asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information his Department collects and publishes on earnings per socio-economic group.

Information on average earnings for employees in particular occupations which can be grouped to form socio-economic groups are published in the reports of the "New Earnings Survey", part D, the latest of which related to April 1983. Information on the incomes of households (distinguishing wages and salaries), analysed by broad occupational groups and employment status (employed, self-employed) of the head of the household, is contained in the reports of the "Family Expenditure Survey", the latest of which relates to 1982. Copies of these publications are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on employment trends.

The employed labour force increased by 106,000 (seasonally adjusted) in the fourth quarter of 1983, including an increase of 98,000 in the numbers of employees in service industries. This overall increase in the number of jobs was nearly double the rise of 54,000 in the previous quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people by age and sex in the Burnley travel-to-work area have left a youth training scheme; and how many of them have not been able to obtain permanent employment.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Burnley travel-to-work area have never had a job, by age group and sex.

The following table gives the available information for unemployed claimants on 10 May in the Burnley travel-to-work area. The figures relate to the number of unemployed school leavers i.e. young people who had not entered employment since terminating full-time education.

Age	Male	Female
Under 18 years	110	76
18 years	59	45
19 years and over	103	57

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have become available in Liverpool since May 1979; and how many jobs have been lost.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 2 March 1984 at column 389–90. Information on numbers of jobs created and jobs lost is not collected. The latest available information is that given in my earlier reply which showed that between June 1978 and September 1981 there was a net change of minus 55·1 thousand employees in the Liverpool travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of those under the age of 18 years currently registered as unemployed in the Leeds travel-to-work area have never been employed.

The available information relates to unemployed school leavers claiming benefit, that is, young people who had not entered employment since terminating full-time education. On 10 May, the number of unemployed claimant school leavers under 18 years of age in the Leeds travel-to-work area was 1,356.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what employment initiatives Her Majesty's Government have taken in Liverpool since 1979.

The Government have taken a number of important steps since 1979 to encourage industrial development and employment in Liverpool. The Merseyside task force was specifically set up to liaise with local authorities, public agencies and the private sector to take employment-creating initiatives in the area. Liverpool has been chosen as an experimental free port location and the Speke area is an enterprise zone. In addition to these specific initiatives, Liverpool has benefited from a large amount of assistance under national employment and training schemes, such as the youth training scheme, community programme and the young workers scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average earnings of both sexes in each year since 1977.

The average gross weekly earnings of adult male and female employees, both separately and combined, in successive Aprils since 1977 are published in table 5.6 of "Labour Market Data" in Employment Gazette for May 1984, a copy of which is in the Library. The figures relate to full-time male employees aged 21 and over, and full-time female employees aged 18 and over, whose pay was not affected by absence.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what use has been made of the powers conferred on him under the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to prohibit the use of pesticides on the grounds that they are likely to damage wildlife.

I have been asked to reply.None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the use by local authorities in Wales of their powers to assist controversial organisations by use of section 137 of the Local Government Act 1972; and if he will make a statement.

In recent weeks my right hon. Friend has received five letters objecting to the proposals of four borough councils to give money to assist the families of striking miners. I understand that this expenditure will be made under section 137. A year ago four letters were received complaining about the issue of a leaflet supporting the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament by South Glamorgan county council; in this case it was not clear whether the expenditure was under section III, 137 or 142 of the Local Government Act 1972. In 1982–83, the latest year for which figures are available, the total expenditure of Welsh local authorities under section 137 was £3·1 million. This was 0·17 per cent. of their total expenditure of £1,865 million. Nineteen of the 45 authorities made no use of section 137 at all, and only five exceeded 50 per cent. of the maximum expenditure they could have incurred.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest estimate for local authority capital and revenue spending in Wales in 1984–85; and if he will make a statement.

Welsh local authorities have budgeted for total revenue expenditure of £1,465 million in 1984–85. I am not yet in a position to give a firm estimate of authorities' full-year capital expenditure as I am still considering the local authority associations' representatives' views about what the figure might be, taking into account various assumptions which can be made for capital receipts and payments arising in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will increase the resource allocation made to Mid-Glamorgan health authority to meet the health needs of Cynon Valley.

This Government are making available record levels of resources to the Mid Glamorgan district health authority, including growth in available revenue resources in the current year of almost 2 per cent., after making allowance for pay and price increases. It is for the health authority to take account of the relative needs of different parts of the district in planning services.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many primary schools in Wales currently run mixed age group classes; and how many did so for each of the years 1979–80 to 1983–84 inclusive.

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many secondary level schools within the public sector in Wales currently offer a second modern language on the curriculum; and how many did so in 1982–83.

In 1983–84, it is estimated that 177 maintained secondary schools provided a curriculum which offered two or more modern languages. Comparable figures for 1982–3 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has been invited to attend the conference of the conference of the Welsh Association of District Councils in Llandrindod Wells on 5 July; and if he will make a statement.

I have been invited to the conference on Thursday 5 July. However, I have had to point out that duties in the House usually make it impossible to be in Wales in mid-week. The ADC found it impossible to change to the Friday and accept that it is therefore unlikely that I shall be able to attend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from Carlisle and Cumbria, respectively, regarding the use by the police of the Lion Intoximeter 3000; what replies he has sent; what action he now proposes; and if he will make a statement.

Details of some 190 cases involving a particular instrument in Carlisle have been referred to the Home Office by the Cumbria constabulary. Representations about particular cases which have been referred have been received from two members of the public and from a firm of solicitors in Carlisle, representing a number of the motorists involved. No direct representations have been received from the rest of Cumbria.The existence of these cases in Carlisle has been known since March, and was one of the factors which we took into account in reaching the decision which I announced on 26 March at columns

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the countries of origin referred to in his answer of 11 May, Official Report, columns 481–82, about guns and ammunition found at the Libyan People's Bureau, are the countries of manufacture or of purchase of the items concerned.

My reply to the hon. Member's question on 11 May at columns 481–2 referred to the countries of manufacture of the weapons and ammunition concerned. The police are still investigating how the Libyans came to acquire these items.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards there are against subliminal messages appearing on the British Broadcasting Corporation; and if he is satisfied that these are adequate.

I am satisfied that clause 13(6) of the BBC's Licence and Agreement of 2 April 1981, which requires the corporation not to include subliminal messages in its programmes, provides an adequate safeguard. It is for the BBC's board of governors to ensure that the provision is observed. I understand that the corporation considers that some brief, unrelated inserts included in a recent BBC comedy series might have been regarded as in breach of the spirit of the provision, and steps were taken to prevent a recurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he can report in his policy of reducing the period of time spent on remand before trial.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary are pursuing action on a number of fronts. In the magistrates' courts, our efforts are directed towards improving efficiency and reducing waiting times: a circular of guidance is being prepared, for issue this summer, on specific action that can be taken to reduce delay. In the Crown court, action taken by the Lord Chancellor to increase resources and make best use of them have reduced waiting times. Arrangements—which, as my right hon. and learned Friend announced recently, he hopes to introduce within a year—for the systematic advance disclosure of the prosecution's case in magistrates' courts should also help to reduce the number of cases committed for trial. He is considering the question of statutory limits on the time which may be spent on remand in custody before trial, as recommended by the Select Committee on Home Affairs in its First Report of this session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has yet approved the accommodation schedule for the new court house in Stockport; and if he will make a statement.

Approval was given on 21 May to the accommodation schedule for this scheme, apart from one specific area. This is linked with proposals for plant and equipment which are being considered in conjunction with the Stockport metropolitan borough council's provisional cost estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to lay before Parliament regulations extending the concessionary television licence scheme to disabled and mentally handicapped people in residential accommodation.

We expect to do so next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will outline the reasons that have led Her Majesty's Government to prevent the sale of United Kingdom oil to Israel; and whether he will now revise this policy.

The Government have made it clear to companies exporting North Sea crude oil that they expect them to do so in the markets of our European Community or International Energy Agency partners, or where there is an existing pattern of trade. This guidance reflects our collaboration on energy matters with member states of the Community and the agency. There are no proposals to revise this policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list those member or associate member countries of the Council of Europe to which the United Kingdom refuses to sell oil; and what are the reasons in each case.

Exports to Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Malta and Yugoslavia are precluded by Her Majesty's Government's guidelines, as they are not members of the Community or of the International Energy Agency, nor is there an existing pattern of trade in crude oil with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he will lay the latest accounts of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive before Parliament.

The accounts of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for 1982–83 together with the reports of the Local Government Auditor and of the Comptroller and Auditor-General thereon were laid today (Cmnd. 9248). The matters raised by the Auditors have been discussed between the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and the Housing Executive and follow-up action has been agreed.I have arranged for copies of a statement by the Housing Executive in response to the Local Government Auditor's report to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what has been the value of discounts per year in Northern Ireland on the sale of public sector housing since the policy of house sales was introduced;(2) what surveys have been undertaken by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to establish priority estates; what factors were taken into consideration in defining a priority estate; and what conditions must be fulfilled before they are declared;

These are matters for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, but I understand from the chairman that the information is not readily available; I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average amount of housing subsidy provided by the Government in Northern Ireland per

	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982
Northern Ireland Housing Executive Tenants Basic	16,684	18,632	16,912	21,896	27,323	34,742
Long Term	30,566	31,526	33,784	34,320	35,970	37,283
Private Tenants Basic	3,243	2,707	2,348	2,987	3,591	4,918
Long Term	13,086	12,201	11,104	10,719	10,084	9,500
Owner/Occupiers Basic	3,872	3,677	3,347	4,523	6,330	8,390
Long Term	11,773	11,783	11,715	14,011	13,454	14,101

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland fail to qualify for supplementary benefit when it is assessed at the short-term rate; and how many people would qualify if assessed at the long-term rate.

Such records are not compiled and in the absence of the relevant information about people who fail to qualify for supplementary benefit when it is assessed at the "short-term rate" it is not possible to estimate the numbers involved.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current average benefit from supplementary benefit support to (a) owner-occupiers, (b) public sector tenants and (c) private rented sector tenants in Northern Ireland; and what are the equivalent figures for the last five years.

This information is not available in the form requested. However, the average supplementary benefit in payment to householders in Northern Ireland was as follows:

	£
9 December 1981	27·01
8 December 1982	32·69

Average payments for earlier years were not recorded and the December 1983 figure is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland in (a) the public sector, (b) the private rented sector and (c) owner-occupiers are in receipt of supplementary benefit; at the long-term rate; how many in the same categories are in receipt of supplementary benefit at the short-term rate; and what are the equivalent figures for the past five years.

The estimated figures based on an annual statistical inquiry for the period 1977–82 are as follows. 1983 figures are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of manslaughter not connected with the present civil unrest have taken place in each year in Northern Ireland from 1 January 1969 to the latest available date.

The information is not available for the period 1969–1974, but the number of persons proceeded against for 'non-scheduled' manslaughter in Northern Ireland in subsequent years is a follows:

Year
1975	2
1976	4
1977	15
1978	8
1979	8
1980	8
1981	9
1982	7
1983	8

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners are at present in the compounds at Her Majesty's prison Maze; how many there were three years ago; and how many he expects to be in the compounds at the end of 1987.

There are currently 183 special category prisoners in Maze (compound) prison compared with 323 prisoners three years ago. In addition, there is a work force of 53 other sentenced inmates at the compound prison. It is not possible to estimate the numbers of prisoners in any particular accommodation so far in advance as the end of 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons presently detained at Her Majesty's pleasure in prisons in Northern Ireland were under 18 years of age when their crime was committed; what is the longest and shortest period detained; and, of those so detained, how many were convicted of scheduled offences connected with terrorism.

There are at present 61 persons detained during the pleasure of the Secretary of State. That is the mandatory sentence for murder where the offender was under 18 at the time of the crime. The periods served so far range from three years to 10 years 10 months. All the cases were tried as scheduled offences.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his Department has had with local interests about the Government's proposals to locate the Trident nuclear weapon in Scotland.

A notice of proposed development and accompanying environmental impact assessment concerning the development of the Clyde submarine base was delivered to Dumbarton district council, and the other local planning authorities concerned, on 16 May. The proposals were explained at a presentation to those local authorities on the same day, and subsequently further presentations have been given to members of local communities at a series of public meetings arranged by the community councils in the local areas concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is prepared to consider requests for sales by British companies of arms to Israel; and whether he will make a statement.

Since 30 June 1982 the United Kingdom and other members of the European Community have suspended licences for the sale of defence equipment to Israel. These restrictions, imposed following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, remain in force but are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what length of time young army recruits of 15 to 18-yearsold have been asked their views on nuclear weapons; if recruits from all parts of the United Kingdom are asked such questions; and how many have been asked this question.

Applicants from all parts of the United Kingdom have for many years been asked about their attitudes to a range of topics which may or may not include their views on nuclear weapons. As the line of questioning is left to the discretion of the interviewer, it is not possible to state how many applicants have been asked about nuclear weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many young army recruits have been refused enlistment because they were not in favour of nuclear weapons.

An applicant's general attitude to nuclear weapons is never, in itself, a bar to his being enlisted into the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if a question about attitudes to nuclear weapons is asked of 15 to 18-year-olds wishing to join the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force;(2) if a question about attitudes to nuclear weapons is asked of all recruits, regardless of age, to the armed forces.

There is no requirement for applicants to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and airmen/airwomen entry to the Royal Air Force to be asked questions about their attitude to nuclear weapons. However, it is possible that recruiting officers may ask such questions, irrespective of the age of the applicant, in the course of discussion of a range of topics. All applicants for officer entry to the Royal Air Force are asked about nuclear issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the circumstances in which United States surface ships and submarines carrying sea-launched cruise missiles with nuclear warheads may enter British ports (a) with and (b) without his prior knowledge and agreement; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his answer, 21 June 1984, c. 235]: It is the policy of the United States Government as it is of Her Majesty's Government, neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons in a particular location. United States Navy conventionally powered vessels, regardless of the nature of their weapons, enter British ports under the procedures for visits by NATO naval vessels which were brought into effect in 1977. United States Navy nuclear powered vessels enter British ports under long standing bilateral arrangements.

asked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts (1) how many community-based arts centres there are in England and Wales, respectively; how many of each of these are funded by (a) local authorities, (b) private sponsorship, (c) arts associations and (d) the Arts Council; and what is the total funding allocated by the Arts Council for such purposes in England and Wales in the current year;(2) if he will list the arts centres currently operating in England and Wales, indicating which ones work in liaison with local universities and colleges.

My noble Friend will write to the hon. Member when information is available, and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what public sessions his social security reviews will be holding.

Organisations and individuals have been submitting evidence to the reviews for some time. A number are being invited to give further oral evidence at open sessions at which the public and press will be welcome.The inquiry into provision for retirement has already held four open sessions. It will hold others in the House on

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what kinds of treatment are available under the National Health Service to enable patients to cope with inherited depression.

NHS patients can have whatever kinds of treatment those concerned with their care think appropriate in the circumstances of the individual patient's case. The range of treatments commonly used for depression includes supporting therapy, medication and electro-convulsive therapy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list for each of the last three years and in each specialty the variation between the expenditure guidelines laid down by the North-West regional health authority within the resources allocation working party formula and the actual expenditure by the Stockport area health authority.

The chairman of the North Western regional health authority may be able to help my hon. Friend with the information he is seeking about Stockport health authority. We do not collect sufficient detailed local information centrally to be able to give a useful reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements exist to involve representatives of the private sector in the long-term planning of health facilities (a) generally and (b) for long-term care of the elderly.

We issued guidance to health authorities on co-operation with the independent sector in 1981 (circular HC (81)1). In this we stressed the need to take account of current and planned facilities available in the private sector when planning the provision of NHS services. We have repeated this advice in later guidance on the NHS planning system and stressed the need for consultations with all interested groups on the development of plans and programmes. We have advised health authorities that where independent sector provision is likely to make a material impact on NHS services at district level, particularly through contractual arrangements, representatives of the independent sector institutions concerned should be invited to join the relevant planning teams. All this advice applies to the planning of services for the elderly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether social security offices have been instructed to require from miners, or their families, separate declarations of payments made to them by local authorities.

When a person claims supplementary benefit he is required to make a complete declaration of his resources. Each claimant is asked whether he, his partner or any dependent child living with him has any money coming in. Nevertheless it was found that in certain areas where local authorities were known to be making payments to miners or their families, such payments were not being declared. Claimants are therefore being asked specifically about payments from local authorities in some areas where it is known that local authorities are making them, to remove any doubts about the need for such resources to be declared.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he makes, for resource planning purposes, of the current level of costs to build and equip a 100-bed wing to a district general hospital which already has the necessary care facilities, and of the subsequent annual running costs.

The cost to build and equip an acute 100-bed wing in a district general hospital is estimated to be £1·6 million at current prices. The annual total running costs will be dependant upon the type of acute treatment provided, but it is estimated that these would be of the order of £2·75 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had from medical practitioners about prescribing nicotine substitute chewing gum on the National Health Service for smokers who wish to stop.

The Department has received letters from 12 individual doctors on this subject: nine in favour of and three against nicotine chewing gum being available on National Health Service prescription.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost to the National Health Service of treating smoking-related diseases.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Tottenham (Mr. Atkinson) on 22 March at column 582.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the amount for food for children in supplementary benefit was last assessed; what is the current figure; and what is its value expressed in constant prices based on the date when the last assessment was made.

There is no specific amount for food or any other item in the supplementary benefit scale rates. The national assistance rates, from which the supplementary benefit rates derive, were set in 1948 and were based upon an assessment of requirements for food and other essential items. However, although the real value of the rates has more than doubled since then, upratings have not been based on the revaluation of particular items.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on those recommendations of the Oglesby report which remain to be implemented.

We have now implemented 11 of the recommendations in Mr. Oglesby's report, including all his suggestions for improving the present system. We are considering the remainder—many of which involve fundamental changes in the administration of mobility allowance and attendance allowance—in the light of comments received during the course of public consultation, and we will announce our decisions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take arising from representations from the British Medical Association that police investigators have seized patients' confidential files.

I have been asked to reply.The Chief Medical Officer of the Welsh Office has received a letter from the British Medical Association informing him of the terms of a resolution passed by the annual conference of representatives of senior hospital medical staffs and asking for information about a report that

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the commencement date, termination date and number of days lost in each industrial dispute involving nurses and ancillary workers in the National Health Service since the winter of 1978–79.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 June 1984, c. 391]: The following table provides the information requested by the hon. Member. It has been compiled from Department of Employment records, and covers only United Kingdom Health Service disputes in which nursing and ancillary staff played some part.

Dates of disputes
Year and commencement	Termination	Man days lost
1979
22 January	11 April*	574,000
29 January	2 February	474
22 February	2 March	86
26 February	28 February	600
2 March	8 March	4,823
23 March	27 March	130
27 March	28 March	300
25 April	26 April	76
15 June	18 June	24
29 June	29 June	15
3 July	10 July	200
8 October	9 October	53
18 October	26 October	304
24 October	26 November	2,513
		583,598
1980
7 January	15 January	630
18 February	19 February	218
11 April	15 April	1,410
13 May	20 May	2,100
18 May	20 May	270
30 May	4 June	252
16 June	1 September	5,062
8 September	12 September	60
12 September	14 September	105
19 September	19 September	400
17 October	13 November	3,091
20 October	29 October	250
24 November	3 December	681

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of his proposals for implementing the supplementary levy on milk in the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of an State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and I have today laid in draft before Parliament the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1984. The quota regulations set out the detailed arrangements for the initial allocation of quotas for both wholesale and direct sales of milk, an including provisions for the treatment of special cases and producers previously committed to an expansion plan and for appeals to a system of local panels and tribunals. Arrangements for the transfer of quotas are not included in the draft regulations. We shall be consulting further on this matter and the necessary additional provisions will be made at a later date.Our intention is that the quota regulations should come into operation as soon as they have been approved by both Houses. When they are made, guidance and application forms will be sent to milk producers inviting them to apply as necessary to be registered for direct sales quota and to be treated as a special case within certain categories.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the reform of the common agricultural policy since he last answered oral questions.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister especially as it concerns a guideline controlling the European Community's agricultural expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has held with the United Kingdom's allies on the state of indebtedness of Latin American countries.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor regularly discusses these questions with his foreign counterparts, most recently at the London summit on 7–9 June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about progress towards closer economic integration in the European Community.

Most member states are now agreed that pursuit of sound monetary and fiscal policies is necessary to promote greater economic convergence and sustained growth in the Community. The creation of a single market for goods and services as provided for in the Treaty of Rome would be a substantial step towards closer economic integration and improved resource allocation. The United Kingdom has given strong support to a series of measures to remove internal barriers which are being discussed in the Council of Ministers. We are also participating actively in work under way on possible moves towards closer financial integration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase he anticipates in the United Kingdom's value added tax payments to the European Community on the basis of current negotiations.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the north-western regional group of eight for the construction industry; what reply he is sending; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each financial year since 1973 the outturn of the public sector borrowing requirement.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the sums received by the United Kingdom in each year in (a) grants and (b) loans from the European Economic Community since accession.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the amounts paid net to the European Economic budget during each of the years of the United Kingdom's membership, at constant 1983 prices.

The information requested is set out in the following table:

	£ million
1973	374
1974	93
1975	*-141
1976	365
1977	708
1978	1,420
1979	1,431
1980	890
1981	448
1982	638
1983	647
*Negative sign denotes a net receipt.

The figures given in the reply have been calculated to constant prices by use of the GDP deflator based on GDP in pounds sterling at 1983 average market prices. These figures are published in Economic Trends.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what savings he has proposed on the Community budget to ensure expenditure does not exceed available resources.

We have made a number of suggestions for savings in the agricultural sector to meet the problem of the 1984 budget overrun. We shall also be making suggestions when it comes to consideration of the Commission's proposed budget for 1985. Our prpposals and those of other member states, will be examined by the Budget Council next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what Government funds have been allocated to laser photochemistry in the United Kingdom.

Government funds for the support of laser photochemistry are channelled through the dual support system. The University Grants Committee provides basic laboratory facilities, and may support some research in laser photochemistry, through the allocation of funds to individual universities. Two "new blood" lectureships have been funded by the UGC in this area. The Science and Engineering Research Council provides support for specific research projects by means of research grants and the operation of central facilities. There is no specific allocation of resources to laser photochemistry: applications for funds are judged on their merits through the peer review process. In the 1983–84 academic year the council committed £390,000 to the support of experiments in laser photochemistry carried out in universities and £210,000 to the support of experiments which will be carried out using the lasers at the council's ultra violet radiation facility at its Rutherford Appleton laboratory. That part of the costs of operating the UVRF which is attributable to experiments in laser photochemistry currently averages £70,000 per annum. Thus the council's annual commitment to research in laser photochemistry is currently about £670,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, following the talks he has had with the chairman of the Engineering Council, any further developments have arisen in the programme for training graduates in the telecommunications field; and if any increase in places available on such courses is likely.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 6 March 1984, at column 491. The supply of engineering graduates, particularly in the electrical and electronics fields, continues to be kept under careful review through discussions with a range of interested bodies and in other ways. Particular attention is being given to methods of accelerating supply given signs of accelerated demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has been informed by the Bedfordshire county council of any school playing fields that are being considered for sale as development land or for other purposes.

No. Local education authorities are not required to inform my right hon. Friends of such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will now visit the schools in Liverpool he proposes to close;(2) to where children at the following Liverpool schools will be transferred on implementation of the secondary reorganisation plan and to what use the existing buildings will be put:

My right hon. Friend has made no proposals to close schools in Liverpool. The proposals before him for the reorganisation of county secondary schools are those of the Liverpool education authority, which he is now consulting about certain modifications in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1980. If, in the light of that consultation, Liverpool's proposals are approved, their implementation will also fall to the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will act on the advice of Her Majesty's inspectors in respect of facilities described by them as inadequate at Mabel Fletcher technical college, Liverpool.

Responsibility for the facilities at the Mabel Fletcher technical college rests with the Liverpool education authority. In accordance with normal arrangements it has been asked to respond to the Department on the recent report by Her Majesty's inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision is being made to assist parents denied free school meal facilities for their children due to industrial action.

Comprehensive information is not available about the alternative arrangements made by local education authorities where industrial action by teachers is preventing them from fulfilling their duty to provide free meals to certain pupils. I understand that in some instances arrangements are being made to provide a meal in the form of a packed lunch.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a White Paper on his proposals for a general certificate of secondary education.

I have no intention at present to do so. As the hon. Member is aware, I gave the House a full report on this matter on 20 June at columns 303–13.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will arrange for an exhibition by the Association of University Teachers to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall for one week commencing Monday 23 July.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish the analysis of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 recently carried out by his officials.

I have today placed in the Library of the House copies of a paper, "A factual analysis of the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975."

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when work will now be started on the M20 link between Hollingbourne and Ashford.

I hope that advance bridge works can start next year, and that, subject to satisfactory progress with the statutory procedures, the main contract can start in 1987.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements are planned for service stations on the M20 when it is completed.

In accordance with my strategy for service areas on M25 and its feeder motorways, I am considering the provision of services on the M20 near Maidstone. I am also considering the need for services about 30 miles to the south-east close to Folkestone. Potential sites are being examined. I shall announce a decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated expenditure of the Board of Irish Lights for 1984–85; what he expects to be the income of the general lighthouse fund from the Republic of Ireland in 1984–85; whether he can yet give more precise figures for 1983–84 than those in his answer of 20 February, Official Report, column 306; and whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement on the negotiations with the Irish Government.

The estimated expenditure of the Commissioners of Irish Lights for 1984–85 is £10·9 million, of which 75 per cent. may be attributed to the Republic. The income from light dues collected at ports in the Republic of Ireland during 1984–85 is expected to be of the order of £l million.Finalised accounts are not yet available for 1983–84, but provisional figures show that expenditure by the commissioners in that year amounted to £9·890 million, of which £7·418 million could be attributed to expenditure incurred in the Republic. Income from light dues collected in the Republic during 1983–84 was £.1·011 million. So the difference between the commissioners' expenditure in the Republic and the dues collected there in 1983–84 was £6·407 million.I am not able to add to the statement I made on 20 February, at column 366, about the negotiations on this and other related matters with the Irish Government. The next meeting has been arranged for 11 July 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now announce his decision on east coast main line electrification.

We will reach conclusions as rapidly as possible, but it may still take some time.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those schemes with a value in excess of £million approved by the British Railways board since 1979 which relate specifically to railways in Wales.

I understand from the British Railways Board that Welsh services have benefited in part from the major signalling investment in the Chester area, and from general BR investments in rolling stock, but that there have been no railway schemes involving this size of expenditure approved since 1979 and relating solely to Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will investigate the circumstances in which a Sikorsky 61 helicopter made an emergency landing at Longside airport on Friday 15 June; and if he will make a statement.

On 15 June a twin-engine helicopter, type Sikorsky S61, on route from Aberdeen to an offshore oil installation, experienced adverse engine indications which prompted the pilot to shutdown one engine as a precaution. In accordance with established practice he then diverted to the nearest aerodrome, which was Longside, Peterhead, where it landed safely and without incident.Under the mandatory reporting procedures the occurrence has been notified to the Civil Aviation Authority, which will study the circumstances of the engine shutdown to establish whether any remedial action needs to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he intends to designate after 31 July driving licences valid in the United States of America as acceptable for exchange with United Kingdom driving licences.

No. My right hon. Friend may designate countries and territories for the purpose of driving licence exchange if he is satisfied with the basis on which they grant licences, and after consultation with representative organisations. The USA appears an unpromising candidate since surveys of its driving tests have shown that in 40 per cent. of the states the candidate is tested for between six and 15 minutes on the public road and in 80 per cent. for 20 minutes or less, as compared with the 30 minutes we consider important in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 30 local authorities with the worst records of long-term empty dwellings.

According to local authorities' 1983 housing investment programme returns, the 30 authorities with the highest numbers of long-term empty dwellings at 31 March 1983, starting with the authority with the highest number, were:

Liverpool	Corby
Southwark	Camden
Hackney	Oldham
Lambeth	Haringey
Tower Hamlets	Leeds
Islington	Test Valley
Manchester	Waltham Forest
Greater London council	Bradford
Knowsley	Calderdale
Lewisham	Wolverhampton
Sunderland	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Westminster city council	Salford
Rochdale	North Tyneside
Newham	Sedgefield
Birmingham	Hammersmith and Fulham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, further to the answer to the hon. Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen) on 11 June, Official Report, column 344, if he will indicate the interested outside bodies which he will be consulting on the current working of part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 with particular reference to its effect on small business tenancies.

Comprehensive consultations with interested organisations and individuals in both the private and public sectors will be held. Details of those consulted will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost of admitting part-time local government employees into the local government superannuation scheme.

The proposed regulations for part-time local government employees would allow those who regularly work between 15 and 30 hours per week the option of joining the superannuation scheme. The cost to local authorities would therefore depend on the number who took up this option. If the level of take-up were 10 per cent., it is estimated that the cost by way of employers' contributions would be about £10 million per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what penalties his Department will exact against Liverpool city council in respect of money borrowed during the period in which a lawful rate has not been levied.

It is for the independent auditor to decide whether there are any grounds for action against councillors under sections 19 or 20 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment concerning which sites owned by local authorities and statutory bodies he has received representations from house builders requesting him to use his power under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 to issue a disposal order requiring local authorities or statutory undertakers to dispose of the site; and how many disposal orders he has made subsequent to these requests.

Representations have been received from time to time in respect of a number of sites. It would be inappropriate to give details since the representations were not made on the footing that their contents would be published. No disposal directions have yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sites with housing potential are on the Leeds land register; how many the city council has released in the last two years; and if he is satisfied with its record of disposal.

About 70 sites at present on the Leeds land register are considered to have some potential for housing. Leeds city council has notified the release of seven sites totalling 126 acres for housing in the last two years. I am never content to see land that might readily be developed remain on land registers. I am currently considering what further action might be taken to secure the release of more sites nationally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to extend building regulations giving access to all floors of office buildings to disabled people; and if he will extend this to shops later on in the current year when the revised British Standards Institute shops code has been published.

Before my right hon. Friend can make any new building regulations, he is obliged to consult those described in section 9 of the Public Health Act 1961. I am considering whether we should now consult on the possibility of making regulations to require all floors of new offices and shops to be made accessible to disabled people. It remains my objective, as soon as satisfactory regulations can be made, to apply them to all floors of all buildings intended to be open to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will issue for consultation drafts of the code of guidance and regulations covering the duty on local authorities to consult representatives of industrial and commercial ratepayers, introduced by clause 13 of the Rates Bill.

I have today sent to interested bodies drafts of the code of guidance and the regulations covering information to be provided to those representatives being consulted and have placed copies in the Library of the House. Comments are being sought by Friday 3 August.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he plans to implement the recommendations of the committee chaired by Sir Peter Matthews on the Exports Credits Guarantee Department.