quarter month.

Part-time employees in employment Females
	Number
March 1983	3,745,000
June 1983	3,843,000
September 1983	3,824,000
December 1983	3,923,000

Disabled Persons

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the employment prospects of those disabled people who have undertaken rehabilitation courses.

The Government are concerned to ensure that the resources available to promote the employment of disabled people, including those devoted to employment rehabilitation courses, are used as effectively as possible in improving employment prospects for these people.About 11,000 disabled people a year attend employment rehabilitation centres run by the Manpower Services Commission. Follow-up inquiries show that about 16 per cent. of those people are in jobs three months after their employment rehabilitation course. I understand that at its last meeting the commission approved a number of developments designed to improve the resettlement rate.

Employment Service

39.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in considering changes in the employment service, he will take account of the difficulties of access of people in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend will know, the Manpower Services Commission has recently approved in principle a strategy for the future development of the employment service. The proposals involve little change to the service in rural areas, and jobcentres in those areas would continue to provide the services they do at present to the local community. There would also be some increase in the number of jobcentre outlets.

Social Mobility

42.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if his Department keeps any record of social mobility in respect of those people moving from one area of the country to another seeking employment.

Data from the 1981 labour force survey show that about a fifth of those who were in employment in both 1980 and 1981 and who moved from one region or county of Great Britain to another during the year before the survey had also changed their social class, as defined for the census of population, during that period.

Apprenticeships

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the total number of apprenticeship places agreed for each of the years from 1979 to date, broken down into the following categories (a) the total of all apprenticeships, (b) the total for manufacturing industry, (c) the total for each industrial classification group and (d) the most recent figures available for each of the above categories for 1984.

Complete figures are not available in the form requested, but the Manpower Services Commission estimates that the following traditional apprenticeship places were agreed in all industries:

	Numbers
1979–80	100,000
1980–81	90,000
1981–82	60,000
1982–83	45,000
1983–84	40,000

The number entering traditional apprenticeships will increasingly fail to reflect the extent of skill training being undertaken in industry, due to the reform of existing training arrangements, and public funding of first-year training under the youth training scheme.

Chemical Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed in the chemical industry in the United Kingdom in each year since 1974.

The following table gives the information for June each year from 1974 to 1983.

Employees in employment Chemical industry (Class 25 of the 1980 SIC)
June	Number (Thousand)
1974	401
1975	397
1976	389
1977	399
1978	403
1979	405
1980	395

June	Number (Thousand)
1981	363
1982	348
1983	327

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees there are currently in the chemical industries; and what information he has as to the current basic rate of pay of those employees.

The number of employess in employment in the chemical industry in February 1984 is given in table 1.3 of labour market data in Employment Gazette for April 1984.Details on minimum basic wage rates of manual workers affected by national collective agreements in the chemical and allied industries are published in "Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work" (pages 25 to 31).Details of the average hourly earnings for a week of normal basic hours (excluding overtime pay) for adult employees in the chemical industry in April 1983 are given in tables 54 to 57 of "New Earnings Survey 1983", part C.Copies of these publications are in the Library.

Construction Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed in the construction industry in each of the years since 1974.

The following table gives the information for the United Kingdom for June each year from 1974 to 1983.

Employees in employment Construction industry (Division 5 of the 1980 SIC)
June	Number(Thousand)
1974	1,271
1975	1,257
1976	1,251
1977	1,215
1978	1,209
1979	1,253
1980	1,252
1981	1,139
1982	1,053
1983	1,003

Paper And Board Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been employed in the United Kingdom paper and board industry in each of the years since 1974.

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

Acas (Annual Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive the annual report of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

I have received the ACAS report for 1983, which will be laid before both Houses of Parliament tomorrow. The report is also to be published tomorrow, and copies will then be available from the Vote Office.

Mr David Young

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, on taking up appointment, Mr. David Young, chairman of the Manpower Services Commission, was asked to divest himself of any directorship or shareholdings to avoid any conflict of interest.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1984, c. 35]: No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the directorships, and business interests, of Mr. David Brown, chairman of the Manpower Services Commission.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1984, c. 35]: Mr. Young is non-executive chairman of Manufacturers Hanover Property Services Ltd. The position is non-salaried. He also has shareholdings in Greenwood Development Holding Ltd., Tycom Corporation, Fireflux and Gablecolt.

Prime Minister

Engagements

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q13.

the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q14.

the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q21.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday I May.

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

Q36.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q38.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q39.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q40.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q41.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q42.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q43.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q44.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q45.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q46.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q47.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q48.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q49.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q50.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q51.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q52.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q53.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q54.

Marshall asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q55.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

Q56.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday I May.

Q57.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q58.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

Q59.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q60.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

Q61.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

Q62.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

Q63.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 1 May.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 1 May.

This morning I 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 hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

Health Service (Care Standards)

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the conference of medical royal colleges and their faculties concerning the effects of the Government's policies on standards of care in the Health Service.

None.

Wales

Q37.

asked the Prime Minister when she next proposes to pay an official visit to Wales.

I have at present no plans to do SO.

European Community (Structure And Policies)

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the progress made by the European Economic Community Council of Heads of State and Government in achieving reforms in the structure and policies of the European Economic Community; and if she will make a statement.

Although the European Council in Brussels on 19–20 March did not reach an agreement, it did make significant headway on all key issues in the post-Stuttgart negotiation, including progress towards effective control of Community expenditure and a lasting system for the fair sharing of financial burdens. We are continuing in our efforts to resolve the remaining differences so as to reach a settlement that we can commend to the House.

Libyan Nationals

asked the Prime Minister if she will now deport the Libyan nationals currently receiving training in United Kingdom defence establishments.

:The Libyans concerned have been withdrawn from training, and my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has decided that their stay should be curtailed. If they fail to leave voluntarily by 7 May they will be liable to deportation.

Ec (Budget Rebate)

asked the Prime Minister, pursuant to her reply of 10 February, Official Report, column 801, regarding the default by the Common Market on the payment of £42,000,000 due to Her Majesty's Government on 31 December 1983 in respect of the outstanding rebate for 1982, what action is now available to Her Majesty's Government to secure this payment; and if she will make a statement.

We have already taken this matter up formally with the Commission and the Presidency. It remains our aim to resolve this problem in the current negotiation.

Council Of Europe (Delegation)

asked the Prime Minister if she will announce the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be meeting in Strasbourg from 7–11 May. I have appointed 18 delegates from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The delegation this year will consist of 12 members of the Conservative party, five Members of the Labour party and one Member of the Liberal party. I have also appointed a number of substitute delegates.The appointments of representatives and substitutes have been made on the basis of nominations by the Leaders of those parties concerned.The same delegation will be representing the United Kingdom Parliament at the Assembly of the Western European Union.Representatives from the Government Benches will be:

The hon. Member for Torbay (Sir F. Bennett), who will act as Leader.

The hon. Members for:

Hampstead and Highgate (Sir G. Finsberg)
Cambridgeshire, South-West (Sir A. Grant)
Norfolk, South-West (Sir P. Hawkins)
Southampton, Test (Mr. Hill)
Twickenham (Mr. Jessel)
Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight)
Hallam (Sir J. Osborn)
Harrow, West (Mr. Page)
Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith)
Ruislip-Northwood (Mr. Wilkinson)
and the Lord Reay

Representatives from the Labour party will be:

The hon. Members for:

Tooting (Mr. Cox)
Wentworth (Mr. Hardy)
Makerfield (Mr. McGuire)
East Kilbride (Dr. Miller)
and the Lord Hughes

The representatives from the Liberal party will be:

The hon. Member for:

Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross)

The following substitutes have been appointed to act as necessary on behalf of the delegates:

From the Government Benches:

The hon. Members for:

Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson)
Cunninghame, North (Mr. Corrie)
Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell)
Northampton, South (Mr. Morris)
Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Murphy)
Halesowen and Stourbridge (Mr. Stokes)
Poole (Mr. Ward)
and the Earl of Kinnoull and the Lord Newall

From the Labour party:

The right hon. Members for:

Brent, East (Mr. Freeson)
Govan (Mr. Milian)

and the hon. Members for:

Newcastle upon Tyne, North (Mr. Brown)
Neath (Mr. Coleman)
Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr. Edwards)
Wallsend (Mr. Garrett)
Preston (Mr. Thorne)
Hemsworth (Mr. Woodall)

From the Liberal party:

The Lord McNair

Northern Ireland

Personal Information(Access)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are made by local authorities in Northern Ireland to allow individuals to have access to social services records about themselves; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to encourage them to allow greater access to information held on automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that it is not the practice of health and social services boards to give members of the public access to social services records about themselves. No guidance has been issued to the boards but the matter is currently being considered by the Department of Health and Social Services.The Data Protection Bill, when it comes into operation, will create a general right of access by individuals to automated personal records relating to them, subject to modification by order in cases where its application could prejudice the carrying out of social work.

Education And Science

Chiropodists

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the total annual cost of the training of state registered chiropodists.

The cost to the seven educational institutions providing chiropody courses is estimated to be of the order of £1·6 million of which a proportion is met by local health authorities. The only course outside the educational system is in the London foot hospital, and is estimated to cost about £0·25 million. The costs of local authority discretionary awards to chiropody students are not recorded centrally.

Science And Engineering Research Council (Food Research)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which colleges, universities and polytechnics are currently in receipt of grants from the Science and Engineering Research Council for food research.

Those currently receiving grants from the Science and Engineering Research Council are:

Nottingham University
Royal Holloway College, London University
Imperial College of Science and Technology, London University
North East Wales Institute (Kelsterton College)
Open University

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total amount of grants paid out for food research to universities and polytechnics by the Science and Engineering Research Council in the last year for which figures are available.

The Science and Engineering Research Council provided grants for food research totalling £135,200 in the financial year 1983–84.

A-Level Curriculum

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for broadening the curriculum for A-level students; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today published a consultative paper which proposes the introduction of a new range of examination courses designed primarily for A-level students, to be known as AS (advanced supplementary) levels. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Library.Our principal objective is to broaden, without diluting academic standards, the curriculum for A-level students. We envisage that all who can manage it should continue to take at least two A-levels. The purpose of the new AS-level courses would be to give students the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding over a wider range of subjects than at present including, wherever possible, one or more subjects which contrast with their main A-level specialisms. AS-levels would be single subject examinations involving a two-year course; they would be as intellectually demanding as A-levels and would cover not less than half the amount of ground covered by the A-level for the subject in question.We are inviting higher education bodies to confirm their support for the new examination courses and through their admissions arrangements to encourage students to take a broader range of subjects at A or AS-level. We hope that LEAs, colleges and schools will do all they can within available resources to make an AS-level course or courses available to students who wish to take them.Provided that comments received on the paper indicate the necessary level of support, my right hon. Friend and I propose to invite the GCE boards in co-operation with the Secondary Examinations Council to launch development work on syllabuses before the end of the year. We hope that this work could be completed in time to enable the first AS-level courses to begin in September 1986.

Grant-Related Expenditure Assessments

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now list the education grant-related expenditure assessments for each local education authority for 1984–85.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 January 1984, c. 559]: The education component for each local education authority of the grant-related expenditure —GRE—assessments published in the Rate Support Grant Report (England) 1984–85 on 14 December 1983 are as follows. These figures include expenditure on all parts of the education service—including the youth service and student awards. They also include debt charges relating to capital expenditure prior to 1981–82 — and also later capital expenditure on advanced further education—and a portion of local authorities' administrative costs.

Authority	Education GRE 1984–85 £ million
London
Barking	32·2
Barnet	57·3
Bexley	49·2
Brent	65·4
Bromley	57·3
Croydon	69·1
Ealing	66·4
Enfield	58·3
Haringey	50·7
Harrow	40·8
Havering	52·8
Hillingdon	49·2
Hounslow	45·0
Kingston-upon-Thames	25·5
Merton	33·0
Newham	58·1
Redbridge	46·1
Richmond-upon-Thames	26·4
Sutton	33·7
Waltham Forest	50·4
Inner London Education Authority	523·1
West Midlands
Birmingham	248·9
Coventry	75·0
Dudley	66·0
Sandwell	76·4
Solihull	48·9

Authority	Education GRE 1984–85 £ million
Walsall	67·0
Wolverhampton	65·7
Merseyside
Knowsley	45·4
Liverpool	115·6
St. Helens	45·7
Sefton	63·9
Wirral	74·9
Greater Manchester
Bolton	61·8
Bury	38·6
Manchester	102·9
Oldham	51·3
Rochdale	49·2
Salford	54·0
Stockport	62·7
Tameside	49·4
Trafford	48·8
Wigan	72·7
South Yorkshire
Barnsley	50·0
Doncaster	68·1
Rotherham	60·6
Sheffield	117·6
West Yorkshire
Bradford	113·3
Calderdale	44·4
Kirklees	91·5
Leeds	156·4
Wakefield	70·8
Tyne and Wear
Gateshead	42·7
Newcastle upon Tyne	54·2
North Tyneside	41·3
South Tyneside	36·2
Sunderland	67·4
Non-metropolitan Counties
Avon	184·9
Bedfordshire	123·3
Berkshire	156·0
Buckinghamshire	135·5
Cambridgeshire	130·9
Cheshire	219·2
Cleveland	140·5
Cornwall	90·2
Cumbria	101·8
Derbyshire	201·6
Devon	188·9
Dorset	111·0
Durham	128·4
East Sussex	115·0
Essex	326·0
Gloucestershire	106·6
Hampshire	319·0
Hereford and Worcester	142·2
Hertfordshire	215·4
Humberside	197·4
Isle of Wight	24·4
Kent	323·3
Lancashire	306·1
Leicestershire	196·4
Lincolnshire	123·3
Norfolk	144·4
North Yorkshire	139·7
Northamptonshire	128·2
Northumberland	62·4
Nottinghamshire	221·9
Oxfordshire	111·0
Shropshire	88·3

Authority	Education GRE 1984–85 £ million
Somerset	88·3
Staffordshire	230·6
Suffolk	123·6
Surrey	191·9
Warwickshire	109·6
West Sussex	126·5
Wiltshire	116·5

Social Services

British Oxygen Company

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the exact value of contracts between health authorities and the British Oxygen Company.

Details of contracts placed by health authorities with the British Oxygen Company for the supply of medical gases and for other supplies or services are not collected centrally. So far as medical gases are concerned, the summary of accounts for hospital authorities—England—show that for the year ending 31 March 1983 the expenditure was £9.9 million. Virtually all of this sum would have been paid to BOC Limited, which is the major supplier.

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will amend the supplementary benefit scheme to make specific provision for payments to employees paid more than fortnightly in arrears; and if he will make a statement; (2) in what circumstances he makes payments of supplementary benefit beyond the first 15 days of employment to employees paid more than fortnightly in arrears; and if he will make a statement.

The supplementary benefit scheme already contains specific provision for paying benefit to persons starting work who are paid more than fortnightly in arrears. Regulation 14 of the Supplementary Benefit (Urgent Cases) Regulations provides that if such a person and his family have insufficient resources of their own and cannot obtain help from any other source, including an advance of salary from the employer, urgent need payments may be made for up to 16 days beyond the 15th day in work. If further help is required urgent need payments may be continued if they are the only means of avoiding serious risk to the health or safety of the claimant or his family. We have no plans to amend these provisions.

Children (Contraceptive Advice)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the 1983 figures will be available giving the number of children under the age of 16 years who attended National Health Service clinics for contraceptive advice and treatment.

Figures are expected to be available within the next three months.

Chiropodists

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many vacancies currently exist in the National Health Service for state registered chiropodists.

Information on the number of vacancies is not collected by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many chiropodists are currently employed by the National Health Service; and how many of these are (a) state registered chiropodists, (b) members of the British Chiropody Association or (c) members of the English Chiropody Association.

The number of chiropodists employed in the NHS in England at September 1983 (latest provisional figures available) is 2,391 (whole-time equivalents). Although state registration is a legal requisite for employment in the NHS, there will be a small number of unregistered chiropodists who, because they were employed in the health or local authority service prior to 29 June 1964 and by the health service before 1 April 1974, are employed on a protected basis. Separate information as to numbers so employed is not held centrally. Information on membership of professional organisations is not collected by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many students are currently enrolled on training courses for state registered chiropodists.

The total number of students currently enrolled in England for chiropody training courses leading to state registration is 746.

Cervical And Breast Cancer

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he plans to increase facilities within the National Health Service for the provision of centres for the treatment of cervical and breast cancer amongst the young.

The provision of such facilities is for individual health authorities to consider in the light of local needs and priorities.

Brook Advisory Centres

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what funds were made available to the Brook Advisory Centres by his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and for what purposes these funds are intended; (2) whether he has any plans to increase the level of funding to the Brook Advisory Centres in the immediate future; (3) what funding was made available to the Brook Advisory Centres by local health authorities in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

In the financial years 1979–80 and 1980–81 our Department's grant was £21,000, and in the years 1981–82 to 1983–84 it averaged £29.000. The grants were made to help meet the organisation's central office administration costs. In the financial years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82 grants to Brook Advisory Centres by local health authorities totalled £590,221, £697,981 and £792,394 respectively. Total figures for such grants made in earlier years are not available, and figures for the financial years 1982–83 and 1983–84 are not yet available.

We are considering an application for a further departmental grant. It is for health authorities to decide on the level of continued funding for the local centres.

Pensions Inquiry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further public sessions he plans for his pensions inquiry; and on which dates.

The inquiry will hold public sessions dealing with aspects of its work other than portable pensions, which were covered in earlier sessions. The number and dates of these future sessions have yet to be arranged but will be announced in due course.

Catalyst Research Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in view of experience in the northwest regional health authority he is satisfied with the longevity and performance of lithium batteries made by Catalyst Research Corporation and used to power heart pacemakers supplied under National Health Service; if he is giving any guidance to regional health authorities on this matter; and if he will make a statement; (2) how many patients are expected to require early replacement of their heart pacemaker batteries as a result of the premature failure of the lithium batteries supplied by Catalyst Research Corporation; if he will estimate the additional costs to the National Health Service arising from such premature failures; and if he will make a statement.

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

Supplementary Benefits Handbook

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the cost involved in supplying a free copy of the supplementary benefits handbook to all local libraries; (2) if he will consider supplying a free copy of the supplementary benefits handbook to any branch library which requested a copy; (3) how many copies of the current supplementary benefits handbook were printed; and how many remain in Her Majesty's Stationery Office stock; (4) how many of the last issue of the supplementary benefits handbook were pulped after publication of the current handbook.

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

Nhs (Spectacles)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take the necessary steps to secure the continuation of the present arrangement for National Health Service spectacles for a period of two years following a cataract excision.

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

Transport

Dvlc (Staff Shortages)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many possible prosecutions for failure to display an up-to-date road fund licence disc have been dropped because of staff shortages at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre.

Enforcing the requirement to display a current tax disc is entirely a matter for the police. My Department shares with the police responsibility for the enforcement of vehicle excise duty. Of the 1.1 million VED offence reports received from the police in 1983, no further action was taken on 260,000 for a variety of reasons, including limits on staff. Not all of these reports would have resulted in a successful prosecution.

M41-M40 (Accidents)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have taken place during the last two years on the slip roads linking the M41 with the roundabout on the M40 interchange at White City; and what accident prevention measures are being taken.

As the GLC is responsible for these roads and has such information about accidents and prevention measures, may I suggest that the hon. Member asks it for the information.

A6(M) Stockport North-South Bypass

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if, in view of his statement on 3 April concerning the route of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass in the vicinity of the Brookside garden centre that the northern option would fit in better with the likely route of the Poynton bypass, he will indicate the likely route of this bypass and, in particular, its northern starting point; (2) if, in the light of his decision announced on 3 April concerning the route of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass in the vicinity of the Brookside garden centre and its implications for the likely route of the Poynton bypass, he has given any instructions to the consultants investigating possible routes for that bypass as to lines which are compatible with this decision; and if he will make a statement.

The northern section of a Poynton bypass would, in all probability, use part of the route which the Cheshire county council and Greater Manchester council are protecting for a new link to Ringway airport. That route continues directly westwards from the chosen position for the A6(M)/A523 junction north of Brookside garden centre.The recently announced study which will deal with the Poynton bypass is to be carried out by these two councils, which will be fully aware of the relationship with the A6(M).

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the economic benefits arising from (a) the northern and (b) the southern routes of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass in the vicinity of the Brookside garden centre; and if he will make a statement.

An A6(M) bypass incorporating the rejected southern option, although more expensive, was expected to give a better economic return than the chosen route. Over the full 30-year period considered in our evaluations, the present value of the economic benefits for road users could have been about £600,000 to £900,000 higher, depending on the rate of traffic growth. Economic value was only one of the factors considered before I decided that the northern option was, on balance, the better.

Crop-Spraying Helicopters

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the licensing system controlling crop-spraying helicopters; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's response to the seventh report of the Royal Commission on environmental pollution proposed a number of improvements to the extensive controls already applied by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Health and Safety Executive. I am broadly satisfied that, with these changes, the arrangements are adequate and that the authority has all the powers it needs to take effective action against any operators who breach its requirements. However, I am still considering what response should be given to the Royal Commission's recommendation that advance notification of aerial spraying to occupiers of adjacent land should be made mandatory in all cases.

Oxford-Birmingham M40 Extension

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce a decision about the Oxford-Birmingham M40 extension.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, and my right hon. Friend has yet to receive the inspector's report on the inquiry into objections to the published proposals. If, as expected, it is available shortly, we would hope to be able to announce our decision around the end of the year.

Seat Belts

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate, in the light of the latest road casualty figures and in comparison with those for previous periods, how many fatal accidents and how many serious injuries would have been avoided had the wearing of rear seat belts been compulsory.

:I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost to the motor industry of the compulsory installation of anchorage points for rear seat belts on new vehicles.

Motor manufacturers have been required to install rear seat belt anchorage points in new cars since October 1981. The Department does not have information on the costs of complying with this requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce legislation to require all children carried in the rear of vehicles to wear approved seat belts or other restraining harness or appliance, when the vehicle is outside areas where the 30-mile-an-hour speed limit restriction applies.

I am strongly in favour of children being restrained in suitable devices on all journeys, not just those at speeds of over 30 mph. However, I do not feel that this is a matter for legislation. There are a wide variety of types of restraints available and it is the responsibility of parents to choose those most suitable for their family circumstances.

Bypasses (Hertfordshire)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he can now announce the proposed route of the Hemel Hempstead, Bourne End and Berkhamsted bypasses; and when construction is due to start.

[pursuant to her reply, 30 April 1984, c. 31]: Consideration of the complex issues raised by the proposals for the A41 Kings Langley and Berkhamsted bypasses is taking a little longer than I anticipated when I answered my hon. Friend's earlier question on 20 January at column 339. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment now hope to be able to issue their decision in the near future. The orders which were before the public inquiries related only to the route of the bypasses. If that decision is favourable, side roads and compulsory purchase orders would need to be promoted, and further public inquiries would almost certainly be necessary. Start of work is at present programmed for 1986.I hope to make an announcement in the next two months.

Trade And Industry

Ec(Japanese Investment)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of Japanese investment in the European Economic Community came to the United Kingdom in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable percentages for each of the previous 12 years.

:The available information is as follows:

Japanese Direct Investment^ into the European Economic Community*
	United Kingdom as percentage of EC†
1972	68·4
1973	80·4
1974	79·1
1975	30·0
1976	14·3
1977	21·0
1978	16·8
1979	14·0
1980	42·4
1981	12·0
1982	13·4
^* Direct investment covers only purchases net of disposals of share capital and long term loans by Japanese concerns in their overseas subsidiaries associates and branches. The figures exclude unremitted profits, short-term loans and trade credit.
† EC—For 1972 includes the United Kingdom along with the six original members but excluding Ireland and Denmark. For 1973–1980 the United Kingdom and the eight other members are included. Greece is included from 1981 onwards.
Source: Japan Balance of Payments Monthly.

Animal Skins And Products (Imports)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which animal skins and products are pemlitted and which are not permitted as imports to the United Kingdom.

Details of those animal skins and products of which the importation is prohibited or restricted are available in volume H, part 2 of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Tariff and Overseas Trade Classification, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Nationalised Industries

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will set out the present procedures to be followed once a nationalised industry has been investigated by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

:The present policy is normally for the industry investigated to prepare an initial response to the Commission's report some three to four months after publication, on which the sponsoring Minister makes a statement. A further statement on action taken should normally follow after 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports on nationalised industry efficiency have been completed by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; and what follow-up action has been taken in each case.

Sponsoring Ministers have made the statements listed below on action to follow up reports by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the efficiency of nationalised industries and other bodies under section 11 of the Competition Act 1980

Report	Date of Statement	Hansaed Columns
CEGB	17 February 1983	203–205
Severn-Trent water authority	7 December 1981	581–582
Bristol Omnibus Co. Ltd.and other bus	28 February 1983	42–44
undertakings	28 July 1983	552–553
Anglian and north-west water authorities	28 July 1983	558–559
Caledonian MacBrayne	26 July 1983	1101–1102
National Coal Board	28 July 1983	523–524
Yorkshire Electricity Board	28 February 1984	137–139
Civil Aviation Authority	29 March 1984	274–275

The action taken by British Rail following the commission's report on the London and south-east commuter service was described in the board's evidence to the Transport Committee during its review of transport in London in the 1981–82 Session.

The commission has also completed reports on London Transport's bus maintenance operations, published on 1 February 1984; and on the South Wales Electricity Board published on 29 February 1984.

Japan

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will outline the restraints or barriers to the United Kingdom's industry and commerce in seeking to expand business with Japan which Her Majesty's Government are seeking to remove; (2) how many representations he has received from Unted Kingdom manufacturers and traders about alleged restrictions on trade imposed by Japan in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement.

:Records of representations are not kept in a way which permits ready enumeration.Our main concerns are about the persistent structural resistance to manufactured imports and financial controls which tend to inhibit the appreciation of the yen. There is also room for action on certain tariffs, quotas and import procedures.The Japanese Government have responded with a number of packages of measures to promote imports. The latest of these, announced last week, is still being analysed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average level of percentage tariffs imposed on imports by the European Economic Community; and what information he has as to the similar percentage imposed by Japan.

:The Community agreed in the Tokyo round of multilateral trade negotiations, 1973–79, to reduce its tariff on industrial goods from an average trade weighted level of 9·8 per cent. to an average level of 7·5 per cent. (by January 1987). Japan estimates that, following implementation of the Tokyo round agreement, its effective average tariff rate will be about 3 per cent.

Government Contracts

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to raise the small value order threshold for Government contracts.

I am pleased to announce that from 1 May the value threshold for most Government contracts below which suppliers are exempt from normal approval procedures has been increased from £5,000 to £10,000. This change should particularly benefit new suppliers and small firms seeking Government business.

Environment

Water

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what statistical information he obtains from water authorities about the levels of impounded water stocks in each region; and how often such information is updated; (2) if any restrictions are currently in operation in any part of England and Wales on the use of water; (3) what information he has as to which water authorities have impounded water stocks which are currently 10 per cent. below the equivalent levels for 1983.

:Detailed statistical information on impounded water stocks is not held centrally but I have asked the Water Authorities Association to report to me each winter and spring and at intervals during each summer as shown to be necessary upon the water situation generally. Its latest report dated 25 April indicates that as winter rain was generally at or above normal, reservoir and groundwater resources in England and Wales are in good shape except for some small reservoirs in the north-west with lower than normal levels. The water authority there is drawing on alternative supplies. I am not aware of any restrictions applying to public water supplies, though I am advised that some local distribution problems have been encountered in the south-west, where demand is 15 to 20 per cent. up on average.

European Communities (Local Government)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the forms of local government existing in each of the major cities of the member states of the European Communities which were examined in connection with the preparation of the answer of 12 April by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, the hon. Member for Bristol, West (Mr. Waldegrave) to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, North.

:No comprehensive information is held on the forms of local government in major cities of the member states of the European Communities. However, my hon. Friend may find it helpful to study the information contained in "The Government and Administration of Metropolitan Areas in Western Democracies", by Alan Norton, published by the Institute of Local Government Studies at the University of Birmingham, which showed a wide variety of forms of local government in the areas studied.

National Nature Reserve Agreements

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many national nature reserve agreements are due to expire over the next 10 years; and if he will list which sites will be affected.

:I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that 39 national nature reserve agreements are due to expire over the next 10 years affecting the following sites:

National Nature Reserve Agreements
England
Upper Teesdale	Durham
Avon Gorge	Avon
Shapwick Heath	Somerset
Derbyshire Dales	Derbyshire
Walberswick	Suffolk
Holkham	Norfolk
Pewsey Downs	Wiltshire
Scotland
Cairngorms	Grampian and Highland Regions
Kirkconnell Flow	Dumfries and Galloway Region
Invernaver	Highland Region
Caenlochan	Tayside and Grampian Regions
Inverpolly	Highland Region
Loch Druidibeg	Western Isles Islands Area
Loch Lomond	Strathclyde and Central Regions
Beinn Eighe	Highland Region
St. Cyrus	Grampian Region
Ben Lawers	Tayside and Central Regions
Corrieshalloch	Highland Region
Dinnet Oakwood	Grampian Region
Mound Alderwoods	Highland Region
Monach Isles	Western Isles Islands Area
AlIt Nan Caman	Highland Region
Wales
Yr Wyddfa-Snowdon	Gwnyedd
Craig Cerrig-gleisiad	Powys

Sssi And National Parks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those sites of special scientific interest and areas in national parks which have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the three-month period allowed under section 28 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; and if he will give details of the nature of the operations that have given rise in each case to damage or destruction.

:I am advised by the Nature Conservancy Council that the following 11 proposed sites of special scientific interest were either damaged or destroyed during the three-month period following service of a notice under section 28(2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. In some cases the damage has been slight: in two cases—Gillet's meadow and Kingsthorpe scrub field — the NCC considers that the scientific interest of the whole site has been destroyed.

Ripon parks, North Yorkshire—rotovation
Jeffrye bog, North Yorkshire—ditch clearance and hedge removal
Kingsthorpe scrub field, Northants — ploughing and bulldozing
Gillett' s meadow (Yardley Hastings), Northants—ploughing
Radmore Farm Marsh, Northants—drainage and reseeding Black mountains, Hereford and Worcester—ploughing Rhos Derlwyn-Fawr, Dyfed—ploughing
Comins Capel-Betws, Dyfed—burning and rotovation Gwyneunydd Hafod-Wen, Powys—ploughing
Tons Warren, Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway —bulldozing
Dalbeath Marsh, Dunfermline—dumping

The three-month notification period applies in national parks only where a proposed site of special scientific interest lies within such an area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those sites of special scientific interest which have been subsequently de-scheduled by the Nature Conservancy Council since 1970 as a result of damaging development; and if he will give details of the main habitat classification of each site , the area of land of special nature conservation which has been lost, the type of activity giving rise to the damage, and the month and year in which it occurred.

:I regret that the NCC would not be able to provide this information without disproportionate cost and an undesirable diversion of staff from the priority task of completing renotifications as soon as practicable and so better safeguarding areas of special scientific interest.

Local Government Superannuation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to enable part-time employees of local authorities to take part in the local government superannuation scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) on 5 April at column 624.

Sewage (Discharge Points)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all those points around England at which raw and untreated sewage is discharged into the sea.

Exact information on coastal sewage discharges is not at present available centrally. My Department has therefore commissioned the Water Research Centre to undertake a study of the extent and quality of coastal sewage discharges and their effect upon the receiving waters.

Homes Insulation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has given any guidance to local authorities as to the speed with which they should (a) approve applications from contractors and (b) make payments of grants to contractors under the Homes Insulation Act; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has issued no specific guidance to local authorities as to the speed with which they approve applications and make grant payments under the Homes Insulation Act.Responsibility for processing applications and claims lies with local authorities themselves, but we would expect cases to be dealt with expeditiously.

Falkland Islands

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if British companies have been able to manufacture all the materials needed for the new airport on the Falkland Islands.

:No, although the bulk of these items will be of United Kingdom origin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the countries which have supplied products or services to the construction consortium building the airport on the Falkland Islands.

:This would be impractical. The bulk of items will be of United Kingdom origin.

Gipsy Sites

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many gipsy sites there are in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, respectively; how many pitches are thereby provided in each county; and at the latest date for which figures are available, how many caravans were recorded on those sites.

My Department's records of numbers of sites and pitches relate to local authority sites only. Information about numbers of caravans is, however, available for both local authority and private sites. The following figures show the position at the time of the latest count, in January 1984.

	Local Authority Sites			PrivateSites
	Numbers of Sites	Numbers of Pitches	Number of Caravans	Number of Caravans
Derbyshire	3	41	35	10
Nottinghamshire	1	12	15	91
Leicestershire	3	36	58	41

National Finance

National Savings Fund

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on national savings fund targets; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend said in his Budget speech, national savings make an important contribution to financing the PSBR. The target for 1984–85 is £3 billion, the same as in the previous two years.

Civil Servants (Pensions)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the numbers of (a) industrial civil servants and (b) non-industrial civil servants receiving public sector pensions of (i) under £1,000 a year, (ii) £1,000 to £2,000 a year, (iii) under £5,000 a year, (iv) £5,000 to £6,000 a year, (v) £6,000 to £7,000 a year, (vi) £7,000 to £8,000 a year, (vii) £8,000 to £9,000 a year, (viii) £9,000 to £10,000 a year and (ix) over £10,000 a year.

I am afraid that readily available statistics do not distinguish between industrial and nonindustrial civil servants, but, for all retired civil servants and their dependants, the figures are as follows:

Range of pension	Number of pensioners
Under £1,000	192,460
£1,000 to £2,000 a year	104,311
£2,000 to £5,000 a year	102,952
Total under £5,000 a year	399,725
£5,000 to £6,000 a year	15,77
£6,000 to £7,000 a year	9,335

Range of pension	Number of pensioners
£7,000 to £8,000 a year	5,264
£8,000 to £9,000 a year	3,93
£9,000 to £10,000 a year	2,625
Over £10,000 a year	6,123
	442,536

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average weekly Civil Service pensions; and what is the average for industrial civil servants and for non-industrial civil servants, respectively.

Civil Service pensions in payment to retired civil servants in 1983–84 averaged £44 a week and it is estimated that the average in 1984–85 will be about £46 a week. I am afraid that separate statistics are not kept for industrials and non-industrials.

Ec (Budget Contributions)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the net contributions that the United Kingdom would require to make to the European Economic Community in 1984, 1985 and 1986 if no agreement is arrived at on the reform of the budget structure and no increase takes place in the resources available to the Community.

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

Investment

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the total amount of United Kingdom investment in the Common Market and Common Market investment in the United Kingdom in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will also provide the comparable figures for each of the previous 12 years.

Information of the net new investment in the United Kingdom by countries and institutions of the European Community and United Kingdom private investment in the European Community is published for each year 1973 to 1982 in table 12·1 of "United Kingdom Balance of Payments: 1983 Edition" (the "Pink Book"). Complete comparable information for years prior to 1973 is not available, but information on direct investment transactions only is given in table 8·3 of the current Pink Book and the corresponding table in earlier issues.

Taxation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total amount of taxable income upon which income tax will be levied in 1984–85; what is his estimate of the tax that will be paid; what were the corresponding figures, in each case, in 1978–79; and if he will express these latter figures in 1984–85 prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 April 1984, c. 605]: Estimates of personal income subject to income tax are shown in the table. The figures for 1978–79 are those recorded in the survey of personal incomes for that year. Provisional estimates for 1984–85 are based on a projection from the 1981–82 survey of personal incomes (SPI). Estimates of the accrual of income tax include adjustments for income tax liabilities outside the scope of the SPI.

£ billion
	1978–79	1978–79 at1984–85 prices^*†	1984–85^*
Personal income subject to income tax‡	106·0	189·7	194·0
Accrual of income tax	19·1	34·2	33·9
^* Provisional.
† Using the GDP deflator.
‡ Before deducting allowances and other reliefs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total amount of taxable profits upon which corporation tax will be levied in 1984–85; what is his estimate of the corporation tax which will be paid; what were the corresponding figures, in each case, in 1978–79; and if he will express these latter figures in 1984–85 prices.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 April 1984, c. 605]: A forecast of corporation tax in 1984–85 was published in the Financial Statement and Budget report. These receipts arise from profits earned in diverse accounting periods, but mostly from profits in 1983. Similarly, receipts in 1978–79 arose largely, but not solely, from profits in 1977. Estimates of the income of companies and financial institutions are published in the National Income and Expenditure Blue Book.The figures on this basis are as follows:

£ billion
	1977	1977 at 1983 prices^*	1983
Company income†	27·7	51·7 1978–79 at 1984–85	60·7
	1978–79	prices‡	1984–85
Corporation tax receipts‡	3·9	7·0	8·4
^* Using the GDP deflator.
†Company income arising in the United Kingdom, as defined for the national accounts and published in the National Income and Expenditure Blue Book. This comprises gross trading profits, net of losses, before providing for depreciation and stock appreciation, and rent and non-trading income.
‡ Mainstream and advance corporation tax receipts, including corporation tax on capital gains and corporation tax paid on North sea incomes.

Northern Ireland

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of size, tonnage, use and ownership of the 70 vehicles in Northern Ireland on which the excise duty will be increased as a result of the Finance (No. 2) Bill by 19 per cent.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1984, c. 22]: Details of vehicles registered in Northern Ireland are kept manually, and the estimate of 70 haulage vehicles whose rates of vehicle excise duty will be increased by 19 per cent. was obtained by means of a statistical sampling exercise. I regret that the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

British Airports

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of passengers arriving at British airports have their luggage searched; and what percentage are put through a body search; (2) what percentage of cars, coaches and lorries arriving at British ports are searched; and what percentage of passenger arrivals at British ports have their luggage and their person searched.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1984, c. 22]: No records are maintained by Customs and Excise of the percentage of cars, coaches, lorries and passengers' luggage which are searched at British ports and airports.Body searches of passengers are carried out only in cases of suspicion. Every search of person is recorded locally, but figures showing the overall percentages of passengers searched could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Customs Officers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs officers were employed in 1980; and how many are employed at the latest available date.

The number of staff in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise deployed on customs work in ports, airports and inland premises at 31 March 1980 was 7,231. At:31 March 1983, the latest date for which information is available, the number was 6,717.

Widows

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how 1984 Budget changes will affect the average amount of benefits received by widows aged 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 years, respectively.

[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1984, c. 22]: I am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind. No changes to widows' or other social security benefits were announced in the budget. Details of the November uprating of benefits will be announced in June, when the May figure for the RPI is known.

Defence

War Widows (Pensions)

asked the Secretary of ,State for Defence if he will list the annual pensions currently payable by his Department to the widow of a private soldier killed (a) in the first world war, (b) in the second world war, (c) between 1950 and 1973 and (d) since 1973.

Prior to 1 September 1950 the widows of service men below the rank of warrant officer I or its equivalent could not qualify for a pension from the armed forces own occupational pension scheme. The widows of privates killed in the first arid second world wars therefore receive no pension from the Ministry of Defence although they do of course receive a war widows' pension from the DHSS. The widows of men killed in service between 1 September 1950 and 30 March 1973, provided the husband had met the required length of service qualification for an award, receive a pension which for the widow of a private is never less than £377·25 a year. Where one third of the invaliding pension that might have been awarded to the husband on the date of his death would produce a higher figure, this is paid instead. Since 31 March 1973 the Ministry of Defence has awarded a markedly improved pension to the widows of service men whose deaths were attributable to their service, and for this no qualifying length of service is required of the husband. The pension currently awarded to the widow of a private is worth £2,359 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received concerning the rate of pensions payable by his Department to war widows; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from the Officers Pensions Society, the Royal British Legion, the British War Widows and Associates and the War Widows Association of Great Britain. I have also received representations from individual war widows, members of the public and over 50 Members of Parliament on behalf of their constituents. All sought varying degrees of retrospective improvement to the armed forces occupational pension scheme which, on grounds of their great cost, had to be refused.

British Forces (Drugs)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the letter of 13 April from the Minister of State for the Armed Forces to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, following the answer of 12 April, Official Report, column 357.

The text of the letter is as follows:

"I promised on 11th April to write to you in response to your Questions about the incidence of drug abuse in the Armed Forces. You asked for information on three specific points and I shall deal with each in turn.

First, you asked how many cases of alleged possession and supply of drugs have been investigated in the armed forces in the past three years. I should stress that most cases involving drug offences in the Services do not in fact involve trafficking in, or possession of, drugs but relate to experimentation, mostly with soft rather than hard drugs. However the central records maintained by the Services do not distinguish between the nature of the offences concerned and the following figures therefore cover all drug-related offences investigated in the Services:

	1981	1982	1983
Royal Navy	58	27	67
Army	169	143	168
Royal Air Force	38	29	28

The RN and RAF figures are for those investigations which resulted in proceedings being taken; the Army figures show the total number of cases investigated, including those which did not result in proceedings.

You also asked about the number of cases currently under investigation and the number of Service personnel involved. As you will appreciate until an investigation is completed it is not possible to say how many people may be implicated and I am therefore unable to give you figures. I can however confirm that a number of investigations are currently in hand.

Finally you asked about alleged deaths resulting from the possession and supply of drugs. We know of no cases of death arising from such activities in the Services in recent years. You will appreciate that I cannot comment on any current case where the coroner's verdict has still to be given.

I should also like to make the general point that whilst the Services as a whole have a good record with regard to drug-related problems, this danger is taken very seriously and a great deal of time and effort is spent in trying to prevent cases of drug abuse and in detecting them as soon as they do arise.

John Stanley"

House Of Commons

House Sittings (Cost)

asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission (1) if he will estimate the total additional cost to the Refreshment Department of the House sitting (a) from 10.30 pm to midnight and (b) from midnight to 2 am, or for other such periods for which figures are conveniently available; (2) if he will estimate the total additional cost to the House of Commons Commission of the House sitting (a) from 10·30 pm to midnight and (b) from midnight to 2 am, or for other such periods for which figures are conveniently available; and whether it is possible to break the figures down between the various Departments of the House.

The estimated approximate additional cost of employing the necessary, hourly paid staff of the Refreshment Department when the House sits from 10·30 pm to midnight, and from midnight to 2 am, is £55 and£150, respectively. Information regarding additional staff costs arising in other Departments is not available centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, since most overtime payments in these Departments are made in the form of annual allowances calculated on the basis of the average hours of sitting of the House over the previous five years. Thus, the financial effect of current late sittings will be felt only in subsequent years.

Wales

Housing Units

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of new and rehabilitated housing units for which housing associations in Wales were permitted to commit during 1983–84 including both those which were committed with a view to commencing work during 1983–84 and during 1984–85 but excluding those for which commitment had already been given prior to 1983–84.

The information is as follows:

	Number
New Build	608
Rehabilitation	1,209

Council House Waiting Lists

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of applicants currently on the waiting lists for local authority rented housing in Wales.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 30 June 1983 at column 16.

Housing (Capital Allocation)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the current system of capital allocation for housing in Wales is still based on the housing strategy and investment programme system introduced in 1978; and whether he is satisfied that this system is operating in a manner consistent with the requirements of strategic planning for housing.

Yes.

Housing (Demolition)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the total number of dwellings which have been demolished in Wales since 1968.

21,500.

Housing Policy

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied that the Welsh Office has an adequate housing data base for Wales for the proper development of housing policy.

Yes.

Homeless Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons in Wales during the most recently available 12-month period applied for housing accommodation under the provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977; how many of these were recognised as being homeless by the local authorities; and how many were offered, and accepted, accommodation.

Data relating to applications for housing accommodation under the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 are collected in terms of number of households. During the period January to December 1983, provisional figures show that 9,191 cases of homeless households were presented to Welsh local authorities, 5,008 of which were recognised as being homeless or threatened with homelessness. Of these, 3,615 were placed in accommodation.

Housing Plan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when report No. 6 produced by his housing management advisory panel for Wales, entitled "The Production of a Housing Plan for Wales", will be published.

Housing management advisory panel reports are produced for internal use in the Welsh Office and, where appropriate, for issue to housing authorities. They are not intended for general publication. The report in question was discussed by the Welsh housing consultative committee on 2 December 1983.

Loft Insulation

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the expenditure on loft insulation in Wales during 1983–84; what was the number of houses which benefited from this expenditure; and how these compare with the figures for 1982–83 and with the budget provision for 1984–85.

Figures for the final quarter of 1983–84 are not yet available. In the first three quarters expenditure under the homes insulation scheme was £1·425 million on 21,145 grants. Over the corresponding period in 1982–83 expenditure was £1·491 million on 20,579 grants. Homes insulation scheme allocations for 1984–85 amount to –3·772 million.

Llanberis (Signposting)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what date officials of his Department have met those of the highways department of Gwynedd county council to discuss the signposting of the village of Llanberis from the new A55 Bangor bypass; and if he will make a statement.

A meeting took place on Friday 27 April.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate Of Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways the duties of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools in Wales have changed in response to (a) the work of the Manpower Services Commission and (b) the emerging needs of unemployed young people aged 16 to 25 years.

It is, and will continue to be, the role of Her Majesty's inspectors to assess standards and trends in the education system, to identify and make known good practice and promising developments, to draw attention to weaknesses requiring attention and to provide advice and assistance to those with responsibilities for or in the institutions in the system. The part played by the education system in meeting the needs of the Manpower Services Commission and of unemployed young people falls within this remit and will be the subject of attention by Her Majesty's inspectors in the course of their inspection programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what roles it is intended that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools should have in the bodies to be established in Wales to replace the Schools Council Committee for Wales.

The Chief Inspector (Wales) will be one of the two Welsh Office assessors sitting with the Wales committee of the school curriculum development committee. Other members of the inspectorate will probably be involved from time to time in some of the committee's work.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the plans of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools in Wales for monitoring the quality of pre-service and in-service education of teachers in Wales.

Her Majesty's Inspectors will be visiting teacher training institutions in the public sector and, by invitation, university departments of education as part of a review of all existing courses of initial teacher training. The findings of these visits will be reported to the Secretary of State who will make them available to the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education which is charged with undertaking the review in both England and Wales and which will be advising my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether courses are suitable for the professional preparation of teachers.In-service education of teachers will continue to be the subject of attention by Her Majesty's Inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what role Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools in Wales is playing in the evaluation of the operation and consequences of the youth training scheme in Wales.

The contribution of the education system to the youth training scheme in Wales is the subject of attention by Her Majesty's Inspectors in the course of their inspection programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has to define the boundaries between the work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools and the development of educational policy in Wales; and if he will make a statement; (2) what the differences in duties are between Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools and local authority education advisers in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The work of Her Majesty's Inspectorate derives from its service to the Secretary of State in connection with his statutory functions, and includes advising the Secretary of State on the performance of the education system nationally whilst also offering advice and assistance to local education authorities and institutions. Local education authority advisers generally inform authorities about the institutions they maintain and offer advice and assistance to those institutions. The work of the two groups is complementary and both contribute to the development of education policy, at appropriate levels. The hon. Gentleman may care to re-read the policy statement issued in March 1983 by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Education and Science and for Wales, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current staffing level of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools in Wales; and what is the anticipated staffing level in the period 1984 to 1988.

At 1 April 1984 there were 46 inspectors in post in the Welsh Inspectorate, which is currently below strength. Inspectors are being recruited and the anticipated staffing level for the period to 1 April 1988 is 56 inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in what ways Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Schools in Wales is publicly accountable for its actions other than those associated with formal inspections; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Inspectorate in Wales is accountable in the same way as other civil servants.

Civil Service

House Of Commons Disqualification Act 1975

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what arrangements are to be made to provide hon. Members with information about the amendments contained in the resolution tabled on 30 April updating schedule 1 to the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975.

A detailed explanatory note is available from the Vote Office.

Home Department

United States Service Men (Drug Offences)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown of United States service men based in the United Kingdom who have been charged with drug offences for each year since 1978, indicating in each case whether the men were based at (a) Royal Air Force stations, (b) the naval base at Holy loch and (c) other naval bases.

The following table gives the available information collected in the course of producing the statistics of drugs offenders published annually in a statistical bulletin—(Issue 13/83 for 1982). Details of the establishments at which these people were employed are not collected centrally. Information for 1983 is not yet available.

Nationals of the United States employed in military establishments proceeded against for drugs offences^*
United Kingdom	Number ofpersons
1978	180
1979	183
1980	141
1981	134
1982	63
^* The figures may be incomplete because occupation or nationality were not recorded for a small proportion of all drug offenders.

Lincoln Prison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many allegations of assault have been made against staff at Lincoln prison during the past 12 months; how many prisoners have been involved; how many allegations have been investigated; and with what result.

There have been nine allegations of assaults by staff on prisoners. Three of these were in general terms; the remaining six involved six named prisoners. It has been impossible to investigate the three general allegations. One of the six allegations involving named prisoners has been withdrawn and it has been impossible to investigate two others, in which no officer was identified.In the remaining three cases the allegation was found to be unsubstantiated. In two of these, the prisoner has been charged with making a false and malicious allegation. One of these charges is still outstanding: in the other case the prisoner was awarded 56 days forfeiture of remission.

Libyan Diplomats

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government will take to ensure that none of the Libyan diplomats will be allowed back into the United Kingdom, either as diplomats or as citizens of Libya.

Details of the individuals concerned will be notified to ports and to posts abroad. My right hon. and learned Friend will not hesitate to use to the full the powers contained in the Immigration Act 1971, to ensure their exclusion for so long as it is thought necessary in the national interest other than in exceptional circumstances.

Political Demonstrations

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now consider introducing legislation to ban political demonstrations by foreigners in the United Kingdom where there is reasonable cause to suspect that such demonstrations will be equivalent to the conduct, in the United Kingdom, of a civil conflict between opposing factions of foreign Governments; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to my statement to the House today.

Libyan People's Bureau

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police have been deployed for duties at the Libyan people's bureau since the recent seige began.

The information is still being collated. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as it is available.

Magistrates' Courts (Centre Of Excellence)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards the establishment of a centre of excellence as advocated in the report of the working party on magistrates' courts; and if he will make a statement.

The establishment of an independent "centre for magistrates' courts" was one of several options for the dissemination of good practice through the magistrates' courts service which were explored by the working group on magistrates' courts. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering these options in the light of the views which the representative bodies concerned have expressed, and of the resource implications.

Probation Service

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the objectives and priorities of the probation service.

Discussions over the past year or so between my Department and the probation service have led to the formulation of a statement of national objectives and priorities. This statement sets the work of the probation service in the context of my general strategy for dealing with crime and is intended to provide a basis for a more systematic approach to the management and deployment of resources.The statement, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House, is a Home Office document, but will, I believe, command a large measure of support from the probation service. It sets out for the first time the Home Office view of the purpose of the probation service, the specific tasks which it should undertake and the broad order of priorities which it should follow.As area probation services are independent, it will be for probation committees and their chief probation officers to set their own objectives and priorities, taking into consideration the views of the courts and other interested organisations in their areas. I am confident that in doing so they will wish to have due regard to the national statement.The statement is a working document which will be kept under review. Although primarily intended for probation service management, we are giving it wide circulation amongst organisations and others representing the various interests in the criminal justice system and those representing local government. I look forward to receiving in due course their views as well as those of the employers, management and staff of the probation service itself on the objectives and priorities set out in the statement.

Scotland

Prescription And Dental Charges

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has now received opposing increases in prescription and dental charges.

Since the increases in charges were announced, five letters about prescription charges and one about dental charges have been received.

Personal Information (Access)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made by local authorities in Scotland to allow individuals to have access to social services records about themselves; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to encourage them to allow greater access to information held on automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.

Information about access to social work records maintained by local authorities in Scotland is not held centrally. My Department is undertaking consultations on the question of client access, and meantime no formal guidance has been issued. The Data Protection Bill will, of course, create a general entitlement to access by individuals to automated personal records held on them when it comes into operation, but this right is to be subject to modification by order of the Secretary of State in cases where its application could prejudice the carrying out of social work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made by local education authorities in Scotland for allowing parents access to their children's school records; what guidance he has issued to them on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to encourage them to allow greater access to information held on automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.Mr. Allan Stewart: The Data Protection Bill will, of course, create a general entitlement to access by individuals to automated personal records held on them when it comes into operation. Parents will have a common law right of access to such records on behalf of their children where the children are not of an age to exercise for themselves the right provided by the Bill.In terms of the Schools General (Scotland) Regulations 1975 schools are required to keep a progress record for each pupil. Access to the contents of the statutory pupil's progress record may be given only with the agreement of the education authority or of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. Guidance given to authorities in 1970 emphasised the strict confidentiality of the record, but I understand that authorities generally accede to the few requests which they receive from parents for access to their child's record.In addition, schools may record a variety of other information about pupils for assessment and other purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made by institutions of higher education in Scotland for allowing students to have access to their own examination results and to other academic or personal assessments about themselves; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to encourage them to allow greater access both to automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.

The arrangements for allowing access by students to their own examination results made by those institutions of higher education in Scotland which are administered and directly funded by my right hon. Friend vary from institution to institution. In most cases students are given overall scores in examinations but are not permitted access to detailed markings. There are also variations in practice regarding access to academic or personal assessments. Decisions on such questions are, in the view of my right hon. Friend, for the governing bodies of the establishments concerned, although the Scottish Education Department has always made it clear that the directly funded institutions should be ready to discuss matters of examination performance or general academic progress with students when the need arises. The Data Protection Bill will, of course, create a general entitlement to access by individual students to automated personal records held on them when it comes into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made for those receiving grants for further education in Scotland to obtain a breakdown of the provisions made for various purposes in their grants; what guidance he has issued on the matter;whether, he proposes to take any steps to allow greater access to such information held on automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.

Rates and conditions of eligibility for awards available to students on advanced courses of further education under the Scottish Education Department's students' allowances scheme are published annually. Each student is informed in writing both of his or her entitlement to maintenance and supplementary allowances and of the value of any contribution which it is assumed that the student, parents or spouse should make. Parents and spouses are also informed separately of any such contribution. Additional detailed information about the calculations on which awards assessments are based is available to students and their families on request.Awards for students on non-advanced courses are paid by the local authorities. Rates and conditions of eligibility for full-time courses are laid down by my right hon. Friend and are notified by the Scottish Education Department to the local authorities, which are responsible for day-to-day administration, and direct to educational establishments, but no guidance on what information should be given to applicants is issued.The Data Protection Bill will, of course, create a general entitlement to access by individuals to automated personal records held on them when it comes into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements are made by health authorities in Scotland to allow patients to have access to their own medical records; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to encourage them to allow greater access to such information held on automated and non-automated records; and if he will make a statement.

Disclosure of information from medical records in individual cases is essentially a matter for the judgment of the doctor concerned. From time to time, my Department has issued guidance to health boards on the production of medical records in legal proceedings and on their retention and eventual distruction.The Data Protection Bill will, of course, create a general entitlement to access for individuals to automated personal records held on them when it comes into operation; but, because unrestricted access to personal health data may not always be in the patient's best interests, the right of access is to be subject to modification by order of the Secretary of State. Consultations will be undertaken in Scotland on the possible content of such an order. Discussions are currently taking place with representatives of the health professions on the implications of the Data Protection Bill for health data in general, including subject access.

Rent Act Evasions

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he is giving to the study of Rent Act evasions in Glasgow, published by Shelter (Scotland), a copy of which has been sent to him.

A copy of the Shelter report "Evasive Action", to which the hon. Member refers, has been sent to me, and I believe to other hon. Members, very recently with a letter seeking general support for its recommendations. My right hon. Friend and I are considering whether any specific response may be appropriate.

School Clothing Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest available figures of expenditure by each region in Scotland on school clothing grants.

The latest available figures for expenditure on school clothing grants made under section 54 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 are in respect of financial year 1982–83. The figures are as follows:

Education Authority	(to the nearest thousand pounds) Expenditure £
Borders	13,000
Central	248,000
Dumfries and Galloway	26,000
Fife	18,000
Grampian	4,000
Highland	32,000
Lothian	122,000
Strathclyde	1,937,000
tayside	90,000
Orkney	4,000
Shetland	—
Western Isles	19,000
TOTAL	2,513,000

Forestry

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what comparisons he can provide between the average sale price per acre of Forestry Commission assets sold to the private market with those sold in smaller quantities to nearby or neighbouring tenants.

No meaningful comparisons can be drawn because of the wide variety of properties sold. However, it is generally the case that, irrespective of the nature of the sale, smaller areas attract a higher price per acre.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will include in all future disposal agreements for forestry a clause which makes public the relevant financial arrangements.

No. This would be a departure from normal practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the comparative proportions of the revenue raised from the disposal of Forestry Commission assets in Scotland which have been used for (a) reinvestment in forestry development in Scotland and (b) direct payment into the Consolidated Fund.

All revenue raised from the Forestry Commission's disposals programme is transferred into the Consolidated Fund. As shown in the commission's annual report and accounts public funding of forestry greatly exceeds the revenue from such disposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he took, prior to the sale of the Forestry Commission holdings at Swordale and Foulis Woods, Ross-shire, to inquire of the purchasers whether they intended to resell the asset.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that, when the Forestry Commission disposed of its holdings at Swordale and Foulis Woods, Ross-shire, it took due account of his criterion laid down to the commission that any such sales should include procedures for "offer back" to farmer owners in appropriate areas selected for disposal.

I am satisfied that the commission took full account of the offer back procedures. In the sale of Swordale and Foulis Woods, the former owner had no rights under these procedures as the land had been acquired more than 25 years ago and had also materially changed in character.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the sale of the Forestry Commission holdings at Swordale and Foulis Woods, Ross-shire, met his criterion laid down to the commission of any such sales having to be fully in accordance with the principles of public accountability.

Yes. These properties were sold on the open market after extensive advertising, and the price received was in excess of the reserve price.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a full breakdown of the Forestry Commission assets which have been disposed of since May 1979 within each of the regions of Scotland; and if he will express this amount as a percentage of the total Forestry Commission holdings at May 1979 in (a) each region within Scotland, and (b) Scotland as a whole.

Information on Forestry Commission land sales prior to the passing of the Forestry Act 1981–27 July 1981—and on sales of non-forested land since that date has not been maintained centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.As regards plantation sales since 27 July 1981, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) on 17 January 1984, at columns 168–82, which listed plantations sold by the Forestry Commission between the passing of the Forestry Act 1981 and 21 November 1983.From 22 November 1983 until 31 March 1984—the latest date for which information is available—further sales of plantations have taken place in Scotland as shown in the following table.The Scottish plantations sold —4,410 hectares —represent 2·8 per cent. of the woodland managed by the Forestry Commission in Scotland as at 31 March 1981. A number of Forestry Commission forests spar regional boundaries and similar information by regions could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Plantations sold in Scotland between 22 November 1983 and 31 March 1984
Names of Property	Region
Littleburn Nursery	Highland
Corrour—Deer Forest	Highland
Land at Knockbain School House	Highland
Land adjoining Loch Lochy at Laggan
Locks	Highland
Glenmazeran	Highland
Plantations at Helmsdale (Lots 1 and 5)	Highland
Redhall	Grampian
Banchory (part)	Grampian
Borehole Development, Burghead	Grampian
Castlehill	Grampian
Road Improvement at Tyrebagger	Grampian
Mearns Package (Lots 2 and 5)	Grampian
Easter Clune	Grampian
Keillour	Tayside
Redgorton (Pitmuchtly)	Tayside
Denmarkfield North and South	Tayside
Cruach (Black Corries)	Tayside
Kennet Woods	Fife
Blackwood Head	Strathclyde
Carmocoup & Penbreck	Strathclyde
Broadmeadows	Borders
Whitslade (part)	Borders
Portmore: Sheephouse Wood	Borders
School Wood	Dumfries & Galloway
Upper Dullerg	Dumfries & Galloway
Fordie	Tayside
Easter Poldar III	Central
Bermere Island etc	Strathclyde
Barr Hill
Jura (Craighouse & Sannaig) (part)
Spion Kop	Strathclyde
Castleton Woodlands	Strathclyde
Peers	Strathclyde
Church Plantation	Strathclyde
Rosneath (North)	Strathclyde

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that, when considering the disposal of its holdings at Swordale and Foulis Woods, Ross-shire, the Forestry Commission took into account his criteria laid down to it of "market preferences"; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Market preference was included in the various criteria taken into account before the decision was taken to sell Swordale and Foulis Woods.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, when the Forestry Commission is considering the disposal of assets in line with Government policy, it takes into account applications for purchase for smaller sections of land to be sold from neighbouring tenants.

Yes. All such applications are carefully considered. The commission has also to decide, however, whether selling a property in one lot would be likely to produce a higher price overall.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, after the Forestry Commission has disposed of its assets in any particular area, his Department retains a facility to monitor the subsequent resale of the asset to other private interests.

Any subsequent resale is entirely a matter for the new owner.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if there was any difference between the price per acre quoted to individual neighbouring tenants and the actual sale price per acre to Fountain Forestry Limited when the Forestry Commission disposed of 1,670 acres of holding at Swordale and Foulis Woods in Ross-shire.

Yes. Sale prices per acre for particular areas mentioned during early discussions with neighbours were higher than the guide prices per acre subsequently given to prospective purchasers of the entire property and the actual average sale price per acre obtained. This reflected the fact that neighbours had expressed interest in purchasing only small, specific parts of the property. In the event, these local inquiries were not pursued because any sales resulting from them would have caused roading and access complications for the sale of the property as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent, and in which specific instances of Forestry Commission asset disposal, he has been consulted by the commission over potentially significant aggregate sales to foreign or multinational buyers.

The Forestry Commission has not identified any significant aggregation of sales to foreign or multinational buyers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the sale price per acre of the Forestry Commission holdings at Swordale and Foulis Woods, Ross-shire, when such assets were disposed of to the private market.

As has previously been explained to the House, it is not the normal practice to announce the prices obtained from the sales of individual Forestry Commission properties.

Research And Development

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report details of the science Vote and University Grants Committee research and development expenditure out of money provided by his Department in each year since 1976 for each research council and each sector undertaking work and the proportion spent within Scotland and in other parts of the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his related question on 25 April at columns 471–72. That answer encompassed Scotland in addition to England and Wales, as the activities supported by the Department's science budget through the research councils cover the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has no responsibility for funding work supported by the science budget, nor for any part of the grants to universities through the University Grants Committee.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Milk Products

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the support price for milk products in the United States of America referred to in paragraph 29 of the 1983 report on the agricultural situation in the community compares to the intervention price in the United Kingdom.

United States support prices vary according to a number of factors. Typical Chicago prices on 1 December 1983 were 2,006·55 US dollars per tonne for skimmed milk powder, 3,158·66 US dollars per tonne for butter grade A and 2,971·24 dollars for cheese. United Kingdom support prices on the same date were £925·76 per tonne for skimmed milk powder, £2,159·90 per tonne for 80 per cent. fat butter and £2,213·92 per tonne for 82 per cent. fat butter. There is no support price for cheese.

Support Costs

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the overall cost to the Exchequer of support to United Kingdom agriculture in each year from 1960 to 1983, in actual and at 1983 prices;(2) what was the overall cost to the Exchequer of support to United Kingdom agriculture in each year from 1960 to 1983 in actual and at 1983 prices.

Expenditure on agricultural support in the United Kingdom under national grant schemes and subsidies and since 1972–73 under the CAP is given in the following table in actual and 1982–83 prices. The figures are taken from the annual review White Papers over the years concerned; these exclude expenditure which may benefit farmers but where the value to them is not directly quantifiable to the individual farmer, for example, expenditure on research, advice and education. They include however some expenditure which benefits consumers and trade interests rather than producers. The information is not readily available on a calendar year basis and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Public expenditure on agriculture
Financial year	£ million^*	£ million†‡
1960–61	263	1,725
1961–62	343	2,157
1962–63	310	1,880
1963–64	294	1,760
1964–65	264	1,519
1965–66	237	1,298
1966–67	229	1,212
1967–68	262	1,352
1968–69	269	1,318
1969–70	281	1,311
1970–71	257	1,115
1971–72	323	1,282
1972–73	267	992
1973–74	392	1,318
1974–75	495	1,410
1975–76	512	1,171
1976–77	378	751
1977–78	460	801
1978–79	37	863
1979–80	677	940
1980–81	1,012	1,208
1981–82	972	1,041
1982–83	1,433	1,433
║1983–84	1,689	1,614
Source: Annual Review White Papers.
^* To nearest million.
† Adjusted to 1982–83 prices by the Retail Price Index.
‡1982–83 prices.
║Forecast.

Milk

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conditions and criteria apply in each Community member country in respect of the methods of allocating milk quotas to individual producers; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Mills) on Thursday 26 April 1984 at column 581.

Vine Planting

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total of financial aid made available for the planting of vines or the change of use of land for the planting of vines in the European Economic Community in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what was the total amount granted in respect of the United Kingdom.

In 1982 the European Community paid grants totalling £21 million under restructuring regulations designed to reduce the surplus of table wine. These comprised £13 million for the abandonment: of vine growing, and £8 million for reorganisation of vineyards so as to increase the quality of their wine.

Farmers(Capital Investment)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing'the extent of Government subsidy to capital investment by farmers in each of the last five years.

Information about the level of assistance given under the capital grant schemes for capital investment in agriculture is published in table 28 of the "Annual Review of Agriculture 1984". The amount of capital grant paid in each of the last five years is:

	£million
1979–80	169·8
1980–81	207·6
1981–82	178·8
1982–83	223·8
1983–84^*	207·9
^* Forecast.

Potato Imports

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the quotas now being imposed on home producers, steps are being taken to restrict the import of potatoes from the European Economic Community.

Quota arrangements have formed part of the potato marketing scheme since the present scheme came into force in 1955. Amendments to the scheme recently proposed by the Potato Marketing Board do not alter the basis of these arrangements, but provision is being made for the transfer of quota between registered growers to be simplified. So far as imports are concerned, the United Kingdom operated controls on imported potatoes under national guarantee arrangements until April 1979, when the European Court of Justice ruled against the continuation of such controls where imports from other Community countries were concerned. Since that date, imports of potatoes from other member states have been subject to restriction on plant health grounds only.

Milk Marketing Board

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his reply of 1 February 1984, Official Report, column 244–45, about allegations that the Milk Marketing Board has misapplied £460 million of subsidies and payments, whether he has yet heard the decision of the Common Market Commissioners on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 3 February 1984 at column 386.

Pesticides And Insecticides

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will institute legal controls on (a) the production, (b) the sale, and (c) the use of pesticides; (2) whether he will institute a review of the use of pesticides; (3) what representations he has received concerning the report on pesticides by Friends of the Earth; and whether he will investigate the allegations of threats posed to people and to wildlife due to the use of pesticides on farms, alleged in that report.

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

Beers And Lagers (Gravity)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now consider introducing legislation to require the original gravity of all beers and lagers to be marked on the dispensing taps thereof at the point of sale and on the containers in which such beverage is offered for sale; what representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

I have no proposals at present to introduce legislation on this matter. The Brewers' Society operates a voluntary code through its members requiring the indication of original gravity on bottle labels and in public houses. The European Commission has proposed that all alcoholic drinks, including beer, shall be marked with alcoholic strength and these proposals are currently being considered in the Community.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Diplomatic Service (Retirement Age)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to raise the retirement age in the diplomatic service.

None.

Departmental Buildings (Vat)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has formed of the likely cost of 15 per cent. value added tax on the cost of building extensions and refurbishments of buildings owned by his Department in each of the next five years.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not own or lease any buildings in the United Kingdom. All the buildings it occupies are held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Greenland (Eec Membership)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to bring forward legislation relating to the relinquishment by Greenland of its membership of the European Economic Community; and what form that legislation will take.

The treaty signed in Brussels on 13 March, amending, with regard to Greenland, the treaties establishing the European Communities is subject to ratification. It is now being prepared for publication as a Command Paper and will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible. An Order-in-Council will subsequently be laid before Parliament under Section 1(3) of the European Communities Act (1972) which will be subject to approval by resolution of each House of Parliament.

Beers And Lagers (Gravity)

Eec (Council Of Ministers)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community's Council of Ministers.

The usual written forecast was deposited in the House on 30 April. At present seven meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for May.

The Agriculture Council is next expected to meet on 7 and 8 May to consider agricultural structures including aids for investment in agricultural holdings, measures for forestry and the protection of the environment. It is also expected to consider New Zealand butter quotas and olive oil controls to be applied to the 1984–85 marketing year, and olive oil as a food aid; arrangements for Mediterranean agriculture, including fruit and vegetables; the sheepmeat voluntary restraint agreement; and processed fruit and vegetables.A meeting of the Transport Council is to be held on 10 May to consider lorry weights, road haulage quotas, railway co-operation, infrastructure spending, drivers' hours, road safety and the European Commission Memorandum on aviation.The Foreign Affairs Council is due to meet on 14 and 15 May when it is expected to continue its discussions on the post-Stuttgart negotiations and to consider the problem of the forecast overrun of the 1984 Community budget. The Council is also likely to consider the current state of the negotiations for a successor to the second Lomé convention; the proposed new European regional development fund regulation; the proposed Council resolution on the easing of frontier controls on citizens of European Community member states; and the Community's position for the negotiation of the second international cocoa agreement. Ministers will also prepare the Community's position for the Ministerial Conference with Portugal which is to be held in the margins of the Council and will review progress on the negotiations for Spanish accession.The Education Council is expected to meet on 21 May to discuss the education of migrant workers' children; foreign language teaching; illiteracy; the integration of handicapped children into the school system; and education in the light of changing demographic, social and economic conditions.The Energy Council will meet on 22 May to consider proposals for energy demonstration projects; coal social measures, and investment in the solid fuels industry. Ministers will discuss the Commission's review of member states' energy policies and natural gas in the Community.The Fisheries Council is next expected to meet on 24 May to consider North sea herring quotas, conservation regulations relating to bottom trawling in the south-west mackerel box and the size of boats used for beam trawling. It may also discuss fisheries aspects of Portuguese accession and training and safety measures for fishermen under the social policy of the common fisheries policy.The Research Council is expected to meet on 29 May to discuss a Commission proposal to strengthen European competitiveness in biotechnology. It will also discuss scientific and technical co-operation; non-nuclear energy; radiation protection of persons undergoing medical treatment; reactor safety and a Commission proposal for basic research in industrial technologies for Europe.

Volume 59: debated on Tuesday 1 May 1984

Written Answers To Questions

Employment

Average Working Hours

Factory Inspectors

Wages Inspectors

Enterprise Allowance

Vocational Information

Health And Safety Commission

Young Persons

Unit Labour Costs

Employment Project Pack

Labour Statistics

Skillcentre Courses

Jobcentres

Regional Benefit Investigation Schemes

Job Release And Job-Splitting Schemes

Women

Youth Training Scheme

Part-Time Work

Disabled Persons

Employment Service

Social Mobility

Apprenticeships

Chemical Industry

Construction Industry

Paper And Board Industry

Acas (Annual Report)

Mr David Young

Prime Minister

Engagements

Health Service (Care Standards)

Wales

European Community (Structure And Policies)

Libyan Nationals

Ec (Budget Rebate)

Council Of Europe (Delegation)

Northern Ireland

Personal Information(Access)

Education And Science

Chiropodists

Science And Engineering Research Council (Food Research)

A-Level Curriculum

Grant-Related Expenditure Assessments

Social Services

British Oxygen Company

Supplementary Benefit

Children (Contraceptive Advice)

Chiropodists

Cervical And Breast Cancer

Brook Advisory Centres

Pensions Inquiry

Catalyst Research Corporation

Supplementary Benefits Handbook

Nhs (Spectacles)

Transport

Dvlc (Staff Shortages)

M41-M40 (Accidents)

A6(M) Stockport North-South Bypass

Crop-Spraying Helicopters

Oxford-Birmingham M40 Extension

Seat Belts

Bypasses (Hertfordshire)

Trade And Industry

Ec(Japanese Investment)

Animal Skins And Products (Imports)

Nationalised Industries

Japan

Government Contracts

Environment

Water

European Communities (Local Government)

National Nature Reserve Agreements

Sssi And National Parks

Local Government Superannuation

Sewage (Discharge Points)

Homes Insulation

Falkland Islands

Gipsy Sites