asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the amounts of cash given to the Development Board for Rural Wales in each of the years 1979–80 to 1984–85; if he will compare the 1979–80 and 1984–85 amounts indicating the change in real terms; when he proposes to announce the board's budget for 1985–86; and if he will make a statement.

Funds, including housing subsidy, provided or expected to be provided to the Development Board for Rural Wales are, in cash terms:

	£ million
1979–80	10·0
1980–81	7·4
1981–82	8·2
1982–83	8·9
1983–84	9·2
1984–85	9·7

Comparison in the terms asked for is not directly possible, Government programmes are no longer planned on a constant price basis. However, by applying the gross domestic product deflator and at 1983–84 prices, the figures for 1979–80 and 1984–85 would be £14·5 million and £9·3 million respectively. The figure for 1979–80 includes the special supplementary resources made available in that year.The board's budget for 1985–86 will be published in the 1985–86 supply estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the decline in real terms of the rate support grant paid in Wales in 1984–85 since 1981–82.

When 1981–82 figures are revalued to 1984–85, prices the decline is £65.7 million. If a 1981–82 price base is used, the decline is £56·35 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the total costs incurred by his Department in the storage of European Economic Community food surpluses in Wales for the last full year for which figures are available.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why he has refused to give the addresses of European Economic Community food storage centres in Wales.

The stores concerned are private businesses and it would be a breach of commercial confidence to identify them in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the SBI percentage of capital receipts accruing in the current year which can be utilised by housing authorities in (a) Wales and (b) England; and if he will make a statement.

The prescribed proportion of housing receipts in Wales for 1984–85 is 25 per cent. The proportion for England is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people registered as disabled in Wales were employed in (a) full-time employment and (b) part-time employment at the latest date for which figures are available.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the number of people registered as disabled in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available.

On 31 March 1984, the total number of persons registered as handicapped on local authority registers was 109,729.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many private beds are available in National Health Service hospitals in 'Wales; and what percentage of Health Service beds this represents.

52 beds are currently available for private use, representing 0.2 per cent. of the total NHS beds in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by the National Bus Company in Wales.

I am told by the three National Bus Company subsidiaries operating in Wales that the figures are as follows:

	Number
The South Wales Transport Company Limited	1,292
National Welsh Omnibus Services Limited	1,560
Crosville Motor Services Limited	1,004
Total	3,856

asked the Prime Minister if she will consider the appointment of a minister for youth affairs for a trial period of 12 months during International Youth Year 1985.

No. Such an appointment would tend to complicate existing lines of responsibility which I believe to be satisfactory.

asked the Prime Minister if the question of the Republic of Eire's membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was discussed during the Anglo-Irish talks at Chequers on Sunday 18 November and Monday 19 November.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what information she has received regarding a possible visit to the United Kingdom in December by Yasser Arafat; and whether she will ensure that such a visit is not permitted in the interests of security and public order.

I am aware of reports that Mr. Arafat may wish to visit Britain privately in connection with the publication of a biography of him. If Mr. Arafat confirms that he does wish to come to this country, we should need to take into account the security implications before issuing a visa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responses he has received to the Green Paper "Intermittent Custody"; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received over 40 responses from interested bodies and individuals to the Green Paper "Intermittent Custody" and we are giving them careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to impose a time limit on the period allowed before remand cases are brought before the courts.

The Prosecution of Offences Bill, now in another place, contains provisions to enable time limits to be applied to periods before trial. We propose to exercise these powers only after conducting field trials to test the practical implications and effects of particular limits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now reply to the letter sent to him by the hon. Member for Gower on 17 September concerning his constituent, Mrs. Dhandayah Williams, of 20 Perryhead Road, Gorseinon, Swansea.

I replied to the hon. Member on 19 November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of the guidelines for the police use of dogs and horses in public order and crowd control situations.

This is primarily an operational matter for chief officers of police, but some general guidance relating to the use of dogs is contained in paragraph 1.95 of the consolidated circular to the police on crime and kindred matters, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the police in the training required by the implementation of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.

Good progress has been made in the preparation of training packages by the Home Office's central planning and instructor training unit and by the Metropolitan police. The programme of training each serving officer will begin in the course of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish statistics on the operation in the first year of the new parole policy;(2) how many prisoners serving sentences of five years or more for offences of violence or drug trafficking have been released since the implementation of the new parole policy; and what have been the exceptional circumstances or compelling reasons in each case.

We expect shortly to be able to publish an assessment of the working of the new policy in January to June this year compared with the same period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners in the new 20-year categories created by the change in parole policy have been released since its inception; and what were the exceptional circumstances or compelling reasons in these cases.

Two. One had been in custody 26 years and four months; the other 23 years and one month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional powers he proposes to take to improve staffing structures in the police and fire services; and whether it is his intention to have separate staffing structures for these services.

We have no proposals to alter the staffing structure of the police and fire services. If the hon. Member is referring to support presently provided by the metropolitan counties (to the police and fire services) and the Greater London council (to the fire service) these will be matters for determination in the first instance by the new joint authorities proposed in the Local Government Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information presently is available to determine staffing support for police and fire services currently provided by the control support departments of the metropolitan counties and the Greater London council.

The detailed information is held by the metropolitan county councils and the Greater London council. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has issued a formal request under section 5 of the Local Government (Interim Provisions) Act 1984 for information on the authorities' current manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number, by age, sex and location, of juveniles on remand in custody in Welsh penal establishments at the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the offences with which they were charged and the length of time on remand.

According to the records held centrally, there were no juveniles on remand in prison department establishmens in Wales on 31 August 1984, the latest date for which information is readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the special patrol group operations carried out in the Metropolitan police district between January 1983 and 30 September 1984 by district, and give details of the nature of operations conducted by district, the number of officers involved and the length and duration of each operation.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special patrol group serials have been deployed during the current coal dispute; on which dates and for how long; and in which police authority areas.

I understand from the commissioner that no personnel from the special patrol group of the Metropolitan police have been deployed to other police areas during the dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide details of (a) the number of offences reported and (b) the number of prosecutions for voting more than once in the general elections of 1983, 1979 and 1974 in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) Great Britain.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions are issued to the Metropolitan police regarding the circumstances in which truncheons may be used, and on what parts of the body; and whether he will issue guidance to forces outside the Metropolitan police on the same matters.

The Metropolitan police instructions on the use of truncheons are given in chapter 10, paragraph 12, of the instruction book, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. We have no plans to issue guidance on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide detailed figures for the city of Leicester giving the turnout for each ward and polling district box for local elections in May 1983, the general election in June 1983 and for local elections in May 1984.

The information requested is not available. No central record is kept on this basis of the turnout at local or parliamentary elections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Hampshire as to how many members of the Hampshire constabulary have been injured whilst carrying out duties connected with the mining dispute.

The chief constable of Hampshire tells me that in the period from 14 March to 22 November inclusive, 40 of his officers were injured while carrying out duties connected with the mining dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what assistance his Department offers to applicants who have been refused aid for industrial research and development;(2) how much money remained unspent on 12 November of the 1985–86 allocation for innovation grants;(3) how many applications for support for industrial research and development remain to be processed by his Department; and what is the total amount of assistance asked for.

Since the start of Support for Innovation in May 1982, about 40 per cent. of all applications for financial assistance have failed to meet the necessary criteria. Currently, about 850 applications remain to be processed representing potential assistance of around £140 million.On 12 November, the amounts committed for expenditure in 1985–86 on offers made under the various SFI schemes totalled around £235 million. Details of the Department's 1985–86 allocations for its main sub-programmes will be given in the forthcoming Public Expenditure White Paper.All the Department's many and wide-ranging technical advisory services and consultancy schemes remain available to assist firms, irrespective of whether they have had an SFI application rejected or not.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many bankruptcies and company liquidations have taken place throughout the United Kingdom since May 1979.

From May 1979 to October 1984 inclusive, the number of bankruptcies (including deeds of arrangement) was 32,735 and the number of company liquidations (compulsory plus creditors' voluntary) 58,010. Bankruptcies are stated before deduction of consolidations and rescissions in England and Wales; these figures are not available for parts of years but in the 5 years 1979–83 totalled 1,691.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on initiatives that he is taking to tackle skill shortages in advanced technology.

I chair the information technology skills shortages committee, which proposed in its first report, published in July, a "partnership for change" between industry and the academic world to provide the IT skills needed by Britain's industry, specifically at graduate level. I am delighted to report that this idea has been taken up by the CBI education foundation, which has proposed an IT skills agency, to define industry's requirements and to bring together industry and education to meet these. It is hoped that the agency will start work shortly. The committee intends to produce a report on IT skills shortages below graduate level shortly, and a final report will summarise progress made so far and put forward new points for action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what responses he has received to "A Revised Framework for Insolvency Law"; and if he will make a statement.

The White Paper, which was published in February 1984, met with general approval. A number of modifications, including wider grounds for relief from automatic disqualification made in the light of comments received, were announced on 1 August 1984. The principal of these were described in a memorandum, copies of which were placed in the Library of this House. As announced in the Queen's Speech, the Government will introduce a Bill during the current session of Parliament to give effect to their proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make an early pronouncement on the recommendation of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission Report (Cmnd. 8858) in relation to a limited experiment in Glasgow and Manchester for the independent cinemas in those cities to be afforded the same rights of access to films as EMI and Rank.

The Director General of Fair Trading has reported to me on difficulties that have arisen in such an experiment. I am considering the position and will make a further announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much money has been spent on the advertising budget of his Department on advertising the prospectus of British Telecom.

About £3 million is being spent on advertising the full British Telecom prospectus and the abridged mini prospectus during the offer period in the press, and on radio and television.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the prospectus issued on his behalf by Kleinwort Benson and Co. in respect of the British Telecom plc share offer made reference to the policies of the Labour party and omitted any reference to those parties whose policies do not include the renationalisation of British Telecom.

It is necessary to make reference to the Labour party's declared policy of renationalisation since if it were carried out it would have a material impact upon the interests of investors. Nothing comparable arises from the declared policies of the other parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what total sums will be paid by way of commission to City institutions arising from the flotation of British Telecom shares.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he intends to introduce legislation concerning the importation of dangerous goods during the present Session.

As stated in the White Paper on the Supply of Goods (Cmnd. 9303), a Bill will be introduced when legislative time is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy concerning the continuation of the higher charge for board and lodging in public sector college hostels and halls of residence imposed on extra-district further education students.

It is for the providing authority to secure the home authority's agreement to the payment of the costs of provision. My right hon. Friend agrees with the recommendation of the inter-authority payments committee that for residential students this agreement should cover payment of the residual boarding charge. The decision whether to pay for extra-district further education is at the discretion of the home authority; a student taking up such a place without the permission of his authority will find himself liable to pay the full cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what has been the total spending on books by local education authorities in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available in cost and real terms using 1979–80 as the base year;(2) what has been the total spending on books per pupil by local education authorities in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available in cost and real terms using 1979–80 as the base year.

Expenditure by local education authorities in England on books in primary and secondary schools and that expenditure expressed as cost per pupil, in cost and

(£ 1979–80 prices)
	Primary Schools				Secondary Schools
	Expenditure £ million		Cost per Pupil		Expenditure £ million		Cost per Pupil
	Cost Terms	Real Terms	Cost Terms	Real Terms	Cost Terms	Real Terms	Cost Terms	Real Terms
1973–74	25·6	23·2	5·2	4·7	34·8	31·6	10·2	9·2
1974–75	24·2	21·0	5·0	4·3	32·3	27·9	9·0	7·8
1975–76	23·4	21·4	4·8	4·4	31·0	28·3	8·5	7·8
1976–77	22·7	21·3	4·8	4·5	31·6	29·6	8·4	7·8
1977–78	21·7	21·1	4·6	4·5	31·2	30·3	8·1	7·9
1978–79	22·3	21·6	4·8	4·7	32·4	31·5	8·4	8·2
1979–80	20·3	20·3	4·6	4·6	30·2	30·2	7·8	7·8
1980–81	18·7	19·9	4·5	4·8	26·2	28·0	6·8	7·3
1981–82	18·8	19·5	4·8	4·8	25·1	26·1	6·6	6·8
1982–83	19·2	20·2	5·0	5·3	26·7	28·1	7·1	7·5

(The figures in cost and real terms have been calculated using respectively the GDP deflator and the average price of school books index of the Publishers' Association.)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide figures showing spending on books alone by each local education authority in England and Wales (a) in terms of their overall allocation and spending per pupil and (b) in cost and real terms using 1979–80 as the base year for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of total local authority budgets and current spending, respectively, on education was accounted for by books alone in the latest year for which figures are available; and how this compares with each of the previous five years.

Local education authority expenditure on books in primary and secondary schools as a percentage of net recurrent expenditure on those schools was as follows in each of the six financial years up to 1982–83, the latest year for which firm figures are available:

per cent.
Year	Primary Schools	Secondary Schools
1977–78	1·1	1·2
1978–79	1·1	1·3
1979–80	1·1	1·2
1980–81	1·0	1·0
1981–82	1·0	0·9
1982–83	1·0	1·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will meet the organisations concerned with the blind and deaf to discuss proposals from the Advisory Committee on Supply and Education of Teachers for removing the mandatory requirement from a specialist qualification for teachers of blind and hearing impaired children; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has agreed to meet representatives of these organisations. The meeting is expected to take place shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the pupil-teacher ratio for nursery schools arid classes in England for each of the years 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983.

The information requested is as follows:

January of each year	Pupil Qualified teacher ratio	Pupil/All Adult Staff ratio
1980	22·0	9·8
1981	22·0	10·0
1982	22·5	10·2
1983	23·0	10·4

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of children in the care of a local authority or voluntary organisation are in special schools; and what proportion of all children are in special schools.

Information i s not collected centrally about the number of children in care who are being educated in special schools. In England. in 1984, 1·5 per cent. of the total school population of compulsory school age were in special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total expenditure on adult education in each of the outer London boroughs: and what this represents in terms of expenditure per head of the population in those boroughs.

Separate information about expenditure on adult education is only available for adult education centres. The net recurrent expenditure on adult education centres in 1982–83, the latest year for which firm figures are available, as returned by each outer London borough, and that expenditure expressed as expenditure per head of the 18+ population is set out below.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how much was spent, per child, in real terms in each of the last five years in primary and secondary schools in Essex on (a) books, (b) equipment and (c) maintenance and repair, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties;(2) what has been the real value of the capitation allowances in the primary and secondary schools in Essex for each of the last five years, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties;(3) how much was spent in real terms in each of the last five years on each child attending primary and secondary schools in Essex, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the percentage of school leavers in Essex with O and A-level passes for each of the last five years, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

The information requested is given in the following table.

Percentages of School Leavers in England
	1 or more A level passes		1 or more higher grades at O level
	Essex	Non-metropolitan counties	Essex	Non-metropolitan counties
1978–79	12·5	13·1	42·8	41·0
1979–80	14·3	13·1	43·5	41·7
1980–81	13·1	14·1	44·1	42·3
1981–82	14·9	14·8	46·2	43·8
1982–83	14·6	15·1	45·9	45·1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the number of education welfare officers and educational psychologists in Essex in each of the last five years, compared with the average for the non-metropolitan counties.

The number of educational psychologists employed by Essex over the years in question is shown in the following table. This compares the number each year with the average number employed by the 40 non-metropolitan counties.Part-time educational psychologists are shown as full-time equivalents. Information about the employment of education welfare officers is not collected by the Department.

Educational psychologists employed as at January in each year
Year	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
Essex	25·0	27·1	27·5	27·5	27·5
Average overall Non-metropolitan counties	12·8	12·8	13·2	13·5	14·8

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements will be made in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council for the future payment of compensation awards at present paid by the council on behalf of his Department to former Inner London education authority teachers.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 November 1984, c. 341]: The Local Government Bill contains provisions to enable the liabilities of the GLC in its capacity as the local education authority for the inner London area to be transferred to the new ILEA on the abolition of the council. This applies to the payment of compensation. All existing rights to pension and compensation payments will be fully safeguarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate expenditure incurred for training in food hygiene by health authorities in Northern Ireland in each year since 1978; and what is planned expenditure for 1984 and 1985.

The information requested is not available in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much expenditure took place on modernising hospital kitchens in Northern Ireland in each year since 1978; and what is the planned expenditure for 1984 and 1985.

The information requested is not available in the form requested. However details of expenditure on structural alterations and major equipment replacement in hospital kitchens is as follows:

Financial Year	£
1978–79	263,720
1979–80	318,041
1980–81	506,129
1981–82	755,411
1982–83	1,119,457
1983–84	1,261,007
*1984–85	375,357
*1985–86	571,650
* Estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the numbers of minimum awards to higher education students granted by each of the education and library boards over each of the past three years.

The available information is as follows:

Numbers of Students Claiming Minumum Awards
Education and Library Board	Academic Year
	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83
Belfast	146	265	352
North Eastern	205	253	277
South Eastern	372	506	644
Southern	94	138	141
Western	54	74	99

The number of minumum awards in 1983–84 and 1984–85 is expected to be higher than in 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what figures are available to indicate the numbers of young people taking part in the various areas of the youth training programme in Northern Ireland.

On 26 October 1984 there were 6,525 16-year-olds in full-time training schemes; 3,540 17-year-old employees training with employers; and 1,758 17-year-olds engaged full-time in project work.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Government training centres in Northern Ireland detailing the facilities and courses in each centre, the number of trainees and staff, capital investment, plans for new courses and what courses have been dropped in given centres.

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Department of Economic Development has been conducting a review of the Government training centres and the attachment training scheme, and that a discussion document was issued by the Department. Comments on the document were invited by 30 November, following which the Department will begin the process of re-shaping its direct training provisions to make them both more relevant to the changing needs of industry and more cost-effective. I will write as soon as possible with the detailed information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to meet the Gaelic Athletic Association to discuss the level of Government assistance to the association.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to meet the Gaelic Athletic Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the costs of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory for each of the years 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84; and if he will make a statement.

The global in-house costs for TRRI. by financial year for the period 1979–1984 were as follows:

Year	£ million
1979–80	8·896
1980–81	*11·645
1981–82	10·498
1982–83	10·462
1983–84	11·105
* Includes a major computer capital purchase.

These figures do not include expenditure on research undertaken by other organisations under extra-mural contracts let by the laboratory. They also exclude expenditure relating to property repayment services (introduced with effect from 1.4.83) and central purchases — the 1983–84 level of expenditure for these two headings being £3·2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking in the Council of Ministers to ensure free access for British ships to trade in the coastal waters of the European Community; and what reasons have been given by member Governments for denying British ships such rights of cabotage.

The Government have made clear, in the Council of Ministers and in other international for a, their rooted objection to restrictive cabotage laws and other cargo reservation legislation. Within the European Community, we have stressed our view that all such laws are contrary to the spirit of the Treaty of Rome. We have pressed the Commission of the European Communities to take action on this matter and expect them to come forward with practical proposals for Community measures by the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many identification parades were conducted in London Transport underground stations during the first nine months of 1984.

No formal identification parades are conducted in London underground stations. However, underground stations are sometimes used for less formal identification procedures in accordance with Home Office circular 109/1978. The British Transport police used underground stations for this purpose on 12 occasions in the period in question. Similar procedures are also carried out by the Metropolitan police but no central record of these is maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the rate to be levied for London Regional Transport in 1985–86 will be consistent with the national rate poundage calculated for block grant purposes.

The rate support grant report for 1985–86, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will lay before the House shortly, will include details of a deduction from the national poundage schedule which will be used in calculating the grant entitlements of London authorities. The deduction will ensure that ratepayers in London are not disadvantaged compared to those elsewhere as a result of the transfer of responsibility for London Regional Transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those local authorities whose level of public transport subsidy is within the levels considered to be reasonable by his Department.

It is for local authorities to decide their own priorities for spending on individual services, having regard to their statutory duties and the guidance on overall levels of expenditure issued by my right hon. Friend. Only a small number of authorities are responsible for the major overspending in relation to the Government's plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people holding a driving licence have been requested by his Department, in each of the past three years, to submit themselves for medical examination to establish their fitness to continue to hold a driving licence,

Skillcentre Waiting Lists—West Yorkshire
			Skillcentre
Course	Bradford		Leeds		Wakefield
	Waiting Time (Months)	Numbers	Waiting Time	Numbers (Months)	Waiting Time	Numbers (Months)
Bricklaying	6 to 8	6	up to 12	19	over 12	27
Carpentry and Joinery	over 12	27	up to 12	18	over 12	37
Woodcutting and Machining			5 to 7	7
Boring Setting Machining			Immediate	—
Capstan Setting/Operating			Immediate	3
Centre Lathe Turning			6 to 8	12
Milling Setting/Operating			2 to 4	3
Precision Grinding			Immediate	1
Welding Electric Arc Plate	over 12	6	up to 12	11	4 to 6	9
Engineering Inspection			Immediate	3
Computer Numerically Controlled Machines (Programming and Operation)			Immediate	—
Draughtsmanship			Suspended	—
General Fitting			4 to 6	5
Fitting Pneumatic/Hydraulic			1 to 2	3
Electrical Installation and Maintenance			over 12	7

I will write to the hon. Member with such details as are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will indicate the numbers of rear seat car occupant casualties involved in accidents in 1983 by injury severity and age.

The data requested are to be published on 29 November in "Road Accidents Great Britain 1983" table 38. A copy will be available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he intends to introduce legislation to repeal the Truck Acts; and if he will make a statement.

Legislation is not planned for the current session, but I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Bruinvels) on Wednesday 31 October at column 993. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the proposals issued on 31 October.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the current waiting time for a place on each separate course run at each skillcentre in west Yorkshire;(2) how many people are currently waiting for a place at a skillcentre course in west Yorkshire; and what is the average time involved in each case.

The following table lists the average waiting times and the number of people on the waiting list for each course in west Yorkshire's three skillcentres at Bradford, Leeds, and Wakefield.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people at the latest available date have been registered as unemployed (a) who are 24 years old or younger, (b) who are 55 years old or older and (c) who have no educational or vocational qualifications; and what were the comparable figures for 1971, 1981 and 1983.

Following is the available information by age from the unemployment count for Great Britain.

unemployed: Great Britain
	Aged under 25	Aged 55 years and over
Registered unemployed
July 1971	230,342	168,464
October 1981	1,144,325	428,026
Unemployed claimants
October 1983	1,210,702	351,186
October 1984	1,236,063	350,263

The comparisons are affected by the change in the basis of the unemployment count in October 1982 and by the 1983 Budget provisions which enable some men, mainly aged 60 and over, to receive the long-term rate of supplementary benefit and national insurance credits without having to sign on at an unemployment benefit office. Between April and August 1983 an estimated 161,800 men were affected.The monthly unemployment count does not separately identify persons with and without qualifications. However, the labour force survey provides information about the qualifications of persons aged 16–59 without a job who were looking for work in the week before the survey. Results now available from the 1983 survey, and corresponding figures from the 1981 survey are given in the following table. There was no labour force survey in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress being made with local authority organisations concerning non-advanced further education funding under the 'White Paper, "Training for Jobs."

In recent discussions between the new chairman of the Manpower Services Commission, Mr. Bryan Nicholson, and representatives of the Association of County Councils and the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, an agreement was reached about the basis upon which local education authorities will seek MSC support for their programmes of work-related non-advanced further education in 1985–86, and about a means of determining arrangements for later years in accordance with the White Paper "Training for Jobs" [Cmnd. 9135].

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average weekly income of (a) men and (b) women in full-time employment in Great Britain as at April expressed in terms of modality.

The range (in units of £10) of gross weekly earnings for a full week containing the largest number of full-time employees on adult rates in Great Britain in April 1984 was, for males, £130 to £140 (covering 8 per cent. of such employees) and, for females, £80 to £90 (covering 12 per cent. of such employees).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received any representations for wage councils to be introduced for workers employed in the private security industry; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I have received no such representations during the past year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to introduce wage councils for workers employed by security companies.

The future of wages councils is under consideration. We have no current plans to establish new councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list in the Official Report for the latest date for which figures are available and for each of the previous five years (a) the average wage for a woman in full-time employment and (b) the number of such workers who earned less than that amount; and what percentage this represents in each case (i) nationally and (ii) in Cambridgeshire.

The following table sets out the available information from the new earnings survey between 1979 and 1984 in respect of full-time adult female employees working a full week.

	Average gross weekly earnings			Percentage of employees earning less than the relevant average
	(1) Great Britain £	(2) Cambridgeshire £	(2) as a per-centage of (1)	Great Britain	Cambridgeshire
1979*	63·0	61·9	98	59	58
1980*	78·8	75·0	95	60	60
1981*	91·4	87·3	96	61	60
1982*	99·0	96·4	97	58	60
1983*	108·8	104·4	96	61	60
†	109·5	104·2	95	61	60
1984	117·2	113·8	97	60	61
* Females aged 18 and over.
† Females on adult rates of pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list in the Official Report for the latest date for which figures are available and for each of the previous five years (a) the average wage for a man in full-time employment and (b) the number of such workers who earned less than that amount; and what percentage this represents, in each case (i) nationally and (ii) in Cambridgeshire.

The following table sets out the available information from the new earnings survey between 1979 and 1984 in respect of full-time adult male employees working a full week.

Average gross weekly earnings			Percentage of employees earning less than the relevant average
	(1) Great Britain Car £	(2) Cambridgeshire £	(2) as a per-centage of (1)	Great Britain	Cambridgeshire
1979*	101·4	101·9	100	59	60
1980*	124·5	118·8	95	61	61
1981*	140·5	139·1	99	61	62
1982*	154·5	151·1	98	61	62
1983*	167·5	160·1	96	61	61
†	164·7	155·6	94	61	60
1984†	178·8	173·9	97	61	62
* Males aged 21 and over.
† Males on adult rates of pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has recently received proposing that the status in the retail price index of interest paid on mortgage be altered; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to exclude mortgage interest rates from the retail price index; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I have received no such representations but are aware that the Building Societies Association has recently questioned the inclusion of mortgage interest in the retail prices index.As indicated by my right hon. Friend in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury, North (Mr. Burt) on 6 June at column

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many wage council establishments in Leeds and in west Yorkshire were found to be underpaying in 1983; how many workers were involved; and what were the numbers of prosecutions.

Statistics are not collected for geographical areas smaller than wages inspectorate divisions. In the Yorkshire and Humberside division of the wages inspectorate, 941 establishments were found to have underpaid 2,227 workers in 1983. No employers in Leeds and west Yorkshire were prosecuted last year for offences under the Wages Councils Act 1979.

Banks asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will specify the recruitment targets of apprentice trainees in the engineering industry.

The Engineering Industry Training Board's recruitment target for apprentice trainees in 1984–85 is 8,650.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has anything to add to his answer of 20 November, Official Report, column 139, that there was no reason why the 1,016 young people over the age of 18 years in Newham should not have had either a job or training experience.

Yes. Unlike most other local authorities, Newham borough council has yet to start up a single project under the community programme. Young people in the borough who are under 25 and unemployed for more than six months are therefore being deprived of the opportunities for temporary work which the programme offers. I would urge the hon. Member to investigate the reasons for this delay and seek to ensure their speedy resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he will have completed the evaluation of the test case regarding redundancy payments entitlement resulting from the dispute at the British Gas rough storage project, Fortuna Ugland accommodation barge; how many individuals are involved; and what representations he has received on this matter from the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union.

There is to date no test case regarding redundancy payments entitlement resulting from the dispute at the British Gas rough storage project, Fortuna Ugland accommodation barge. No individuals are therefore involved and no representations have been received on this matter from the Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications and Plumbing Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will indicate, on the basis of the labour force survey carried out in spring 1984 (a) the number of unemployed female claimants, (b) the number of unemployed women registered at unemployment benefit offices and (c) an estimate of the number of female discouraged workers;(2) if he will now publish the results of the labour force survey carried out in spring 1984; and if he will make a statement.

Results from the 1984 labour force survey are not yet available. Preliminary information will become available in the second quarter of 1985 and will be published in the Employment Gazette and in an Office of Population Censuses and Surveys monitor. It is hoped that a fuller report will be published by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether Euratom will be allowed to inspect the Magnox reprocessing line at Sellafield.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his written question on 21 November 1984 at column 160.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if any provision has been made for the protection of vital machinery and equipment in the public companies under his control in the event of war.

The Government will be developing general advice and guidance on these matters for implementation by industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is planning to increase the number of locations to which the energy efficiency campaign is to take breakfast-special meetings.

So far my ministerial colleagues and I have addressed 28 early morning briefings on energy efficiency, attended by over 11,000 senior executives. I plan to increase the number of these meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he is making with the energy efficiency campaign.

In the first 12 months an energy saver exhibition offering advice and assistance to domestic consumers has been exhibited at over 200 different locations. Ministers have held 28 early morning briefings throughout the country attended by over 11,000 top executives. The most successful ever national energy management conference and exhibition was held just over two weeks ago. Our current series of "Lift a Finger" advertisements on television and in the press has resulted in over 70,000 requests from the public for further information and advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received in favour of including redundant opencast-mining workers within the redundant mineworkers payments scheme.

Primarily from the Transport and General Workers Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements have been made by his Department to meet the needs of the elderly in the event of failures in the supply of energy to domestic consumers this winter.

I do not envisage any failures of energy supplies during this winter, unless in some regions NUM strikers prevent coal going to hospitals and old peoples homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on coal stocks at the latest available date.