asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a detailed statement of the total expenditure overseas by Her Majesty's Government during the most recent financial year for which statistics are available.

Table 1.9 of the Public Expenditure White Paper Cmnd. 9143 shows that in 1982–83, the last financial year for which reliable outturn information is available, current grants abroad and net lending and investment abroad by the public sector amounted to £1,687 million net.The main components of this expenditure are detailed in the following table:

Public Expenditure Main Programme	£ million
Defence	35
Overseas aid and other overseas services*	1,607
Agriculture, fisheries, food and forestry	16
Trade, industry, energy and employment	-215
Transport	7
Education and science	46
Health and personal social services	18
Social security	169
* Further details on the overseas services programme may be obtained from Chapter 2.2 of Cmnd. 9143.

The table excludes defence expenditure of about £1·7 billion defrayed overseas (for example, on equipment and overseas bases); this is included in the defence budget but is not separately identified as overseas expenditure.Also excluded from the table are salaries paid to locally employed staff overseas, which are classified in the White Paper as part of other current expenditure but cannot be separately identified without incurring disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when Maryhill Community Business will be issued with a 714 certificate from the Inland Revenue.

I regret that I cannot comment publicly on the tax position of any particular individual or company. I shall, however, write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what representations he has recently received about the imposition of value added tax on ex-service organisations and in particular the British Legion; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he has any plans to relieve ex-service organisations of value added tax.

During the last three months my Treasury colleagues and I have received a total of 27 representations from ex-service organisations regarding a general VAT relief for charities and similar bodies. Of this total, some 18 originated from secretaries of branches of the Royal British Legion.There are already a number of specific reliefs from value added tax which are of significant benefit to charities which care for the handicapped and the disabled, such as ex-service organisations. Goods which are donated for sale by such organisations are zero-rated on sale. In addition a wide range of medical equipment (including ambulances) used in medical research, diagnosis or treatment is relieved. This relief also covers the purchase of equipment and appliances solely for the use of handicapped persons, either in their own homes or in a charitable institution which cares for the handicapped. The hire of any of the above goods by a charity and the services of repair and maintenance are also relieved.The Government have carefully considered the requests for a wider relief from VAT on all the non-business purchases of charities generally, including ex-service organisations, but have concluded firmly against it for three main reasons. First, VAT relief would give a very uneven spread of benefits.The actual sums going to each body would depend on its pattern of spending rather than the level of public support it enjoyed. Second, it would be expensive. Precisely how much it would cost is not calculable, but it would certainly run into tens of millions of pounds of revenue which would have to be raised from other sources. Third, the size and administrative complexity of a relief scheme would make it a very wasteful and inefficient way of helping charities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 13 March, Official Report, column 140, he will make a further statement about distraint and poinding for the recovery of unpaid tax.

Provision of £1,250,000 as a new service has been made in the 1984–85 main Supply Estimate in Class XIII Vote 5 (Economic and financial administration) (Customs and Excise) for expenditure (including interest) on the repayment of legal costs recovered in respect of the levying of distress for unpaid VAT in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and of fees paid by traders to Sheriff Officers in respect of poinding for unpaid VAT in Scotland. Pending parliamentary approval for the 1984–85 Estimate, expenditure of up to £150,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to announce his conclusion on the recommendations made by the committee on enforcement powers of the revenue departments in volumes 1 and 2 of its report, Cmnd. 8822.

Subject, where appropriate to the outcome of the further discussions referred to in the answer of 8 May at column 315, I expect to announce my conclusions on VAT towards the end of the year, in time for the legislative proposals to be published in the 1985 Finance Bill. On the direct taxes the Keith committee saw a need for more radical modernisation, and some of the proposals would also require substantial adjustments in working procedures. I have authorised the Board of Inland Revenue to have further consultations on these with the interested parties. I hope that, in the light of these discussions, it will be possible to bring forward next year draft clauses representing the Government's conclusions, with a view to legislation in 1986.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now able to announce the detailed provisions of a relief from value added tax for alterations to listed buildings; and if he will make a statement.

During the debate on schedule 6 to the Finance (No. 2) Bill on 30 April, at column 147, I announced that I would consider a concession limited to structural alterations to listed buildings. As I hoped then, I am now able to announce the detailed provisions, in advance of the general application of VAT to building alterations from 1 June.The Government intend to move an amendment to the Finance Bill at Report stage, to add a new group to the zero rating schedule. The broad effect will be to zero rate the following:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on the mutilation of domestic animals kept as pets; and if he will make a statement.

It is the Government's policy to maintain the present strict standards of control over operative procedures which may cause pain or suffering to pet animals. Pet animals are protected by the Protection of Animals Act 1911 which makes it an offence, inter alia, to cause any unnecessary suffering to an animal or to subject it to any operation which is performed without due care and humanity. The Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954 requires the use of anaesthetics in any operation involving interference with the sensitive tissues on the bone structure with certain exemptions where the operation is not likely to cause pain or is necessary in an emergency. Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 certain operations may only be performed by a veterinary surgeon. The Government believe these controls to be adequate but recognise the feeling against mutilation amongst many veterinary surgeons and are keeping them under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representation he has received on the mutilation of domestic animals kept as pets.

Very few. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has recently drawn my attention to a report produced by its working party in 1976 and the proposed Council of Europe instrument on companion animals has aroused the interest of veterinary and some welfare bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will describe the weeding criteria used by the national identification bureau for the names indexes of the police national computer.

The national identification bureau is responsible for weeding one of the names indexes of the police national computer only; viz, the criminal names index. The criteria are as follows:

A Data subjects over 70 years of age: records are weeded if the following conditions are met:

(i) the subject has not been heard of in the last 10 years (i.e. no new information has been added to the microfiche record in that period);

(ii) the subject was neither convicted of murder nor was a murder victim; and

(iii) the record is not of special interest.

B Data subjects between 40 and 70 years of age: records are weeded if the following conditions are met:

(i) the subject has not been heard of in the last 20 years;

(ii) there is only one conviction on the NIB record (minor offences are disregarded), no subsequent breach of probation and no outstanding proceedings;

(iii) the aggregate sentence for the conviction did not exceed 6 months' imprisonment (including suspended sentences);

(iv) there is no record of any mental illness;

(v) there is no record of any sexual offence or indecency;

(vi) the subject was neither convicted of murder nor was a murder victim; and

(vii) the record is not of special interest.

C Data subjects under 40 years of age: records are weeded if all the conditions at B are met and the data subject was under the age of 14 at the time of conviction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of persons prosecuted for (a) the possession and (b) the unlawful supply of heroin in England and Wales in each year since 1974.

The information requested is given in the following table. Figures for 1983 are not yet available.

Persons* proceeded against for unlawful supply or possession of heroin—England and Wales
	Number of persons
	Unlawful supply	Possession with intent to supply unlawfully	Unlawful possession	Total
1974	73	29	315	362
1975	61	40	307	350
1976	59	53	372	413
1977	67	52	267	323
1978	46	37	322	356
1979	46	56	389	420
1980	109	82	545	627
1981	136	98	594	694
1982	183	113	691	800
* As the same person may be proceeded against for more than one offence, columns cannot be added together to produce totals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any persons from the armed forces have been or are being used in any way whatsoever in the mining dispute.

Service men are not involved in the policing of events arising from the dispute. Some service accommodation and catering facilities are being provided, temporarily, when police officers are having to be accommodated in force areas other than their own.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from each chief constable concerned to provide details to date for each police force area of the number of pickets arrested; and how many of these have occurred since 2 May.

The figures available centrally relate to the period since 14 March. The following numbers of arrests have been made in connection with events arising from the miners' dispute:

Police force area	Number of arrests
	14 March to 16 May inclusive	3 to 16 May inclusive
Derbyshire	189	43
Durham	90	30
Essex	157	32
Greater Manchester	17	13
Humberside	1	0
Kent	47	47
Lancashire	2	0
Leicestershire	15	3
Merseyside	21	14
Northumbria	33	0
North Wales	14	12
Nottinghamshire	1,077	345
South Wales	58	0
South Yorkshire	185	0
Staffordshire	177	46
Warwickshire	78	6
West Yorkshire	3	3
	2,164	594

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from each chief constable concerned to provide details to date of the number of police injured in dealing with the current miners' dispute; and how many of these have occurred since 2 May.

The figures available centrally relate to the period since 14 March. The following numbers of police officers have been injured in dealing with events arising from the miners' dispute:

Police force area	Number of officers injured
	14 March to 16 May inclusive	3 to 16 May inclusive
Derbyshire	42	26
Durham	7	1
Essex	3	1
Greater Manchester	1	1
Kent	2	2
Leicestershire	1	0
Northumbria	8	0
North Wales	1	0
Nottinghamshire	108	88
South Wales	1	0
South Yorkshire	52	0
Staffordshire	7	0
Warwickshire	1	0
Totals	234	119

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires occurred in retail premises throughout the United Kingdom in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The numbers of fires in retail distributive trade premises from 1972 to 1982 are published in table 1 of "Fire Statistics, United Kingdom, 1982". Figures for 1983 are not yet available.

Persons* proceeded against for offences under drugs legislation or for other offences involving controlled drugs by type of offence and sex
United Kingdom	Number of persons
Type of offence	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Unlawful production—cannabis
Male	364	416	495	684	856	845	1,036	1,880	1,408	1,279
Female	62	76	98	127	197	157	267	433	288	257
Total	426	492	593	811	1,053	1,002	1,303	2,313	1,6%	1,536
Unlawful production—other drugs
Male	4	7	15	22	19	25	19	9	22	30
Female	—	1	3	1	1	2	2	—	2	3
Total	4	8	18	23	20	27	21	9	24	33
Unlawful supply
Male	650	842	778	863	792	828	740	940	1,091	1,169
Female	98	110	96	135	102	114	100	135	158	189
Total	748	952	874	998	894	942	840	1,075	1,249	1,358
Possession with intent to supply unlawfully†
Male	92	384	554	606	613	590	596	711	836	973
Female	10	52	62	88	80	78	75	113	130	146
Total	102	436	616	694	693	668	671	824	966	1,119

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the case of prisoners James Farrell and others convicted of a bank robbery in 1977, in the light of new forensic and technical evidence.

I have ordered a review of the whole case following the receipt of further opinions on some of the evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children of school age have been notified as being drug addicts.

Information about the age of drug addicts notified to the Home Office in the years 1973 to 1982 is given in tables 12.1 and 13.1 of "Statistics of the Misuse of Drugs, United Kingdom, Supplementary Tables, 1982". Corresponding information for 1983 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the advisory council on the misuse of drugs report on prevention.

Within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of persons prosecuted for drug offences, by sex and category of offence, in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested is given in the following table. Figures for 1983 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Peter J. Prior was appointed chairman of the inquiry into the prison disciplinary system; and what knowledge or experience he has of the penal system.

My right hon. and learned Friend invited Mr. Prior to serve as chairman of the committee on the prison disciplinary system because he is confident that, although Mr. Prior himself has no specialised knowledge of the penal system, he will lead effectively a committee which includes among its members others with the relevant background in these and other matters. He is most grateful to Mr. Prior for agreeing to undertake this task.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has declined to attend in person the royal opening of the international fire conference and exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

I regret that Government business and other engagements prevent me from attending the opening of this event. Lord Elton, who is the Home Office Minister with responsibility for the fire service, will be present on my behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how he intends to pursue the system of energy labelling for houses recommended by his marketing advisers.

I strongly support the proposals my marketing advisers have made about establishing a system of energy labelling for houses. Much more needs to be done so that when people buy a house they are aware how much energy it is likely to consume and how efficiently that energy will be used. I have therefore called a meeting involving leading building societies, estate agents, surveyors and builders, to discuss my marketing advisers' proposals. This will take place on Monday 21 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the amounts of nuclear waste imported into the United Kingdom by (a) sea, (b) rail and (c) road, in 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.Nuclear waste has not been imported into the United Kingdom. Spent irradiated nuclear fuel is imported prior to reprocessing at the Sellafield plant of British Nuclear Fuels plc, and information about this was given in the reply which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Energy gave on 5 March at columns 393–94 to the right hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Orme); spent fuel arrives in the United Kingdom by ship. Apart from very infrequent local road transfers from ship to railhead, onward transport in the United Kingdom is by rail.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the Buttonwood military base is under the jurisdiction of the United States military authorities.

Military command of all US personnel at RAF Burtonwood is exercised by the United States military authorities. Legal jurisiction in relation to United Kingdom law is governed by the provisions of the Visiting Forces Act 1952.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the established strength of the Royal Observer Corps; and how much the corps is currently under establishment.

The Royal Observer Corps has an establishment of 12,309. At the end of April 1984, its strength was 10,734. Recent recruiting trends have been encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent Voluntary Service Overseas operates in Zimbabwe.

VSO opened its field office in Harare in January 1984. It expects to have 25 to 30 volunteers working in the field by the end of the year in the education sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now specify all the agreed development projects overseas where Christian Aid received 50 per cent. of the total cost.

Development projects have been co-financed with Christian Aid since 1976. In 1983–84 the Overseas Development Administration provided Christian Aid with 50 per cent. of the total cost of the following agreed development projects:

• Education and Training for Mining Co-operatives, Bolivia
• Rural Health Programme, Bolivia
• Support for Potato-growing Collectives, Bolivia
• Community Health Project, Bolivia
• Inputs for Agricultural Stations, Ghana
• Family Care Worker Project, India
• Gohri Dairy Development Project, India
• Community Health Programme, India
• Adult Education Programme, India
• Village Agricultural Guides, India
• Sathiala Dairy Development Project, India
• Sharpanapuram Lift Irrigation Scheme, India
• Dryland Farming Project, India
• Family Welfare Centre, India
• Katagudi Village Development Programme, India
• Pondicherry Pottery Project, India
• Integrated Socio-Economic Programme, India
• Women's Development Unit, India
• Non-formal Education Programme, India
• Volunteers for Village Development, India
• Vellore Community Health Programme, India
• Centre for Rural Health and Social Educaion, Tirupatar, India
• Madras Christian Council for Social Service, India
• Watershed Management Programme, India
• Association of Sarva Seva Farms, India
• Christian Service Committee, Malawi
• Pig Production Project, Zelaya, Nicaragua
• Multan Community Health and Development Programme, Pakistan
• Campesino Communiy Rural Development Programme, Cusco, Peru
• Chimbote Education Team, Peru
• Manila Community Services, Philippines
• Iling Island Water Project, Philippines
• Family Planning and Public Health Programme, Rwanda
• Helena Goldie Hospital Training and Outreach Programme, Solomon Islands
• Bentui Primary Health Care Programme, Sudan
• Milo Village Water Supply, Tanzania
• Kalembo Village Grain Store, Tanzania
• Fruit Tree Cultivation, Morogoro, Tanzania
• Primary Health Care and Dry Season Agriculture Project, Kindi, Upper Volta
• Adult Literacy Oganisation, Zimbabwe

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide additional funds for the aid programme for the joint funding scheme.

I have agreed, subject to parliamentary approval, to increase grant support for overseas development projects jointly funded with British voluntary organisations by one million pounds in the current financial year, from £2·59 million to £3·59 million. A large number of British voluntary agencies will benefit; Oxfam, Christian Aid, Save the Children Fund and the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to encourage the establishment of co-operatives by pupils and the development of co-operative education in schools.

The details of the curriculum are for the LEAs and schools themselves to determine.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he plans any special initiative to promote better understanding between young people from different countries during International Youth Year; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Government have decided to invite 250 young people to visit this country in July 1985, as part of their contribution to International Youth Year. The visitors will come from up to 22 countries in membership of the Council of Europe and will be hosted in 10 groups throughout the various regions of the United Kingdom. The aim is to increase mutual understanding among young people in Europe as part of a continuing series of visits to other European countries being promoted under the aegis of the Council of Europe.In line with the approved criteria for International Youth Year projects, young people will have the opportunity to be involved in planning at the national level and with the United Kingdom groups responsible for the design and management of the individual local programmes. Additionally, plans are in hand for a national function in London to bring together all the young visitors and their British hosts at the end of the visits.The basic cost of the visits will be met by the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges from Government funds but the bureau will be seeking additional sponsorship to extend the scope of the visits.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in each county in Wales are currently receiving a grant under the enterprise allowance scheme at the latest available date; and how much money has been allocated to the scheme in Wales.

The information is only available on an employment area basis and on 9 May 1984 the number of people receiving the enterprise allowance was as follows:

	Number
North Wales	561
West Wales	563
Mid Glamorgan	571
South Glamorgan
Gwent	294

The allocation for Wales in 1984–85 is approximately £4·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been created as a result of the enterprise allowance scheme in each county in Wales.

Information is only available about numbers of actual recipients of enteprise allowance and I have given figures to the hon. Gentleman in another answer today. No information is however available about people employed by recipients.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many businesses set up under the enterprise allowance scheme in each county in Wales are still in operation (a) one year and (b) 18 months after they started.

The information is not available since the enterprise allowance scheme has been in operation nationally only since August 1983. However, inquiries carried out in the pilot areas which included Wrexham and where the scheme started in April 1982 showed that 90 per cent. of those who joined the scheme remained in it for 12 months and three quarters of those who joined were still in business 19 months after joining.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average length of time for applicants on the waiting list of the enterprise allowance scheme in each county in Wales in 1983 and at the latest available date.

No waiting lists were necessary in 1983. However, the considerable growth in interest in the scheme made it necessary to introduce waiting lists early in 1984. Information is not available for all counties, but on an employment area basis on 2 May 1984 the numbers on the waiting lists and the average waiting time was as follows:

	Number	Months
North Wales	478	6
West Wales	425	6
Mid and South Glamorgan	320	6 to 7
Gwent	210	5 to 6

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many places are presently available per week under the enterprise allowance scheme in each county in Wales; how many extra places are planned; and how much extra money will be allocated to cover the costs of the extra places.

Information is not available on a county basis, on an employment area basis, the number of places currently available per week are 11 each in north Wales, west Wales, mid and south Glamorgan and six in Gwent. For the period May, June and July an extra 313 places are to be made available bringing the weekly total to 18 each in north Wales, west Wales, mid and south Glamorgan and 10 in Gwent. The cost of the extra places will be of the order of £400,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many hospital beds there are in the private health sector in the Principality; and how this figure compares with each of the past five years.

This information is not available in the form requested. There are currently 246 beds in premises registered under the Nursing Homes Act 1975 which offer acute medical and surgical care. This compares with 200 in 1979, 196 in 1980, 244 in 1981 and 1982 and 246 in 1983 (as at 31 December in each case).

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the members of the Health Education Advisory Committee for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Newport, West (Mr. Robinson) on 28 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assistance he proposes to give to the dairy farmers of Anglesey following the European Economic Community milk quota scheme;(2) what Government assistance is being given to the dairy sector in each member country of the European Economic Community following the EEC decision on milk production; what such assistance Her Majesty's Government intend to give to the farmers of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The small producer scheme is being continued for a further two years and there are various Community schemes available for aiding the development of farm enterprises other than milk. In addition, the levy system is being phased in over one year thus reducing its immediate impact, and 2·5 per cent. of the total England and Wales MMB quota is being set aside for special cases. This will allow some additional quota to be made available, for example to producers with development plans, or producers whose production is severely affected by special circumstances such as disease or destruction of buildings or fodder. There are also provisions under directive 72/159 available for producers to retire from farming. It is too early to say whether any further schemes of assistance will be made available to dairy farmers in the Member States of the Community. The Government are currently considering possible schemes to assist dairy producers facing special difficulties as a result of the recent EEC dairy quota arrangements apart from those who may benefit as hardship cases under the special reserve.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many health authorities in Wales have submitted a timed programme under paragraph 10 of HC(83)18 concerning privatisation of ancillary services by 30 April; and, of these, which included in their programmes early prospects of a tendering exercise.

WHC(83)24 is the Welsh Office equivalent of DHSS Circular HC(83)18. Six of the nine authorities have so far submitted a timed programme. All have included early prospects of a tendering exercise.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland how many teachers have been prosecuted over the past three years for assaulting pupils; how many such complaints have been forwarded to procurators fiscal; and how many warnings have been issued by procurators fiscal to the teachers concerned.

The information requested is not avaiable as neither the police nor procurators fiscal keep figures for the number of teachers charged with assaulting pupils or proceeded against in respect of such offences.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland what are the criteria used by procurators fiscal in deciding whether to prosecute teachers for alleged assault on pupils.

The criteria used by procurators fiscal when deciding whether to take proceedings against a teacher for alleged assault on pupils are the same criteria as are used in any case where there is an allegation of criminal conduct, namely: whether the facts disclose a crime; whether there is sufficient evidence in support of the facts; whether there is sufficient excuse for the conduct of the accused such that proceedings would not be justified; and whether the conduct is of sufficient seriousness to merit criminal proceedings.

asked the Solicitor-General for Scotland if he will take steps to bring the procedure for notifying deaths connected with industrial diseases in Scotland into line with the procedure in England and Wales to ensure that a post mortem is carried out.

Procurators fiscal carry out investigation into sudden, unexplained and suspicious deaths, and are required to inquire into deaths arising out of industrial employment, by accident, industrial disease or industrial poisoning. The general register office issues a list of types of death which are to be reported to the procurator fiscal. That list includes a reference to industrial diseases and gives details of those particular diseases which should be reported. The list has recently been revised and extended. In the context of industrial diseases it is now substantially the same as that issued to registrars in England who are required by regulations to report such deaths to coroners. The Crown Office is anxious to co-operate fully with the pneumoconiosis medical panel and DHSS with a view to establishing a satisfactory procedure for dealing with such deaths and ensuring that autopsies take place where required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has calculated the heat loss in any one hour from a room 15 feetx12½feetx8feet heated to 65 where a freeway acoustic ventilator has been fitted under the Noise Insulation (Scotland) Regulation 1975, due to trunk road improvements.

No. Heat losses or gains likely to result from the fitting of complementary ventilators and secondary glazing will depend on a number of variable factors. They are not a consideration relevant to installation in terms of the Noise Insulation (Scotland) Regulations 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available additional assistance to householders affected by increased energy costs as a result of the decision to fit freeway acoustic ventilators under the Noise Insulation (Scotland) Regulation 1975.

No. The measures offered under the terms of the Noise Insulation (Scotland) Regulations 1975 are designed to insulate rooms against traffic noise while permitting adequate ventilation. It is for the residents to decide when to use the ventilators, and so energy use may vary from household to household and according to the weather.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what savings are likely to be made by the decision to fit freeway acoustic ventilators to houses in Dundee, under the Noise Insulation (Scotland) Regulation 1975 rather than fitting double glazing.

None. Under the Noise Insulation (Scotland) Regulations 1975 ventilator units are a prescribed complementary measure where either double or secondary glazing is installed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of households in the area covered by the North Cunninghame constituency are single-parent families.

Answers to the question on relationship in the 1981 Census were processed on a 10 per cent. sample basis and no analysis of these is available for the area specified.From answers to the questions on age, sex and marital status relating to usual residents of private households in Cunninghame, North county constituency which were occupied on census night, it is known that 2·2 per cent. of these households consisted of one person aged 16 or over and one or more under 16 and it is estimated that 5·4 per cent. of them contained at least one one-parent family with dependent children (under 16 or single students under 25).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if an estimate has yet been made of the number of farmers in Scotland who will be considered hardship cases under the quota system for milk.

An accurate estimate has not so far been possible, because of protracted discussions between member states and the Commission on a number of outstanding points, several of which relate to hardship criteria. However, it is thought that there could be as many as 1,500–1,800 cases in Scotland, around 60 per cent. of them being producers who have invested substantially in expanding their enterprises, either from private resources or with the aid of Community or Government-assisted development plans. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland is presently discussing the handling of such cases with representatives of the industry. I hope that it will be possible to notify producers soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much extra production will come from farms where a farm and horticultural development scheme is still operating to increase cow numbers in Scotland.

It is difficult at this stage to assess accurately the degree of extra production which may be expected from farms implementing FHDS plans. Preliminary investigations suggest that of about 1,100 producers in Scotland with development plans, two-thirds are due for completion between now and 1986. If production was permitted to increase in line with the development plan forecasts it is estimated that it would total some 90 million litres over 1983 production levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish his reply to the recent report of the Director General of Fair Trading on home improvements.

Most of the recommendations in the director general's report are not addressed to Government. Those that are are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recent consultation the Government have had with British Shipbuilders concerning the level of support for merchant shipbuilding obtainable from the European Economic Community;(2) if the Government have made a formal approach to the European Economic Community to request new and higher levels of support for merchant shipbuilding;(3) if Her Majesty's Government will make it their policy when making representations to the European Economic Community on the level of support for merchant shipbuilding to seek to cover in total the cost price gap between European Economic Community yards and far eastern yards.

Following consultations with British Shipbuilders we have tabled proposals to the European Commission for a significant increase in the permissible level of Government support for shipbuilding orders. The need to bridge the gap between United Kingdom costs and far eastern prices is one of the main reasons for this initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the Director General of Fair Trading is investigating the practice of retailers who accept only cash and will not accept credit cards or cheques with a bank card for sums in excess of £100.

I understand that the director general has no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action has been taken on the Monopolies and Mergers Commission report on the supply of concrete roofing tiles in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

In her statement of 19 November 1981 my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Consumer Affairs set out the Commission's findings and recommendations and said that the Government were arranging for discussions to be opened with the parties concerned about giving effect to the Commission's recommendations.Before setting out the steps taken to give effect to the commission's recommendations, I need to make clear one matter in relation to the finding against Redland Ltd, which has drawn attention to the procedure followed by the commission when finding that a monopoly situation existed in favour of the company. It is the commission's practice, before making a finding, to send to the person in respect of whom the finding may be made, a letter, setting out the relevant matters which may concern the public interest, and giving the person concerned an opportunity to make representations. In this case, this letter was sent to Redland Roof Tiles Ltd (the subsidiary of Redland Ltd which through itself and its subsidiaries carried on the reference business). Redland Ltd, a non-trading company, did not itself receive such a letter, and points out that, as a result, it was not afforded an opportunity to make representations to the commission in accordance with the commission's normal procedure. Had Redland Ltd received such a letter, representations might have been made in respect of the commission's intention to make a finding against that company, and the company was of the opinion that the report should not have contained any finding in relation to it. It was explained to the company that it was not open to the commission to change a report once it had been submitted to the Secretary of State, and that it was not open to the Secretary of State to amend such a report in any way. But subsequent discussions on giving effect to the commission's recommendations have been held with Redland Roof Tiles Ltd. Redland Ltd has suggested that the point to which it has drawn attention should be put on record and that the record should be made available to future purchasers of the commission's report. I am glad to accede to this suggestion; and I am arranging for HMSO to insert a slip containing an appropriate extract from this statement in copies of the report for future sale.Following discussions with the Office of Fair Trading and the Department, Redland and Marley have given undertakings to implement the commission's recommendations. The commission's findings only related to Great Britain, but the commission expressed the hope that such of its recommendations as were adopted would also be applied to Northern Ireland, and in response to this the undertakings given by Redland relates to Northern Ireland as well as Great Britain and undertakings have also been given by Scott (Toomerbridge) Ltd of Northern Ireland.All three companies have agreed to provide the Director General of Fair Trading with details of projects for which the 10 highest levels of discount had been offered in particular regions, and with other financial information to allow him to monitor the industry, as well as to give him advance notice of any proposals to acquire another concrete roofing tile company. In addition Redland has undertaken to continue to make its roof tile fittings freely available to builders merchants. The commission also made recommendations regarding local authorities' specifications and buying procedures. The Department of Environment has brought these recommendations to the attention of the following bodies: The Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Association of District Councils, the London Boroughs Association, the Greater London Council, the New Towns Association, the National Federation of Housing Associations, the Housing Corporation and the Local Authorities Management Services Committee. It has also written to the Scottish Office, the Welsh Office, the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland, the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Health and Social Security and the Home Office so that they, too, can bring the commission's recommendations to the attention of the local authority associations and public bodies with whom they are concerned.I welcome the undertakings given by Redland, Marley and Scott (Toomebridge) and the action taken by the Department of the Environment. I consider them sufficient to remedy the adverse affects specified in the commission's report.I have arranged for copies of the full text of the undertakings to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the likely financial effect on the tourism industry in England of the decision to impose a new television licence arrangement for hotels.

[pursuant to the reply, 16 May 1984, c. 188]: The following table gives examples of the annual costs of the new arrangements to various sizes of hotel offering colour television in guests' bedrooms and assuming a 50 per cent. occupancy rate the additional costs which might be passed on to the customer per night.

Hotels with television in	£	Pence
15 rooms	46	0
50 rooms	368	3½
100 rooms	828	4
500 rooms	4,508	5
1,000 rooms	9,108	5

There is no wholly comprehensive information on either the number of hotels in England or the number of television sets in hotel bedrooms. However, of those hotels registered with the English tourist board which provide television sets in all bedrooms 49 per cent. have 15 rooms or less and will therefore be unaffected by the new arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the main policy achievements of his Department since May 1979.

Since my answer of last year at columns 300–1 on 26 April, my Department has further re-established confidence in the United Kingdom as a country able and willing to play its full part in shaping world events. The Government's achievement is now recognised internationally.The Government have worked successfully with Britain's allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to maintain the peace in Europe, to strengthen the Alliance and to consolidate the transatlantic partnership in all fields. They have been active in moves to develop a more constructive relationship with the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. They have adhered firmly to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's 1979 decision on deployment of cruise missiles, while retaining a clear commitment to achieving just and verifiable arms control agreements with the Soviet Union. The Government contributed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Montebello decision to reduce the stockpile of nuclear warheads in Europe. In order to strengthen the international non-proliferation regime Her Majesty's Government took a leading part in the successful international negotiations for export controls on nuclear components.The Government have continued to work to strengthen the European Community and its capacity to play an effective role in the world. We have achieved budget refunds for Britain totalling £2,500 million since 1980, some two thirds of our net contribution. We have obtained higher returns from the regional and social funds than ever before. The first steps have been taken towards reducing agricultural surpluses and ensuring that the common agricultural policy takes up a diminishing proportion of the Community budget.Elsewhere in the world, the Government have played a full and active role in strengthening Britain's ties with Commonwealth and other countries and in fighting for freedom and justice. We have maintained a substantial aid programme, as an investment in the development and prosperity of the poorer countries and in an expanding world economy. In addition, the Government have boosted economic progress in Commonwealth and other developing countries by permitting the free flow of capital for investment there.During their period in office the Government have brought six former dependent territories to successful independence. Most recently, we have helped Brunei to resume full international responsibility as a sovereign independent state. At the same time, we have honoured our responsibilities to other dependent territories, including, in particular, to the people of the Falkland Islands.The Government have played a constructive part in the United Nations and continue to contribute to its peacekeeping operations in Cyprus. Elsewhere British contingents in Sinai and Belize have a valuable role in maintaining stability. We have worked actively for peaceful solutions to the problems in the Middle East and the Lebanon in particular and have worked for realistic solutions to other international problems including Afghanistan and Southern Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet his European counterparts.

My right hon. and learned Friend expects to meet other Community Foreign Ministers at the informal meeting being held in France from 25–27 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the arrangements he proposes for London-wide voluntary bodies and grant funding in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council.

I refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's announcement on 11 April 1984, at columns 406–7.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, using the latest election results, he will estimate the political composition of the constituent councils that would arise from the application of clause 2(4) of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Bill.

Clause 2(4) would have no effect on the political composition of the constituent councils. Clause 2(5) would require constituent councils, so far as practicable, to reflect party balance in their appointments to the transitional councils. The resulting political composition of the transitional councils will depend on the constituent councils' decisions in the light of the party balance requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish (a) revenue expenditure and income, (b) capital expenditure and income and (c) gross debt of local authorities in England in a form consistent with table 3 of "Local Government Financial Statistics 1974–75" for each year from 1981–82 to 1984–85;(2) if he will publish

This information for 1974–75 to 1982–83 is currently being prepared for publication later this year in "Local Government Financial Statistics, 1982–83". Outturn information for 1983–84 and 1984–85 will be published in later editions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he proposes making any changes to the service components of grant-related expenditure assessments for 1985–86.

It is too early for me to say what changes might be made to GREs for 1985–86. I expect to consider later this summer a number of detailed proposals for changes to service methodology put forward by grants working group, as a result of its development programme this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which water authorities have imposed either bans or restrictions on the use of water; and whether he is aware of any other authorities intending to take such action in the immediate future.

The South West water authority imposed bans on the use of hosepipes in areas affecting 260,000 consumers from 12 May 1984. Further hosepipe bans by this water authority will affect another 93,800 consumers from 19 May. I am not aware of any other water authorities in England intending to take similar action in the immediate future, but the water supply situation continues to be monitored with a view to taking appropriate measures if the dry weather continues.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the administration of home improvement grants for unmodernised property, in (a) England and Wales and (b) the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.

The Government are committed to the improvement and repair of the substandard housing stock and home improvement grants are an important feature of this policy. The operation of the grant system is currently under review.Local authorities administer grants in their areas and Newcastle upon Tyne city council is responsible for determining grant applications in Newcastle, in accordance with its local housing investment policies and priorities.The grant system in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has as to the number of applications for house renovation grants received before 1 April 1984 which did not qualify for the higher rates of grant because they did not contain particulars of the proposed works, with a plan and an estimate of the cost of the work; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities administer the home improvement grant system and are responsible for deciding whether grant applications have been submitted in accordance with the requirements of section 57 of the Housing Act 1974, as amended.The information requested is not available to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require the employees of municipal housing departments to register their private sector financial interests and any other relationships which could conflict with the exercise of their public duties.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. Existing legislation, the arrangements for audit and the conditions of service of employees in local government taken together provide adequate safeguards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the decisions of the rent assessment committee covering Islington, North and give the number of increases and decreases over the past three years.

The information is not available in the form requested. Data showing mean rent assessment committee rents for all unfurnished rent registrations, the equivalent mean rent officer rents, and the percentage change in committee rents over rent officer rents, broken down by London borough, are given in "Rent Officer Note RO(S)39" for 1980; in RO(S)50 for 1981; and in RO(S)54 for the first half of 1982. Copies of these notes are available in the Library. Figures for more recent periods are not presently available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Biddlestone chapel, near Rothbury, Northumberland, is a listed building.

It is not a listed building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the Liverpool council leaders.

At a meeting yesterday with Liverpool city councillors, trade unionists and Members of Parliament I welcomed the willingness shown by the city council to move towards making a properly balanced budget and rate. We all recognise the appalling consequences that would flow for the people of Liverpool and council staff if this was not achieved.The councillors made a number of suggestions as to how such a balanced budget should be approached. I made it clear that I am in no position to vary the rate support grant settlement, that I am constrained by the national rules governing other grants and expenditure and that I also have a duty to safeguard the interests of all other authorities, some with equally pressing problems.I made it very clear that anything the Government might do could have no more than a marginal impact on the council's rate and budget for this year. Nevertheless, we agreed that our officials should, as a matter of urgency, discuss with officers of the council and report back swiftly on the possibilities of resolving the city's problem on the basis of a balanced budget.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the mode B1 youth training schemes in the Leeds area showing in respect of each the number of places available in the current year and in the coming year and the take-up of places in the current year.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Mode B1 Schemes in the Leeds local authority district	Approved places 1983–84	Numbers in training at end March 1984*	Target places planned 1984–85†
Community Projects
All Hallows	70	38	55
Bramley	78	59	70
Morley	25	19	25
Otley	60	32	55
Age Concern	50	32	50
Leeds Community Relations Council	50	30	42
Temple Newsam	54	25	30
Seacroft	80	68	65
Hunslet	65	58	65
Leeds Council for Voluntary Service	100	62	80
NACRO	54	38	50
YMCA "Training for Life"	100	68	70

Mode B1 Schemes in the Leeds local authority district	Approved places 1983–84	Numbers in training at end March 1984*	Target places planned 1984–85†
Training Workshops
Alfreda Rathbone	125	45	80
Hunslet Skill Centre‡	0	0	40
Rutland Lodge	55	40	50
Chapeltown	47	19	37
Seacroft Skill Centre‡	0	0	30
Salem	54	44	50
Middleton‡	0	0	30
Information Technology Centres
Hare Hills	30	28	30
Leeds City Council Sweet Street║	60	15	60
* Latest breakdown available.
† Target places may be subject to some minor adjustments.
‡ New schemes to start in 1984–85
║ Scheme which began on 12 March 1984

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the regional breakdown of youth training scheme places currently operated under the aegis of private training agencies as a percentage of (a) mode A and (b) all youth training scheme places in these regions.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 May 1984, c. 49]: Information in the precise form requested is not available. The following table gives information from a survey in October 1983 and shows the percentage of youth training scheme places in each region provided by private training agencies.

	Mode A Schemes	All Schemes
Scotland	7	7
Northern	18	13
North West	14	12
Yorks and Humberside	5	5
Midlands	13	12
Wales	14	10
South West	13	11
South East	1	1
London	12	11
Great Britain	10	9

The figures exclude those places which were arranged by the Manpower Services Commission's large companies unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many establishments inspected by the Wages Inspectorate were found to have underpaid workers and how many workers were involved in 1984 in the north-west (west) division of the Wages Inspectorate.

Between 1 January and 31 March 1984, 181 of the establishments inspected in the north-west (west) division of the Wages Inspectorate were found to have underpaid a total of 327 workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will name the 865 establishments in the north-west (west) division of the Wages Inspectorate that underpaid workers in 1983.

It is not the practice of the Department to publish names.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers in the north-west (west) division of the Wages Inspectorate were prosecuted for underpaying wages in 1983; and what was the outcome in each case.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the area covered by the north-west (west) division of the Wages Inspectorate.

The north-west (west) division of the Wages Inspectorate includes Lancashire, the metropolitan district of Wigan, Merseyside and the Wirral including the towns and surrounding areas of Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the European Council of Ministers will next be meeting to discuss social matters; what particular topics are likely to be on the agenda; and who will be representing Her Majesty's Government.

The Council of Ministers (Labour and Social Affairs) will be meeting on 7 June; my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will represent the United Kingdom. Ministers are expected to discuss a number of important proposals from the European Commission relating in a variety of ways to the current employment situation in Europe covering working time, women's unemployment, employee information (Vredeling), local employment initiatives, technological change and social adjustment, and a medium term social action programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ensure that the duties currently contained in the asbestos regulations 1969 and known as the practicable duties will not be replaced by a weaker phrasing, such as "reasonably practicable," in the forthcoming new asbestos regulations.

The Health and Safety Commission intends shortly to issue a consultative document containing proposals designed to replace the asbestos regulations 1969 with a comprehensive set of new regulations. The commission will give careful consideration to all comments received on this consultative document before presenting their final proposals to my right hon. Friend. It would be wrong for me to pre-empt in any way this process of public consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prohibition and improvement notices have been served by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate on quarries since 1975; and on what kind of hazards they were served.

The total number of prohibition and improvement notices served by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate in quarries since 1 January 1978 is 22 (Figures for 1975–77 are not available). Hazards on which the 22 notices were served are:

	Number
Projected material	15
Use of explosives	3
Rock slope failure	2
Haul road conditions	1
Use of electricity	1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of notices served by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate in each of the past five years; and what was the total number of employees in industries covered by the Inspectorate in each of those years.

The total number of notices served by the Mines and Quarries Inspectorate in each of the last five years is:

	Number
1979	4
1980	6
1981	5
1982	10
1983	5

The number of employees in industries covered by the inspectorate in each of those years is:

	Number
1979	291,418
1980	287,736
1981	270,101
1982	258,734
1983	not yet available

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of notices served by the Health and Safety Inspectorate in each of the past five years; and what was the total number of employees in manufacturing and service industries covered by the inspectorate in each of those years.

The table shows the available information:

Year	Number of notices served by Inspectorates of the HSE and HSC agencies*		Number of employees in manufacturing and service industries (thousands)
	Total number	: of which HM Factory Inspectorate
1978	10,066	7,172	20,172
1979	9,917	6,305	20,265
1980	8,637	4,099	19,879
1981	7,871	5,181	19,037
1982	7,414	5,060	18,508
* The Inspectorates are HM Factory Inspectorate, HM Agricultural Inspectorate, HM Mines and Quarries Inspectorate, HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and HM Industrial Air Pollution Inspectorate and those acting as agencies for HSC/HSE (Railway Inspectorate, HM Industrial Pollution Inspectorate for Scotland, Petroleum Engineering Division). Local authorities are not included.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to prohibit trade unions from compelling their members to make donations to outside organisations; and if he will make a statement.

It is unlawful for trade unions to impose special levies unless there is authority under their rules to do so. Whether the imposition of such levies is always in accordance with the wishes of union members must be a matter for doubt. The Trade Union Bill now before Parliament will ensure that trade union governing bodies are directly accountable to their members. The Government believe that this approach is preferable to imposing detailed restrictions on trade unions' decision making processes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of unemployment in (a) the northern region, (b) the mid-Northumberland area and (c) the Northumberland travel-to-work areas.

The following table gives the number of unemployed claimants, at 5 April, in the areas specified.

Travel-to-work area	Number
Alnwick	1,659
Berwick on Tweed	926
Haltwistle	419
Hexham	974
Morpeth (Mid-Northumberland)	9,156
North Region	225,569

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for East Lothian on Tuesday 15 May, what doubt there is concerning the entitlement to unemployment benefit of Mr. D. Watters of 52 Polworth terrace, Prestonpans, who was given notice of redundancy on 20 December 1983.

A person who is made redundant but who stops work because of a trade dispute during the notice period is liable to be disqualified from receiving unemployment benefit. The disqualification lasts as long as the stoppage of work continues even if this is some time after the redundancy takes effect.The doubt on Mr. Watters' entitlement to unemployment benefit arises because although his date of redundancy was 17 March 1984 he last worked on 24 February 1984. His claim has therefore been suspended while further inquiries are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for repayment of money wrongly deducted from supplementary benefit on grounds of voluntary unemployment have been received by local offices of his Department in Lambeth as a result of the advertising campaign in March; how many payments have resulted from these claims; and how many such payments had been made prior to the advertising campaign as a result of the check of current files and the publicity for dormant cases, respectively.

The numbers of payments made by the Lambeth local offices in respect of money wrongly deducted from supplementary benefits on grounds of voluntary unemployment are set out in the table. The numbers of unsuccessful inquiries is not recorded.

Office	Payments following check of current files	Payments following the advertising campaign in March
Balham	31	—
Battersea	18	—
Brixton	21	—
Camberwell	6	—
Crystal Palace	7	1
Streatham	16	1

No payments were made to former claimants following the earlier publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for repayment of money wrongly deducted from supplementary benefit on grounds of voluntary unemployment have been received by local offices of his Department in Newport, Gwent as a result of the advertising campaign in March; how many payments have resulted from these claims; and how many such payments had been made prior to the advertising campaign as a result of the check of current files and the publicity for dormant cases, respectively.