asked the hon. Member for Wokingham, as representing the Church Commissioners, how many clergy have been paid in each year for which figures are available by the Church Commissioners; and if he will make a statement.

The information is as follows.

Full-time diocesan clergymen in Provinces of Canterbury and York (excluding Europe): paid by Church Commissioners*
As at:		Numbers
December	1983	10,805
December	1982	10,789
June	1982	10,818
December	1981	10,882
June	1981	10,992
December	1980	11,050
June	1980	11,235
December	1979	11,279
July	1979	11,337
July	1978	11,549

Per clergy register maintained by Church Commissioners†
July	Numbers
1977	11,782
1976	12,056

Per Church of England Year Book†
December	Numbers
1973	13,105
1971	15,223
1969	15,495
1968	15,607
1967	15,548
1966	15,457
1965	15,444
1963	15,121
1962	15,154
1961	15,059
1960	14,603

Clergy pensioners paid by Church Commissioners as at 31 December‡
December	Numbers
1983	5,407
1982	5,349
1981	5,186
1980	5,010
1979	4,810
1978	4,673
1977	4,499
1976	4,266
1975	4,092
1974	3,882
1973	3,650
1972	3,423

December	Numbers
1971	3,287
1970	3,126
1969	3,049
1968	2,975
1967	2,926
1966	2,916
1965	2,896
1964	2,887
1963	2,903
1962	2,939
1961	2,922
* Only since 1 April 1978 have all diocesan clergy been paid by the Church Commissioners.
† The clergy register has been maintained by the Church Commissioners since 1 January 1976. Earlier than this such records as were used in the compilation of the statistics given in the Church of England Year Book were maintained by the Central Board of Finance.
‡ Clergy pensioners have been paid by the Church Commissioners throughout the period covered.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to reverse the recent House of Lords decision in President of India v. La Pintada Compania Navigacion SA.

The Government have no plans to introduce legislation providing for the payment of interest generally on all contract debts.

asked the Attorney-General how many circuit judges there are at present; and whether the Government have any proposals for increasing their number.

There are now 353 circuit judges. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has made it clear in evidence to a Select Committee of this House that he considers that there is a need for more circuit judges. He is actively examining ways of meeting this need.

asked the Attorney-General what steps have been taken by his Department since May 1979 to improve its efficiency; what has been the result; what further steps are currently being taken to improve efficiency; what the results are expected to be; and what output criteria have been developed by his Department to help measure its efficiency.

In a Department as small and specialised as the Law Officers' Department (which comprises, in addition to the Solicitor-General and myself, only nine professional officers, six secretaries and four Registry staff in London and one secretary in Belfast) steps to enhance efficiency cannot rely on sophisticated management techniques but must necessarily concentrate on methods of improving the procedures for the recording, retrieval, circulation and processing of correspondence, opinions and precedents etc.Accordingly, during the period in question, my Department has reorganised its registry and, in particular, its filing methods. It has also introduced improved procedures to ensure the timely consideration of inquiries and complaints from Members of Parliament and the public and the prompt provision of answers to them.To assist in these improvements, the Department has very recently installed a microcomputer, and the new systems which this enables us to employ are now becoming fully operational and are already showing useful results. Additionally, and in collaboration with the Treasury Solicitor's Department, which is responsible for the Law Officers' Department's finances and administration, we have also devised more effective procedures for keeping check on our routine expenditure on such items as textbooks, stationery and travelling expenses.I attach great importance to the speed and efficiency, as well as the economy, of the way in which my Department carries out its functions, and I therefore have exercised a close personal supervision over the introduction and operation of the measures that I have described. I will continue to do so.

asked the Attorney-General how many employees in his Department are currently taking part in job-share schemes.

None.

asked the Attorney-General how many vacancies in his Department have been filled through the job release scheme in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

None.

asked the Attorney-General how many employees in his Department are currently allowed day release facilities or other assistance to encourage them to continue their education.

None of the 20 staff currently employed in my Department have asked for day release facilities or other assistance to encourage them to continue their education.

asked the Attorney-General what has been the total cost to his Department of assistance given to employees to encourage them to continue their education in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Nil.

asked the Attorney-General whether any of those working in his Department are young people in the youth training scheme.

No.

asked the Attorney-General how many of the employees of his Department are registered as disabled.

None.

asked the Attorney-General what has been the total amount of money spent by his Department on advertising in each of the last five years for which figures are available (a) of job vacancies and (b) for other reasons.

Nil.

asked the Attorney-General how many new staff have been employed by his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

All the staff in my Department are seconded to it, for varying periods, from other Departments. There is therefore a constant turnover of staff as some members return to their parent Departments at the end of their secondment and are replaced by others, whether from the same or from other Departments. However, at the end of the five-year period beginning 9 July 1979, the total number of staff remained the same as at the beginning of the period, id est 20, of whom 19 are now employed in London and one in my Belfast office. The figure of 20 is, in fact, two less than the Department's authorised establishment.

asked the Attorney-General if he will bring forward proposals to repeal the Enclosure Acts; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given today to his other question on the Enclosure Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he can give figures for each of the last four calendar years of trucks, buses and Land Rovers either supplied directly under the aid programme or bought with funds made available under that programme.

The numbers supplied under the aid programme in 1983 through the Crown Agents—who buy most of these types of vehicle for the aid programme — were about 50 trucks and large vans, 220 Land Rovers and one bus. I do not have available figures for vehicles bought by contractors for large projects, or indirectly by other agencies. Figures for earlier years are as follows:

	1980	1981	1982
Land Rovers	190	160	160
Trucks and large vans	*500	160	110
Buses	3	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he can report on the Lomé III negotiations.

I attended the fourth negotiating conference of ACP and EC Ministers in Luxembourg on 28–30 June. There was useful progress in a number of areas, notably substantial agreement on the text of financial and technical cooperation chapter. There was disappointingly little progress on trade matters. It is hoped that outstanding issues can now be resolved by a smaller ministerial negotiating group.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many voluntary organisations are in receipt of moneys under the joint funding scheme.

So far this year 20 organisations are receiving grants under the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the degree of co-operation between his Department and United Kingdom non-governmental organisations.

I am satisfied that co-operation with nongovernmental organisations is an effective method of directing aid to the poorest people. In 1983–84 my Department channelled more than £16 million through British voluntary organisations in support of the British volunteer programme, for disaster and refugee relief, and for overseas development projects through the joint funding scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a study of the implications for overseas development of rising world interest rates.

We keep the prospects for developing countries and all factors affecting them, including interest rates, under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the annual amounts of financial aid to Somalia in each of the last five years; and when the decision about the next year's allocation will be made.

The calendar year totals of gross United Kingdom aid to Somalia since 1979 are as follows:

£000's
Year	Financial Aid	Technical co-operation	Total
1979	985	326	1,311
1980	2,117	689	2,806
1981	1,576	865	2,441
1982	1,622	906	2,528
1983	1,246	1,240	2,486

The level of expenditure in any one year is influenced by a number of factors, including physical progress on projects; and the appropriate allocation of aid resources is regularly reviewed in the light of changes in these factors. The current expectation for Somalia is that the level of aid in 1984 will be slightly higher than in 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is sending an observer to the inquiry into the Falklands hospital fire.

We did not send an observer to the commission of inquiry into the Falklands hospital fire. We received regular reports on its proceedings through the Civil Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply has been sent to the Government of Zimbabwe following their proposal for a meeting in Harare to discuss the supplementation of the pensions of former Crown servants of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 12 April at column 340. A reply will be sent very soon.

asked the Prime Minister if she will explain and define the term "excess levies and duties" as used by her in answers subsequent to her statement of 27 June.

Our "excess levies and duties" represents the difference between the levy and duty payments we actually make to the Community (in respect of the allocated budget) and what we would pay if our levy and duty share were the same as our VAT share. In 1983, the difference amounted to some 291 million ecu. The corrective mechanism agreed at Fontainebleau applies to the whole of our net contribution, excluding only the excess levies and duties.

asked the Prime Minister if she will explain and define the terms "share of VAT payments", "share of expenditure allocation" and "in accordance with present criteria" as used in the Fontainebleau cornmuniqué; and if she will now publish in full the formula for future United Kingdom repayments.

The "share of VAT payments" refers to each member state's share of all payments made in respect of value-added-tax on GNP contributions in the year (except in respect of budget refunds). For the Fontainebleau corrective mechanism, our share of levies and duties is regarded as the same as our share of VAT payments. The effect of this is that the corrective mechanism takes account of all our contributions except for our excess levies and duties—id est the difference between what we actually pay and what we would have paid if our levy and duty share were the same as our VAT share.The "share of expenditure allocated" refers to the Commission's calculation of shares expenditure out of the allocated budget for the year. The phrase

asked the Prime Minister if, in discussions with the Prime Minister of South Africa in the course of his visit to London, any representatives of Her Majesty's Government raised any matters appertaining to the Falkland Islands; and if she will make a statement.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had, over the last 12 months, with the Government of South Africa, over matters appertaining to the Falkland Islands; and if she will make a statement.

None.

asked the Prime Minister whether all Government Departments decide the level of grant for pre-school groups on the same principles.

All Departments provide grants to voluntary organisations, having regard to the legislative powers under which the grants are awarded, the relative priority accorded to that service in the light of resources available, and to the efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation concerned.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will reconsider the present practice whereby right hon. and hon. Members who have tabled oral questions asking her to list her official engagements for the day, and whose questions are not reached, receive a written reply.

Yes. Following discussions through the usual channels, right hon. and hon. Members who have tabled oral questions asking me to list my engagements for the day, and whose questions are not reached, will with effect from 16 July 1984 not receive a written reply unless they specifically ask that one should be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any guidelines or circulars have been issued by the Lord Chancellor's Department to magistrates or their clerks concerning bail terms for those arrested on miners' picket lines and charged with offences arising from the coal miners' dispute; and if he will make a statement.

The grant of bail and the nature of any conditions attached to bail are matters for the courts in the exercise of their discretion under the Bail Act 1976. Neither my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor nor we have issued any such guidance as the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received from chief constables as to approximately how often throughout the present miners' dispute the police have sought to limit the number of people picketing at any particular entry to a place of work.

The number of sites which have been picketed each week-day since the dispute began is such that we would not expect chief officers of police to report the detail of the policing at every one. But the reports which my right hon. and learned Friend receives from chief officers about their operation as a whole indicate that steps to limit the size of assemblies, in order to prevent or help deal with breaches of the peace or the commission of offences, are taken daily.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to codify police powers under common law to limit the size of a picket line; and if he will make a statement.

The power to limit the number of people at a particular place is one of the range of powers at common law available to the police to prevent or deal with breaches of the peace and obstruction. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering whether these powers should be codified in his review of the Public Order Act 1936 and related legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of prosecutions for breach of the Sunday trading legislation in each of the last five years.

The information available to me on the number of proceedings for offences against the Sunday trading laws is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—offence classification 179 of table S1.1(A) of supplementary tables Vol. 1 of the latest issue for 1982. Because such prosecutions are brought by local authorities, as distinct from the police, the published figures may be incomplete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken by his Department since May 1979 to improve its efficiency; what has been the result; what further steps are currently being taken to improve efficiency; what the results are expected to be; and what output criteria have been developed by his Department to help measure its efficiency.

Pages 70–72 of the 1983 White Paper "Financial Management in Government Departments" (Cmnd. 9058) published in September 1983 summarised the steps taken by my Department to improve efficiency. Additional information will shortly be published in a further White Paper reporting progress in financial management in Government Departments.Key features include improved systems for setting objectives and monitoring their achievement against set timescales; targets for specific value for money improvements; better information about costs, and more clearly delegated responsibility for controlling and managing them; studies and scrutinies of selected activities to secure greater efficiency. These initiatives extend beyond the Home Office itself into the public bodies and local authority services for which I have responsibilities.Examples of quantifiable improvements within the Home Office are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the number of neighbourhood watch schemes now operating in the area of the Metropolitan police and give details of how many such schemes (a) operate in each London borough, (b) have the recommended participation level of households of 40 per cent. and (c) how many neighbourhood watch schemes are planned or are at pre-meeting or meeting stages of preparation.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, at the end of April, the latest date for which collated information is available, there were 390 neighbourhood watch schemes operating within the Metropolitan police district. The number in each London borough and in other areas within the Metropolitan police district is shown as follows. At the end of April, a further 509 schemes were being planned. Information about the levels of participation in functioning schemes could not be obtained without disproportionate cost and would no doubt fluctuate over time. The commissioner's full list of the functioning schemes has been placed in the Library of the House.

Number of neighbourhood watch schemes in the London boroughs and in other areas within the Metropolitan police district
	Numbers
Barking and Dagenham	7
Barnet	10
Bexley	5
Brent	4
Bromley	13
Camden	6
Croydon	41
Ealing	12
Enfield	7
Greenwich	15
Hackney	7
Hammersmith and Fulham	20
Haringey	5
Harrow	2
Havering	13
Hillingdon	8
Hounslow	6
Islington	6
Kensington and Chelsea	20
Kingston upon Thames	3
Lambeth	7
Lewisham	44
Merton	8
Newham	14
Redbridge	3
Richmond upon Thames	13
Southwark	6
Sutton	15
Tower Hamlets	3
Waltham Forest	1
Wandsworth	39
City of Westminster	13
Broxbourne, Hertfordshire	1
Epsom and Ewell, Surrey	9
Reigate and Banstead, Surrey	4

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to establish a separate channel for British nationals at passport control at the new Birmingham international airport.

No. Channelling arrangements at United Kingdom ports and airports are made to ensure as speedy and effective clearance of all arriving passengers as can be achieved with the immigration service staff available. At Birmingham international airport, these considerations have pointed to one channel for United Kingdom and EC nationals and one channel for all other passengers. Provision of a separate channel for United Kingdom nationals would be wasteful of staff and would lead to lengthy delays for other passengers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why passport control arrangements at the new Birmingham international airport allow passengers from non-EEC countries to obtain clearance, on average, twice as quickly as British and other EEC country passengers.

At present, three immigration officers are normally deployed to deal with arriving flights at Birmingham international airport. Two are allocated to the United Kingdom and EC nationals channel, and one deals with all others. A difference in clearance rates of the order referred to by my hon. Friend would occur only when there were very few passengers in the latter category.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in 1982, 1983 and so far in 1984, the prerogative of mercy has been used to release prisoners who were ill; and, in each case, what was their sex, the length of sentence uncompleted, and the nature of their illness.

In 1982 the royal prerogative of mercy was used to effect the early release of three men who were suffering from terminal cancer. The length of their uncompleted sentences was two weeks, four months and 15 months. In 1983 eight men were so released. Five were suffering from terminal cancer, of whom one had 38 days, two had three months, one had six months and one had 15 months to serve of their sentences; two men who had suffered severe strokes which left them paralysed had approximately 2½ years to serve of their sentences; and one man who had had a colectomy had five months to serve. So far in 1984 one man suffering from terminal cancer has been released with two months of his sentence to serve.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimates he has made of the change in licence income that would result if all pensioners living on their own, including those who currently pay the concessionary rate, were to pay one half of the television licence fee.

We estimate that if every pensioner living alone were granted a half price licence and all others were to pay the full fees the licence fee revenue would be reduced by between £35 million and £40 million a year. If the concession were extended to all households consisting only of pensioners, the corresponding loss of revenue would be between £70 million and £75 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department over what traffic areas, or parts of traffic areas, the Metropolitan police have informed him that they are affixing wheel clamps on illegally parked vehicles; and what requests he has received from the Metropolitan police that these areas, or parts of areas, should be extended.

The experimental wheel clamping scheme introduced in May 1983 operates in parts of the city of Westminster and parts of the royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea. We have received no requests from the Metropolitan police for the area in which the scheme operates to be extended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures for the number of police officers injured in connection with the coal mining dispute; and what figures he has available about the number of pickets injured in the dispute.

Between 14 March and 5 July inclusive 465 police officers had been injured while policing events associated with the miners' dispute. Information about the number of other people injured is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was shown as the cause of death on the certificate of exemption issued in the case of Mr. Robin Walsh;(2) what was the name and address shown under the next of kin on the certificate of exemption issued in the case of Mr. Robin Walsh;(3) whether he will place in the Library a copy of the certificate of exemption in the name of Mr. Robin Walsh.

I have assumed that by "the certificate of exemption" the hon. Member means the Secretary of State's order issued under Regulation 12A(2) of the Cremation Regulations 1930, as amended, which permits a medical referee to authorise cremation in the absence of cremation forms B and C.The order itself does not mention the cause of death. It is, however, only issued in cases of natural death. The application for the cremation order, which is retained by the Department, has a statement of the medical cause of death but this information is of a personal nature and it is not our policy to disclose it.The order does not include the name and address of the next of kin. We have no information as to the next of kin the application for cremation was in this case signed by the executor. No copy is made of the Secretary of State's order; it is, however, in a standard form, a copy of which I have placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what response Her Majesty's Government have received from the states of Jersey and Guernsey to his request that they consider making a contribution to the cost of their defence and foreign representation.

We would not expect responses until the respective insular authorities have given full and careful consideration to the requests and this, I know, is in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Merseyside on recent trends in the arrest and prosecution of drug pushers; and if he will make a statement.

The chief constable assures me that his officers devote considerable efforts to dealing with those engaged in the unlawful supply of drugs in Merseyside. The available information concerning the number of people proceeded against and sentenced for unlawfully supplying or possession with intent to supply unlawfully controlled drugs in the Merseyside police area. The information for the years 1978–1982 is given in the following table. Figures for 1983 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what notification his Department gave to opposition parties of the day and time at which the Public Telecommunication System Designation (British Telecommunications) Order 1984 (S.I. 1984 No. 855) would be laid before Parliament.

No advance notice was given to opposition parties of the laying of this order but I announced that copies of the order and the similar order for Kingston upon Hull city council, together with the licences for British Telecommunications and Hull, had been placed in the Library and Vote Office in my reply to the hon. Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 27 June.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the five-nation Mori survey published in May 1984, about Great Britain's low position in relation to the USA, West Germany, Belgium and Australia in applying new technology; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the conclusions of the Mori survey referred to and, whilst it is possible to question the value of conclusions drawn from a very small sample, I accept that the survey does suggest that some United Kingdom companies do not fully appreciate the important role that new technology can play in up-dating their products, improving their productivity and reducing their costs.It is for this reason that my Department conducts awareness campaigns and offers advice to draw attention to these opportunities. Information technology year (1982) was a paramount example, and we have conducted more specific campaigns for computer-aided design and manufacture, robotics biotechology etc, directed particularly to smaller firms for quality, design and manufacturing technology generally. Our own surveys show that these campaigns have been effective in raising the level of awareness of these technologies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will assess the implications of his Department's statistics about the lower proportion of Government funded research and development devoted to industrial research in Great Britain by comparison with France, West Germany, Japan and Italy; and if he will make a statement.

The main source of funds for industrial research and development in the United Kingdom is the profits and other financial resources of companies, and recently published statistics show that in 1981 industry spent £3·8 billion of its own money on R&D. International comparisons of expenditure by Governments on industrial R&D can be misleading because of the different responsibilities of the public and private sectors in the various countries, but there is no correlation between the proportion of industrial R&—D funded by Government and economic success.The aim of this Government is to encourage companies to make their own investments in R&D and new technology by the catalytic use of Government money, and in 1983–4 my Department: spent £323 million on the support for industrial innovation in this way. Expenditure in 1984–5 is expected to be £378 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what discussions his Department is having with the Spanish Government to expedite liberalisation of the Spanish car market over the period before Spain's entry into the European Economic Community;(2) what representations his Department has made to the Spanish Government on the protection of their small car market, with regard to future reduction of duty and extension of quotas for United Kingdom manufacturers;(3) whether he is satisfied with the Spanish reduced duty quotas for the import of motor vehicles into Spain after 30 June; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have made clear to the Spanish Government their concern at the anomalous disparity in duties on cars between Spain and the Community. We have also made clear that we hoped that this year Spain would increase its reduced duty quotas for cars. I was therefore disappointed to learn that the quotas have been rolled forward without any increase. Although I understand that Austin Rover has received a useful increase in its allocation under the quotas, I shall continue to press the Spanish Government for an increase.However, the only effective long-term solution to the problem is in Spain's entry to the Community. In the negotiations the United Kingdom will continue to insist on the earliest possible access for community car manufacturers to the Spanish market at much reduced rates of duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the balance of trade with the European Economic Community and with the rest of the world in the first five months of the current year, at an annual rate, for (a) manufactures less precious stones and (b) visible trade less crude oil and precious stones.

The figures on an overseas trade statistics basis, which overstates imports, are in the table. These annualised data are unreliable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the total number of company liquidations for each of the last 10 years for which statistics are available.

Figures in respect of company liquidations are published regularly in British Business and the total number of company liquidations for each of the last 10 years appeared in the issue of 4 May 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the total number of businesses officially declared as bankrupt for each of the last 10 years for which statistics are available.

The information is as follows:

England and Wales—Number of Business Bankruptcies
Year	Number
1977	3,151
1978	2,855
1979	2,527
1980	2,810
1981	3,689
1982	4,182
1983	5,155

Figures are given only from 1977 because earlier figures are not comparable, due to substantial increases in the monetary limits in bankruptcy proceedings and deposits on petitions made in December 1976.The figures are based on receiving orders made during the year, less those consolidated or rescinded before the end of the year, together with administration orders and deeds of arrangement on the same basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a table showing expenditure in each year between 1970 and 1983 for United Kingdom imports of raw materials, semi-manufactures, manufactured goods and food and export earnings in each of those years from manufactures.

The information is published in table A8 of the annual supplement (No. 5), of the "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the Ceylon Shipping Corporation has been selected as the designated shipping line for the carriage of sea mail to the Indian sub-continent for 1984–85.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Wentworth on 4 July, he will publish details in the Official Report of any plans which the Government are considering to privatise the British Steel Corporation; and what consultations he intends having with trade unions in the steel industry.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total value of textile and clothing imports into the United Kingdom in each of the years since 1964 expressed by (a) value of imports and (b) their percentage share of the total domestic market.

[pursuant to the reply, 4 July 1984, c.184]: Comparable information can be provided only from 1970 onwards. It is as follows:

Textiles and Clothing (Class 43 and Group 453 of the standard industrial classification revised 1980)
	Value of Imports (£ million)	Percentage Share of The Domestic Market
1970	393	13
1971	483	15
1972	586	16
1973	854	20
1974	1,076	22
1975	1,087	23
1976	1,492	26
1977	1,753	27
1978	2,188	29
1979	2,614	32
1980	2,486	32
1981	2,872	37
1982	3,088	37
1983	3,574	39

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the total amount of money spent by his Department on advertising in each of the last five years for which figures are available (a) of job vacancies and (b) for other reasons.

[pursuant to the reply, 4 July 1984, c.185]: The total amount of money spent by the Department of Trade on advertising in each of the last five years for which figures are available was:

	Job vacancies £	For other reasons £
1979–80	143,185	530,395
1980–81	123,942	927,168
1981–82	29,166	1,540,924
1982–83	25,630	3,367,217
1983–84	24,596	2,838,102

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is taken to protect the interests of a British firm or industry which complains of dumping, where the corresponding EEC industry suffers little or no damage.

[pursuant to the reply, 6 July 1984, c.333]: We and the Commission do all we can to ensure that the operation of the Community's anti-dumping procedures is sufficiently flexible to protect the interests of British Industry in these circumstances. Experience suggests that, even when they are not directly affected themselves, producers in other member states are none the less prepared to lend their support for the opening of an investigation. Both national and European trade associations do much to co-ordinate this support.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will hold discussions with employers to see that workers of either sex are not financially penalised or become liable to redundancy because they stand for the magistracy; an if he will make a statement.

The Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 requires employers to permit employees who are justices of the peace to take reasonable time off to perform their duties. The Act also provides that dismissal on the grounds of redundancy may be unfair if the employee is selected on inadmissible grounds of if customary arrangements or agreed procedures have been contravened. Where an employee feels that he is not given reasonable time off, or that he has been unfairly dismissed on the grounds of redundancy, it is open to him to take the matter to an industrial tribunal.Magistrates are entitled to claim an allowance for loss of earnings incurred while performing their duties on the bench.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what proportion of the panel of magistrates in Bolton are not employed in a job which involves an average working day.

Approximately 40 per cent. of Bolton magistrates are not in full-time employment. They consist for the most part of people working part-time, married women and retired persons.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what action the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has taken to ensure that the magistracy panel for Bolton represents the working community as well as those who have free time.

Magistrates perform a judicial function, and they are selected on the basis of their personal qualities and qualifications for appointment. In the case of the Bolton bench, nearly two-thirds of the magistrates are either in full-time or part-time employment or occupation.

asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, on what basis the Commission decides the size of the annual budget for travel abroad by Select Committees.

The Commission's estimate for overseas travel by Select Committees is based on its view, of what is a reasonable and proper sum to be expended on this service, bearing in mind the level of such expenditure in past Sessions, the rising cost of overseas travel, and an appreciation of the likely rate of Select Committee activity in the financial year in question. At the request of the Commission, the Liaison Committee allocates the total resources available between individual Select Committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the organisation, Defence begins at Home, proposing a home defence force as an extension of the Territorial Army; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

Since November 1982 Ministers have met leading members of the Defence begins at Home organisation on four occasions. The organisation has explained its proposal for the raising of a large-scale volunteer force to supplement the regular, TA and reserve forces which are dedicated to home defence. The organisation has also provided Ministers with a number of pamphlets and papers. The Government will keep under review the ideas of Defence begins at Home as they develop, and, in reaching final decisions on the proposals, will consider the extent to which the requirement for enhanced home defence will be met by the expansion of the home service force, the existing volunteer formations and better utilisation of reservist manpower generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what orders he has placed for single-role mine-hunters.

None as yet. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 30 January at column 32.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are on attached duties with foreign military forces; and what countries are involved.

At 31 March this year, 717 British armed forces personnel were on loan to 30 countries or territories overseas, which were listed in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Crawley (Mr. Soames) on 20 March at column 447. Bahrain should now be added to that list.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will (a) list the Ulster Defence Regiment bases which were brought into existence with the formation of the regiment but have now closed and (b) the level of command in each present base.

Details of the UDR bases which were brought into existence with the formation of the regiment in April 1970 but which have since closed are not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Of the 29 present bases, 10 have a lieutenant-colonel as the senior rank, 18 have majors and one has a captain. The headquarters of the UDR is commanded by a brigadier.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on any proposals presently being considered for reorganisation or privatisation at the Ministry of Defence establishment Inchterf, Milton of Campsie.

A review of the proof and experimental establishments, of which P&EE Inchterf is one, was set in hand in January 1984 to see how the civilian and service manpower targets for these establishments could be achieved, while maintaining both capability and efficiency. This review is in line with the Government's declared economic strategy on which my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Treasury, addressed the House on 28 October 1983 at columns 545–61. The results of the review are currently being studied, and it is expected that proposals will be put to Ministers shortly.The hon. Gentleman may be assured that, when a decision has been made, hon. Members who have establishments in their constituencies will be informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the Medical Research Council's annual expenditure during the last five years in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland, respectively, on (a) research units, including the Medical Research Council, pneumoconiosis and epidemiology units (b) programme grants and (c) project grants.

The information requested is as follows, though figures are not available for programme and project grants separately:

(a) Research units (including MRC's pneumoconiosis unit and epidemiology unit (both located in South Wales) and MRC's external scientific staff team)
Financial year	England	Scotland	Wales	Northern Ireland
1979–80	36·2	4·2	1·1	—
1980–81	44·6	5·3	1·2	—

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers of people employed by the Medical Research Council in Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland; and how these compare with the corresponding figures five years previously.

The numbers of staff employed by the Medical Research Council in England, Scotland and Wales on 1 June 1984, together with the corresponding numbers on 1 October 1979, are as follows. The council does not have any units in Northern Ireland.

	1 June 1984	1 October 1979
England*	3,190	3,311
Scotland	392	380
Wales	83	97
Total	3,665	3,788
* Includes MRC headquarters staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with initiatives undertaken by the Medical Research Council.

Within the purposes set out in its Royal Charter, and taking account of any recommendations made by the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on scientific priorities and direction, the Medical Research Council is effectively free to decide on its scientific priorities and on what initiatives it should take within the total cash sums allocated to it by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students obtained degrees at the Open University in 1979 and 1983 and in the first year in which a substantial number of degrees were awarded.

The information is as follows:

Number of degrees awarded
	1972	1979	1983
First degrees	898	5,835	*5,600
Higher degrees	—	18	49
Honours degrees	—	1,068	*1,100
* Estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students studied at the Open University when it first opened, and in 1979 and 1983.

The information supplied by the Open University is as follows:

	1971	1979	1983
All students	19,615	80,332	114,528
Undergraduates	19,518	60,579	66,403
Associate students	—	8,778	7,367
Postgradutes	34	664	765
Others*	—	10,311	39,993
* Including students on short courses and learning materials sold to clients

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much funding was made available to the Open University in 1979, 1983 and 1984; and how those figures compare in real terms with the amount of funding that was available when the Open University was first opened.

The university admitted its first student in 1971 and this is taken to be the year it first opened for the purpose of this question. The second column of the table gives recurrent grant in cash terms received by the university in the academic years 1971, 1979, 1983 and an estimate of the outturn for 1984. These cash figures have been adjusted to cost terms in the third column at average 1983 prices using the deflator for gross domestic product at market prices. The predicted deflator for 1984 is taken from table 5.5 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

£ Million 1983 base
Academic year	Recurrent grant (cash terms)	Recurrent grant (cost terms)
1971	6·02	25·65
1979	34·27	51·77
1983	*55·37	55·37
1984	*57·58	54·63
* Excluding grants and loans for the university's professional industrial and commercial updating activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of students are currently studying science, hard technology subjects and mathematics; and how this compares with the year the Open University first opened.

As regards undergraduates, the information is as follows:

	1971 per cent.	1984 per cent.
Science	23	15
Technology	—	18
Mathematics	21	17
Totals	44	50

The Open University did not offer technology courses until 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken by his Department since May 1979 to improve its efficiency; what has been the result; what further steps are currently being taken to improve efficiency; what the results are expected to be; and what output criteria have been developed by his Department to help measure its efficiency.

The Department's plans for improving its own financial management were set out in the Government's White Paper "Financial Management in Government Departments" (Cmnd. 9058) in November 1983. Developments since then will be outlined in the further report to be published later this month.The Department has carried out efficiency scrutinies into its administration of teachers' pensions, student awards, Her Majesty's Inspectorate, and grants for non-maintained colleges as well as into the control of its running costs generally. In addition, there is a continuing programme of staff inspection, organisation and method studies and internal audit. These scrutinies and programmes have identified areas for improvements in efficiency as well as, in some cases, suitable performance indicators or staff savings. Staff numbers in the Department have fallen by just over 9 per cent. between April 1979 and April 1984, equivalent to a saving of some £3·5 million per annum at present prices.Work in hand to improve the Department's efficiency includes application of new technology (which should yield significant further manpower savings); development of a financial management information system in line with FMI principles to improve control and accountability; and efficiency studies of common service operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many departments of nutrition there are within medical schools in the United Kingdom doing full teaching and research.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of its budget the Medical Research Council is devoting to research specifically on nutrition in the prevention of cancer and cardio-vascular disease.

I understand that in 1982–83, which is the latest financial year for which figures are available, the Medical Research Council devoted 0.93 per cent. of its overall budget (about £970,000) to research projects which had the clear objective of studying nutrition in the aetiology and prevention of cancer and cardio-vascular diseases. Many other projects supported by the council in the general area of nutrition science — on which the council spend about £6 million annually—may in the longer term have substantial relevance to cancer and cardio-vascular disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the nutritional training received by medical students in the United Kingdom.

Nutrition is one aspect of biochemistry, which forms part of the undergraduate syllabus laid down by the General Medical Council; the relative emphasis placed on the subject is a matter for individual medical schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps the Government are taking to increase the opportunities for married women to return as mature students to polytechnics and similar colleges.

The Government are concerned to increase such opportunities in a variety of ways. This has been reflected in the endorsement by my right hon. Friend of the National Advisory Body's plans for 1984–5, which embody a significant shift towardds part-time and other provision for mature students, and in the support given by my right hon. Friend for the Equal Opportunities Commission's women into science and engineering (WISE) initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps the Government are taking to ensure that resources for higher education in the polytechnics and the rest of the public sector are sufficient to meet the demands for trained manpower in the event of a recovery in the economy.

The National Advisory Body's plans for local authority higher education in 1984–85, as endorsed by my right hon. Friend, and the associated distribution of the advanced further education pool provide for a substantial increase in admissions in subjects of relevance to the economy, including a 15 per cent. increase in first year engineering students. The Government are considering with the NAB and others what further measures may be needed to consolidate this shift of provision in later years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the number of students from social groups IV and V currently attending polytechnics and universities or both together; and how this figure compares with 1981–82 as a total number and as a percentage.

The statistical supplement to the twentieth report (1981–82) of the Universities Central Council on Admissions (tabulation 1, page 7) shows that in 1982, the latest year for which information is available, about 65,500 home candidates were accepted for admission to a university whose parent's occupation was recorded. Of these, 5·8 per cent. were from social classes IV and V (partly skilled and unskilled occupations). The corresponding figures for 1981 were 67,200 and 5·2 per cent. Probably, some of the 7,000 accepted home candidates not classified by parent's occupations were also from these social classes. No recent information is available in respect of the polytechnics. A copy of the statistical supplement is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy regarding intervention by his Department over the contents of courses in higher educational establishments.

The content of courses is the responsibility of the institutions providing them, subject to any arrangements for external validation or accreditation. In the public sector Her Majesty's Inspectors has a programme of inspections of courses and institutions and its reports are published. In the case of initial teacher training, my right hon. Friend has recently announced criteria against which the content of courses will be addressed. Where my right hon. Friend receives complaints about the content of courses in higher education these may be pursued as seems appropriate in the light of the nature of the complaint.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the funding for technology and science students in the public sector in the current year compares with the funding in 1981–82 before the Government decision to transfer resources into that sector of higher education.

The Government's expenditure plans provide for a 20 per cent. increase (from £487 million to £585 million) between 1981–82 and 1984–85 in the cash available for local authority higher education. It is for local authorities and their institutions to determine the precise distribution between subjects of the funds available. The allocations to them however, from the advanced further education pool for 1984–85 as determined by my right hon. Friend, on the advice of the National Advisory Body, were based on target student numbers for each subject: they thereby reflected the significant shift in student numbers towards science and engineering built into the NAB's plans for 1984–85 as endorsed by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what publications are produced by or for his Department; what is the annual cost of each; and who is responsible for the editorial policy.

The information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information about the Department's publications is given in the HMSO catalogues, in the "Catalogue of British Official Publications Not Published By HMSO" issued by Chadwyck-Healey Ltd. and in the Department's annual report. Copies are available in the Library.The decision to produce a publication is the responsibility of the branch of the Department concerned or of Her Majesty's Inspectorate. The Department's information division advises on editorial matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he intends to introduce a moratorium on public sector capital expenditure by local education authorities during the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment on 5 July at column 265.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was his reply to the invitation to present the Government's case for abolishing metropolitan county councils as highway and passenger transport authorities at a transportation conference in Merseyside on 29 June.

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I was able to attend, as we both had prior engagements on that day.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he is allowing British Rail to continue using, for up to three years, 2,900 passenger units and coaches containing harmful forms of asbestos.

British Rail is progressively eliminating all remaining asbestos from rolling stock over this period. This timetable for asbestos removal was agreed between BR and the rail unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to bring forward his proposals for further deregulation of bus services and further trial areas.

I shall be making an announcement about buses very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with the British Railways Board the future of the midland line from St. Pancras to Sheffield.

British Rail has already made it clear that the future of the line is secure.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those public assets for which his Department is responsible which have been privatised, or are now in the process of being privatised; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1979 the National Freight Corporation and British Transport Docks have been privatised. Other disposals include British Rail's hovercraft and hotel interests, International Aeradio Ltd. and much of British Airways' hotel investment, as well as long leases on most motorway service areas. We have made clear our commitment to sell or introduce private capital into British Airways, BAA and CAA airports, the National Bus Company and Sealink.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on new road construction for (a) national and (b) local authority roads in each of the past two years at constant prices.

At average 1982–83 prices, expenditure on new construction of motorways and trunk roads in England was £535 million in 1982–83 and, provisionally, £494 million in 1983–84. The provisional outturn for local authority roads in 1982–83 was £397 million. It is not yet possible to provide a reliable forecast for 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement concerning the future of Marylebone station.

Under the statutory procedure approved by Parliament, British Rail has announced its intention to propose the closure of this station. Objections to the proposal from users will be considered by the London regional passengers' committee, which will report to my right hon. Friend on any hardship it considers the closure would cause. My right hon. Friend will take his decision on the proposal in the light of the committee's report and of all the relevant factors, including economic and social considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what account he took, in approving the relevant investment proposals concerning resignalling, of the consequential need to close Crewe station for seven weeks.