Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 3 May 1984

Transport

Pilotage (London)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if it is his intention to make a decision on reorganising the London pilotage district and its byelaws before dealing with the recommendations of the Samuel Montagu report on the scale and cost of a severance scheme for the pilots of the United Kingdom in general; and if he will make a statement.

Progress on pilotage byelaws in London and elsewhere largely depends on the introduction of a compensation scheme that will induce sufficient pilots to surrender their licences. The Pilotage Commission, with the support of Samuel Montagu, at my request has been seeking for some time to negotiate the terms of such a scheme. This has proved a most difficult task but the commission believes it may still be possible for the parties concerned to reach agreement. In that event I would expect to be able to reach early conclusions about the form of model byelaws that would be of general application. It would then be for pilotage authorities (or other interested parties, as the law provides) to seek to promote such changes as they saw fit in each district; these drafts would be considered in the statutorily prescribed way and, subject to such amendments as were made, would take lawful effect when endorsed by my right hon. Friend.I understand that various proposals for the reorganisation of the London pilotage district have been discussed but none has yet been put to my right hon. Friend. Under the law he can proceed in such a matter only on the application of the Pilotage Commission or of other interested parties.

Departmental Buildings (Vat)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport 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 figures are:

Year	Expenditure
	£
1984–85	68,000
align="right">1985–86	70,000
1986–87	73,000
1987–88	76,000
1988–89	79,000

This does not include figures for buildings occupied by my Department but owned by the Property Services Agency, for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be answering.

Sivand (Oil Spill)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish the report of the counter-pollution operations taken to deal with the spill of oil from the Sivand on 28 September 1983.

The report of the measures taken at the end of last September by my Department to deal with the oil pollution in the Humber estuary from the tanker Sivand is published today. The report gives an account of the counter-pollution operations carried out by my Department marine pollution control unit and concludes that these operations were generally successful and that pollution damage to the estuary appears to have been less than might at first have been feared. A copy of the report is being placed in the Library of the House.

Ss Richard Montgomery

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the outcome of the 1983 diving survey on the wreck of the munition ship SS Richard Montgomery.

I have considered the report of the diving survey carried out by the Royal Navy in July 1983. The report confirms that the wreck is stable and the condition of the hull shows no unexpected deterioration since the previous survey in 1981. It continues to contain the ammunition, all of which is still embedded in heavy silt. The report recommends a further limited diving survey in 1985 to assess any further deterioration. The existing measures to prevent collision and interference with the wreck and its cargo will remain in force.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Liquid Milk Consumption

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which member state of the European Community has the lowest consumption level of liquid milk.

On the basis of statistics relating to 1981, which is the latest year for which figures are available for all member states of the EC, Greece has the lowest per capita consumption in the Community.

Balance Of Trade

11.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the improvement in the pound sterling in the balance of trade in agricultural and food products since 1979.

The total value of exports of food, feed and alcholic drinks rose by nearly half from £2·7 billion to £3·9 billion between 1979 and 1983. Over the same period the value of imports rose by about a fifth from £6·8 billion to £8·2 billion.

Soviet Union (Food And Wine Sales)

13.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise at the European Economic Community Council of Agriculture Ministers the substantial increase in the sales of subsidised food and wine to the Soviet Union with a view to securing the termination of such subsidies.

The best approach, which is that of Her Majesty's Government, is to reduce the need for subsidised exports by policies designed to curb the production of surpluses in the European Community. The Government will continue to oppose any proposals for exports to the Soviet Union on specially favourable terms.

Farm Wardens

14.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will encourage the appointment of farm wardens in the context of emergency planning in rural areas.

The Department is continuing to prepare up-to-date plans for dealing with any emergency. These include the preparations for appointing farm wardens immediately, should that ever be necessary.

Agriculture Ministers

15.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet the other European Ministers responsible for agriculture.

I next expect to meet other Community Agriculture Ministers at the Agriculture Council due to take place on 7–8 May.

Conservation

16.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make it his policy to make European Economic Community funds available for agricultural schemes which seek a balance between agriculture and conservation.

It is already our policy to balance the needs of agriculture and conservation in the operation of the capital grant schemes, both through the incorporation of specific environmental safeguards and the payment of grant on investments for conservation purposes where these form part of an agricultural activity. The European Commission's new structures proposals show a clear recognition of the importance of striking this balance between agriculture and conservation, and we will be seeking to ensure that the regulations will fully reflect this objective.

European Community (Guidelines)

17.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on agreeing financial guidelines for European Economic Community agriculture; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions are continuing in the Council of Ministers on arrangements for improving the control of Community expenditure, including provision for a financial guideline for the common agricultural policy. The Government's policy remains that the rate of growth of expenditure on the CAP should be below that of the Community's own resources base.

Milk Production Quotas

20.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in allocating milk quotas, he will give special consideration to those areas for which the base year was an exceptionally poor year for milk production.

Initial provisional milk quotas will not take account of special circumstances. However, a reserve of about 2·5 per cent. of the total England and Wales Milk Marketing Board quota has been set aside for this purpose. Details of these arrangements will be announced as soon as possible.

Surplus Milk

21.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of surplus milk production in the European Community is exported to developing countries in the form of milk products under the Community's aid programme.

36,500 tonnes of butteroil and 150,000 tonnes of skimmed milk powder were made available to certain developing countries and specialised bodies under the Community's 1983 food aid programme. These quantities were equivalent to about 4·5 per cent. and 7·5 per cent. , respectively, of the estimated Community surplus of milk in 1983 expressed as butteroil and skimmed milk powder.

Heather And Grass Moorland (Burning)

22.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, with a view to preventing the destruction of birds and bird nests, the Government will take steps to stop illegal late burning of heather and grass moorland.

The Heather and Grass Burning (England and Wales) Regulations 1983 already penalise illegal burning with a fine of up to £200. These statutory controls have now been reinforced by the production of a heather and grass burning code and a summary leaflet on good burning practice, publication of which my right hon. Friend announced in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Devizes (Mr. Morrison) on 2 May 1984. The code and leaflet emphasise the dangers to wildlife of irresponsible burning and together are intended to make a major impact on the encouragement of good burning practice.

Monetary Compensatory Amounts

23.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the maximum and minimum percentage monetary compensatory amounts payable in agricultural trade between the United Kingdom and other member states of the Community since 1980.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hereford (Mr. Shepherd) on 28 March at column 224.

Rabies

24.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether in the light of the experience of tourist traffic at Easter, he plans additional measures to prevent the importation of rabies from France.

We have again initiated a rabies awareness campaign this year to remind the travelling public of the risks and dangers. A feature of the campaign was its launch on a Sealink ferry from Dover to Calais when we reiterated the dangers of smuggling animals into this country and the need for public vigilance.

Forest And Woodland Sales

Q25.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the latest available figure for the total value of forest and woodland sold to date under the Forestry Act 1981.

Between the passing of the Forestry Act 1981 and 31 March 1984, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of £24·8 million was received from the sale by the Forestry Commission of plantations and plantable land.

Poultry Sector

Q26.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from the poultry sector.

My Department is in close and frequent contact with associations representing the poultry industry about their current problems and concerns. Their views are well known to Ministers and are taken fully into account in policy making. Further, following the lobby of Parliament organised by the industry on 4 April, I have received a number of letters and representations from hon. Members.

Dairy Producers

Q27.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further plans he has to help dairy producers.

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

Grimsby

Q28.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what special measures relating to the cod dependence of the port of Grimsby he is including in the United Kingdom's new fish management arrangements.

The move on 1 April from a flat rate weekly quota for North sea cod to a monthly quota has given greater catching flexibility to vessels which are dependent on cod. Active consideration is currently being given to the introduction of other measures such as sectoral quotas for recognised grouping of vessels, including those based at Grimsby.

Common Agricultural Policy (Expenditure)

Q29.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated level of common agricultural policy spending for 1984.

The Community budget provision in 1984 for the common agricultural policy (guarantee and guidance together) is 17,288 million ecu — about £10,690 million.

Butter Fat

30.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the United Kingdom self-sufficiency levels for solids-not-fat and butter fat in 1983.

The estimate for last year was that in butterfat, taking New Zealand imports into account, which we have to as under our special arrangements they come only to this country, we were 103 per cent. self-sufficient—and even without New Zealand we are likely to be pretty nearly self-sufficient this year.

Surpluses

31.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what agricultural products are in surplus; and how many days' supply are in store within the European Community.

Production in the Community of the following products exceeds consumption and the stocks held at the dates shown are as follows:

		Day's supply
Commodity	Date	Public storage	Assisted private storage
Butter	12 April 1984	220	0
Skimmed milk powder	12 April 1984	210	0
Wheat	20 April 1984	36	0
Barley	20 April 1984	3	0
Rye	20 April 1984	29	0
Beef	31 March 1984	18	1
Wine	31 January 1984	0	146

Oils And Fats Tax

32.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present position on the proposed oils and fats tax; and if he will make a statement.

The Commission proposal for an oils and fats tax was not adopted by the Council as part of the prices package on 30–31 March. It is still on the table, but we and a number of other members remain firmly opposed to it.

Pig And Poultry Feed Prices

33.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the recent agreement on agriculture support prices and other matters will have on feed prices to the pig and poultry producers.

The price of feed is, of course, affected by a wide range of factors. But as one of these, the agreement reached by the Council of Ministers on 30 and 31 March, which my right hon. Friend reported to the House on 2 April, is likely in itself to have a small downward effect on grain prices.

Pig And Poultry Industries

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to bring in a scheme for aid to the pig and poultry industries.

Aid is already provided from both European Community and national sources, including market support and arrangements through sluicegate prices, import levies and export refunds plus, in the case of pigs, aids to private storage, grants for the modernisation and development of pig farms, and to improve marketing and processing for pig and poultry products under both EC Regulation 355/77 and our own Industrial Development Act 1982. The Government also repay the cost of veterinary supervision in export slaughterhouses. The fact that the average all pigs price is now 25 per cent. higher than it was this time last year is a significant help to producers.

Agricultural Marketing Act 1958

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what capital and other grants have been paid to the private sector of the agricultural industry since the enactment of the Agricultural Marketing Act.

In the financial year 1983–84, the Government provided some £3·8 million to Food from Britain under the terms of the Agricultural Marketing Act 1983. Of this, just over £2 million was used in various joint projects with the agriculture and food industries to improve the marketing of British foodstuffs; the remaining £1·8 million was spent in furtherance of Food from Britain's statutory responsibility for agricultural cooperation. In the same period, grants paid to the non-cooperative sector in England and Wales under the EEC's marketing and processing regulation amounted to some £3·3 million.

Fisheries Conservation

18.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends any changes in the enforcement of fisheries conservation measures other than those relating to salmon and migratory trout following the judgment in the High Court in the case of Champion versus Maughan and Groves.

I understand that it is most unlikely that water authorities will make use of the judgment in prosecuting those fishing for sea fish unless there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that fixed engines have been placed with the intention of taking salmon or migratory trout.

Farm Tenancies

19.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the total number of farm tenancies; and if he will make a statement.

The latest available information is published in tables 7.1 to 7.3 of the publication "Agricultural Statistics United Kingdom 1982" a copy of which is in the Library.The measures contained in the Agricultural Holdings Bill are designed to increase the availability of the new farm tenancies.

Salmon And Sea Trout

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking, following the recent judgment in the case of Champion v. Maughan and Groves, brought under section 6(1)(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, to consult individual water authorities in England and Wales about such modifications of the provisions of this Act as may be required to allow them to continue to take effective action to deal with illegal use of fixed engines to catch salmon and sea trout, without prejudicing the lawful use of these means of fishing for non-migratory species.

My officials are in touch with the water authorities about the implications of this case.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he has yet received and collated the salmon and migratory trout catch statistics for the 1983 season from the water authorities in England and Wales; and when he expects to publish these figures;(2) if he will undertake, when he publishes the 1983 figures of salmon and migratory trout caught in rivers in England and Wales, to itemise the catches made by commercial netsmen on a river-by-river basis.

I expect shortly to receive the final salmon and migratory trout catch statistics for 1983 from all the water authorities. I propose to include a summary of these statistics in the "Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables" which should be published during the summer. I propose to publish later in the year, in the "Fisheries Research Data Report" series, the statistics of catches for 1983 of salmon and migratory trout caught in England and Wales analysed on a monthly basis according to the method of capture of the fish and, where this can be identified, the river in which the fish were caught.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he takes to satisfy himself that water authorities in England and Wales are carrying out their statutory duty to maintain, improve and develop the salmon fisheries in their areas; and what recent evidence he has obtained on the subject from each of the authorities concerned.

Water authorities report annually to Ministers on the discharge of their statutory functions and we consider their reports. In addition, we have inquiries made about any complaint that is received regarding the way they carry out their statutory fisheries duties. Generally, I am not aware of any failure on their part to carry out these duties.

Agricultural Settlement

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how it is intended to finance the European Economic Community agricultural settlement for 1984.

Agricultural support expenditure is financed from the general budget of the European Community in which the main sources of revenue are member states' contributions of VAT, duties and agricultural levies. Since the recent price settlement is expected to reduce expenditure in 1984 below the level which would otherwise have obtained, there is no additional cost to be financed.

Animal Movements

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total number of animal movement licences issued under animal health legislation in the west midlands in each year since 1974.

Most animal movement licences are issued by local authorities and the information requested is not available within my Department.

Agricultural Wages Board

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what explanation was given to Professor Dickson for not reappointing him as chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board.

When I met Professor Dickson last month to inform him that his term of office was not to be extended, I explained that the Secretary of State for Wales and I thought it an appropriate time to make a change. I naturally discussed with Professor Dickson the workings of the board in recent years and his own experiences.It would not be appropriate for me to disclose further details of what was a private conversation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he received from the National Farmers Union regarding Professor Dickson's work as chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board.

United Kingdom 1974–1983 average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers: agriculture and other industries
	Annual average weekly earning of full-time hired men in agriculture		Average weekly earning of full-time men^ in all industries covered by Department of Employment October survey*		Agriculture as percentage of other industries
Year	Money Terms	Real Terms†	Money Terms	Real Terms†	Real Terms Percentage
	£		£	£	percentage
1974	34·07	31·40	48·63	42·96	73·1
1975	42·92	31·84	59·58	41·81	76·2
1976	50·28	32·01	66·97	40·96	78·1
1977	54·69	30·05	72·89	39·08	76·9
1978	61·75	31·33	83·50	41·52	75·5
1979	71·75	32·10	96·94	41·15	78·0
1980	85·95	32·59	113·06	41·58	78·4
1981	96·29	32·64	125·58	41·35	78·9
1982	105·44	32·91	137·06	42·24	77·9
1983	116·54	34·78	149·13	43·77	79·5
^* Full-time males on adult rates from October 1980.
† Deflated by annual average retail price index, January 1974=100.
‡ Deflated by October retail price index, January 1974=100.

Horses, Ponies And Donkeys

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the total number of horses, ponies and donkeys sold at livestock markets in 1983.

I have no means of estimating how many equines were sold at markets in 1983.

Prime Minister

Engagements

Q4.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q5.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

I have received no formal representations from the National Farmers Union about Professor Dickson's work as chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria he uses in appointing the chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board.

In making such an appointment the Secretary of State for Wales and I seek a person who has a sound appreciation of the nature and economic slate of agriculture, is neutral between the two sides but able to command their support, and who has the personal qualities necessary to guide the work of the board effectively.

Farm Workers (Wages)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish figures showing the current average wage of farm workers in the United Kingdom compared with, and as a percentage of, the average industrial wage in real terms in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is set out in the following table.

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q10.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q11.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q13.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q14.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q15.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q16.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q17.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q18.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q19.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q20.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q21.

asked th Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q22.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q23.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q24.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q25.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q26.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q27.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q28.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q29.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q30.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q32.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q33.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q34.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q35.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q36.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

Q37.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q38.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q39.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q40.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q41.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q42.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q43.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q44.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q45.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q46.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q47.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q48.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q50.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q51.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q53.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

Q54.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q55.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q56.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q57.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

Q58.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

Q60.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q61.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

Q62.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q63.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q64.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official duties for 3 May.

Q65.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q66.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q67.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

Q68.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q69.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q70.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q71.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q72.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q74.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q75.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 3 May.

Q76.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 3 May.

This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

Luton

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Luton.

I have at present no plans to do so.

National Union Of Mineworkers

Q31.

asked the Prime Minister whether she has any plans to meet the national executive of the National Union of Mineworkers.

I have at present no plans to do so.

Norfolk

Q49.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to pay an official visit to Norfolk in the next six months.

:I have at present no plans to do so.

Geneva Convention

Q52.

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will make proposals for amendments to the Geneva convention in so far as it relates to the sinking of warships on the high seas during a state of war.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the 1958 Geneva convention on the high seas. Nothing in that convention affects the right of self defence preserved in article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations.

War Widows (Pensions)

Q59.

asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Health and Social Security and the Ministry of Defence on the provision of pensions for war widows.

Yes.

Treaty Of Union

asked the Prime Minister if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy not to be bound by the provisions of the draft Treaty of Union.

The draft Treaty on European Union adopted by the European Parliament on 15 February 1984 is not binding on member Governments.

Appointments

asked the Prime Minister if she will list all the appointments she has made or approved since May 1979, the position to which each of these persons was appointed, and the salary paid in each case on appointment.

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Falkland Islands

asked the Prime Minister which reforms suggested by the Franks committee in its report on the Falklands conflict have been implemented; which have been discarded; and which are still being considered.

The Franks committee made two recommendations, both of which have been implemented. The assessment machinery was reviewed, with particular reference to the arrangements for bringing to the Joint Intelligence Organisation's attention information other than intelligence reports; and, as I indicated in the House on 25 January 1983, the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee is now an official of the Cabinet Office who is engaged full-time on intelligence matters.

Northern Ireland

Personal Information (Access)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are made by local education authorities in Northern Ireland 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.

Parents receive regular reports on their children's progress; in addition, transfer reports, which are prepared when children move from primary to secondary education, are discussed with and seen by parents before they are sent to receiving secondary schools. Relationships between schools and parents in Northern Ireland are in the main open, co-operative and fruitful. It has not been felt necessary to issue any specific guidance to Education and Library Boards or other school authorities on this matter, except in relation to transfer reports; I have no plans to issue further guidance. 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 to access to such records on behalf of their children where their children are not of an age to exercise for themselves the right provided by the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are made for those receiving grants for further education in Northern Ireland 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.

It is normal practice for students to be informed by the award making bodies of the amounts of both main and supplementary grants and also the amount of any parental or spouse's contributions due. No specific guidance has been issued on the way in which students should be informed about any award they may receive. 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.

European Community (Rebate)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which projects in Northern Ireland will benefit from the outstanding rebate due from the European Economic Community to the United Kingdom.

It is not possible to say. Projects that will benefit from the refunds will be selected when the refunds are released.

Trade And Industry

Development Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list, by region, for the last

	1979		1980		1981		1982		1983
	No. of offers	Offer Value	No. of offers	Offer Value	No. of Offers	Offer Value	No. of Offers	Offer Value	No. of Offers	Offer Value
		£'m		£'m		£'m		£'m		£'m
North East	141	25·4	82	29·5	52	11·7	119	14·8	180	18·5
North West	374	46·5	151	29·0	87	14·0	174	14·0	114	13·7
Yorkshire and Humberside	189	13·7	122	7·2	99	13·9	180	12·0	118	15·6
East Midlands	32	0·7	23	2·7	44	4·1	91	12·7	73	9·1
West Midlands	2	0·04	1	Neg	—	—	—	—	—	—
South West	56	5·4	21	2·0	23	1·2	28	5·0	41	8·3
Scotland	181	38·8	224	38·6	122	40·9	249	44·8	196	50·0
Wales	202	21·9	111	29·2	131	18·5	206	27·8	267	42·0

ERDF Commitments
Commission Financial Year
										£K
	1979		1980		1981		1982		1983
Region	Industry	Infra-structure	Industry	Infra-structure	Industry	Infra-structure	Industry	Infra-structure	Industry	Infra-structure
North East	871	24,848	18,826	6,299	3,077	34,013	28,675	30,341	565	30,117
North West	23,928	10,399	21,841	7,096	1,760	12,115	–251	27,788	5,456	35,014
Yorkshire and Humberside	773	6,460	1,893	16,321	450	9,427	–488	19,121	538	14,409
East Midlands	1,071	36	125	569	–7	4,621	Nil	1,415	1,215	2,905
West Midlands	40	Nil	Nil	298	–5	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	3,844
South West	201	7,740	1,517	249	215	6,723	–115	7,320	–12	11,192
Scotland	4,440	32,694	10,749	15,892	15,417	53,628	1,663	59,560	17,297	62,739
Wales	7,878	13,801	18,462	14,004	440	24,404	13,815	33,527	11,877	33,220

NB Negative values include decommitments from earlier years

five years (a) the grants made under the regional selective assistance scheme, under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982, (b) the corresponding aid received by the Government from the European regional development fund, and (c) the separate support to regional bodies from the European regional development fund in respect of infrastructure projects.

Details of assistance which has been made available to industry in each region under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 in each of the last five years is listed in the first table which follows.I regret that it is not posssible, except at disproportionate cost, (i) to identify the aid received by the Government from the European regional development fund which corresponds to regional selective assistance as opposed to regional development grant or (ii) to show the separate support specifically for regional bodies in respect of infrastructure projects.The second table indicates the amounts committed from the fund for both industrial and infrastructure projects. In the case of industrial projects, the fund may have contributed, in some instances, to projects receiving regional development grant as well as regional selective assistance from the Government.Lists of all projects (industrial and infrastructure) in receipt of ERDF aid are published from time to time in

British Business. The most recent issue featuring such a list was dated 20 January 1984.

Details of assistance which has been made available to industry in each region under section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982 in each of the last five years is as follows:

Departmental Buildings (Vat)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 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.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Small Businesses (Advice)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to provide grants to accountancy firms to enable them to provide advice to small businesses; and whether he will ensure that the grants are provided to firms whose size, experience, and continuing interest are likely to match the needs of the business concerned.

The Department is conducting a small pilot experiment in the west midlands—as part of the west midlands initiative—which aims, with the aid of grants, to encourage a limited number of businesses to take accountancy advice in order to improve their financial information and control systems.An important aspect of the scheme will be to ensure that small firms are advised by accountancy practices which, in terms of experience, price and understanding of small business problems, offer clients the vest value for money.

Schemes (Funding)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when his Department will have completed consideration of the schemes submitted for consideration for funding under article 4 of the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 219/84;(2) how long he anticipates waiting for formal approval by the Commission after his Department has determined which schemes to support for funding under article 4 of the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 219/84.

The Department is still considering the entire range of schemes permitted under article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 219/84. Although we expect to put proposals to the Commission towards the end of June, it is unlikely that formal approval will be given much before the end of this year.

Retail Weighing Machines

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has of dumping in the United Kingdom by Japanese exporters of retail weighing machines; whether this has been considered by the appropriate Directorate of the European Economic Commission; and what conclusions it has reached.

An anti-dumping investigation into imports of electronic retail weighing machines into the Community from Japan was opened on 3 September 1983 and provisional anti-dumping duties were imposed on 22 March 1984. The investigation is continuing and should be concluded within the next three months.

Cellular Radio

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the first units of BT cellular radio will come into operation.

It is understood that the BT/Securicor joint venture company, Telecom Securicor Cellular Radio Ltd., which holds a cellular radio system licence, plans to open commercial services in early 1985. Under the terms of its licence the company is required to commence services no later than 31 March 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the hand-on facility on cellular radio will enable the location of each individual mobile subscriber to be identified.

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

Investment Assistance Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the £20 million aid scheme for investment assistance for the textiles, clothing, knitting and footwear industries, which he announced on 19 March, has been approved by the European Commission; and when he expects the details of the scheme to be available to potential applicants.

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

Patent Office

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many applications the Patent Office processed in each year since 1979; how many currently have not been fully processed; and if he will make a statement.

The Patent Office deals with applications for patents, registered trade marks and registered designs and the information requested is given separately for each of these.

Patents
1. Applications processed under the Patents Act 1977:
	Searched	Examined
1979	27,890	1,251
1980	30,735	17,70l
1981	27,212	22,605
1982	24,421	25,795
1983	23,228	24,666

In the period 1979 to 1981, 24,138 applications were also processed under the Patents Act 1949.2. Backlogs of applications at the end of March 1984:

Unsearched—3,862
Unexamined—17,896

Trade Marks
1. Applications processed:
	Number
1979	16,679
1980	19,741
1981	18,407
1982	18,702
1983	18,818

2. There were 18,202 applications outstanding at the end of March 1984.

Registered Designs
1. Applications processed:
	Number
1979	5,471
1980	4,928
1981	5,416
1982	6,486
1983	6,555

2. There were 778 applications outstanding at the end of March 1984.

The Patent Office is coping well with its work load. Substantial inroads are being made into the patents backlog, and the designs branch is dealing promptly with an input which has increased substantially since 1979. Following substantial reorganisation, the trade marks registry is improving its performance in all areas.

Director General Of Telecommunications

asked the Secretary of Trade and Industry when he expects the Director General of Telecommunications to take up his duties.

I expect the Director General to have taken up his duties by the time that the regulatory arrangements under the Telecommunications Act 1984 come into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he plans to announce the appointment of a Director General of Telecommunications.

I expect to announce this appointment shortly.

False And Misleading Price Information

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement upon progress with the review of section 11 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and the Price Marking (Bargain Offers) Order 1979.

An inter-departmental working party of officials chaired by the Department of Trade and Industry has completed a comprehensive review of the existing legislation on false and misleading price information and has considered proposals for new legislation in this field. Copies of the working party's report and my comments on some of its recommendations have been placed in the Library of the House. My Department is today commencing consultations with interested parties upon the report and recommendations and on my comments and is inviting response by 30 June 1984.The central recommendation of the report is that section 11 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and the Price Marking (Bargain Offers) Order 1979 should be replaced by a new general prohibition on false or misleading pricing to be supported by a statutory code of practice, which would set out the essential clear but detailed guidance upon individual practices. An alternative suggestion, on which I am also inviting comments, is that instead of a general prohibition, supported by a code of practice, there should be a set of detailed provisions (covering much the same ground as the working party's proposed code) in the legislation itself.I must make it clear, however, that at this stage the Government are not committed to legislation, either on the basis of the working party's report or on the alternative suggestion. Conclusions on that will be reached in the light of responses to the consultations, at which stage the House will be informed again.

Home Department

Diplomatic Vehicles (Wheel Clamps)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 18 July. 1983, concerning the attaching of wheel clamps to vehicles owned by diplomats which are parked illegally, what progress has been achieved in examining if this can be carried out within the provisions of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations.

As my noble Friend the Lord Elton stated in reply to a question on 12 December 1983, we have now completed a detailed review of the wheel clamping of diplomatic vehicles. This review has confirmed that wheel clamping of diplomatic vehicles would be in breach of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, and that it is therefore not legally possible to apply wheel clamps to such vehicles. Instead, we propose to tackle the wider problem arising from the numbers of diplomatic vehicles in London. The Government are introducing the following new arrangements to reduce their numbers.The first new measure arises from the distinction which exists between different types of diplomatic immunity. Representatives of certain international organisations, such as the United Nations and NATO and certain consular staff, are not entitled to full immunity, but only to immunity in connection with acts arising from their official duties. These representatives are at present issued with category "X" registration plates, which are also issued to certain staff entitled to full immunity. In future, "X" category registration plates will be reserved for vehicles whose users are only entitled to immunity arising from their official acts. I am advised that as soon as the necessary re-plating has been carried out, "X" category vehicles, of which there will then be some 400, will be eligible for wheel clamping.Secondly, we are placing a firm limit on the number of vehicles for which "D" registration plates will be issued. These are plates issued for vehicles used by persons entitled to full diplomatic immunity. In future, issue of "D" plates for official vehicles will be limited to a maximum of one set per notified diplomat per mission.Thirdly, issue of "D" plates for private vehicles will be limited to a maximum of two sets per diplomatic household.These measures should result in significant reduction in the number of vehicles exempt from wheel clamping.

Overseas Broadcasting Companies

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consultations he had with the Independent Broadcasting Authority before deciding to remove the ban on the supply of land lines for broadcasting to overseas broadcasting companies; and what was the response of the Independent Broadcasting Authority to his decision;

(2) what consultations he had with the Association of Independent Radio Contractors before deciding to remove the ban on the direct broadcasting of services by foreign companies; and if he will make a statement;

(3) why he has decided to remove the ban on the supply of land lines by British Telecom to overseas broadcasting companies including Radio Luxembourg;

(4) if overseas broadcasting companies provided with land lines by British Telecom and thereby enabled to broadcast direct to British listeners will be subject to the controls, levies and restrictions at present borne by independent radio stations operating licences awarded by the Independent Broadcasting Authority; and if he will make a statement;

(5) if foreign broadcasting companies providing radio programmes to British listeners by means of land lines will have their programme content subject to the supervision and control of the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

Restrictions on the provision of telecommunications facilities from this country to foreign broadcasting organisations seeking to transmit from their own territory to this country were first imposed many years ago, in a very different climate of broadcasting and telecommunications regulation, at a time when the Postmaster General was the Minister responsible both for matters of broadcasting policy and for the provision of telecommunications facilities within this country. Since 1969 the restrictions have been implemented by the Post Office (now British Telecommunications) but the policy has been the responsibility for the Minister responsible for broadcasting matters. My right hon. and learned Friend has recently reviewed the need for the restrictions, both in response to a request from Radio Luxembourg and against the background of the new telecommunications environment in which British Telecommunications will cease to be a public corporation and in which international links will also be provided by Mercury. It became clear that the continued operation of the restrictions under the new regulatory framework established by the Telecommunications Act 1984 would make it necessary to confer specific statutory powers on the Secretary of State enabling him to direct licensed telecommunications operators not to provide facilities for certain potential customers, contrary to the general thrust of policy regarding provision of telecommunication facilities which is embodied in the Telecommunications Act. His preliminary conclusion, which was communicated to the directors general of the BBC and IBA on 22 February, was that the restrictions would be increasingly difficult to operate in practice for technological reasons, that there would be considerable difficulties in framing the new legislative provisions and that they were in any case no longer justified on their merits, having regard in particular to the Government's commitment to the free flow of information between countries and the continued development of international telecommunications services.The BBC and IBA have now offered their comments, and representations have also been received from the Association of Independent Radio Contractors, which was informed of the position by the IBA. The Home Secretary has carefully considered what has been said, but is satisfied that the restrictions should be lifted. Overseas broadcasting companies have always been free to broadcast to this country on frequencies allocated by international agreement, and the content of what they put out is a matter for the appropriate national authorities which authorise the transmissions. In addition, they have always been able to make programmes, sell advertising time and conduct business generally in this country without restriction. Restrictions on direct telecommunications links have always therefore had only a limited impact on the content of the services.The one area in which we consider some continuing safeguards to be needed concerns the coverage of those sporting and other events which are dealt with in clause 14 of the Cable and Broadcasting Bill. It would clearly be wrong if the protection which BBC and IBA services are to enjoy against the siphoning off of these events by cable were to be circumvented by the activities of overseas broadcasting companies. The BBC and IBA were informed on 22 February that amendments to the Bill to safeguard these events for British television would be prepared for the Committee Stage in this House

Television Licences (Hotels)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his review of television licensing arrangements for hotels; and if he will make a statement.

We have completed the substance of our review, and have concluded that in future hotels should pay a single licence fee for up to 15 guest rooms in which television sets are installed and an extra fee at the standard rate for each additional five rooms with television above that figure. We are still considering one or two consequential matters but we expect to lay regulations before the House shortly to provide for these new licensing arrangements. We anticipate that the requirement to pay higher fees will apply from the beginning of next year.The same regulations will provide for the early implementation of my noble Friend the former Home Secretary's proposals to modify the concessionary 5p television licence scheme so that physically disabled and mentally disordered people in certain residential accommodation may benefit on the same terms as retirement pensioners.

Personal Information (Access)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made for individuals to check the accuracy of factual information about themselves relating to convictions, unsuccessful prosecutions and arrests held by the Criminal Records Office; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to allow individuals to have greater access to such information held on automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.

Records of convictions for recordable offences are kept centrally at the National Identification Bureau at New Scotland Yard (formally the Criminal Records Office). Central records are kept of arrests only after a charge has been preferred in respect of a recordable offence. Central records are in general only kept of prosecutions which do not lead to a conviction in the case of persons who have been convicted before. The disclosure of information from police records is a matter for chief officers of police. The policy adopted by chief officers—and embodied in the consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters—is that police records are confidential and information is not disclosed to anyone, save in exceptional circumstances. A person may of course seek details of his or her own convictions by application to the court concerned. A start has been made on the computerisation of conviction records at the National Identification Bureau which are at present held on a microfiche system. The Data Protection Bill, now before Parliament, will change the situation by providing for subject access to personal data, including the records referred to, when held on computer systems. The Department will be considering, in consultation with chief officers of police, the implications of the Data Protection Bill for manual records of convictions.

Drug Addiction

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the control, monitoring, administration and security involved in the use of hard drugs in prisons for the withdrawal treatment of drug addicts.

The treatment of drug dependants in prison department establishments is a matter for the clinical judgment of the responsible medical officer. I believe that staff concerned with the control, monitoring, administration and security of drugs, both controlled and non-controlled, carry out their duties with proper care.

Parole

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners in the categories of those who will now normally serve at least 20 years have been (a) considered by local review committees, (b) considered by the Parole Board and (c) recommended by the Parole Board for release on licence; and in how many cases recommendations by the Parole Board for release on licence have been accepted by his Department, in each case since 11 October 1983.

The Parole Board have considered six such cases since 11 October 1983, all of which had previously been considered by the local review committee. In no case did the board recommend the prisoner's release on licence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners serving sentences of over five years for violence or drug trafficking have been (a) considered by local review committees, (b) considered by the Parole Board and (c) recommended for release by the Parole Board; and in how many cases recommendations for release by the Parole Board have been accepted by his Department, in each case since 11 October 1983.

An assessment will be made of the working of the first six months of the new policy, which came into effect on 1 December 1983. Extracting the requested information in advance of this assessment would involve disproportionate expense.

Solvents

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet reached a decision on the need for legislation to limit the sale of solvents to young people.

Following the conviction last December of two Glasgow shopkeepers for seling glue sniffing kits to children (under the Scottish common law which classifies as criminal, wilful, and reckless actions causing real injury to another person), I undertook to consider the possibility of introducing legislation to create a comparable offence in England and Wales. There appears to be very little evidence of the sale of such kits in this country. Having reviewed the matter with great care, I have concluded that, if new legislation were to be introduced, it should probably extend beyond the sale of kits, by making it an offence in England and Wales for a person to sell substances to young people under the age of 16 if he knows or has reasonable grounds for believing that they are likely to be inhaled to achieve intoxication. The Government consider that the creation of such a provision would in principle be desirable, and would be prepared to support the introduction of a Bill which sought to give effect to this. We shall, however, wish to consult the police and representatives of manufacturers' and retailers' associations before any such measure is introduced.

Hendon Police College

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires have taken place at Hendon police college during the past 12 months, and if he will give details of the extent of the damage.

The Commissoner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that there have been two fires at Hendon police college in the last 12 months. The first occured on 7 October 1983 when a control panel in the cadet laundry room overheated causing damage to the contactor and wiring. The second occured on 28 October 1983 when a bitumen boiler being used by contractors re-roofing the podium building boiled over, setting fire to the roof and surrounding structure. The fire caused severe damage to a plant room containing mechanical, ventilation and electrical services, and to the structure of the senior officers' dining room. The cadets' dining room suffered 40 per cent. damage, and other dining areas and the kitchen were damaged by smoke.

Independent Radio Stations

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total sum paid in licences and levies by independent radio stations in the United Kingdom in the most recent year for which figures are available.

In the financial year 1982–83, the total primary rental payable to the IBA by independent local radio contractors was £4,985,000, and the secondary rental, payable by four companies, £731,000 (net of amounts retained). In addition, three companies made levy payments to the Exchequer totalling £567,000.

Criminal Injuries (Compensation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to ratify the European convention on the compensation of victims of violent crimes.

We intend to ratify the convention in the near future.

Education And Science

Youth Service

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will make a statement on the Thompson report on the youth service.

My right hon. Friend expects consideration of the outstanding recommendations in this report to be completed in time for a Government response in the near future.

Secondary Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have reintroduced selective secondary education since 1979; how may have drafted schemes for selection; and how many have subsequently dropped such schemes.

Since 1979 one local education authority has re-established a grammar school for part of its area following the approval of statutory proposals by my right hon. Friend's predecessor. We only necessarily become aware of an authority's intention when it publishes proposals; it is not possible, therefore, to state the number of authorities which have considered but rejected the possibility of reintroducing selective secondary education.

Comprehensive Schools

asked the Seceretary of State for Education and Science how many new comprehensive schools have been established since 3 May 1979; and how many new grammar schools.

Since 3 May 1979 one proposal to establish a new grammar school and five proposals to establish new grammar schools by the amalgamation of existing schools were approved by my right hon. Friend or his predecessor, or were determined by the local education authorities concerned. Detailed records of proposals to establish new comprehensive schools are available only in respect of those published under sections 12 to 15 of the Education Act 1980. Since August 1980, when those sections came into force, proposals have been approved for the establishment of 57 new comprehensive schools; of these 25 were established by means of the amalgamation of existing schools.

Overseas Students

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the number of Libyan students currently studying at British universities or polytechnics; and if he will estimate how many are in receipt of grants from central Government funds.

It is estimated that in 1982–83 there were 964 students domiciled in Libya taking higher or further education courses in Great Britain who were charged the overseas rate of fee. This fee is expected to cover the full cost of the education provided. One of these students received an award under the overseas research students awards scheme. In addition, there were 15 Libyan students charged the home rate of fee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students from Arab countries are attending full-time courses at British universities and polytechnics at the latest date for which figures are available.

In the academic year 1982–83, 7,990 students from Arab countries were in universities and institutions of further education in Great Britain. 1,796 of these were on non-advanced further education courses.

Students (Maintenance Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the cost to public funds of incorporating into each student maintenance grant the rate of travel allowance determined by his or her residential status.

By removing the need for local education authorities to scrutinise individual claims and make individual assessments and payments to very large numbers of students — over 170,000 claimants in 1981–82—we would expect the new arrangements for meeting students' travel costs announced recently to lead to worthwhile savings.

Workers Educational Association

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will express the 8·3 per cent. cut to the Workers Educational Association over three years as an annual per capita amount; what representations he has had in respect of the cut; and if he will make a statement.

About 85 letters making representations about the cuts have been received. Assuming that the number of students attending classes in England taught or organised by the WEA remains at the 1982–83 level of about 171,000, the reduction proposed for academic year 1986–87 is estimated to amount at 1983–84 prices to £1·17p per student per year. Cash grants for years after 1984–85 have not yet been determined. It is expected that increased fee income from those who can afford to pay will enable programmes to be maintained at current levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was allocated in grant-aid to the Workers Educational Association in each of the years (a) 1979–80, (b) 1980–81, (c) 1981–82, (d) 1982–83 and (e) 1983–84.

The grants to the Workers Educational Association districts in England were as follows:

Academic year	£ million
1979–80	1·214
1980–81	1·530
1981–82	1·970
1982–83	2·209
1983–84	2·401

Other grants to the Workers Educational Association, were as follows:

Financial Year	For Headquarters expenditure	For WEA Summer Schools
	£million	£million
1979–80	0·038	0·004
1980–81	0·043	0·005
1981–82	0·043	0·006
1982–83	0·045	0·007
1983–84	0·045	0·007

Windsor (Upper Schools)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will reach a decision on the major reorganisation proposals for Windsor upper schools submitted to him by Berkshire county council.

My right hon. Friend will announce his decision after full and careful consideration of the many issues involved. He is aware of the importance of the proposals to those they affect and of the need to avoid undue delay.

Youth Exchanges (Cockerill Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Government are going to issue their response to the Cockerill report on youth exchanges.

Comments on the report from interested organisations are being considered and the Government expects to make known their response within the next few months.

Employment

Community Programme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are employed by the community programme in Waltham Forest; and how many of these are long-term unemployed.

At the end of March there were 1,009 people employed under the community programme in the Manpower Services Commission's east London area, which includes Waltham Forest. Of the 1,368 people who had joined the programme in this area during the past 12 months, 96 per cent. had been unemployed for at last six of the last nine months and 69 per cent. had been unemployed for at least a year before joining.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present regional breakdown of the available places on the community programme.

The present regional allocations of places are as follows:

	Number
London	12,430
South east	13,300
South west	7,670
Midlands	25,640
Wales	9,000
North west	20,600
Yorks and Humberside	13,700

	Number
North east	11,500
Scotland	16,160
	130,000

asked the Secretary of State for Employment from the most recently available figures, by region, what percentage of the allocated places on the community programme has been filled.

The information requested is given in the following table.

	Filled places at 31 March 1984	Filled places as per cent. of places allocated to that region
London	5,787	47
South east	9,539	72
South west	6,438	84
Midlands	23,017	90
Wales	8,538	95
North west	19,766	96
Yorks and Humberside	13,141	96
North east	11,274	98
Scotland	15,355	95

Private Employment Agencies

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has as to the proportion of unemployed claimants who find work through private employment agencies.

There is only limited information, from survey evidence, on this matter. A cohort study of people who became unemployed in May 1980, carried out by the Manpower Services Commission and the policy Studies Institute, suggested that about 3 per cent. of those returning to employment found their job through a private agency. An earlier cohort study of unemployed male claimants in 1978–79, carried out by the Department of Health and Social Security, suggested that between 1 and 2 per cent. of those who found work did so through a private employment agency.

Youth Training Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, as a result of the lower take-up of youth training scheme places than was expected, less is being spent on the scheme than was originally envisaged.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workplaces are being used by the youth training scheme; and how many of those have now been visited by Manpower Services Commission.

At the end of March there were some 10,900 approved schemes under the youth training scheme, many of which use several training locations. All those schemes which have trainees on them have been visited by Manpower Services Commission officials. Exact figures for the total number of workplaces involved are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled young people have been given places on the youth training scheme; and how many have applied but been turned down.

The number of disabled young people recorded by sponsors as having entered the youth training scheme at the end of March 1984 is 2,394. However, the careers service estimates that about 6,500 disabled young people had entered the scheme by the beginning of March. Many of these youngsters would not have been recorded by sponsors as disabled. Information is not available on the numbers of young people applying or being rejected for youth training scheme places.

Year	No. of cases heard by tribunals	Cases upheld		Cases dismissed
		No.	Percentage	No.	Percentage
1972^*	†1800	†617	34·3	1,183	65·7
1973	†3,999	†1,477	36·9	2,522	63·1
1974	†3,454	†1,356	39·3	2,098	60·7
1975	†8,891	†3,514	39·5	5,377	60·5
1976	†13,803	†5,191	37·6	8,612	62·4
1977	12,842	3,954	30·8	8,888	69·2
1978	11,828	3,277	27·7	8,551	72·3
1979	11,705	3,187	27·2	8,518	72·8
1980	10,037	2,778	27·7	7,259	72·3
1981	13,436	3,134	23·3	10,302	76·7
1982	11,509	3,535	30·7	7,974	69·3
^⋆ Legislation came into effect on 28 February 1972—figures for 10 months only.
† Because of double counting in the remedies obtained, the figures and percentages shown may not reflect the actual number of successful applications in these years.

Figures are not yet available for 1983.

Ethnic Monitoring And Positive Action

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to inform employers and employees, respectively, of the recommendations of the Commission for Racial Equality in connection with ethnic monitoring and positive action, respectively, prior to and following upon 1 April 1984 when the same came into effect; and what was the cost of such steps.

In the course of its contacts with employers, my Department's Race Relations Employment Advisory Service draws attention to the recommendations of the Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice. The service has organised seminars on the code for employers and employees, and more are being arranged. The cost of the service's work on the code cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to introduce or to encourage the introduction of ethnic monitoring and of positive action, respectively, following the coming into force of the code of the Commission for Racial Equality on 1 April 1984.

The Government believe that it is for individual employers to decide whether and in what form ethnic monitoring can in their own particular circumstances contribute to the advancement of racial equality and harmony. The Commission for Racial Equality's code of practice recommends that employers should monitor regularly the effects of selection decisions and personnel practices and procedures in order to assess whether

Unfair Dismissals

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfair dismissal claims were made during each of the years since the Industrial Relations Act 1971 came into effect; how many, and what percentage, of such claims were successful; and how many, and what percentage, failed during each such year.

The information requested is shown in the following table:equality of opportunity is being achieved. While asking employers to consider keeping ethnic records, the code recognises that the need for detailed information and the methods of collecting it will vary according to the circumstances of individual establishments. This flexibility is emphasised by my Department's Race Relations Employment Advisory Service in its regular contacts with employers.The code's recommendations on positive action do not go beyond the existing provisions for encouragement and training contained in the Race Relations Act 1976.

Sex Monitoring And Positive Action

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to introduce or to encourage the introduction of sex monitoring and of positive action, respectively, in preparation for the proposed implementation of the recommendations of the Equal Opportunities Commission.

My right hon. Friend is still studying the recommendations made by the Equal Opportunities Commission in its draft code of practice on the elimination of sex discrimination, which was submitted to him for approval only very recently.

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made with the Manpower Services Commission's code of good practice for the employment of disabled people.

A draft code of practice is being prepared by the Manpower Services Commission in conjuction with the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Disabled People and other interested parties. The commission aims to submit the draft to my right hon. Friend in the summer.

Pay Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the estimated average annual pay increase for each year since 1979 of (a) unskilled manual workers, (b) semi-skilled manual workers, (c) skilled manual workers, (d) clerical and lower-grade white-collar workers, (e) lower managerial and professional workers and (f) higher managerial and professional workers.

Annual increases in average earnings for the occupation groups for which the Department has information are published in tables 8 and 9 in part A and tables 88 to 91 in part C of the reports of the new earnings survey for 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983. Comprehensive data on manual employees' earnings by level of skill are not available, but information for certain industries is published in Employment Gazette, October 1980, pages 1081–88, and March 1983, pages 107–109.

Civil Service

Workplace Nuseries

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many workplace nurseries there are in each Government Department; and how many children used them in each of the last five years.

At present there are no workplace nurseries or crèches in Government Departments, but there are a number of other schemes for the day-care of children of civil servants, including a care-parent scheme and holiday play schemes. The detailed guidance to Departments on the provision of day-care facilites for children of civil servants currently is under review.

Wales

Ec Price Agreement (Wales)

34.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement assessing the effect of the recent European Economic Community agricultural price agreement on Welsh agriculture.

The common agricultural policy price agreement for 1984–85 is a tough, but fair, settlement for Welsh and United Kingdom producers. Moreover, it contains positive measures for limiting the increasing costs of the CAP and the growth of unwanted food surpluses.

Housing Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will publish a table indicating what proportion of total public expenditure in Wales was represented by capital expenditure on housing in each of the past 10 years;(2) if he will publish a table showing, in real terms, the capital expenditure on housing in Wales for each of the past 10 years.

Total public expenditure is measured net of certain forms of income. The proportion of this net total public expenditure within the responsibility of my right hon. Friend represented by net capital expenditure on housing in each of the past 10 years is as follows:

	per cent.
1974–75	†14·6
1975–76	†12·3
1976–77	†10·6
1977–78	†8·4
1978–79	7·3
1979–80	7·5
1980–81	5·7
1981–82	2·9
^*1982–83	4·0
^*1983–84	6·2
^* Provisional.
† Due to changes in the classification of certain items of public expenditure, the figures for these years are not strictly comparable with those that follow.

It is important to note that these percentages are misleading in that the net housing capital figure is derived by deducting receipts from gross expenditure, and such housing receipts have risen steeply since 1980–81.

Taking average 1982–83 prices as the base and adjusting for general inflation as measured by the gross domestic product deflator, net capital expenditure on housing in Wales for each of the last 10 years is estimated to have been as follows:

	£ million
1974–75	413
1975–76	303
1976–77	270
1977–78	194
1978–79	178
1979–80	184
1980–81	142
1981–82	69
1982–83	95
1983–84	151

Taking account of housing capital receipts, the comparable gross capital expenditure figures for housing are estimated to be as follows:

	£million
1974–75	439
1975–76	330
1976–77	297
1977–78	220
1978–79	216
1979–80	215
1980–81	173
1981–82	143
1982–83	192
1983–84	245

Personal Information (Access)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are made by local education authorities in Wales 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.

We are not aware of any general restriction on access by parents to their children's school records. The enactment of the Data Protection Bill will create a general entitlement to access by individuals to automated personal records held on them. Parents will have a common law right of access to such records on behalf of their children when the children are not of an age to exercise that right for themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements are made by health authorities in Wales 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 whether he will make a statement.

The decision to release a personal medical record to a patient is a matter of professional judgment for the health professionals concerned. It is good practice for them to be as open and informative towards their patients as possible although there may be occasions when disclosure of a medical record is not in the patient's best interests. Our Department has issued advice on access to health records in the context of legal proceedings in Welsh Health Circular 82/20.

The Data Protection Bill will create a general entitlement to access by individuals to automated personal records held on them. Because unrestricted access to personal health records may not always be in a patient's best interests, the right of access to such records will be subject to modification by order of the Secretary of State. We intend to undertake wide consultations on the possible content of an order. Discussions are currently being held with representatives of the health professions on the implications of the Data Protection Bill for health data in general including subject access.

Tinnitus

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the advice given by his Department to area health authorities in Wales concerning charging clients who need the use of maskers because of the pain they experience as a result of tinnitus.

The position is governed by the normal arrangements for the treatment of patients.

Youth Training Scheme

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how he proposes to evaluate (a) the number of new jobs created, (b) the level of work experience and skill acquisition by young people participating, (c) the quality of the off-the-job educational provision within the youth training scheme and (d) the level of satisfaction of young people participating in the youth training scheme in Wales.

In addition to the regular monitoring by the Manpower Services Commission of individual schemes at local level, information will be available from a programme of surveys and studies drawn up by the commission to evaluate the youth training scheme on a national basis in terms of recruitment, content, impact on the labour market and the effects on individual trainees.

Public Appointments

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy on 11 April, Official Report, columns 262–63, how many men and how many women, respectively, he has appointed since June 1983 to each public body listed.

The information is as follows:

	Male	Female
Agriculture Advisory Panel for Wales	12	—
Agricultural Wages Committee	3	—
All Wales Advisory Panel on the Development of Services for Mentally Handicapped People	13	2
Ancient Monuments Board for Wales	4	—
Court of Governors, University College, Swansea	1	—
Court and Council, National Library of Wales	1	—
Development Board for Rural Wales	3	—
Historic Buildings Council for Wales	4	—
Health Education Advisory Committee for Wales	13	7
Housing Management Advisory Panel	2	1
Land Authority for Wales	1	—
Library and Information Services Council (Wales)	4	2

	Male	Female
Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales	1	—
National Parks Committees	4	—
Perinatal Mortality Survey Group	6	5
Place Names Advisory Committee	2	—
Regional Land Drainage Committee of the Welsh Water Authority	7	—
Rent Assessment Panel for Wales	28	8
Sports Council for Wales	17	3
Wales Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education	2	—
Wales Committee on Agricultural Valuation	14	—
Wales Tourist Board	2	—
Welsh Development Agency	6	—
Welsh Industrial Development Advisory Board	3	—
Welsh National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting	9	3
Welsh Water Authority	13	—

Labour Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many women are unemployed in Wales; and how many were unemployed in May 1979.

On 5 April 1984 the number of female claimants, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, totalled 46,500, and in May 1979 the estimated number of female claimants on the same basis was 21,500.

Local Government Review

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has responded to the second review which the Commission for Local Administration in Wales prepared under section 23(12) of the Local Government Act 1974.

I have issued my response to the commission today and have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

National Finance

Personal Information (Access)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are made by the Inland Revenue for release to appellants of factual information relating to tax assessments under appeal; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to encourage or require the Inland Revenue to allow greater access to such information held on automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.

In the vast majority of appeals, all the relevant information in the Inland Revenue's possession will have been provided by the appellant himself. In cases where this is not so, any information on which the inspector of taxes intends to rely will be disclosed before or during proceedings of the independent appeal commissioners. I regard this as a full protection of the taxpayer's rights.

Unquoted Trading Companies (Share Purchase)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies, at the latest date available, have applied for clearance under section 53 of the Finance Act 1982; how many have been successful; how many have been refused; and on what grounds the refusals were made.

At the end of April 1984, 1,389 formal applications for clearance under section 53 of the Finance Act 1982 had been received by the Inland Revenue, of which 53 were subsequently withdrawn on the applicant's own initiative and another 156 are still being considered. Of the 1,280 applications which have been settled, clearance has been given to 1,145 (very nearly 90 per cent.).Clearance could not be given for the remaining 135 applications because they did not meet the following qualifying conditions:

	Number
Vendor not to be "connected" with company or group after purchase	34
Purchase to reduce vendor's interest in company or group by minimum of 25 per cent.	26
Shares to be owned for a minimum of 5 years	24
Company/group to be trading	20
Purchase to benefit company's trade	18
Main purpose not to tax avoidance	5
Purchase to take place on or after 6 April 1982	3
Payment of capital transfer tax would cause undue hardship (applications under section 53(2))	2
Vendor to be United Kingdom resident	2
Company to be unquoted	1

Privatisation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the number of merchant banking and stockbroking firms currently advising and assisting Her Majesty's Government over the privatisation of public assets; how they were selected; and at what cost to public funds for their services.

I am aware of seven merchant banks and 23 stockbrokers, including a number of regional firms, which following formal appointment, are currently advising or assisting Government Departments on possible future privatisations. More informal advice is also being received from a variety of sources. Except in exceptional circumstances, all formal appointments made direct by Government Departments take place following competition. It is too soon to say what the final cost will be of advice currently being tendered.

Income Tax (Demand Notes)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average cost in 1983–84, taking into account officers' time and all appropriate overheads, of the issue of a demand note for income tax due; and whether he will investigate the case for reducing the number of demands issued.

I regret that a figure for the actual average cost of the issue of demand notes for income tax due could not be supplied without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. Taking schedule D income tax, the first application for payment is produced as part of the notice of assessment and is issued by local tax districts. Subsequent demand notes are issued automatically by the two computerised accounts offices. The actual cost of the demand notes used at the accounts offices is less than 1p and it is estimated that the overall cost is only marginally in excess of that amount. The greatest cost in demand note issue is postage, where the second-class rate applies.As to the number of demand notes issues, this is governed by the length of time tax remains outstanding or by adjustments made to the original amount due. The frequency of reminders is reviewed from time to time and has regard to maintaining the impetus of payment.

Construction Industry (Vat)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the adequacy of the transitional arrangements for the imposition of value added tax on building alterations and improvements; and if he will make a statement.

While the arrangements for the imposition of VAT on building alterations and improvements conform to the existing law and also follow precedent, a great number of representations have been received both from individuals and organisations suggesting either deferment of the 1 June date or a relief for existing contracts. Treasury Ministers are giving careful consideration to these views as I said during the Committee stage of the Finance Bill on 30 April to points raised in that debate.

Government Contracts

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the average annual saving that will result from the reduced target profit rate for non-competitive Government contracts.

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

Drug Seizures

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the establishment of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in respect of the drug seizures made in Liverpool and Merseyside over recent years; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 April 1984, c. 606]: Over the past five years Customs and Excise has reduced the numbers of staff employed on customs work in its Liverpool collection (as defined in 1979) to reflect reduced volumes of traffic. At the same time the fight against drug smuggling has been maintained by increased specialist investigation efforts, together with improvements in intelligence gathering which lead to a better targeting of operations.

Scotland

Departmental Buildings (Vat)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland 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.

An initial assessment suggests that the cost to my right hon. Friend's programmes of the extension of value added tax to building alterations on buildings owned by the Scottish Office will be of the order of £8·5 million in 1984–85 and £10·5 million in each year thereafter.

Overhead Power Line And Access Track (Lammermuirs)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet taken a decision on the outcome of the public inquiry into the proposed 400 kilowatt overhead power line and access track across the Lammermuirs, held in Lauder in February; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received the report of the inquiry and is currently considering the matter. His decision will be announced shortly.

Forestry Commission (Sales)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be in a position to announce the successful bidders for the 55 acres of Forestry Commission holdings at Tore, Ross-shire.

As has been explained on previous occasions to the House, the Government do not announce information about individual purchasers of properties sold by the Forestry Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, prior to deciding upon the successful applicants for the sale of the Forestry Commisson holdings at Tore, Ross-shire, he will take into account any bids from local investors seeking to purchase part of the holdings for the purposes of local business expansion and the creation of indigenous employment; and if he will make a statement.

This property was placed on the open market in four lots with bids being invited for the whole or for individual lots. The closing date for bids was 19 April 1984, and all those received were considered. An acceptable bid was made for the whole property and the bidder has been so informed. This successful bid exceeded the sum of the best bids received for individual lots.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, prior to deciding upon the successful applicants for the Forestry Commission holdings at Tore, Ross-Shire, he will investigate the entire circumstances surrounding the sale.

As I explained today in reply to another question from the hon. Member, an acceptable bid has been received for the whole property and the successful bidder notified accordingly. I am satisfied that the sale was conducted properly by the Forestry Commission and I can see no reason for investigating it further.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the proposed sale of 55 acres of Forestry Commission holdings at Tore, Ross-Shire.

I have received a representation regarding this sale from Mr. J. P. Clark of Tore. My right hon. and noble Friend, the Minster of State, Scottish Office, has received a similar representation from the hon. Member on Mr. Clark's behalf.

Salmon

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he takes to monitor the numbers of salmon running up rivers in Scotland, and the proportion of these runs that are caught by commercial netsmen.

It is not practicable to monitor the numbers of salmon running up Scottish rivers. My right hon. Friend does, however, publish annual statistics showing the number of salmon caught in Scotland by net and coble, fixed engines and rod and line respectively. A copy of a "Statistical Bulletin", which gives figures for 1982 (the latest available year) and an illustration of trends by region for the period since 1952, has been placed in the Library.

Students (Allowances)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what rates of allowances for degree and equivalent courses will apply to Scottish-domiciled students in the academic year 1984–85.

The principle changes to the SCottish Education Deprtment students' allowances scheme for the academic year 1984–85 were announced some time ago, and I have now decided that the main rates of grant, reflecting increases of 4 per cent.over the corresponding rates for 1983–84, should be as follows:

i. for students living in the parental home: £1,325;

ii. For students living away from home and attending an establishment outside London: £1,725;

iii. for students living away from home and attending an establishment in London: £2,050.

/The extra weeks' allowance, paid to students whose session exceed 30 weeeks will also be increased by £2·80 per week in addition to a 4 per cent. increase in line with the main rate of grant. The new rates will be as follows:

i.Home:	£21·15 per week
ii. Elsewhere:	£34·45 per week
iii. London:	£45·25 per week

In addition, 1 students in receipt of grants under the Scottish Education Department's students allowances scheme will continue to be eligible for reimbursement of travelling expenses in excess of £50 already included in the main rates of grant.

House Of Commons

Departmental Buildings (Vat)

asked the Lord Privy Seal what estimate the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has formed of the likely cost of 15 per cent. value added tax on the cost of building extensions and refurbishments to buildings owned by his Department in each of the next five years.

The premises occupied by my noble Friend constitute part of the Cabinet Office, and any expenditure thereon is included in the figures given in the reply by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment.

Social Services

Benefits

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each of the national insurance benefits (i) the number of claimants (a) denied and (b)

Number of benefit recipients (thousands)
	Standard rate				1983
	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	Reduced rate	Nil
Short-term benefits
Sickness Benefit	415	370	341	377	NYA	^*7	^*47
Unemployment Benefit	442	893	1,031	914	834	51	740
Maternity Allowance	98	106	†111	†102	100	8	NA
Long-term benefits
Retirement Pension	8,062	8,162	8,260	8,277	8,285	692	‡88
Widows Benefit	399	NA	368	360	353	46	NA
Others
Death Grant	593	593	†591	597	NYA	║—	║—
Notes:
^* 1982 figures.
† Estimated figures.
⋆Number of persons receiving supplementary pensions only (December 1982).
║Death grant is payable at a reduced rate or disallowed on grounds of age rather than insufficient contributions.
NYA Not yet available.
NA Not available.

For short-term benefits the numbers are those receiving benefit at a point during the year. For long-term benefits the numbers are the total receiving benefit. For death grant the numbers are the awards made during the year. In all cases the figures exclude cases where benefit was payable at a reduced rate or was disallowed for reasons other than contribution deficiency (for example, for unemployment benefit, where benefit is exhausted).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total spend on unemployment benefit and on supplementary benefit for unemployed persons separately and in aggregate for each of the last 15 years.

The cost in each year since 1969–70 of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit paid to unemployed people is as follows:

£million
Year	Unemployment benefit	Supplementary benefit^*	Total
1969–70	127	77	204
1970–71	150	91	241
1971–72	239	149	388
1972–73	209	182	391
1973–74	174	159	333
1974–75	214	219	433
1975–76	454	401	855
1976–77	559	590	1,149
1977–78	629	740	1,369
1978–79	632	705	1,337
1979–80	653	765	1,418
1980–81	1,280	1,185	2,465
1981–82	1,702	2,300	4,002
1982–83	1,500	3,370	4,870
1983–84	1,492	3,605	5,097
^⋆ Prior to the full introduction of the housing benefit scheme in April 1983 supplementary benefit included assistance with rent and rates.

receiving reduced benefit because of incomplete insurance records at the latest available date and (ii) comparable figures for the total number of claimants of each benefit receiving full benefit for each year since 1979.

The information which is available, relating to contributory benefits, is as follows:

Personal Information (Access)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are made to allow those claiming contributory or non-contributory state benefits to have access to information held about them on which their entitlements are assessed; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to take any steps to allow greater access to such information held on automated and non-automated records; and if he will make a statement.

Claimants to social security benefits are advised to consult their local office about details of individual claims, and local office staff are instructed to take all reasonable steps to assist them. Information about conditions of entitlement to benefits is generally available through a wide range of departmental publications.In individual cases, decisions regarding title to benefit are made by independent adjudicating authorities; they are usually promulgated to claimants by a written explanatory notice which also explains any statutory right of appeal. On appeal, documentary information on which the decision is based is made available to the appellant and/or his representative.There are no plans to alter the ways in which access to personal information is already made available to individual claimants; the Data Protection Bill will, however, allow a general, formal access by individuals to automated personal records when it comes into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what arrangements are made for individuals applying for a subsistence and travel allowance in order to visit a member of their family in prison to have access to information held about them on which their entitlements are assessed; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to allow greater access to such information whether held in automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what arrangements are made for individuals applying for a subsistence and travel allowance in order to visit a member of their family in prison in Scotland to have access to information held about them on which their entitlements are assessed; what guidance he has issued on this matter; whether he proposes to allow greater access to such information whether held on automated and non-automated records; and whether he will make a statement.

The basic rules of the scheme are outlined in the supplementary benefits handbook and staff are encouraged to explain entitlement conditions to applicants. There are no proposals for changing the methods by which information is currently given to individual applicants.

Pensioners

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer of 13 April, Official Report, column 406, to the hon. Member for Westminster, North (Mr. Wheeler), if he will provide comparative figures in real terms for the level of each benefit and entitlement listed in the answer in November 1978 and November 1983.

Comparisons for each of the items are not feasible. In 1978 no earnings-related additional component to retirement pension was in payment, whilst from 1980 the former use of a tariff income scale was replaced by a capital cut off in assessing the effect of capital on supplementary pension entitlement. Those comparisons which can reasonably be made are as follows:

Rate at November 1978 Equivalent value in prices
Benefit	November 1978 Rate	Equivalent value at November 1983 prices	November 1983 Rate
	£	£	£
Basic rate of retirement pension	19·50	32·92	34·05
Christmas bonus	10·00	16·88	10·00
Earnings rule	45·00	75·78	65·00
Supplementary pension^*for those over 60):
single householder	15·55	25·41	34·10
married couple	25·25	41·26	54·55
Heating addition:†
lower rate	0·85	1·70	2·05
higher rates	1·70	3·41	5·05
	2·55	5·11
^⋆ The 1978 rate has been uprated by the RPI less housing costs. The 1983 rate is the long-term supplementary benefit rate to which people aged over 60 became entitled after May 1983.
† In 1980 the two higher rates of heating addition were merged in one. The heating and light element of the RPI has been used to obtain the 1978 rate in real terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list all the measures affecting pensioners taken by Her Majesty's Government since 1979 about which his Department has subsequently received representations to the effect that the measures were contrary to the well-being of pensioners.

Representations, favourable and unfavourable, have of course, been received about all the measures introduced since 1979. It is not possible from the records to separately distinguish the number and nature of such representations in relation to any particular measure. It would be disproportionately expensive to identify and analyse all the issues raised about measures specific to pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase the existing figure of 15p which retirement pensioners, subject to the earnings rule, are allowed to deduct for lunch.

No. The level of deduction has been maintained in line with the Inland Revenue's disregard, for income tax purposes, of the cost of meals taken during the hours of employment.

Mobility Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are in receipt of mobility allowance in Great Britain and in Scotland at the latest convenient date.

The information, at 16 April 1984, is as follows:

Great Britain	316,400
Scotland	35,700

Attendance Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are in receipt of an attendance allowance in Great Britain and in Scotland at the latest convenient date.

The latest information is as at 31 March 1983, and I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 3 April, at column 481.

Nurses (Diplomas)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a table listing the diplomas for which state registered nurses working within the National Health Service can compete, the duration of the study period, and the additional increment awarded on the attainment of each diploma.

State registered nurses meeting the appropriate academic entry criteria are able to take courses leading to the award of diplomas in nursing as follows. No additional increments are payable on the attainment of these diplomas.

Diploma (England)	Number of centres	Duration
Diploma in Nursing (University of London)	27	3 years part-time (mainly)
Diploma in Nursing Education (University of London)	2	1 year full-time

Diploma (England)	Number of centres	Duration
Diplomas in Professional Studies in Nursing of the Council for National Academic Awards	5	2 years part-time
Diploma in Advanced Nursing Studies (University of Manchester)	1	1 year full-time
Royal College of Nursing Diploma in Health Services Management	1	17 weeks (modular course)
Ophthalmic Nursing Diploma	1	9 months full-time or 12 months part-time

Miss Greenham (Member's Correspondence)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate will receive a substantive response to his letter of 19 March about his constituent Miss Greenham.

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

Housing Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the financial relief he is considering granting to certain categories of families suffering particular hardship in light of the alterations to the housing benefits scheme will take account of the rate of inflation.

A final decision has not yet been taken on the form of any limit on losses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be in a position to announce what level of additional financial assistance he will grant to certain categories of families suffering particular hardship in light of the alterations to the housing benefit scheme.

I hope to be able to announce a decision within the next few weeks.

Supplementary Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of unemployed people in December 1983 who had received supplementary benefit for more than one year but did not qualify for the long-term rate; and how many of these had dependent children.

I regret that the information for December 1983 is not yet available: I shall write to the hon. Member when it is.

Nhs Tribunal

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the four cases determined by the National Health Service tribunal in 1983 concerning removal of a general practitioner from the National Health Service list referred to in the reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South on 5 April, at column 642, resulted in removal.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 April 1984, c. 289]: I am now informed that of the four cases considered by the tribunal in 1983, details of which were notified to the hon. Member in my reply to him on 5 April, at column 642, two such referrals are, in fact, still outstanding. Of the two remaining cases, one was withdrawn by the family practitioner committee, and in the other the tribunal directed the removal of the practitioner's name from all FPC lists. I regret the error in the information contained in my answer on 5 April.

Pay Beds (Charges)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out the reasons why the average pay-bed charge increased by 20 per cent. since 1979 after allowing for movement in National Health Service pay and prices; and if he will explain the basis for the calculation.

[pursuant to his reply, 25 April 1984, c. 571]: Pay bed charges are based on the average cost per patient-day derived from the latest and best available cost returns for those hospitals with private patients adjusted to reflect expected cost movements to the year of application. The reasons for the increase include higher than average cost increases in acute hospitals, where most pay beds are to be found; a revision of the basis for calculating capital costs; and the introduction of a weighting to reflect the differences in bed use by private patients.In 1984–85 we have also refined the method of calculating these charges. We have included an amount for the estimated cost of handling blood products and we have further revised the capital and administration elements.

Widows

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows are entirely dependent upon their state pensions as their only source of income.

:[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1984, c. 51–52]: A precise figure is not available, but from an analysis of the 1981 family expenditure survey it is estimated that in 1981 there were fewer than 20,000 widows who were entirely dependent upon widow's pension, widowed mother's allowance or widow's allowance as their only source of income.

Environment

Urban Programme

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has plans to publish the urban policy programme review.

The review is part of my Department's regular examination of all its programmes. There are no plans for publication.

Departmental Buildings (Vat)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment 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.

An initial assessment suggests that the cost to DOE votes of the extension of value added tax to alterations to buildings owned by DOE will be of the order of £6 million in 1984–85 and £7 million the year thereafter. In addition, some costs in respect of DOE-owned buildings will fall on other Departments' Votes. It is not practicable to estimate these, but they are likely to amount to less than £1 million a year.

Cycling (Regent's Park)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give consideration to permitting cycling on the Broadwalk in Regent's park.

I have no plans to permit cycling on the Broad walk, which is a promenade running through parkland and formal gardens and is heavily used by pedestrian park users. A route through the park, using the Outer Circle, is already available to cyclists.

Water (Research And Engineering)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has published for merging the Water Research Centre Directorate, Stevenage, with the Water Engineering Laboratory at Swindon; where he has published them; and what consultations he has made relating to these proposals.

None. The Water Research Centre is an independent research association whose council would be responsible for any such action. But I understand that the staff of the Water Research Centre at Stevenage has been told that the future of that laboratory is to be considered by the council.

Local Government Finance

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish details of the service components of local authorities' grant-related expenditure assessments for 1984–85.

My right hon. Friend has today placed in the Library of the House copies of "The Technical Handbook of Grant Related Expenditure 1984/85" which provides this information. A copy is being sent to each local authority in England and to the local authority associations.

Local Government (Interim Provisions) Bill

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received respecting the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Bill; how many of these have been favourable; and if he will make a statement.

About 80—mostly unfavourable as a result of campaigns conducted by authorities opposed to our proposals.

Merseyside County Council

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if expenditure by the Merseyside county council on policing the international garden festival will be disregarded for the purpose of penalties for exceeding Government targets.

If Merseyside county council asks my right hon. Friend to disregard expenditure on policing the international garden festival in assessing its liability for grant abatement, he will consider the request.

Olympic Fund-Raising Dinner

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Minister with responsibility for sport accepted an official invitation to attend the Olympic fund-raising dinner at the Grosvenor hotel on Tuesday 1 May.

Yes.

Local Government Reform

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now estimate the savings he expects will be achieved by abolition of the Greater London council and the metropolitan county councils.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's remarks during the debate on Second Reading on the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Bill on 11 April at columns 413–14.

Departmental Correspondence

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what registering method is employed by his Department to register incoming letters.

With one or two exceptions, incoming letters to headquarters' buildings are not recorded, but are placed on registered files.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, if his Department has officially ceased accepting submissions connected with the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities", Cmnd. 9063; and what is the latest number of submissions received.

I have placed in the Library of the House a report on the number of submissions made up to 31 March on the White Paper. I am happy to receive any further views on our proposals but they will not be treated as part of the formal consultation process.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the representations expressing support for the abolition of the Greater London council which were submitted after 31 January were submitted by Conservative party associations.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 March at column 254.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the answer of 12 April, Official Report, column 326, what is the nature of the information given about party balance at the informal discussions with London boroughs; and which London boroughs attended the informal discussions.

These discussions, which were not part of the formal consultation process, provided an opportunity for my officals to answer questions on the information contained in the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities". All the London boroughs, except one, attended.

Radioactive Waste Management

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will appoint a Member with local government experience to the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.

In conjunction with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales. I have appointed Mr. Wilfred Cassidy BSc, M Chem A, C Chem, FRSC, the scientific adviser and county analyst to Somerset county council, as a member of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Diplomatic Relations

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when diplomatic relations were broken in the case of each country with whom the United Kingdom does not have diplomatic relations; what was the reason; which country looks after British interests in each case; and at what cost to the United Kingdom.

The information is as follows:

Country and year of break

Albania 1946.

Reason for break

Diplomatic relations between Britain and Albania came to an end in April 1939 when the Italians invaded Albania and brought the country into a "personal union" under the Italian Crown. Negotiations for the resumption of normal diplomatic relations after the war were well advanced, but were broken off by the United Kingdom following the mining of two Royal Navy destroyers in the Corfu channel on 22 October 1946 when 44 British seamen died.

Country representing None.

Annual cost to United Kingdom 1982–83 None.

Country and year of break

Guatemala 1963 (Diplomatic relations) 1981 (Consular relations).

Reason for break

Guatemala broke diplomatic relations because of the imminence of internal self-government for Belize, and consular relations because of Belize's independence.

Country representing Switzerland.

Annual cost to United Kingdom 1982–83 £26,241.

Country and year of break

Argentina 1982.

Reason for break

The Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands.

Country representing Switzerland.

Annual cost to United Kingdom 1982–83 £184,800.

Country and year of break

Libya 1984.

Reason for break

The unprecedented abuse of diplomatic premises by the Libyans on 17 April showed the impossibility of maintaining normal relations with them.

Country representing Italy.

Annual cost to United Kingdom 1982–83 at present under negotiation with the Italian Government.

The United Kingdom has never had diplomatic relations with Bhutan, which chooses to maintain relations with only three neighbouring states, nor does it have relations with Cambodia since the Government decided in December 1979 that there was no Government in that country which they could recognise.

Iran (Baha'i Persecution)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received details from members of the Baha'i community in Great Britain about further recent executions of Baha'is in Iran; and whether he will make representations to the Government of Iran on this matter.

We have recently seen a report from the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom that six Baha'is have been executed in Iran. The Iranian Government are well aware of our concern about violations of human rights. We co-sponsored the resolution on this question which was adopted by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights on 14 March. We shall continue our efforts, together with our partners in the Ten, to convince the Iranian Government of the need to observe internationally accepted standards.

Cyprus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to prevent the further outbreak of hostilities on the island of Cyprus.

We remain in close touch with the parties involved in the Cyprus dispute. They are all in no doubt as to our views. We fully support the United Nations Secretary-General's efforts to make progress towards a settlement as reaffirmed in United Nations Security Council resolution 541, which calls on all states to refrain from action which might exacerbate the situation. We are ready to assist him as best we can.

Disarmament

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the initiatives taken by Her Majesty's Government since 1979 to secure mutual, balanced and verifiable arms reductions.

Since 1979 we have introduced a total of six initiatives in the conference on disarmament in Geneva, three of which were on verification aspects of a chemical weapons ban. The remainder covered elements of a radiological weapons treaty, peaceful nuclear explosions and seismic verification in relation to a nuclear test ban. In addition we have played an active role in the MBFR talks in Vienna and the conference on disarmament in Stockholm.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at which talks on arms control the United Kingdom is currently represented.

The United Kingdom is represented at the conference on disarmament at Geneva, the conference on disarmament in Europe at Stockholm, and the mutual and balanced force reduction talks at Vienna.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position of the Stockholm conference.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) on 21 March, at column 454, to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what obstacles he sees to the conclusion of a comprehensive test ban treaty.

We are engaged at the conference on disarmament in Geneva in discussions on a ban on nuclear tests, but we believe that it would be premature to resume negotiations proper on a treaty while important problems of verification remain unresolved. We would of course welcome progress towards an eventual solution of these, and will continue to work actively to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken since May 1983 to negotiate confidence-building measures and to enhance stability and security in the whole of Europe.

Together with our partners in the NATO Alliance, we tabled a set of proposals at the Stockholm conference on 24 January. In accordance with the conference's mandate, these proposals were for a set of confidence and security building measures which are binding, militarily significant, verifiable and which cover the whole of Europe. Agreement on such concrete and practical measures would promote genuine confidence throughout Europe. With the exception of Romania, members of the Warsaw pact have not so far made any formal proposals, and detailed negotiations have therefore not yet begun. We hope it will be possible to make substantive progress when the conference resumes on 8 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current position in the mutual balanced force reduction talks in Vienna.

The West tabled a new initiative at the mutual and balanced force reductions talks in Vienna on 19 April. We hope that the East will respond favourably when the next round begins on 24 May. Our initiative provides a new opportunity to resolve the data question which has blocked progress for so long.

Defence

Service Men (Drug Offences)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many service men have been (a) charged with drug offences since 1978 and (b) discharged as a result of drug offences; and in each case what was the parent service of each service man.

The number of service personnel charged with drug offences from 1978 to 1983 inclusive, and of those discharged as a result, is as follows:

	Royal Navy and Royal Marines	Army	Royal Air Force
Numbers charged with drug offences	^⋆223	†377	130
Number dischargedt‡	║8	353	109
^⋆ This figure does not include 1978, when no central record was kept, nor 1981 to 1983 inclusive, for which central records are not yet available.
† This figure represents the number of Army personnel convicted of drug offences by courts martial or civil courts or who were dealt with summarily by commanding officers. The Army does not keep central records of all personnel charged with, as opposed to convicted of, particular offences: there would therefore be an unknown additional number of personnel charged, but not convicted.
‡This includes those discharged by courts martial and those discharged administratively. Records for the latter do not distinguish between drug offences and cases of drug abuse.
║This figure does not include 1978, when no central record was kept, nor 1981 to 1982 inclusive, for which central records are not yet available.

Soviet Military Doctrine

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's current assessment of Soviet military doctrine.

Certain basic principles can be inferred from Soviet military writings and exercises. There is emphasis on the importance of military power, the primacy of the offensive, the decisive role of nuclear weapons, the comprehensive nature of modern warfare involving the use of all types of weapons (conventional, nuclear and chemical) and all branches of the services in varying combinations, and the Soviet Union's overriding need to seize and maintain the initiative and emerge from a war in a better condition than its adversaries.

Volume 59: debated on Thursday 3 May 1984

Written Answers To Questions

Transport

Pilotage (London)

Departmental Buildings (Vat)

Sivand (Oil Spill)

Ss Richard Montgomery

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Liquid Milk Consumption

Balance Of Trade

Soviet Union (Food And Wine Sales)

Farm Wardens

Agriculture Ministers

Conservation

European Community (Guidelines)

Milk Production Quotas

Surplus Milk

Heather And Grass Moorland (Burning)

Monetary Compensatory Amounts

Rabies

Forest And Woodland Sales

Poultry Sector

Dairy Producers

Grimsby

Common Agricultural Policy (Expenditure)

Butter Fat

Surpluses

Oils And Fats Tax

Pig And Poultry Feed Prices

Pig And Poultry Industries

Agricultural Marketing Act 1958

Fisheries Conservation

Farm Tenancies

Salmon And Sea Trout

Agricultural Settlement

Animal Movements

Agricultural Wages Board

Horses, Ponies And Donkeys

Prime Minister

Engagements

Farm Workers (Wages)

Luton

National Union Of Mineworkers

Norfolk

Geneva Convention

War Widows (Pensions)

Treaty Of Union

Appointments

Falkland Islands

Northern Ireland

Personal Information (Access)

European Community (Rebate)

Trade And Industry

Development Assistance

Departmental Buildings (Vat)

Small Businesses (Advice)

Schemes (Funding)

Retail Weighing Machines

Cellular Radio

Investment Assistance Scheme

Patent Office

Director General Of Telecommunications

False And Misleading Price Information

Home Department

Diplomatic Vehicles (Wheel Clamps)

Overseas Broadcasting Companies

Television Licences (Hotels)

Personal Information (Access)

Drug Addiction

Parole

Solvents

Hendon Police College

Independent Radio Stations

Criminal Injuries (Compensation)

Education And Science

Youth Service

Secondary Education

Comprehensive Schools

Overseas Students