asked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed as representing the House of Commons Commission, what information he has on the number of blind people who have been employed in the Palace of Westminster for each of the last four years.

No registered blind people have been employed by the House of Commons Commission in the last four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce statutory time limits for the period from arrest to trial for those held in custody in Northern Ireland.

There are no immediate plans to introduce statutory time limits in Northern Ireland. However, the Government are mindful of the need to reduce the delay in bringing cases to trial in Northern Ireland. We will watch with particular interest the field trials which it is proposed to mount in England and Wales to test the practicality and effectiveness of time limits. We can then consider whether such measures might be effective in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a further statement about the Government's plans to privatise Shorts.

The Government have decided that Shorts should in principle be a candidate for privatisation. We therefore intend to seek specialist advice about the feasibility, costs and benefits and other details of disposal including how best to secure employee involvement so that the Government can consider the question fully in due course. In deciding eventually whether to proceed to sell, the Government will in particular wish to give full weight to the importance of the company in the Northern Ireland economy as well as to its policy of spreading share ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is Wales' allocation of the adult training loans experimental scheme for 1985–86.

A consultation paper was issued on 12 November inviting views, by the end of January, on an experimental scheme of training loans. Decisions on such a scheme will be taken in the light of this consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the number of self-employed people in Wales in 1981–82 and in 1983–84; and of these, how many in each case were self-employed in the construction industry.

Based on the biennial labour force survey estimates, the numbers of self-employed in 1981, 1982 and 1983 were 115,000, 118,000 and 121,000. No occupational breakdown is available on that basis. The latest information on self-employed construction workers relates to 1981 and is based on the census of population for that year which showed a figure of 16,290.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the numbers of unemployed (a) skilled construction workers and (b) unskilled construction workers in Wales in 1979–80 and 1983–84 and at the latest available date.

Information is not available for the period after 1981. Figures for that and the preceding two years were as follows:

Unemployed workers whose last employment was in the construction industry
	Skilled	Unskilled
October 1979	1,392	697
October 1980	3,347	1,154
October 1981	5,289	2,116

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs were created in 1983–84 under the part-time job release scheme in Wales; how much cash employers in Wales received in 1983–84 in Wales; and how many jobs were created in Wales in 1983–84 under the job-splitting scheme.

The part-time job release scheme was introduced in October 1983 and there was no take-up between that date and the end of the 1983–84 financial year. Fifty jobs were created in the same period under the job-splitting scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many enterprise agencies exist in Wales; how many jobs currently exist in these agencies; what is his calculation of the number of jobs per agency; and what total cash the Welsh agencies received.

Eleven local enterprise agencies are now operating in Wales directly employing 65 people. They estimate that they have been instrumental in creating or safeguarding a total of some 4,400 jobs.Information is not available about the total financial support for these agencies which receive funding from a variety of sources. Urban programme contributions during the current financial year amount to £135,900.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the financial share for Wales of the increase in funds for the enterprise allowance scheme; how many enterprise allowances are currently taken up in Wales; and what is his estimate of the number for 1985.

At the beginning of April 1984 some 40 places a week were available in Wales and this was increased to about 65 a week in May. Next year the planned weekly rate is about 80. It is not possible to give a precise expenditure figure since expenditure depends upon the pattern of take-up, but we would expect that the share in Wales of the total expenditure allocation would be of the order of 6 per cent. At the end of October 1984, just over 2,500 people in Wales were receiving allowances under the scheme and we expect a total of about 4,000 entrants in 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount of cash currently available to

£ million
	1978–79	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Cash	344·7	393·8	481·5	534·3	574·3	*605·5
1983–84 Cost terms	585·4	572·0	589·7	595·0	599·6	605·5
The figures in cost terms have been calculated using the GDP deflator.
* Provisional outturn figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the housing block allocation for Rhymney Valley district council in 1983–84, in cash and percentage terms, is represented by enhancement from capital receipts accruing in that year and from previous years, respectively and cumulatively; and if he will provide the equivalent information for the estimates for 1984–85.

The capital receipts element of the housing allocation is determined only at the national level.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the housing block allocation for Rhymney Valley district council for 1983–84, in cash and percentage terms, was represented by expenditure on housing improvement grants; what is the equivalent information for the estimates for 1984–85; and if there is a limit on the proportions so spent by local authorities in Wales.

Provisional figures for 1983–84 show that Rhymney Valley district council spent £2·92 million—53 per cent. of its housing allocation—on improvement grants. The authority's forecast for 1984–85 is £2·9 million—66 per cent. It is for each authority to determine its own expenditure priorities in the light of the resources available to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the capital expenditure allocation for Rhymney Valley district council, specifically for housing,

In the present financial year Welsh counties are likely to spend on current and capital accounts about £680 million on education including meals and milk. All local authorities in Wales except Dyfed and South Glamorgan are participating in the technical and vocational education initiative. Details of the rate support grant settlement for 1985–86 and the level of capital resources for that year will be announced next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of current expenditure on education by local education authorities in Wales for each year since 1978–79 in cash and cost terms.

The information is as follows for local authorities' revenue expenditure on education excluding meals and milk:in cost and real terms, for each year since 1979–80, including the estimate for 1984–85 and using the latter as the base year.

The information requested is as follows:

Housing Capital Allocation (£'000)
Year	Cash	At 1984–85 Prices
1979–80	5,260	8,004
1980–81	5,150	6,607
1981–82	3,650	4,258
1982–83	6,211	6,793
1983–84	5,465	5,725
1984–85	4,412	4,412

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest cost for the construction of a tunnel under the river Conwy; and if he will make a statement.

The current estimate of cost for the whole scheme from the Glan Conwy junction to Conwy Morfa is £130 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish figures showing the pupil to teacher ratio for each year since school pupil numbers were at their highest level since 1954.

School pupil numbers reached their highest level in 1976–77. For each year since then the information is as follows for primary, secondary and nursery pupils and teachers in service with LEAs:

	Number
1976–77	19·1
1977–78	18·8
1978–79	18·2
1979–80	18·1
1980–81	18·0
1981–82	18·0
1982–83	17·7
1983–84	*17·3
* Provisional

asked the Prime Minister whether the rules of engagement for attacking Argentine ships were changed on Friday 30 April 1982.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit the village of Farleigh Wallop, Hampshire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech made by the Secretary of State for Energy on 20 November on unemployment represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick) on 27 November 1984 at column 776.

asked the Prime Minister if she will pay an official visit to Lewisham.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 6 December.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Thursday 6 December.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy).

asked the Prime Minister if she will place in the Library the letters she has received from and sent to the hon. Member for Newham, South consequent to her answer of Tuesday 17 July, Official Report, columns 169–70 about the Education Act 1944.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to change Gibraltar's relationship with the United Kingdom without the consent of the people of Gibraltar.

Yes. As my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 28 November, the British Government will fully maintain their commitment to honour the freely and democratically expressed wishes of the people of Gibraltar, as set out in the preamble to the 1969 constitution. The agreement which has been reached has been welcomed by the Chief Minister as an honourable outcome. In our view, it is very much in the interests of both Gibraltar and Spain. Full opening of the frontier should bring positive consequences for the economy of Gibraltar.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total of all local authorities' committed expenditure for 1985–86 shown on forms HIP 2 which have been submitted to his Department.

Summaries of local authorities' HIP 2 returns for 1985–86 are available in the Library. These show expected commitments for 1985–86 of just under £1·5 billion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons are classified as homeless in the following regions at the latest available dale; the north-east, the midlands, the south-west and the south-east.

The number of households found to be homeless by local authorities for the first half of 1984 was as follows:

Region	Homeless Households (000)
North	5·4
Midlands (East and West)	10·3
South-West	9·3
South-East (including inner and outer London)	27·1

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the maximum percentage change has been in England on local authorities' grant-related expenditure from one year to the next over the period 1981–82 up to 1984–85.

72·1 per cent. for Oswestry district council between 1981–82 and 1982–83.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of staff which would be needed by the London residuary body to manage and service the Greater London council mortgage account.

Under paragraph 10 of schedule 13 to the Local Government Bill it will be for the London residuary body to decide what staff it needs to discharge its functions, including its proposed responsibility for managing and servicing the GLC's mortgage account. I expect the body to give early attention to its staffing needs, as soon as it is set up after Royal Assent to the Bill, so that arrangements for the employees concerned are in place well before abolition day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he is considering for the monitoring and control of staff levels in the joint boards he proposes to set up if the Greater London council and metropolitan counties are abolished.

Clause 80 of the Local Government Bill enables my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport to require the relevant joint authorities to submit to them manpower schemes for the first three financial years following the establishment of these authorities. We also intend that the staff of the joint authorities should come within the joint manpower watch arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, he will take into account when assessing financial targets the impact on boroughs containing present Greater London council housing action or general improvement areas.

No decisions have yet been taken on the future of expenditure targets beyond 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley) on 15 November, Official Report, column 314, if he has asked the councils of the districts in which are located Greater London council seaside and country homes for assurances that they would maintain current standards of management and maintenance if, as proposed, the homes were transferred to the districts in the event of the Greater London council being abolished.

I have announced that the financial basis of the transfer of ownership will enable the district councils to maintain the levels of management and maintenance expenditure they inherit on abolition. The levels adopted will be a matter for local decision. For the first time, however, the decisions will be taken by local authorities for which the tenants are electors, rather than by county hall in London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the event of the abolition of the Greater London council, he will adjust the block grant poundage schedule for London local authorities in respect of the expenditure on land drainage transferred to the Thames water authority, in a similar way to that which he proposes for the transfer of expenditure from the Greater London council to London Regional Transport.

The Government are discussing the details of the post-abolition block grant distribution system with representatives of the local authorities. No final decisions have yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sheltered housing schemes are operated to full standard and how many not to full standard by each London borough; how many dwellings they involve; and what proportion of local authority stock in the borough they represent.

Statistics on sheltered dwellings are provided to my Department each year by local authorities, by dwelling but not by scheme. The number given by each London borough for sheltered dwellings within its area, and the proportions of local authority stock they represent, were on 1 April 1984 as follows:

	Total LA Dwellings	Sheltered	Sheltered as Percentage of Total LA Dwellings
City of London	1,788	0	0·0
Camden	33,750	1,296	3·84
Hackney	45,571	915	2·01
Hammersmith and Fulham	19,152	929	4·85
Haringey	24,261	986	4·06
Islington	40,672	579	1·42
Kensington and Chelsea	8,862	225	2·54
Lambeth	48,650	953	1·96
Lewisham	42,186	581	1·38
Newham	30,761	231	0·75
Southwark	62,459	727	1·16
Tower Hamlets	19,044	402	2·11
Wandsworth	37,165	565	1·52
Westminster	23,320	466	2·00
Barking and Dagenham	33,720	496	1·47
Barnet	18,664	695	3·72
Bexley	11,471	719	6·27
Brent	21,685	618	2·85
Bromley	17,991	481	2·67
Croydon	20,637	1,060	5·14
Ealing	20,735	971	4·68
Enfield	20,551	960	4·67
Greenwich	37,116	860	2·32
Harrow	8,744	490	5·60
Havering	17,236	952	5·52
Hillingdon	20,360	636	3·12
Hounslow	19,530	995	5·09
Kingston upon Thames	6,898	1,226	17·77
Merton	13,989	233	1·67
Redbridge	11,686	1,072	9·17
Richmond upon Thames	9,350	520	5·56
Sutton	12,382	701	5·66
Waltham Forest	20,773	494	2·38
TOTAL	781,159	23,034	2·95

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has of the number of unimplemented planning permissions in (a) London and (b) elsewhere.

We do not collect this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, on the assumption that the 1984–85 block grant for upper tier authorities is attributed to lower tier authorities in proportion to their rateable value, which lower tier authorities will receive less block grant in real terms in 1984–85 than they were receiving rate support grant in 1979–80.

The allocation of block grant from upper tier to lower tier authorities on a rateable value basis conflicts with the equalisation principles of the block grant system and would not provide a meaningful basis of comparison with grant entitlements received under the pre-1981–82 arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department collects on the scale and cost of sponsorship for sport and other recreations by tobacco companies; and if he will make a statement.

The sponsorship of sport by tobacco companies is restricted by a voluntary agreement between the industry and the Government. Under the terms of that agreement, tobacco companies are required to inform my Department, in confidence, of their annual plans for sports sponsorship, and any subsequent changes to them. Expenditure by tobacco companies on sports sponsorship is restricted under the agreement to the 1976 level with due allowance for inflation. Again in accordance with the agreement, the industry makes annual confidential returns to my Department showing their United Kingdom expenditure on sports sponsorship.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the future of the Greater London research library.

There have been few recent representations, though the numerous responses to the White Paper "Streamlining the Cities", Cmnd. 9063, included references to this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, North-East of 27 November, Official Report, column 423, when he expects to make a decision on future arrangements for the Greater London research library.

As soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has concerning the proportion of applicants on housing waiting lists in London who are pensioners.

My Department finds is unprofitable to collect information on waiting lists because local authority policy varies widely. I am aware of some incomplete statistics published by the Greater London council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the household income of Greater London council mortgagors.

This information is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with private sector lenders on their willingness to re-finance loans from the Greater London council mortgage account in the event of the Greater London council being abolished; and what information he has been given regarding the extent to which transferred mortgages will be re-financed.

It will be primarily for the London residuary body to hold such discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many written communications have been received by his Department on the subject of proposals to deposit radioactive waste materials in the disused anhydrite mines at Billingham in Cleveland

Approximately 13,200.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to enable public sector tenants to see information about themselves which is held by their landlords.

My Department has today written to the local authority associations, to organisations representing tenants' interests, and to other interested bodies, to seek their views about how such information can be made more readily available. Public sector tenants sometimes believe that their landlords' files contain misleading personal information. In this area, and subject to proper safeguards, they ought to be able to check that mistakes are not being made. A copy of the consultation letter is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost of creating a job in an enterprise zone.

At this stage of the enterprise zones experiment, it is not possible to give a figure: the costs of providing the infrastructure in the zones are incurred mainly in the early years whilst the jobs follow over the 10 years of designation. Similarly much of the investment in buildings and hence eligibility for capital allowances arises well in advance of the creation of jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the future of Thamesmead.

I have recently seen a press release about Thamesmead issued by the chairman of the GLC housing committee on 28 November. The chairman claims that the Government have forgotten about Thamesmead and have shown no interest in the area. The allegation is based on the absence of a specific reference to Thamesmead in the Local Government Bill.The allegation is ridiculous. The Government have made it clear that we firmly support the early completion of Thamesmead as a balanced community. We granted the GLC a special allocation for the current year of £5 million for works at Thamesmead. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction have both visited the area in recent months, and I am visiting in January.Our first preference for Thamesmead after abolition is that ownership should pass to a non-profit-making trust, a company limited by guarantee and using private finance but including full representation for local residents. I have made it absolutely clear, however, that there will be wide consultation with residents before any decision is taken, and that we will not seek to impose a trust if the residents do not want one.Consultation will take place during 1985. If a trust is established, no special powers will be needed under the abolition legislation, as the GLC will be well aware from their knowledge of trusts which already exist and which they have visited. If the residents do not want a trust, Thamesmead will pass to borough ownership by order under the general provision in the Bill to transfer property consequent on abolition.Far from having forgotten Thamesmead, the Government are convinced of the need to see the development successfully completed and of achieving whichever solution—a trust or borough ownership—best accords with residents' wishes. Neither alternative requires further provision in the Bill. There is no reason why the confidence of investors or residents should falter, and I am disappointed that by misrepresenting our position the chairman of the GLC's housing committee should choose to suggest otherwise.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what payments have been made by parents towards student tuition fees and grants in cash and real terms in each year since 1954; and what is expected to be paid in each of the next three years.

The figures in respect of mandatory awards are as follows:

Academic Year	Assessed parental contributions (£ million)	Index in real terms (1976–77=100)
Actual
1976–77	91	100
1977–78	92	87
1978–79	89	79
1979–80	84	63
1980–81	98	64
1981–82	127	74
1982–83	155	85
Estimated
1983–84	165	86
1984–85	215	107

Comparable information for the period before 1976 is not available.The estimated figures for the next three years are:

	Estimated figures
1985–86	250
1986–87	261
1987–88	273

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what criteria he has set the spending target of the Inner London education authority at the level of £900 million; and what factors he took into account when reaching his conclusion that spending projects proposed by the Inner London education authority are out of proportion to those of other such authorities with comparable problems.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment set the provisional target of the ILEA for 1985–86 at £900 million, and determined the expenditure level for the authority under the Rates Act 1984 at the same sum.In the comments that I have made about ILEA's expenditure I have compared the spending on schools by the ILEA with that of the inner city partnership authorities outside London—Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester/Salford and Newcastle/Gateshead — which shows that ILEA's spending per head, after allowing for London salary weighting payments, is between 29 per cent. and 59 per cent. higher than that of these authorities. All these authorities have been designated as partnership authorities because of their difficult problems. The incidence of particular indicators varies, but overall I believe a fair comparison can be made between these authorities. ILEA has a larger ethnic minority population and a greater incidence of poor housing conditions than the other authorities. On the other hand, the percentage of children in families in receipt of supplementary benefit, the level of youth unemployment and of adult unemployment, and the percentage of children in households whose head is a semi-skilled or unskilled manual worker is higher in most of the inner city partnership authorities outside London that it is in ILEA.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the expenditure per pupil in secondary schools and in primary schools on books since 1980 expressed in cash terms and in 1980 cost terms; and what has been the expenditur per pupil on equipment since 1980 in cash terms and 1980 cost terms.

Per pupil expenditure
	Books				Equipment
	Primary		Secondary		Primary		Secondary
	Cash £	Cost £	Cash £	Cost £	Cash £	Cost £	Cash £	Cost £
1979–80	4·4	4·5	8·0	8·0	9·5	9·5	19·0	19·0
1980–81	5·5	4·5	8·0	7·0	10·5	9·0	21·0	18·0
1981–82	6·0	4·5	8·5	6·5	12·0	9·5	23·5	18·0
1982–83	7·0	5·0	10·0	7·0	14·0	10·0	26·5	19·0

The expenditure in cost terms has been calculated using the GDP deflator.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will report on the projected requirements of the information technology industry for graduate entrants, trained in information technology, in 1985; what is the number of students at present attending courses in information technology at universities expected to graduate in 1985; and what is the Government's proposed level of finance over the coming year for university departments of information technology.

Detailed demand projections of the kind ind cannot be made with any precision and estimates vary widely. The question of demand for graduates in the information technology field was, however, recently considered by a committee chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South-West (Mr. Butcher), Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department of Trade and Industry. A copy of its first report is in the Library. In 1984–85 some 1,900 first degree students are expected to graduate from universities in electronics engineering, and some 1,500 in computer science. The Government do not fund university departments directly. Individual universities determine how to distribute between departments the grant allocation made to them by the University Grants Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to fees charged for tuition by universities in each of the Euopean Community countries to British citizens who were not resident in the country in question prior to the proposed course of study.

My right hon. Friend understands that all member states of the European Community with the exception of Belgium treat students from other Community countries on the same basis as their own students for fees purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what tuition fees British universities will charge in the years 1984–85 and 1985–86 to students who are nationals of European Community countries and who were not resident in the United Kingdom prior to their course of study.

The average expenditure per pupil by local education authorities in England, in cash and in 1979–80 cost terms, on books and on equipment in each of the four years to 1982–83, the latest year for which firm figures are available, is set out in the table:

It is for universities themselves to decide what tuition fees to charge the students they admit. Under paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 to the Education (Fees and Awards) Regulations 1983, nationals of European Community member states who can meet the specified ordinary residence requirements in the Community area are eligible to pay the home rates of fee at British universities. My right hon. Friend announced on 21 February this year that, for the academic year 1984–85, he had recommended fee levels for home and European Community students of £500 for first degree and diploma courses and of £1,569 for postgraduate courses. In giving details on 12 November this year of the Government's expenditure plans for education and science in 1985–86, my right hon. Friend announced that the cash available allowed for a tuition fee of £520 for home full-time and sandwich course students in courses designated for mandatory student awards. So far as postgraduate courses are concerned my right hon. Friend is recommending a fee of £1,632 in 1985–86 for home and European Community students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the levels of contributions required from parents to students' grants and university tuition fees in each European Community state; and how they compare with the United Kingdom.

The student support arrangements of each European Community country involve a parental means test. Detailed information on the level of contributions is not available for the purpose of comparisons with the United Kingdom, but grant levels in the United Kingdom are more generous than in other Community countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on reform of the law governing the distribution and manufacture of pesticides over the last six months.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many registered blind people have been employed in his Department for each of the last four years.

The number of visually handicapped staff has varied between 26 and 28 over the last four years. Of the 27 such staff currently employed, 20 are registered blind. It would be of disproportionate cost to obtain a similar breakdown for previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what effect the recent changes to United Kingdom regional industrial incentives will have on the Community programmes sector of the European regional development fund; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Community programmes under the non-quota section of the ERDF announced by my hon. Friend and Mr. Antonio Giolitti on 26 November. These programmes are not affected by the recent changes to United Kingdom regional industrial incentives.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the assisted areas in the new regional policy have a higher rate of deprivation than Stoke-on-Trent; and if he will tabulate in the Official Report which elements of deprivation are involved.

Every assisted area under the map introduced on 29 November has a greater need for employment opportunities than the Stoke travel-to-work area. In assessing areas' relative need for current and future employment opportunities, our main criterion was annual average unemployment. Of the new AAs, only

		'000 tonnes per year Reductions
	Capacity 1980	Minimum Required	Identified	Closures actually carried out by 31 December 1984
West Germany	53,117	*6,101	†6,922	6,295
Belgium	16,028	3,155	‡3,183	3,182
Denmark	941	66	66	66
France	26,869	5,311	5,311	3,631
Italy	36,294	5,834	3,860	3,494
Luxembourg	5,215	960	1,045	1,045
Netherlands	7,297	950	1,432	82
United Kingdom	22,840	4,500	4,229	4,104
	168,601	26,786	26,048	21,900
* Not including Klöckner
† Including Klöckner
‡ Including 250,000 tonnes of capacity transferred from Luxembourg.

The Government will continue to monitor other countries' progress in carrying out their restructuring plans and will keep up pressure to ensure that they fulfil their obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a consumer's guide to new motor vehicles offered for sale in the United Kingdom, specifying the approximate proportion by value of British manufactures.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the restructuring of the steel industry in the European Community.

For a long time the United Kingdom led the Community in reducing steel capacity, and I am glad to be able to report that other member states are now matching and in some cases surpassing our efforts. The aim of the EC steel aids code has been to bring supply into line with demand so that the European steel industry can stand on its own feet, and the European Commission is now confident that the specific target of reducing hot-rolled steel capacity by 30 to 35 million tonnes per year by the end of 1985 will be achieved.The progress being made in restructuring the Community steel industry is illustrated by the following table prepared by the Commission. It shows in particular that, between the beginning of 1980 and the end of this year, capacity cuts totalling 21·9 million tonnes will have actually been carried out.

asked the Attorney-General how many members of the present advisory committee on the appointment of magistrates for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne who are also justices of the peace (a) answered question 5(a) on the application form for appointment to the bench and (b) answered question 16 on the same application form; and what are the total answers in each category.

All the members of the Newcastle upon Tyne advisory committee are justices. Half of these were appointed to the bench prior to 1967, before which date forms are not available. The forms were altered to their present form in 1979. Of the remaining half of the advisory committee three answered the question relating to religion (numbered differently on the older version of the form) as the Church of England, one as Roman Catholic, and one as "Committed Christian". In reply to the question on political opinions two were described as Conservative, two as Labour, and one as, in effect, uncommitted.

asked the Attorney-General what statistical information the advisory committee on the appointment of magistrates for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne possesses concerning the religious opinions and affiliations of the citizens of Newcastle upon Tyne.

This information is not collected statistically.

asked the Attorney-General what is the publication date for the new edition of the notes on procedure as to how advisory committees for the appointment of magistrates should carry out their duties; and if he will make a statement regarding changes from the previous directions.

The publication date for the new edition of the Lord Chancellor's "Directions to Advisory Committees" is not yet known. When available a copy will be placed in the Library.

asked the Attorney-General if he will publish in the Official Report a copy of the Lord Chancellor's recent comments on the sentencing policies of the magistrates' bench in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The Lord Chancellor's recent speech had no direct reference to the sentencing policies of the magistrates' bench in Newcastle upon Tyne as such. The entire speech was circulated to a number of national and professional journals, and to the Newcastle Journal, but I am arranging to send the hon. Gentleman a copy in the hope that he may find it interesting.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions the circumstances surrounding the auction sale of furniture from the estate of Mrs. Elizabeth Dreyfus held by Messrs. Bruton Knowles in Gloucestershire on 19 July and ask him to initiate proceedings against those dealers who have contravened the Auction (Bidding Agreements) Act.

There is no evidence before me which would justify referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to a request for inquiries by the police. The director has neither the powers nor the facilities to investigate criminal allegations. If the hon. Member or any other person is in possession of evidence tending to show a contravention of the Auctions (Bidding Agreements) Act 1927 or the commission of any other criminal offence the proper course is to place that evidence in the hands of the police.

asked the Attorney-General what criteria will govern the distribution of casework within the Crown prosecution service to be established by the Prosecution of Offences Bill; and if he will make a statement.

The fundamental principle underlying the management of the Crown prosecution service will be maximum delegation consistent with proper accountability. In the great majority of cases decisions on prosecutions will be taken locally. The Director of Public Prosecutions will promulgate within the service guidance on matters of policy and practice intended to produce a sensible degree of consistency rather than rigid uniformity. Crown prosecutors will have a wide measure of discretion and in reaching their decisions will take account of any relevant local circumstances as well as the general guidance given by the director.The Attorney-General has today laid before this House a White Paper outlining the proposed initial distribution of functions between the headquarters and local offices of the proposed Crown prosecution service. As an interim measure pending the establishment of the new service it is also intended to revise the Prosecution of Offences Regulations 1978 so as to provide greater flexibility in the handling of cases reportable by the police to the Director.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for the tax years 1983–84 and 1984–85 the following information for (i) a single person, (ii) a married man without children, (iii) a married man with two children aged under 11 years, (iv) a married man with four children and (v) a two-child family where the wife is in paid employment: (a) the tax threshold at current prices, (b) the tax threshold at 1949–50 prices (index 1949–50=100), (c) the tax threshold as a percentage of average manual earnings, (d) tax-free income at current prices, (e) tax-free income at 1949–50 prices (index 1949–50=100), (f) tax-free income as a percentage of average income, (g) break-even point at current prices, (h) break-even point at 1949–50 prices (index 1949–50=100) and (i) break-even point as a percentage of average manual earnings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish for 1983–84 and 1984–85 the following information for (i) a single person, (ii) a married man without children, (iii) a married man with two children aged under 11 years, (iv) a married man with four children: (a) the tax threshold at current prices, (b) the tax threshold at 1949–50 prices (index 1949–50=100), (c) the tax threshold as a percentage of average manual earnings, (d) tax-free income at current prices, (e) tax-free income at 1949–50 prices (index 1949–50=100), (f) tax-free income as a percentage of average income, (g) break-even point at current prices, (h) break-even point at 1949–50 prices (index 1949–50=100) and (i) break-even point as a percentage of average manual earnings, in the light of the latest information on earnings levels.

[pursuant to his reply, 29 November 1984, c. 579]: The information is in the table.

	Single man		Married man without children		Married man with 2 children under 11		Married mad with 4 children under 11, child 11–16, child over 16
	1983–84	1984–85	1983–84	1984–85	1983–84	1984–85	1983–84	1984–85
(a) Tax threshold at current prices £	1,785	2,005	2,795	3,155	2,795	3,155	2,795	3,155
(b) Tax threshold at 1949–50 prices*	126·0	134·9	123·2	132·6	77·6	83·5	58·1	62·6
(c) Tax threshold as percentage of average manual earnings	23·4	24·7	36·6	38·9	36·6	38·9	36·6	38·9
(d) Tax free income at current prices £	1,785	2,005	2,795	3,155	3,428	3,844	4,061	4,534
(e) Tax free income at 1949–50 prices*	126·0	134·9	123·2	132·6	92·2	98·4	78·4	83·3
(f) Tax free income as percentage of average income	23·4	24·7	36·6	38·9	41·5	43·6	45·7	47·7
(g) Break even point at current prices £	1,785	2,005	2,795	3,155	4,905	5,453	7,016	7,750
(h) Break even point at 1949–50 prices*	126·0	134·9	123·2	132·6	110·8	117·6	104·9	110·5
(i) Break even point as percentage of average manual earnings	23·4	24·7	36·6	38·9	64·3	67·2	92·0	95·5
* 1949–50=100.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the percentage of time district valuers devote to work in connection with development land tax valuations and associated matters.

Yes, about 3 per cent. This figure includes time spent on such associated matters as administration, management and training.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the percentage of the total yield from development land tax that is collected through deemed disposals.

The percentage collected through deemed disposals is probably in the region of 15 per cent., but the information on which to base a precise estimate is not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate what additional revenue is received from the development land tax that would not otherwise have been collected through corporation or capital gains tax; and if he will express the cost of collecting development land tax as a percentage of that additional revenue.

The information on which to base a precise estimate is not available but the additional current revenue received could be in the region of £50 million. The estimated cost of collecting development land tax is 10 per cent. of that additional revenue. Some of that cost would remain if the tax were collected through other taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on progress towards the establishment of freeports.

The six experimental free zones announced on 2 February at column 411 were designated by Treasury orders, which came into operation on 6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional costs which would fall on employers in the event of reduction of pension scheme tax concessions and the removal of tax benefits.

Any additional costs would depend on the extent of any reduction in relief and on the individual circumstances of each pension fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the effect on the take-away food industry of the imposition of value added tax; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the revenue from the imposition of value added tax on take-away foods; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the tax on (a) sales and (b) profits.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to my answer on 12 November to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Erdington (Mr. Corbett) at column 89.The limited information available suggests that during the first few months of VAT on hot take-away food, the overall level of sales by small catering businesses was slightly down on the same period in 1983. Although some businesses have fared less well than others, it is impossible to say to what extent this is due to VAT rather than to other factors. There has been substantial real growth in the takeaway food industry in recent years, and this long term trend can be expected to continue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much extra revenue in real terms the Treasury would receive in a full year from an increase in taxation imposed by the next Budget of 5p, 10p, 15p, 20p and 25p, respectively, per packet of 20 cigarettes; and if he will make a statement.

The estimated net revenue changes, at 1985–86 prices, are:

Change in price of 20 cigarettes (pence)	Full year revenue yield (£ million)
5	160
10	320
15	475
20	625
25	770

For the larger price increases the estimates are subject to considerable margins of uncertainty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the number of cigarettes sold in the United Kingdom in 1983 and his estimate for the number which are likely to be sold in 1984; and if he will make a statement.

Official statistics of cigarette sales are not collected. However, according to Customs and Excise returns, 102·6 billion cigarettes chargeable with excise duty were cleared for domestic consumption in 1983.No estimate is available for 1984 as projections for cigarette clearances are not made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the stamp duty payable by off-market dealers in unlisted securities.

The Board of Inland Revenue is advised that as the law stands securities dealt in on the unlisted securities market are not listed securities for the purpose of section 100(4)(b) of the Finance Act 1980. Until further review, where such stock is transferred to a qualified dealer full ad valorem duty will not normally be payable. The Board of Inland Revenue will be issuing a statement of practice to this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the experimental road surfacing materials which are in use on roads for which he has responsibility; and what assessment has been made of their effectiveness.

The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has 153 lengths of experimental surfacing under observation on heavily trafficked roads. The influence of different types and proportions of bitumen—including additives such as organic polymers—stone and sand on road performance is being assessed in terms of resistance to skidding and rutting, riding quality, tyre noise and, with certain special materials, spray reduction. Formulations of 11 proprietary surfacing materials are included.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the assessment by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory of the use of an experimental road surfacing material on the A1 the name of which has been supplied to him.

Five variants of the proprietary material, the name of which has been supplied, were laid on A1 in 1975 alongside eight other non-proprietary surfacings. Measurements indicated that the surface texture, required for high-speed skid resistance, of the sections surfaced with the named material was lower than that specified by DTp and did not increase with time. The material did, however, provide good riding quality for rather longer than a standard bitumen macadam surfacing, but at a higher first cost. Results of the assessment have been published in TRRL supplementary report SR476.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether he is satisfied with the progress being made in the conversion of the miniature warning light equipped level crossings to other means of control; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many level crossings on public roads are still controlled by the miniature warning light system.

There are currently 42 level crossings on public roads which are equipped with miniature warning lights (MWL) and 58 on private roads. The main feature of this form of protection is that the user operates the barrier or gate himself, with the MWL giving a warning of the approach of a train. When these crossings were first introduced the conditions of suitability were that the road usage was to be light and essentially local in character, so that most of those using the crossing would be familiar with it.Following an accident at Naas crossing in 1979, the railway inspectorate reviewed all the MWL crossings. Whilst recognising that at most locations the original conditions still applied, the inspector recommended that no more should be installed on public roads, and none has been. He further recommended that existing ones should, in the long term, be converted to other forms of protection.At the time of publication of his report, in mid-1981, six crossings had been identified as being no longer fully suitable for MWL. At two the road usage was no longer light or local: these two crossings have been converted. Plans to convert the other four are well advanced; most will be done during 1985. It is the Railways Board's view, shared by the inspectorate, that there is no cause to divert funds to the wholesale conversion of MWL crossings from work on crossings whose modernisation is being given a higher priority.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from representatives of the Automobile Association, the National Chamber of Trade the Confederation of British Industry and the Movement for London in relation to future traffic circulation making use of the Dartford tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

Representatives of the Automobile Association, the Confederation of British Industry and Movement for London have expressed to me recently their concern about the ability of the Dartford tunnel to cope with expected M25 traffic flows. On this matter I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Sir J. Biggs-Davison) on 3 December at column 34. No representations have been received from the National Chamber of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has made arrangements for driving tests in Stoke-on-Trent to be held after a shorter waiting time if they are organised through particular driving schools than the normal waiting time for direct applicants for tests.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to reduce the waiting time for driving tests in Stoke-on-Trent; and when an improvement can be expected.

My Department is recruiting extra examiners. Some are due to be posted to Stoke-on-Trent. This should bring about an improvement in waiting times early in the new year. Examiners are also posted in temporarily from other centres to even out waiting periods throughout the traffic area.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average waiting time for driving tests in England; and what are the minimum and maximum waiting times in Stoke-on-Trent.

The average waiting time for an L-test in England and Wales on 9 November, the latest date for which figures are available, was 18½ weeks. Waiting times at that date at centres serving Stoke-on-Trent were: Fenton, 20 weeks; Cobridge, 20 weeks; and Newcastle-under-Lyme, 28 weeks. This compares with an average wait in the west midlands of some 20 weeks. I am not satisfied with these waiting times, and the current recruitment of further staff will help to reduce them.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what specific steps are being taken by his Department to ensure that road designers and engineers are considering the needs of cyclists.

The Department undertakes research into cycle facilities and publishes information for the use of road designers and engineers. Local advice on individual schemes is available through the Department's regional offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many child cyclists under the age of 15 years were (a) killed and (b) seriously injured in road accidents in 1981, 1982, 1983 and to the nearest available date in 1984;(2) how many cyclists were

The numbers of pedal cyclists killed and seriously injured in 1981, 1982 and 1983 and to the nearest available date in 1984 were:

	1981	1982	1983	*1984
0 to 14 years
Killed	86	76	87	41
Seriously injured	2,010	1,982	2,200	1,021
All Ages
Killed	310	294	323	152
Seriously injured	5,194	5,673	6,073	2,766
* January to June (provisional figures).

The number of cycling accidents which occurred on large roundabouts—mini roundabouts are not included—slip roads and main roads—motorways, A(M) and A class roads—for the last three years were:

	1981	1982	1983
Roundabouts	1,547	1,775	2,014
Slip roads	143	181	208
Main roads	10,929	12,508	12,995

Identifying busy main roads would involve disproportionate cost. An article on pedal cycle accidents is included on page 34 of "Road Accidents Great Britain 1983", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has funds available within his budget for rewarding employees, or members of the public, for putting forward suggestions which result in the saving of costs.

Funds are available under a staff suggestions scheme for rewarding employees whose suggestions improve the efficiency of the Department. There are no such arrangements for members of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to alter the public inquiry system in relation to trunk roads.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and the Environment will be considering whether any changes should be made in the light of the Civil Engineering Economic Development Committee's report on pre-construction procedures for motorway and trunk road schemes, which they expect to receive shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is taking steps to continue the Greater London transport survey; and if he will make a statement.

The Greater London transport survey of 1971 and 1981 were the responsibility of the GLC. On that pattern the next survey would not need to be carried out until 1991. It will be for the boroughs and the Secretary of State to decide, under powers being sought in the Local Government Bill, what survey arrangements will be appropriate in the London area.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to restrict and restrain car use into Greater London.

I am not clear what steps the hon. Member considers would be justifiable to limit Londoners' car use or what powers he proposes should be used.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the stations at which informal identification parades were conducted by the British Transport Police in each year from 1979 to September 1984.

Information covering previous years since 1978 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will adjust British Rail's public service obligation grant cash limit for 1984 to take account of the change of the board's annual accounting period from a calendar to fiscal year.

Yes. The PSO grant cash limit normally covers a 12-month period. But British Rail is changing its annual accounting period from a calendar to a fiscal year basis with effect from 1 April 1985. I have decided, therefore, to extend the PSO grant cash limit for 1984 to cover the 15 months period from 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1985. The new limit for that 15 month period will be £1,088 million. This continues to reflect British Rail's progress towards achieving the 1986 grant target.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to revise the forecasts of road traffic growth released in July 1980.

Yes. In the light of trends in traffic growth and economic factors, the national road traffic forecasts of 1980 have been revised. I am issuing the new set of figures today and have placed copies in the Library. The new forecasts show increases over the next 30 years in the overall rate of traffic growth previously forecast.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the number of persons employed in the coal mining industry in each of the last five years.

Figures showing the total number of persons employed by the board and its wholly-owned subsidiaries are set out in the NCB's annual report and accounts. Figures given for the last five years were:

(end September)
1979:	294,906
1980:	293,940
1981:	279,207
1982:	266,315
1983:	246,835

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the British delegation to the United Nations conference of the Committee of Disarmament in Geneva has had communications with representatives of other international committees in regard to proposals for a total chemical weapons ban in Europe.

Our delegations to the conference on disarmament and to the Stockholm conference on disarmament in Europe have made it clear in those fora that proposals for a chemical weapons ban in Europe do not represent an adequate or satisfactory alternative to the global ban we are pursuing in the Geneva negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards proposals at the United Nations conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva for the creation of a chemical weapon-free zone in Europe, in co-operation with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, while simultaneously continuing negotiations for a global chemical weapons ban treaty.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 29 October at column 815. A European ban would be no easier to negotiate, and bring much less benefit than a global ban. We will not be distracted by the superficial attractions of a limited approach.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government's view has changed on the signing of the law of the sea convention.

No. Our view has not changed. As I indicated in my statement to the House on 2 December 1982 at column 410, we have fundamental objections to certain aspects of the convention. We had hoped that there might have been improvements which would have enabled us to sign, but these have not occurred. We will not, however, stand in the way of signature by the European Community whose competence as regards the convention is limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list for the Stockport district the name and number of managing agents, the number on their schemes, by scheme, and the fees being paid to each managing agent under the youth training scheme in 1984–85 with a projection for 1985–86.

The names of the 75 managing agents operating in the Stockport district, including those which are organised on a national basis, and details of numbers of youngsters currently in training, are:

Number of Trainees (Includes both 1983–84 and 1984–85 entrants)
	Number
1. Locally negotiated schemes
Alexandra Hospital	28
C. M. Baker	62
British Aerospace	72
Business Machine Training	69
CSC Construction	3
Damar Secretarial College	66
Fairey Engineering	22
Fielden House Productivity Centre	25
Hotel and Catering Industry Training Board	29
Michael John Salon	66
Roger J. Miller	82
Mirrless Blackstone	18
Norwest Pioneer	6
Mullard Hazel Grove	5
N. W. Furniture Trades	6
Link Organisation (North West)	92
Penberton Packaging	2
Simon Group Engineering	46
Smith Fort and Symonds	5
Stockport Area Health Authority	14
SETA (Stockport Engineering Training Association)	47
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council	227
Sutcliffe Catering and Co.	1
Training and Manpower	91
United Biscuits Ltd.	18
2. Schemes negotiated at national level by the Manpower Services Commission's large companies unit.
Argyll Stores	17
Association of British Travel Agents	18
B and Q Retail	—
British Association of Professional Hairdressing Employers	4
Baxters Butchers Ltd.	1
British Insurance Brokers Association	1
Boots the Chemist	4
British Gas	4
Builders Merchants Federation	4
Burton Retail Division	—
C and A	3
Collier Holdings	1
Cordon Bleu	2
COSMA Holdings	11
Debenhams	24
J. H. Dewhurst Ltd.	—
Dixons Ltd.	1
Drinks Industry Training Association	—
Electricity Council (CEGB)	3
Electricity Council (NWEB)	4
Flotilla Shoes Ltd.	1
Football League	—
Gardner Merchant	2
Gateway Food Markets	6
GKN Kwikform	3
Midland Bank	—
Automobile Association	10
Abbey National Building Society	2
International Thompson/Lunn Poly	—
Kwikfit Euro	1
R. S. McColl	2
Marks and Spencer	5
Mothercare Ltd.	1
National Bus Company	—
National Institute of Hardware	1
Post Office	23
Plastic Products Industry Board	1
Shoe Repair Training Agency Ltd.	3
W. H. Smith and Son Ltd.	2
Thorn EMI Rentals	—
Thorn EMI Retail	1

	Number
Lloyds Bank	1
National Westminster Bank	2
Trustee Savings Bank	3
Williams and Glyns Bank	1
William Timpson Ltd.	3
Whitbread and Co. plc	—
Clothing and Allied Products Industry Training Board	23
Construction Industry Training Board	105
Sight and Sound	34

Fees payable to managing agents will vary according to a number of factors. Each place included in a formal contract attracts a fee of £100. In addition, and provided certain current requirements are met, £39 per week is made available to the agent as long as a place remains filled.No forecast is available at present of the size of schemes likely to be approved or the fees likely to be paid in 1985–86.