asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied with the existing provision of community nursing services in Wales; and whether he has any plans to consider their future role and development.

The community nursing profession (which include midwives, health visitors, community psychiatric, district and school nurses) help to provide a wide range of services in health care outside hospitals in Wales. The dedication and competence of nurses working in the community is of a very high order and I believe that the overall standards of the services they provide are properly well regarded.In recognition of their contribution to health care it is important that from time to time attention should be given to the future development of existing community nursing services and to their roles and functions. It is some years since community nursing provision was considered in a substantial way and in the interim there have been a number of developments affecting service delivery and practice. I have therefore decided to establish a review of community nursing services in Wales. Its terms of reference will be to:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what measures he proposes to take to safeguard the health services provided by the Medical Research Council's pneumoconiosis research unit following its closure later in the current year.

Our officials have recently completed negotiations with the South Glamorgan health authority and I am pleased to announce that my right hon. Friend has agreed to provide funds to ensure the continued operation of all impatient and outpatient health services following the unit's closure on the Llandough hospital site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to introduce further measures aimed at increasing owner-occupation; and if he will make a statement.

We will continue with our successful policies to enable as many people as possible to own their own homes. Since 1979, the number of owner-occupiers in Great Britain has increased by more than 1½ million. Local authorities, new towns and housing associations have sold 800,000 dwellings, including nearly 750,000 to sitting tenants. The right-to-buy provisions of the 1980 Housing Act were extended by the 1984 Housing and Building Control Act and we are keeping the working of the Acts under review. On taxation, the increases we have made in the amount eligible for mortgage interest tax relief and the stamp duty limits mean that the majority of first-time buyers continue to obtain tax relief on the full amount of the mortgage and now pay no stamp duty on the purchase of their first home. We have published for consultation proposals to strengthen building societies' powers. We are considering the proposals of the Farrand committee on conveyancing and other ways of making home purchase easier and cheaper; the Administration of Justice Bill will end the solicitors' conveyancing monopoly by providing for licensed conveyancers to provide these services, so increasing competition without loss of protection for consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the percentage increase in house improvements in Bradford for 1984 or the latest year for which figures are available.

The total of grant-aided renovations of housing associations' and private owners' dwellings in the first nine months, was 22 per cent. lower in 1984 than in 1983. The authority has not yet made any return of renovations of its own housing during 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is considering implementing a statutory timetable for dealing with planning approvals and in particular those appeals dealt with by written representations.

I have no proposals at present for introducing a statutory timetable for dealing with planning appeals, but I am concerned to improve processing times by administrative action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has reviewed the effect on appeals of his power to impose a timetable in respect of enforcement notice appeals.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied, from the experience gained since January 1982 of exercising his discretionary powers in section 88(6) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, that both parties to enforcement notice appeals now co-operate more readily in the appeals process because they recognise that failure to do so may result in dismissal of an appeal or quashing of an enforcement notice. My right hon. Friend's discretionary powers have only been used on 26 occasions in processing more than 12,000 enforcement appeals since January 1982, which appears to confirm the value of these powers as an effective sanction in the special circumstances of enforcement appeals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date he intends to publish the 1983 distribution of grant inquiry.

We hope to publish a summary of the conclusions of the 1983 distribution of grant inquiry as part of the forthcoming consultation document on private sector housing improvement policy. The full DGI results will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate, for each of the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984, the percentage distribution of renovation grants awarded in England by socio-economic group as used for census purposes.

The only available information about the socio-economic group of recipients was collected as part of the distribution of grant inquiry. The results of this sample survey will be published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the report, prepared for his Department by the School for Advanced Urban Studies, on agency services for housing improvement and repair.

The report "Review of Home Improvement Agencies" is being published today by the Department of the Environment. Copies are being placed in the Library. The report is the result of a research project carried out for the Department by Bristol university's school for advanced urban studies. We are considering the report's conclusions as part of the review of housing improvement policy which is at present under way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of each socio-economic group was living in unsatisfactory housing in each of the years 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will disregard for rate penalty purposes expenditure undertaken by Lambeth borough council providing support and materials for mode B youth training schemes in Lambeth.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 15 March, at column 306.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Acts of Parliament have been promoted and how many statutory instruments made by his Department, or predecessor Departments covering his areas of responsibility, in each of the last 20 years.

Her Majesty Stationery Office publishes annually "Lists of Statutory Instruments" and "Tables and Indices to Public and General Acts and General Synod Measures". Both of these are currently up to date to the end of 1983.Given the changes to the machinery of Government over the last 20 years, apportionment of the Acts of Statutory Instruments to the areas of present ministerial responsibility, if practicable, could be done only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received concerning football hooliganism and how it should be controlled; and if he will list them.

Since the publication last August of my Department's consultation document — "Football Spectator Violence: Report of an Official Working Group"—I have met 17 representative organisations to discuss measures for dealing with the problem; of these the following organisations have also submitted written comments:

• The Football Association
• The Football League
• The Football Trust
• The Football Grounds Improvement Trust
• The Magistrates' Association
• The Association of Chief Police Officers
• The Superintendents' Association
• The Police Federation
• The Association of County Councils
• The Association of Metropolitan Authorities
• The Association of District Councils
• The Scottish Football Association
• The Scottish Football League
• The Professional Footballers' Association
• The Football League Executive Staffs' Association

I have also received a large number of letters from other organisations and individuals, many of these having written following the recent serious incidents of violence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by his Department on derelict land grant in each of the last five years; and if he will break this down by region.

Details of expenditure on derelict land reclamation in the five years 1979–80 to 1983–84 the last year for which information is available, are as follows:

Local Authority Sector
£million
Region	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83		1983–84
				Main Programme	Supporting Programme
Northern	6·54	7·14	5·26	5·31	4·99	8·75
North west	6·20	8·24	11·87	13·04	12·51	21·61
Mersyside						9·22
Yorkshire and Humberside	2·70	3·29	3·06	2·50	0·77	2·62
West Midlands	3·51	3·60	3·61	6·17	3·50	12·01
East Midlands	1·58	3·44	2·28	5·33	1·87	7·10
South West	0·40	0·68	0·33	0·34	1·1l	0·93
London	0·73	3·52	3·14	1·96	0·93	3·96
South East	0·71	0·11	0·13	0·08	0·43	0·10
Eastern						0·14
Total
Local Authority	22·37	30·02	29·68	34·73	25·61	66·44
Sector	60·34
Non-Local	—	—	0·02	0·76	—	1·75
Authority Sector	0·76
TOTAL	2·37	30·02	29·70	61·10		68·19

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many acres of land have been restored to constructive use in each of the last five years through derelict land grant; if he will specify the use in each case;

Acres
End use	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84
Public open space	2,430	2,364	2,006	1,885	1,699
Agriculture	902	496	1,067	548	447
Residential	52	35	32	227	267
Industry and commerce	136	329	185	879	2,203
Mixed or other development	165	101	158	919	684
Totals	3,685	3,325	3,448	4,458	5,300

Information about the annual rate increases and employment created by this programme is not available, but the Government have increasingly given priority to those projects that will lead to the regeneration of derelict land for development by the private sector, particularly in urban areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much private investment has been generated in each of the last five years as a result of the use of derelict land grant.

Information is available only for category A schemes. Since its introduction in 1982–83, projects totalling some £68 million have been approved, with associated early private investment of over £480 million, a ratio of 1:7. Details are as follows:

In these years approval was given for the reclamation and recycling of over 20,000 acres of derelict land, for a wide number of uses, as follows:

£ million
	Approved costs	Private sector investment
1982–83	9	32
1983–84	26	200
1984–85	18	138
1985–86	15	110
Total	68	480

In addition, category B and non-local authority projects are increasingly leading to private sector development on the reclaimed land.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Property Services Agency staff are employed at United States military facilities in the United Kingdom.

At 1 March 1985, 638 PSA non-industrial staff and 898 PSA industrial staff were employed on work for the United States forces. Of those, 401 non-industrial staff and all the industrial staff worked at United States military facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Minister with responsibility for sport will publish his correspondence with the English Football Association over the transfer of the forthcoming Scotland v. England football match from London to Glasgow.

I first wrote to the Football Association on 10 January expressing the concern of the Government and the transport authorities about the timing of the England v. Scotland football match on bank holiday Saturday 25 May. I asked whether it would be feasible to change the date of the match.I wrote again on 22 March. My letter also dealt with other matters. The relevant paragraph read:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the total cost of ministerial hospitality in his Department in the years 1983–84 and 1984–85 to date.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 March 1985, c. 332]: The total cost of Environment Ministers hospitality during 1983–84 was £5,756 and in 1984–85 £11,758. Expenditure for 1983–84 was abnormally low because of a long interruption of ministerial programmes of engagements caused by the general election, and expenditure for 1984–85 was increased by expenditure incurred in hosting the meeting of the Environment Ministers of the summit countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which grades of civil servants in his Department are allowed to have official supplies of alcohol in their offices; how much has been spent by his Department in each year since 1979–1980 on such items.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 March 1985, c. 332]: The figures given for expenditure on drinks cabinets of DOE officials were inaccurate in two respects. These should have read £160 for 1982–83 and £297 for 1983–84.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Central Electricity Generating Board has been involved in, or conducted any research into the effects of SO₂ and NO_x emissions on ancient monuments other than that mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member, 19 March, Official Report, column 422.

I have been asked to reply.I am advised that, prior to the formation of CEGB, questions on the effect on St. Paul's cathedral of chimney emissions of SO

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further progress report upon famine relief in Ethiopia and the Sudan with special reference to the British and European Economic Community contributions, respectively.

In Ethiopia and the Sudan millions of people are still at risk. Food and other relief supplies are getting through but distribution and other problems remain. The lates FAO calculations are that in each case pledges of food aid to Ethiopia and the Sudan for 1985 total more than 1 million tonnes, but about 300,000 tonnes for each is still needed. The European Community and its member states are committed to deliver at least 170,000 tonnes of grain to each country during 1985, In addition, the Community is providing cash grants amounting to about £25 million for Ethiopia and £11·6 million for Sudan, mainly for food purchases. This year Britain is providing 10,000 tonnes of wheat to Ethiopia and 50,000 tonnes to Sudan as part of our national contribution to the Community total.

asked the Prime Minister if she has now had the opportunity to study the report on the reassessment of cable systems, prepared by the Information Technology Advisory Panel; and if she will make a statement.

I received the Information Technology Advisory Panel's report "Cable Systems: A Re-assessment" last month.I am considering the report with colleagues and will report as soon as possible.

asked the Prime Minister what action she intends to take to ensure that losses, theft and fraud in the National Health Service are duly recorded and properly accounted for in the National Health Service accounts for 1984–85.

I am aware of my hon. Friend's interest in this matter, and I entirely agree that there should be a full and proper account for the use of public money and property. I understand that changes have been introduced, with effect from 1 April 1984 in the form of the NHS accounts with the intention of ensuring that all identified losses, including discrepancies and unexplained issues of equipment and property, are recorded in the accounts.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in the Official Report the average pay of (a) a teacher, and (b) a policeman, at the age of 25 years in January 1980 and in January 1985.

It is estimated that the average earnings (including allowances) of full-time teachers aged 25 in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales were about £4,500 in January 1980 and £7,250 in January 1985. Information on average earnings by age is not available for police officers, but a constable with five years' service would have been on a basic salary of £5,334 in January 1980 and £9,234 in January 1985.

asked the Prime Minister what, in real terms have been the average pay increases of (a) policemen and (b) teachers, since May 1979.

The cumulative increase arising from annual pay settlements between May 1979 and April 1984 amounted to 69·9 per cent. for school teachers and 86·4 per cent. for police officers. Over the period April 1979 to April 1984 average gross earnings, as measured by the New Earnings Survey, have risen by 84 per cent. for teachers and for 105 per cent. for policemen. Between May 1979 and April 1984 the retail prices index rose by 62 per cent. and the tax and price index by 60·2 per cent. since April 1984 police officers have had a settlement of 5·1 per cent. from September 1984. Teachers have been offered an increase of 4 per cent. from 1 April 1985.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list the Departments which have been represented at meetings of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council or its committees since November 1981; and if she will list the dates and locations of such meetings and the sections of the relevant Departments from which those officials came.

Cmnd. 9094 and my reply to the hon. Member's question on 1 April, at columns 413–4, give information on ministerial meetings held within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council. The Departments most involved in the many meetings that have taken place at official level under the auspices of the Council have been the Cabinet Office, the Northern Ireland Office, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the light of the evidence arising from the Australian Royal Commission into nuclear tests, she will seek to institute a Royal Commission fully to investigate all aspects, other than weapon design, of the events relating to and including the series of tests carried out between 3 October 1952 and 23 September 1958.

I have nothing to add to the statements made by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 22 November 1984, at column 225, and in the debate on 19 December 1984, at column 397.

asked the Prime Minister if she will explain the nature of the triggering device to which she referred in her answer of 19 March, Official Report, columns 779–80, and of any contamination it was expected to produce.

I would like to stress once again that these matters were considered and the Wick site rejected over 30 years ago.The device to which I referred in my answer of 19 March, at columns 779–80, is known as an initiator.Its purpose was to produce neutrons to initiate the chain reaction which generates a nuclear explosion. Since only the initiator was being tested and it contained no fissile material there could never have been a nuclear explosion. The only source of contamination from the initiator was beryllium and radioactive polonium. The experiment was designed so as to avoid any environmental hazard, but was not proceeded with in the UK because the site was judged to be unsuitable and because conditions in Australia offered a greater certainty of achieving this.

asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her discussions with the English Football Association over the transfer of the forthcoming Scotland-England football match from London to Glasgow.

There have been no such discussions. My hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for Sport, wrote to the Football Association asking it to reconsider the timing of the match.

asked the Prime Minister what arrangements will be made for compensating football supporters for the hotel and travel deposits and costs already incurred prior to the transfer at the request of Her Majesty's Government of the forthcoming Scotland-England football match from London to Glasgow.

None.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 April.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 2 April.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to attend a dinner given by Her Majesty the Queen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, pending the conclusions of Professor Dunnet's review team, the official slaughter of badgers has ceased.

No. Any reconsideration of my Department's policy for dealing with badgers infected with bovine tuberculosis in areas where they constitute a threat to cattle must await the conclusions of Professor Dunnet's review team.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any proposals to seek powers to prevent the entry of dogs into the United Kingdom on grounds of cruelty in addition to disease.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list his powers to control the import of Sharpeis dogs which suffer from inherited defects.

We have no power to prevent the import of dogs other than for the purpose of controlling the spread of animal disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to his answer of 15 March, Official Report, column 318–19, concerning the prices and consumption of sheepmeat, whether he will give figures for the price paid to farmers on a dressed carcase of other meat weight basis together with corresponding figures for 1970.

The prices paid to farmers on a dressed carcase basis were given in answer to the question on 15 March. The corresponding figure for 1970 was £373 per tonne in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Her Majesty's Government's interpretation of a reasonable time with regard to 4(d) of directive 77/489/EEC relating to the export of live animals.

Part 4(d) of the Annex to Directive 77/489/EEC reads as follows:—

"During transport animals shall be offered water and appropriate food at suitable intervals. Animals shall not be left more than 24 hours without being fed and watered. This period may, however, be extended if the journey to the destination where the animals are unloaded can be completed within a reasonable period."

The requirement reflects international veterinary opinion. It is intended to ensure that animals are not caused suffering either by unduly lengthy deprivation of food and water or by the disruption of being unloaded in circumstances where it would be better for their welfare if they were taken straight on to their destination.Our implementing legislation requires all food animals to be offered appropriate food and water during their statutory pre-export rest period in approved premises near the port of export. After export it is for those authorities in the member states of transit or destination, and ultimately for the courts in the countries, to determine whether the directive's feeding and watering requirements have been met in a given case. They will need to consider the needs of the species concerned, the climatic conditions and the transport conditions of the consignment concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has studied the complaint submitted to the European Commission by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about the workings of current regulations controlling the export of live animals; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) on 21 March 1985 at column 572.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans the Government have to bring forward proposals to facilitate the closing down of uneconomic farms.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many additional teachers would be required in maintained schools in England and Wales to ensure that no classes have more than 30 pupils.

In January 1984 average class sizes in England were 25·0 pupils for primary schools and 20·9 pupils for secondary schools; at the same time 20 per cent. of primary classes and 8 per cent. of secondary classes contained more than 30 pupils. Corresponding figures for Wales are not available. It is not possible to estimate with any confidence how many additional teachers would be required to eliminate classes with more than 30 pupils as this would depend crucially on the extent to which local education authorities and headteachers gave priority to reductions in class sizes over other calls on the time of teachers. Whilst my right hon. Friend recognises that there are still some classes which are too large to permit adequate attention to the needs of individuals, he believes that in general the fall in class sizes has reached a point where more non-contact time for teachers who currently have little, and more flexible teaching arrangements, should have priority over further decreases in the size of regular teaching groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the trend since 1979 in expenditure in real terms on books and equipment per pupil in maintained schools.

The trend in real terms in the average expenditure per pupil in maintained primary and secondary schools on books and equipment is as follows:

	£	Index
1979–80	28·9	*100
1980–81	27·3	94
1981–82	27·8	96
1982–83	29·9	103
1983–84	31·0	107
* 100 = the base.

The expenditure in real terms has been calculated using the deflator for gross domestic product at market prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Acts of Parliament have been promoted and how many statutory instruments made by his Department, or predecessor Departments covering his areas of responsibility, in each of the last 20 years.

The information requested is given in the table.

Number of:
Year	(i) Acts of Parliament	(ii) Statutory Instruments
1965	2	21
1966	—	19
1967	1	13
1968	2	21
1969	—	23
1970	2	25
1971	1	26
1972	2	20
1973	2	26
1974	1	30
1975	1	43
1976	3	23
1977	—	25
1978	1	27
1979	2	22
1980	1	31
1981	1	35
1982	—	30
1983	2	31
1984	1	26

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the communication links between British universities and industry in order to ensure that the universities provide enough graduates with the skills required by industry.

The Government have encouraged and has provided support for the establishment of closer links between industry and all levels of education. However, there remains scope for both sides to make such links a more effective channel for information on industry's manpower requirements.In recent years the Government has taken a number of initiatives to increase graduate places in shortage areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are attending special classes, units or schools because of speech and language problems; and if he will make a statement.

The statutory categorisation of pupils according to their major handicaps ceased with the implementation of the Education Act 1981. It is not therefore possible to answer the question in this form.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the investment of the capital sum of the teachers' superannuation fund;(2) what is the annual rate of return and the cash surplus on the teachers' superannuation fund for each of the last three years for which figures are available; and what steps are taken to optimise the investment;(3) who is responsible for the investment policy of the teachers' superannuation fund; if he will list them; and if he will make a statement;(4) what use is made of surpluses arising on the teachers' superannuation fund; and if he will make a statement.

There is no teachers superannuation fund and consequently no capital sum is invested. Under the Superannuation Act 1972 teachers' and employers' superannuation contributions are paid into the Consolidated Fund and benefits are paid out of moneys voted by Parliament. An account is maintained of receipts and payments under the Teachers Superannuation Regulations 1976 (as amended) or under previous provisions. Under the regulations the balance in the account and any excess of receipts over payments, in any accounting period are deemed to have been invested in Government securities and interest added accordingly to the account. These notional investments are selected by my right hon. Friend after consultation with the Government Actuary.I have arranged for copies of the three most recently available teachers superannuation accounts to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers local education authorities in England employed in January; and what is his estimate of the pupil to teacher ratio.

In January 1985 local education authorities in England employed the full-time equivalent of 405,300 teachers for service in nursery, primary and secondary schools. On the basis of estimated pupil numbers I would expect the overall ratio of pupils to teachers to lie between 17·7:1 and 17·8:1; this represents a continuation of the improvements achieved in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of 16 to 24-year-olds in the Holloway employment area who have been unemployed for more than one year.

On 10 January 1985, the number of claimants in the Holloway jobcentre area under 25 years of age who had been unemployed for over one year was 1,241.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the trade unions regarding the proposals contained in the Health and Safety Commission plan of work for 1985–86.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to discuss the commission's plan of work 1985–86 and onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to discuss its plan of work for the next two years.

My right hon. Friend has approved the plan of work as a broad statement of the Health and Safety Commission's intentions for 1985–86. We meet the chairman from time to time to discuss many aspects of the commission's current and future work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received the Health and Safety Commission's plan of work 1985–86 and onwards; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has approved the commission's plan of work as a broad statement of the Commission's intentions for 1985–86. I am aware of the ideas put forward by the commission in the plan for the development of the Health and Safety Executive's work beyond that period. I hope that these will stimulate debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further representations he has received on the proposed closure of skillcentres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received on the proposed closure of skillcentres.

My right hon. Friend and I have received around 260 letters on the subject since the proposals for the reorganisation of the skillcentre network were announced on 28 November. We have also met eight delegations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations he has had with the Manpower Services Commission since January on the future of skillcentres.

Following careful consideration of the Commission's views which were detailed in the chairman's letter of 24 January, my right hon. Friend wrote to the chairman on 21 February asking the Commission to implement the skillcentre training agency's operating plans for 1985–86 and 1986–87. At its meeting on 28 February the Commission noted my right hon. Friend's request that no skillcentre closure should take place until alternative provision had been identified, and the chairman wrote again on 7 March to explain how this request would be met.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the number of factory inspectors in post.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Central (Mr. Caborn) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors are currently in post; and how many were in post in May 1979.

At 1 March 1985 there were 823 factory inspectors in post. The figure for 1 May was 953.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the number of factory inspectors in post in the west midlands area of the Health and Safety Executive and those in training in each of the last five years.

The numbers are as follows:

Numbers of inspectors in post
	General factory inspectors	Specialist inspectors	Total
March 1981	44(7)	19(0)	63(7)
March 1982	39(3)	20(0)	59(3)
March 1983	38(0)	17(0)	55(0)
March 1984	35(0)	16(0)	51(0)
March 1985	32(2)	16(0)	48(2)

Specialist inspectors of the Midlands Field Consultative Group are based in the west midlands area but also operate in the east midlands, the marches and the north midlands areas.The numbers in training are given in brackets.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will refer the latest industrial problems at the Hawklaw and Cheltenham Government communications headquarters to the International Labour Organisation.

I know of no such industrial problems at GCHQ or Hawklaw.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now make a statement on the future of wages councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to make a statement on the future of wages councils.

My right hon. Friend published a consultative paper on wages councils on 21 March. This invites comments by 31 May. Decisions will be taken when responses to the document have been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will assess the likely impact of the abolition of wages councils on the levels of unemployment.

As we make clear in the consultative paper on wages councils published on 21 March, concern about the effect of the councils on jobs is the most important single factor in our consideration of their future. As part of this consideration we are studying all available research on this subject. The major relevant studies are listed in my reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Ms. Short) on 21 February 1985, at column 516.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect he expects the Budget to have on the total number of unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect the Budget measures will have on the levels of unemployment in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The Budget contains a wide-ranging set of measures to help generate employment and tackle unemployment. These include the expansion of the youth training scheme and the community programme, as well as substantial reform of the structure of national insurance contributions and raising the tax thresholds. These will help create the conditions for substantial numbers of new jobs without risking higher inflation. By 1986–87 our employment and training measures together will be providing help for 1 million people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of people unemployed.

On the 14 February 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,324,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of people under 25 years of age unemployed; and what was the corresponding total for May 1979.

On 10 January 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom under 25 years of age was 1,286,000. The corresponding figure for April 1979 relating to registrants at jobcentres and careers offices was 451,000. A figure for May 1979 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the total of unemployment in Suffolk.

The Government are committed to maintaining their economic policies which are directed at holding down inflation and public borrowing, while encouraging greater enterprise, flexibility and competitiveness in industry and the labour market. This is the only way to generate lasting jobs in Suffolk and elsewhere. In the meantime we are continuing to help the unemployed through our special employment and training measures. For example, the youth training scheme and the community programme, both of which are to be expanded, are currently helping over 3,700 people in Suffolk.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the present numbers of people who have been unemployed for more than one year; and what was the comparable figure for May 1979.

The following table gives the number of claimants in the United Kingdom who have been unemployed for over one year in January 1985, and the figure for registered unemployed in April 1979 (not available for May). It also gives the figures on both bases for October 1982.The comparison is affected by the change in the basis of the unemployment count in October 1982, and by the 1983 Budget provisions which mean that some men, mainly aged 60 years and over, no longer need to sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits. The information is also available in the Library.

Unemployed for over one year—United Kingdom
	Numbers
Registered unemployed
April 1979	366,711
October 1982	1,169,558
Unemployed claimants
October 1982	989,306
January 1985	1,316,017

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current numbers of people who have been unemployed for over one year.

On 10 January 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available, a total of 1,316,017 claimants had been unemployed for over one year in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for. Employment what was the rate of unemployment at the latest available date in the travel-to-work area of which Amble forms part.

On 14 February 1985, the rate of unemployment in the Alnwick and Amble travel-to-work area was 18 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current number of unemployed persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest number of unemployed people in the United Kingdom.

On 14 February 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,323,676.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently unemployed over the age of 40, 45 and 50 years, respectively.

On 10 January 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available, there were 1,011,536 unemployed claimants aged over 40 years in the United Kingdom. Of these 795,298 were aged over 45 years and 588,378 aged over 50.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of people unemployed; and what were the corresponding figures for March 1984 and May 1979.

On 14 February 1985, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,323,676. The corresponding number in March 1984 was 3,142,775 and in May 1979 was estimated to have been 1,218,900. The comparison is affected by the Budget provisions which mean that some men, mainly aged 60 and over, no longer need sign on in order to receive supplementary benefit or national insurance credits. The estimated effect of these measures, which accumulated between April and August 1983, is 161,800.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the employment rates for each region of the United Kingdom from 1980 to date; and if he will express such figures as a percentage of the national average.

The following tables give the available information.Table 1 gives, regionally and for the dates specified, the civilian employed labour force (employees in employment plus the self-employed) expressed as a percentage of the civilian working population (civilian employed labour force plus the unemployed). Her Majesty's Forces, which are normally included in both the employed labour force and working population figures, are not analysed regionally.Table 2 gives each of the regional figures in table 1 as a percentage of the United Kingdom figure.

Table 1 Civilian Employed Labour Force as percentage of Civilian Working Population
	June each year
	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
South East	96·6	93·9	92·6	91·9	91·8
East Anglia	95·8	93·0	91·9	91·3	91·6
South West	95·0	92·6	91·4	90·8	90·8
West Midlands	94·2	88·8	86·9	85·8	86·4
East Midlands	94·9	91·5	90·5	89·7	89·4
Yorkshire and Humberside	93·8	89·9	88·4	87·5	87·5
North West	9·6	88·8	87·0	85·9	86·0
North	90·5	86·9	85·2	83·8	83·5
Wales	92·5	88·4	86·9	86·3	86·5
Scotland	91·8	88·9	87·6	86·6	86·5
Northern Ireland	89·3	85·0	83·5	82·3	81·5
United Kingdom	94·3	90·9	89·5	88·6	88·6

Table 2 Region figures in Table 1 as percentages of United Kingdom rate
	June each year
	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984
South East	102·4	103·3	103·5	103·7	103·6
East Anglia	101·6	102·3	102·7	103·0	103·4

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for each of the six categories of employment with the lowest average wages and the six with the highest, as defined in the New Earnings Survey, their average rates of unemployment in each year since 1979 to the latest available date.

I regret that information is not available on unemployment rates for the detailed categories of employment distinguished in the analyses of average earnings in the reports of the "New Earnings Survey".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many small and medium sized companies are currently involved in providing work experience places for the youth training scheme; and what is the percentage of recruitment into full-time employment from such placements.

The information is not available in the precise form requested. Some 82,000 establishments with under 25 employees and a further 16,000 establishments with between 25–99 employees participate in the youth training scheme.Latest results from the regular follow-up survey of leavers show that 68 per cent. of young people who left employer-led schemes last July went into full-time employment, over half with the employer who ran the scheme or provided work-based experience for it.This compares with a figure of 38 per cent. who left mode B schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the 330,000 participants in the youth training scheme he expects to find on-going full-time employment as a result of their participation; and on what evidence he bases his estimate.

The Manpower Services Commission conducts regular monthly surveys of young people who leave the youth training scheme. Questionnaires are sent to a 15 per cent. sample of leavers some three months after they have left the scheme. The most recent results relate to young people who left the scheme in July 1984 and show that over 60 per cent. went into full-time employment and around two thirds went into work or other full-time education or training.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many and what percentage of school leavers have been on youth training or youth opportunity schemes for each of the last five years for which records are available; whether he will break these figures down into the following areas: (a) west midlands, (b) east midlands, (c) Scotland, (d) Northern Ireland, (e) north, (f) north-west, (g) Yorkshire and Humberside, (h) East Anglia, (i) south-east, (j) Wales and (k) south-west; and of these, how many trainees were (i) offered jobs with sponsors, (ii) found work, (iii) registered for employment and (iv) found places on other schemes on completion of their periods of training.

[pursuant to his reply, 26 March 1985, c. 37–38]: Information in the precise form requested is not available. Table 1 shows for Great Britain the number and percentage of 16 to 18-year-olds on the youth opportunities programme-youth training scheme in the January of each year from 1980 to 1984.Table 2 shows, as far as information is available, the destinations of leavers from the schemes.

TABLE 2
Destination of youth opportunities programme-youth training scheme trainees
	Youth opportunities programme				Youth training scheme
	1979–80*	1980–81*	1981–82*	1982–83*	June 1984†	July 1984†
On another scheme	8	8	8	9	4	5
Job with same employer	22	20	21	18	21	30
Job with different employer	30	24	25	27	35	31
Part-time employment	║	║	║	║	1	1
Unemployed	34	40	39	37	35	28
Full-time college course‡	2	3	2	3	2	3
Other	4	4	5	6	3	2
* Those starting their scheme in that year.
† Those leaving their schemes in that month (surveyed five to six months later).
‡ For years 1979–80 to 1982–83, this includes some trainees who may have returned to school.
║ No separate analysis of part-time employment carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been unemployed for more than 156 weeks in the borough of Sunderland; and if he will make a statement.

On 10 January 1985, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by duration is available, a total of 5,914 claimants had been unemployed for over 156 weeks in the area covered by the Sunderland, Washington and Houghton-le-Spring jobcentres which closely corresponds to the borough of Sunderland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement concerning future employment prospects in the aerospace and allied industries.

Orders for both civil and military aircraft are increasing and there is long-term potential worldwide for expansion. Employment prospects in the aerospace industry in this country will depend on the ability of our companies to compete in national and international markets, and on further collaboration with companies in other countries such as that between Short Brothers of Belfast and Embraer of Brazil. This partnership has just been awarded the contract for the RAF trainer aircraft—a project which could result in over 1,100 jobs, more than half of them in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the job release scheme.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Member for Hemsworth (Mr. Woodall) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps have been taken to ensure that all craft and industrial premises are registered with the Factory Inspectorate.

In the factory inspectorate's annual work programme 3 per cent. of inspectors' time is used to find unregistered factories. In the year 1985–86 their target is to inspect 20,000 such premises.In those areas where inspectors anticipate a large turnover of factory occupiers and the setting up of new premises, they undertake local initiatives in order to seek out and to inspect them.Many first-time employers are ignorant of the legal requirement under the Factories Act to register their premises and the Health and Safety Executive, together with the CBI small firms unit, is preparing a leaflet to give publicity to this duty.Whenever possible, information about premises is exchanged between the factory inspectorate and local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the continuation of the community programme in the Highlands and Islands.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Dunfermline, East (Mr. Brown) on 25 March at column 38.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places the Manpower Services Commission will provide on community programmes during 1985–86.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future structure of the community programme.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden (Mr. Hirst) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the current progress of the community programme.

I refer to my right hon. Friend's remarks about the community programme at column 1024 during the debate on Budget resolutions and the economic situation on 21 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why staff on the community programme are employed on short-term contracts.

Participation on the community programme helps to improve the employment prospects of people who have been unemployed for some time. A maximum period of twelve months is considered the most effective use of available resources although managers, supervisors and key workers may be kept on for longer if suitable unemployed replacement workers are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he can provide, following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement, figures for the estimated increases in the number of places available under the community programme in the Manpower Services Commission Highland area board region;(2) what the estimated net effect of the changes announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement with regard to the community programme will be on the current projected decreases in the number of places available within the Manpower Services Commission Highland area board region.

We are expanding the community programme by 100,000 places to a new national target of 230,000 places. This enables extra provision in all areas, including those which had previously expected reductions by October 1986. My right hon. Friend has asked the Manpower Services Commission for its views as soon as possible on the allocation of available places.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps his Department is taking to investigate the hazards to people working on unprotected visual display units.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to her on 25 March at column 98.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people took advantage of the job sharing scheme in 1984.

There were 289 successful applications under the job splitting scheme in 1984, creating 578 part-time jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the initiative the Government are taking to encourage employee involvement.

The Government believe that genuine employee involvement can be introduced in each organisation only on a voluntary basis by management in conjunction with the employees and their representatives. In this way the arrangements made can truly reflect their particular needs and circumstances. There is ample evidence of the growh of such voluntary arrangements. The Government take every opportunity to encourage it further.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about the Health and Safety Commission's report, "Plan of Work 1985–86 and Onwards."

None. The report was published on 12 March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of young people in Twickenham are employed.

The most recent information available for the Twickenham parliamentary constituency is from the 1981 census of population, as follows:

Age Group	Persons employed as percentage of all residents in the age group
16–19 years	46 per cent.
20–24 years	74 per cent.
16–24 years	61 per cent.