asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his request to local authorities to dispose of surplus land was intended to be applied by the authorities to school playing fields; and if he will make a statement.

The Government believe that all surplus land held by public authorities should be disposed of. It is for local authorities themselves to decide in each case whether land used for educational purposes is surplus to requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what help has been extended to the carpet industry in Wales in each of the last three years; and in what form it was given.

Taking together the financial years 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84, offers of regional selective assistance made by my Department amounting to £1·6 million were accepted by companies in the carpet industry in Wales. This assistance was in the form of grants under Section 7 of the Industrial Development Act 1982. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, details for the individual years cannot be disclosed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the terms of his assurance about Government financial support for the National Coal Board, set out in his answer of 11 July 1983, Official Report, column 224, to the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Hamilton), apply also to 1984–85.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in the discussions between officials, British Telecom, and the trade unions concerned about the details of the transfer of the radio interference service from British Telecom to his Department.

I am pleased to announce that the discussions have reached an advanced stage and proposals concerning terms of employment have been put to the staff. To ensure a smooth transition and to maintain an effective service arrangements are being made by those staff who wish to pursue a career within British Telecom to continue working in the radio interference service for a short period following the transfer.The Government have decided that following the transfer the service will be known as the radio investigation service.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the chairmanship of the European Space Agency.

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Harry Atkinson, Director of Science at the Science and Engineering Research Council, has been appointed by the European Space Agency to be chairman of its policy making council for an initial period of two years from 1 July.Dr. Atkinson has been a United Kingdom Delegate to ESA since 1973 and vice-chairman since 1981. He succeeds Professor Curien of France and will continue his duties with the SERC during the chairmanship.The United Kingdom is an active partner in ESA. Contributions to the agency's programmes currently account for some 85 per cent. of the Department's space expenditure and over 50 per cent. of the SERC s space budget (through its grant in aid from the Department of Education and Science).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the items of telecommunications apparatus and systems which have been referred by him or the British Approval Board of Telecommunications to the laboratories of British Telecom for approval, the dates when each item was so referred, the dates when they have been approved and the anticipated dates for approval of those items not yet approved.

I am unable to give this information as the details of individual approval applications are commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received from small telecommunications companies about the speed of testing at the facilities of British Telecom and the British Standards Institute; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many laboratories British Telecom has to test, for safety transmission and signalling characteristics, telephone apparatus referred to it by his Department or the British Approvals Board of Telecommunications for approval; when the laboratories were established; and when it commenced such testing;(3) how many people are employed by British Telecom for the sole purpose of testing telecommunications apparatus from the private sector referred to its laboratories for approval.

Representations about the speed of testing are becoming fewer, probably as a direct result of laboratories gaining experience and improving their performance. Extended testing periods have often proved, on close examination, to result from suppliers' difficulty in bringing their apparatus up to the minimum acceptable requirements. In order to alleviate this problem, arrangements have recently been introduced to permit suppliers to have direct access to laboratories where testing is in progress, subject to case by case agreement with the laboratories. This will improve feedback to suppliers and help to speed up testing. Details of the numbers of laboratories, and staff employed, by the organisations undertaking approvals testing are confidential to the organisation. They are in competition with one another, thereby keeping test costs to a minimum, and I am not able to disclose operational details.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions have taken place during the past six months of persons owning citizens band (F.M.) radio transmitters which cause interference to neighbouring television receivers.

In the period 1 December 1983 to 31 May this year 85 people were prosecuted for unlicensed use of 27MHz FM CB radio equipment. It is not possible to distinguish, from records held centrally, in how many cases the equipment involved was causing interference to television reception.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much his Department and British Telecom have spent so far in preparing for the flotation of British Telecom shares.

Up to 5 June 1984 the Department of Trade and Industry has spent £1,053,233.14 in preparing for the flotation of British Telecom shares. This sum includes the Department's share of certain expenses which are met jointly with British Telecom. Expenditure by British-Telecom in preparation for the flotation is a matter for the corporation.

Wells asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the reasons for his decision to refer to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission the proposed takeover of Booker McConnell by the Dee Corporation.

The Secretary of State considered that the proposed merger raised issues of competition which justified investigation by the commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek to amend regulations relating to company annual reports to require a statement showing compliance with the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

I have no plans to amend these regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to make a statement on the Phoenix two joint venture.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave the hon. Member on 24 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he has had discussions with his European counterparts regarding the effect of the International Trade Commission's decision on steel imports into the United States of America; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he intends to introduce further sanctions against United States' imports if United Kingdom steel exports to the United States of America are limited; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the Government's financial assistance towards the establishment of the Office of Telecommunications under the Telecommunications Act 1984.

Provisions for this new service has been sought in a 1984–85 Summer Supplementary Supply Estimate (Office of Telecommunications Class IV, 27).Pending parliamentary approval of this estimate initial expenditure of £300,000 will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing the percentage share of gross national product gained by exports for the following countries (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Sweden, (c) Austria, (d) New Zealand, (e) Korea, (f) France, (g) West Germany, (h) the Netherlands, (i) Spain and (j) Japan.

[pursuant to the reply, 27 June 1984]:Gross domestic product is more readily available than gross national product. The latest year for which consistent data are available for most of these countries is 1981 and the percentages bases on GDP are as follows:

Exports of goods and services as a percentage of GDP* 1981
	Percentage
United Kingdom	28
Sweden	30
Austria	42
New Zealand	29
Korea	42
France	24
Federal Republic of Germany	29
Netherlands	58
Spain	17
Japan	15
* At market prices. Comparison of exports with gross domestic product at factor cost, which allows for the incidence of government subsidies and indirect taxes, gives a better indication of a country's reliance on exporting. For the United Kingdom, the ratio of exports to GDP at factor cost was 30 per cent, in 1981. Comparable data for other

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing the major raw material requirements of United Kingdom industry where there is a dependency on foreign supplies of (a) 100 per cent., (b) 60 per cent., (c) 50 per cent. and (d) 25 per cent. or less.

[pursuant to the reply, 27 June 1984]:The information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report the dates on which extra parliamentary time was given by the Government to private Members' Bills in each Session since 1954.

I shall reply shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to acknowledge and then reply to the letters written and posted on 17 May to him by Mrs. P. Corker of 224 Holmlands Drive, Birkenhead, and Mrs. Rimmer of 210 Holmlands Drive, Birkenhead.

It is regretted that the usual arrangements for acknowledging letters broke down in these cases. However, the various questions raised by Mrs. Corker and Mrs. Rimmer (to whom letters are being sent to explain the present situation) are being investigated with Wirral local education authority and a full reply should be possible soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the number of places made available at each faculty at Dundee university in each year since 1980; and what has been the level of uptake of places in each case.

Statistics about the number of students who, in the academic years 1980–81 to 1982–83, took a course in each of nine subject groups may be obtained

Estimates of engineering qualifications obtained
					Rate per relevant age groups¶
	Postgraduate level	First degree level	Below first degree level	All qualifications below postgraduate level	Postgraduate level	First degree level	Below first degree level	All qualifications below postgraduate level
	thousands	thousands	thousands	thousands	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
United Kingdom*
(1982)	4·5	15·4	15·5	30·8	0·5	1·8	1·8	3·7
(1981)	4·1	15·9	13·6	29·5	0·5	1·9	1·6	3·5
(1980)	3·7	13·2	†12·6	†25·9	0·4	1·6	†l·5	†3·1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the number of teachers employed in the Greater London area for each year in the period 1979 to 1983; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of teachers being paid for service in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools were as follows:

Teachers employed in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools
Full-time equivalent
January	Innar London Education Authority	Outer London Boroughs	Total Greater London
1979	23,035	40,814	63,849
1980	22,926	40,845	*63,770
1981	22,676	39,972	62,648
1982	21,779	38,993	*60,771
1983	21,406	38,360	59,766
* Due to rounding of full-time equivalents, there are slight differences between totals and the sum of the components.

The fall of 4,000 over the period in the number of schoolteachers employed in Greater London has to be viewed in the light of the fall of 140,000 in the number of pupils. The overall ratio of pupils to teachers fell from 17·1:1 in 1979 to 15·8:1 in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of professional engineers produced each year in the United Kingdom since 1980, and the comparable figures for the United States of America, France, Germany and Japan, respectively.

International comparisons of numbers of engineers achieving chartered or equivalent status annually are not available. Estimates of the number of higher education engineering qualifications awarded each year in the United Kingdom together with figures for the other countries referred to are given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report his Department's letter to the town clerk of Manchester dated 5 June concerning the reorganisation of Roman Catholic voluntary aided secondary schools in Manchester, together with the town clerk's reply; what action he will now be taking; and if he will make a statement.

No. Section 12(6) of the Education Act 1980 requires my right hon. Friend to consult the LEA if he wishes to propose a modification to their proposals. My right hon. Friend is now considering Manchester's reply to the Department's letter of 5 June and will make known his final decision on the proposals shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of sentence (a) actually served and (b) imposed upon persons sentenced to a determinate period of imprisonment who were released from prison over the most recent convenient period.

For those discharged from prison department establishments in 1983, having served a determinate sentence of imprisonment (excluding those sentenced in default of payment of a fine) the average length of sentence was about 13 months and the avarage time served under sentence (excluding any time spent on remand in custody) was about seven months. For those discharged in 1983 having served a sentence in default of payment of a fine, the average length of sentence imposed was about four weeks and the average time spent under sentence (excluding any time spent on remand in custody) was about two weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he considers it necessary for a new police station to be built in the Leagrave area of Luton.

I can confirm that, under the normal criteria, approval has been given by the Department to proposals from Bedfordshire police authority for the provision of a new police sub-station in the Lewsey farm, Leagrave and Marsh farm area of Luton, and for the appropriation of a site in Leagrave for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average percentage reductions in the number of police available for duties within the metropolis as a result of deployment outside London in connection with the miners' industrial dispute.

The provision of mutual aid by the Metropolitan police to other police forces in connection with the miners' industrial dispute has resulted in a daily average reduction of 540 in the number of officers available for duties within the Metropolitan police district, although the actual figure has varied widely. This represents 2 per cent. of the total strength of the force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has about trends in illegal drug-taking in the Walthamstow area.

As in many other parts of the Metropolitan police district, there appears to have been an increase in the general level of illegal drug taking in the area of Walthamstow, but detailed statistics for this area are not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the average earnings of prisoners in each of the past 10 years.

The average weekly earnings of inmates in penal establishments for each of the past 10 years are:

	Pence
1975	69
1975–76	88
1976–77	93½
1977–78	109
1978–79	119

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civilian and prison officer instructors are currently employed in prison workshops; and how these figures compare with the official complement.

There are 752 civilian instructors and 363 prison officer instructors employed in industrial workshops in prison service establishments: a total of 1,115. This compares with an authorised complement of 1,293.

	Average number of prisoners employed	Average working week	Total man-hours worked	Value of output	Residual Surplus/deficit
	'000s	(hours)	(millions)	£ million	£ million
1974–75	13·4	24·5	17·07	13·3	0·2
1975–76	14·4	23·5	17·57	17·4	( 0·5)
1976–77	14·6	22·0	16·70	17·5	( 2·3)
1977–78	14·2	22·5	16·60	20·5	( 2·8)
1978–79	13·6	22·5	15·86	22·9	( 4·9)
1979–80	12·9	22·0	14·85	26·5	( 4·7)
1980–81	12·2	19·0	9·96	24·3	(12·7)
1981–82	12·2	21·5	11·61	31·4	(12·2)
1982–83	11·5	22·9	11·60	31·6	(11·6)
1983–84	10·7	22·3	10·84	n/a	n/a

Because of improvements in the methods by which the financial data shown in the last two columns of the table is collected and analysed the figures for the years prior to 1982–83 are not directly comparable with the subsequent years. In particular, it should be noted that for the above reasons and because of the internal nature of many of the transactions neither the value of output nor the residual surplus/deficit can be considered as sales or profit or loss in a strict accountancy sense. All figures to some extent include estimates and notional costs. The figures shown relate only to Prison Industries, that is they exclude farms and gardens activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers and amounts of money spent in each of the last five years for repatriation of immigrants.

Assistance provided under section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 and the Supplementary Benefit scheme was as follows:

S. 29 Scheme
Financial Year	Persons assisted	Amounts of assistance paid £
1979–80	131	61,991
1980–81	142	74,260

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are currently employed hand-sewing or machine-sewing mailbags.

The most recent information readily available is that in November 1983, 1,058 inmates were engaged on hand-sewing of mailbags and 492 on machine-sewing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what has been the average number of prisoners employed, the average working week and the annual total of man-hours worked in prison industries over the last 10 years;(2) what has been the value of output and the operating profit or loss of prison industries for each of the past 10 years.

The figures are as shown in the following table:

Financial Year	Persons assisted	.Amounts of assistance paid £
1981–82	218	112,992
1982–83	152	100,966
1983–84	144	106,106

Supplementary Benefit Scheme
Calendar Year	Persons assisted	Amounts of assistance paid £
1979	54	12,407
1980	50	15,302
1981	28	91,121
1982	49	16,279
1983	41	15,677

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in respect of internal police inquiries following the Stagg-Steventon inquiry into the silver bullion robbery corruption allegations; whether any Metropolitan police officer is to face disciplinary proceedings as a result; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that this investigation has been completed and that the Director of Public Prosecutions has advised that there is insufficient evidence to justify criminal proceedings against any officer. The question of possible disciplinary action is now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made in considering proposals for day and weekend imprisonment.

I have today published a Green Paper that examines in some detail the various proposals that have been made for intermittent custody—day or weekend imprisonment—and invites views on some critical issues. I have asked for comments by the end of September. The Government will consider, in the light of the comments received, whether a sentence of intermittent custody should be made available to the courts and what form it might take.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the percentage increase in charges for both meals on wheels and home help services since 1980 in both Tayside region and Scotland.

Local authorities exercise their own discretion in the setting of chargs for these domiciliary services. The information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of general practitioners per 1,000 population in (a) the Ayrshire and Arran region and (b) other regions in Scotland for the last five years.

The following table shows the number of doctors providing unrestricted general medical services per 1,000 of the estimated home population of each Scottish health board area for each of the last five years.

No. of unregistricted GPs per 1,000 of Home Population
Health Board	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
Argyll and Clyde	0·58	0·59	0·59	0·60	0·61
Ayrshire and Arran	0·54	0·55	0·56	0·57	0·57
Borders	0·62	0·64	0·63	0·64	0·64
Dumfries and Galloway	0·62	0·64	0·65	0·65	0·66
Fife	0·51	0·52	0·52	0·53	0·54
Forth Valley	0·55	0·58	0·58	0·59	0·61
Grampian	0·56	0·56	0·55	0·56	0·57
Greater Glasgow	0·58	0·58	0·59	0·60	0·63
Highland	0·72	0·73	0·74	0·76	0·76
Lanarkshire	0·46	0·47	0·48	0·48	0·50
Lothian	0·58	0·60	0·61	0·62	0·64
Orkney	1·05	1·11	1·04	1·04	1·09
Shetland	0·68	0·76	0·65	0·75	0·77
Tayside	0·57	0·57	0·57	0·58	0·59
Western Isles	0·64	0·77	0·67	0·79	0·79
Scotland	0·57	0·57	0·58	0·59	0·60

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of National Health Service contracted dentists per 1,000 population in (a) the Ayrshire and Arran region and (b) other health authority regions in Scotland for the last five years.

The information is as follows:

	Number of general dental practitioners in contract with health boards per 1,000 of population
Health board	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983
Ayrshire and Arran	0·25	0·26	0·28	0·28	0·30
Argyll and Clyde	0·20	0·21	0·22	0·22	0·24
Borders	0·20	0·23	0·23	0·25	0·25
Dumfries and Galloway	0·20	0·22	0·21	0·21	0·23
Fife	0·22	0·22	0·23	0·23	0·25
Forth Valley	0·21	0·22	0·24	0·25	0·23
Grampian	0·19	0·21	0·21	0·22	0·22
Greater Glasgow	0·24	0·24	0·25	0·27	0·27
Highlands	0·24	0·26	0·26	0·26	0·27
Lanarkshire	0·20	0·20	0·23	0·23	0·23
Lothian	0·30	0·31	0·31	0·32	0·33
Orkney	0·17	0·17	0·10	0·16	0·16
Shetland	0·27	0·13	0·11	0·25	0·26
Tayside	0·26	0·28	0·30	0·30	0·30
Western Isles	0·13	0·17	0·16	0·22	0·22
Scotland	0·23	0·24	0·25	0·26	0·27

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were placed by Scottish jobcentres in 1979, 1983 and 1984 to the latest available date.

The number of persons placed by Scottish jobcentres in 1979, 1983 and 1984 to date was as follows:

	Number
1979	212,911
1983	191,413
1984 to date	104,766

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many long-term unemployed were registered at Scottish jobcentres in 1979, 1983 and 1984 to the latest available date.

The annual average in Scotland for 1979 of the monthly count of people registered as unemployed for more than 52 weeks was 45,864. The corresponding averages for the number of claimants who had been unemployed for more than 52 weeks in 1983 and for the period 12 January to 5 April 1984, the latest date for which information is available, were 122,234 and 130,827 respectively. The figure for 1979 is not comparable with those for 1983 and 1984 because of the change from a registrant to a claimant based count in October 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list by age band the numbers of persons placed by Scottish jobcentres in 1979, 1983 and 1984 to the latest available date;(2) if he will list by age band the numbers of long-term unemployed registered at Scottish jobcentres in 1979, 1983 and 1984 to the latest available date;(3) if he will estimate the proportion of all Scottish job vacancies filled by jobcentres in 1979, 1983 and 1984 to the latest available date.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will estimate the proportion of vacancies in Scotland expected to be filled by (a) jobcentres, (b) jobshops and (c) jobpoints in the current year;(2) if he will estimate the weekly saving his Department expects to make per unemployed person as a result of the reorganisation of jobcentres.

This information is not available because the Manpower Services Commission has yet to formulate its proposals for the development of the employment service in the requisite detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people in the following age groups are unemployed in Scotland (a) 16-year-olds, (b) 17-year-olds, (c) 18-year-olds, (d) 19-year-olds and (e) 20 to 25-year-olds.

On 5 April 1984, the latest date for which information is available, the number of unemployed claimants in each age category was as follows:

	Number
16-year-olds	9,100
17-year-olds	17,341
18-year-olds	20,447
19-year-olds	19,726
20 to 24-year-olds	71,377

Separate information is not available for 25 year olds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to reply to a request dated 24 May from the Glasgow Friends of Arms (Multiple Sclerosis Research) Ltd Hyperbaric Treatment Centre, Chapel Street, Maryhill that the Scottish Home and Health Department consult all who have valid data and experience in this area before forming ultimate opinion on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for sufferers of multiple sclerosis.

A reply to this organisation was sent on my behalf on 28 June. I am forwarding a copy of the reply to the hon. Member for his information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made in the negotiations with Norway over herring quotas in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.

Consultations between the Commission and Norway on the total allowable catch for North sea herring for 1984 and the respective Community and Norwegian quotas were held on 7 and 16 May but no agreement was reached. As I explained in my written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) at column 560, the Council of Ministers decided on 24 May to extend provisional quotas for the member states up to a total quantity of 155,000 tonnes to be taken in the Community's zone. The Norwegian Government have expressed regret at this decision and have asked for it to be reconsidered. The Commission in reply has pointed out that the Council's decision was designed not to prejudice the further discussions with Norway and has confirmed its desire to pursue these without delay. We understand that Norway has now authorised her fishermen to fish for herring in the Norwegian zone. I very much hope that consultations between the Commission and Norway can be resumed as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what EEC funds are available for, or being devoted to, poultry research in the United Kingdom in the current year.

£24,000 is expected to be received from European Community funds for poultry vaccine work in relation to a programme on biomolecular engineering. No decision has been taken by the European Community about any funds from its major agricultural research and development programme to be devoted to poultry research.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much public money is being made available for poultry research in the current year.

The expenditure of public money on poultry research in the United Kingdom in the current financial year is estimated to be £10,211,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what EEC funds are being made available to the poultry research centre, near Edinburgh, in the current year;(2) if EEC funds made available to the poultry research centre, near Edinburgh, in the current year are being used for any particular project or projects.

No decision has yet been taken by the European Community on funds to be made available for poultry research in the current year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why a dual status licence has been given to Oxon and Gloucestershire to enable both dipped and undipped sales of sheep to take place at the same time; and whether a similar licence will be given to Warwickshire.

The licensing of markets in relation to dipped and undipped sheep is a matter for county authorities. The legislation under which such licences are issued states that a dual licence shall only be granted if it is necessary or expedient and the presence of dipped and slaughter sheep will not give rise to an unacceptable risk of the spread of sheep scab.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing for each of a single person a single-wage married couple and single-wage married couple with two children aged (a) under 11 and (b) 17 and 15 years, income tax and national insurance contribution marginal tax rates, separately and together and net of child benefit where appropriate, and average tax rates, at 75 per cent., 100 per cent., 200 per cent., and 500 per cent., of average male manual earnings in 1960, 1970, 1980 and the latest year for which figures are available.

The following table shows marginal and average rates of income tax and national insurance contributions, at the not contracted-out rate, for the family types specified. Average rates are calculated as a percentage of gross earnings and, for income tax, are shown net of receipt of family allowance and child benefit. The calculations assume that no reliefs were available

Marginal and average rates of Income Tax and NIC
Per cent.
	Marginal Rates			Average rates
	IT	NIC	IT+NIC	IT-CBIFAM	NIC	IT+NIC-CB/FAM
At three-quarters average male manual earnings
Single
1960–61	24·3	—	24·3	11·6	4·6	16·1
1970–71	32·1	3·25	35·4	19·8	6·7	26·5
1980–81	30·0	6·75	36·8	21·0	6·7	27·7
1984–85	30·0	9·0	39·0	20·2	9·0	29·2
Married
1960–61	24·3	—	24·3	5·8	4·6	10·4
1970–71	32·1	3·25	35·4	14·5	6·7	21·2
1980–81	30·0	6·75	36·75	16·0	6·7	22·7
1984–85	30·0	9·0	39·0	14·6	9·0	23·6
Married+2*
1960–61	6·8	—	6·8	-3·6	4·6	1·0
1970–71	32·1	3·25	35·4	4·6	6·7	11·3
1980–81	30·0	6·75	36·75	6·3	6·7	13·0
1984–85	30·0	9·0	39·0	3·3	9·0	12·3
Married+2†
1960–61	—	—	—	-3·7	4·6	0·9
1970–71	32·1	3·25	35·4	1·7	6·7	8·4
1980–81	30·0	6·75	36·75	6·3	6·7	13·0
1984–85	30·0	9·0	39·0	3·3	9·0	12·3
At average male manual earnings
Single
1960–61	30·1	—	30·1	15·6	3·4	19·0
1970–71	32·1	3·25	35·4	22·9	5·8	28·7
1980–81	30·0	6·75	36·75	23·3	6·7	30·0
1984–85	30·0	9·0	39·0	22·6	9·0	31·6
Married
1960–61	24·3	—	24·3	10·2	3·4	13·6
1970–71	32·1	3·25	35·4	18·9	5·8	24·7
1980–81	30·0	6·75	36·75	19·5	6·7	26·2
1984–85	30·0	9·0	39·0	18·4	9·0	27·4
Married+2(a)
1960–61	16·5	—	16·5	0·6	3·4	4·0
1970–71	32·1	3·25	35·4	11·4	5·8	17·3
1980–81	30·0	6·75	36·75	12·2	6·7	19·0
1984–85	30·0	9·0	39·0	10·0	9·0	19·0
Married+2(b)
1960–61	16·5	—	16·5	-1·5	3·4	1·9
1970–71	32·1	3·25	35·4	9·3	5·8	15·2
1980–81	30·0	6·75	36·75	12·2	6·7	19·0
1984–85	30·0	9·0	39·0	10·0	9·0	19·0
At twice average male manual earnings
Single
1960–61	30·1	—	30·1	22·9	1·7	24·6
1970–71	32·1	—	32·1	27·5	3·0	30·5
1980–81	30·0	—	30·0	26·6	4·7	31·4
1984–85	30·0	—	30·0	26·3	7·2	33·5
Married
1960–61	30·1	—	30·1	20·1	1·7	21·7
1970–71	32·1	—	32·1	25·5	3·0	28·5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are in receipt of clothes allowance; what this is designed to cover; when it was introduced; how much it costs to provide; and why it was recently increased by 30 per cent.

There is no clothes allowance as such in the Civil Service. A small number of civil servants do, however, receive clothing allowances, payable in recognition of the particular needs of their jobs, for example, TV weather forecasters. The amounts vary from one job to another and no central records are kept. Recent estimates indicate that fewer than 3,500 civil servants receive such allowances and that the total annual cost is in the region of £130,000. There has been no recent general increase in these allowances. However, those which have been identified by the Inland Revenue as being taxable were increased in 1983 by a factor of 100/70 in order to maintain the broad after-tax level of the allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he now intends to tax electrically-powered two-wheeled vehicles in the same way as those powered by internal combustion engines.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the figures for stamp duty from property for 1983–84 in Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

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

Taylor asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the current cost of answering (a) an Oral Question, (b) a Priority Written Question and (c) a Written Question.

The costs of individual questions vary considerably, but the current average cost is estimated as £64 for oral answers and £39 for written answers.It is not possible from the information held centrally to distinguish between the costs of answering ordinary written and priority written questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons took their driving test in Nelson and Lancashire, respectively, during the last five years by years ended 31 March; how many persons failed their test; and how this compares with the rest of Great Britain.

	North Western traffic area			Great Britain
Calendar year	Tests conducted	Numbers failed	percentage	Tests conducted million	Numbers failed	percentage
1979	200,071	104,003	51·98	1·57	827,521	52·72
1980	234,502	121,372	51·76	1·96	1,034,239	52·71
1981	247,539	127,482	51·50	2·03	1,064,480	52·40
1982	244,826	124,034	50·66	2·01	1,040,260	51·88
1983	228,107	114,185	50·06	1·89	971,307	51·33

For Nelson the only available figures are:

	Tests conducted	Number failed	percentage
June to December 1982	3,153	1,577	50·00
January to December 1983	4,843	2,025	41·81
January to May 1984	2,049	887	43·29

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to allow local groups such as parish councils or parents' associations to maintain school crossing patrols licensed by the relevant highway authority but entirely financed by themselves.

The provision of school crossing patrols is the responsibility of county councils outside London, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis in the Metropolitan police district, and the Common Council in the City of London. It is for these authorities to consider whether arrangements of the sort to which my hon. Friend refers are appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is delaying the payment of claims for compensation for land acquired for the construction of the M25 and connected matters in the Byfleet area; and if he will make a statement.

The payment of compensation for land acquired for the M25 in the Byfleet area is being dealt with as quickly as possible. I have written to my hon. Friend about a particular case that he has referred to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the furthest point at which Edinburgh is signposted on motorways from the south.

Between junctions 42 and 43, east of Carlisle on the M6.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when work will be completed to construct further toll booths on the entrance to the Dartford tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not readily available. The following information relates to the traffic area in which Lancashire lies and Great Britain and is by calendar year:

I understand that the joint committee expects the new booths to be largely complete in June next year. This should increase the tunnel's present capacity from 60,000 to about 100,000 vehicles a day.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many capital highway schemes or compulsory purchase orders submitted to his Department by the metropolitan county councils are awaiting approval or confirmation; and what is the average length of time that elapses between the date of such schemes being submitted and their approval or confirmation being given.

I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the information has been collated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prefabricated concrete houses which are to be subject to designation under the Housing Defects Bill are (a) owned by and (b) have been sold by the borough council of Ellesmere Port and Neston.

The council has informed the Department in response to a letter of 18 February 1983 that it owned 1,140 houses of the Airey, Cornish unit and Wates type and that it had sold one house' of the Airey type. I understand from correspondence with my hon. Friend earlier this year that a house of the Wates type in the council's area is also in private ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the outcome of the Council of Environment Ministers' meeting on 28 June.

I shall answer this question shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department invited applications for the special grants scheme; what was the closing date for submissions; how many projects have been put forward; and when he expects to announce the successful applicants.

My right hon. Friend announced the introduction of the special grants programme on 29 November 1983 and invited applications by the end of December. As 1984–85 is the first year of this new programme, applications received after that date were also considered.About 120 eligible applications have been received. I have already announced some grant awards and others will be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his most recent estimate of the number of council-owned homes officially regarded as difficult to let in the Greater London area and in each of the metropolitan counties.

The estimates for 1 April 1983 included in the authorities' housing investment programme returns are as follows:

	Estimate
Tyne and Wear	14,036
South Yorkshire	13,401
West Yorkshire	11,784
West Midlands	42,705
Greater Manchester	29,331
Merseyside	27,097
Greater London	108,672

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the London borough of Greenwich about the lack of funds for intermediate and repair grants in the current financial year; and what response he has made.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what allowance is made in determining Liverpool's rate support grant for the antiquity of the rating valuation assessments currently in force.

The basis for calculating each local authority's rate income for the purpose of determining their block grant entitlement is the rateable value certified by the district valuer for the 1 April preceding the grant year. This arrangement is agreed with the local authority associations, and it would not be appropriate to make exceptions for individual authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the dates on which each

Duration in weeks	Under 18	18 and 19	20–24	25–29	30–34	35–39	40–44	45–49	50–54	55–59	60–64	65 and over	Total
One or less	16	24	52	33	18	17	8	12	8	8	7	0	203
Over 1 and up to 2	16	20	47	25	8	19	5	8	4	8	1	0	161
Over 2 and up to 4	35	38	93	49	38	21	14	18	12	9	8	0	335
Over 4 and up to 6	23	41	76	49	37	18	11	18	11	17	6	0	307
Over 6 and up to 8	21	34	78	43	26	22	12	20	15	12	5	0	288
Over 8 and up to 13	74	89	175	119	51	50	42	33	36	19	4	0	702
Over 13 and up to 26	117	208	404	218	121	99	73	77	67	49	37	0	1,470
Over 26 and up to 39	170	291	402	193	124	104	77	64	70	42	29	0	1,566
Over 39 and up to 52	100	238	323	135	95	83	53	72	46	46	16	0	1,207
Over 52 and up to 65	34	151	198	120	75	66	59	56	39	26	8	0	832
Over 65 and up to 78	22	131	168	136	53	51	46	38	43	24	3	0	715

I have made five official visits to Birmingham in the last 12 months.

• 22 July 1983. Birmingham Inner City Partnership Committee Meeting
• 18 November 1983. BICP Tour and Birmingham Convention Centre presentation
• 28 November 1983. Opening of the Interbuild 1983 Exhibition at the National Exhibition Centre
• 13 January 1984. BICP Committee Meeting
• 26 April 1984. BICP Committee Meeting
• 7/8 June 1984. Dinner with Birmingham City Council.
• Breakfast with Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

In addition Ministers in my Department have made the following visits—MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD BELLWIN)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the following age bands have been unemployed in Liverpool; and for how long (a) 16 to 18 years, (b) 18 to 20 years, (c) 20 to 25 years, (c) 25 to 30 years (e) 30 to 35 years, (f) 35 to 40 years, (g) 40 to 45 years, (h) 45 to 50 years, (i) 50 to 55 years, (j) 55 to 60 years and (k) 60 to 65 years.

The following table gives the information for unemployed claimants in the area covered by the Liverpool and Toxeth jobcentres on 5 April 1984, the latest date for which an analysis by age and duration of unemployment is available.