asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of those employed by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in Wales are Welsh-speaking; and if he will make a statement.

The number employed by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in Wales who are Welsh-speaking is 121.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed by the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service in Wales; what were the corresponding figures for the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The number of people employed by the Agricultural Development Advisory Service in Wales on 1 April 1986 (the latest available date) is 347·5.The information for 1 April in earlier years is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has about the current size of the rabbit population and about the trend in its growth.

The latest estimate available suggests that the present rabbit population in England and Wales is about 20 million. Without a greater control effort by occupiers of land, increased resistance to myxomatosis is likely to lead to an upward trend in rabbit numbers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the scope for promoting an increase in the human consumption of rabbits as an alternative to pest control methods for the restriction of the rabbit population.

I do not regard human consumption of wild rabbits as a sufficient means of population control, or as a true alternative to the control of the species as a pest. The surplus over any given consumption level is properly regarded as a pest population. Nor is my Department authorised to promote the consumption of one type of meat in preference to another.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing average farm rents in £ per hectare and as a percentage of 1975 in each of the years 1981 to 1985 and at the latest available date.

[pursuant to her reply, 21 April 1986]: The average farm rents and percentage change over the 1975 level in England for the calendar years 1981 to 1985 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing the cost of teachers' salaries each year since 1978, in England; what is the average increase per teacher each year since that date; and if he will express the expenditure on teachers' salaries as a proportion of total expenditure on primary and secondary education.

The table contains the information. The figures are presented in cash and real terms and they refer to maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what Lancashire country council's education capital expenditure allocation was at

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was Cheshire county council's education capital expenditure allocation at

The information is shown in the tables:outturn and at constant prices in each year from 1981–82 to 1986–87; and what was the original bid received by his Department for each year.

The information is shown in the tables:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nursery schools or nursery classes were opened in 1985 and how many were closed.

This information is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his conclusions following his consultations on the place of economic awareness within the school curriculum.

I continue to hold strongly to the view, expressed in paragraph 71 of the White Paper "Better Schools", that some awareness by school pupils of economic matters is a prerequisite for citizenship and employment. I am encouraged, therefore, that the consultations indicate much support for my view that all pupils should be equipped with some economic awareness and understanding by the time they reach the age of 16. Accordingly I have today invited the School Curriculum Development Committee, in what I regard as a fitting initiative for Industry Year, to consider what additional development work it might encourage and support in this area of the curriculum; copies of the Department's letter have been placed in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General whether he has made any estimate of the possible increase in tourists visiting the United Kingdom as a result of the royal wedding taking place on 23 July.

The royal wedding will undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on the number of visitors to the United Kingdom, not only for this summer, but in the longer term. I expect it to show to best advantage many of the aspects of Britain which attract visitors. The pageantry, ceremonial, and tradition, combined with a youthful image and vitality. It is not, however, possible to estimate these benefits in terms of visitor numbers or revenue.

asked the Paymaster General what is his latest estimate of the number of jobs which will be created indirectly as a result of the job creation measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement.

asked the Paymaster General how many new full-time jobs he expects will flow from the recent employment measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Paymaster General how many new full-time jobs he expects to flow from the recent employment measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The precise effect of our wide-ranging measures to encourage enterprise and employment and to provide help to long-term unemployed people will depend on how employers, entrepreneurs and others respond to them.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the number of pre-strike ballots that have taken place since the implementation of the Trade Union Act 1984.

We are aware of about 170 pre-strike ballots which we believe have complied with the provisions of the Trade Union Act 1984, but there will have beeen other ballots which we do not know about.

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of the total unemployed in the United Kingdom have been unemployed for over six months; and how this figure compares with the equivalent statistics in May 1979.

On 9 January 1986, the latest date for which figures are available, the proportion of claimants who have been unemployed for over six months in the United Kingdom was 57 per cent. It is difficult to make a comparison with April 1979 (no figures are available for May) because of changes in the way figures are collected. However, the proportion of registrants who had been unemployed for over six months was 47 per cent.

asked the Paymaster General what has been the increase in unemployment over the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Between March 1985 and March 1986, seasonally adjusted unemployment, excluding school leavers and adjusted for discontinuities, increased by 102,900 in the United Kingdom.

asked the Paymaster General what is the latest figure of the unemployed in the United Kingdom.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

asked the Paymaster General what is the total number of unemployed persons at the latest available date.

On 6 March 1986, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom was 3,323,776.

asked the Paymaster General what is the present rate of unemployment; and how this compares with the figure in March 1979.

On 6 March 1986, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, excluding school leavers, was 13·2 per cent. in the United Kingdom. The corresponding unemployment rate for March 1979 was 4·9 per cent.

asked the Paymaster General what is his latest estimate of the total effect on the unemployment figures of the job creation measures announced in the Budget statement in their first year of operation.

I do not have any such estimates. For the reasons referred to in my right hon. and learned Friend's reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Mr. Marshall).

asked the Paymaster General how many unemployed claimants there are in the Liverpool, West Derby, constituency; and how this compares with the figure for May 1979.

On 6 March 1986, the number of unemployed claimants in the Liverpool, West Derby constituency was 9,708. Statistics of unemployment for Parliamentary constituencies are derived from the new ward-based system and are available only from June 1983.

asked the Paymaster General how many people aged 25 years and under are presently unemployed in the United Kingdom; and what this represents as a percentage of total unemployment.

On 9 January 1986, the latest date for which an analysis of unemployment by age is available, the number of unemployed claimants in the United Kingdom under 25 years of age was 1,246,892, 36·6 per cent. of the total.

asked the Paymaster General how many persons (a) male and (b) female were placed in employment by Burnley and Padiham jobcentres for the last month for which figures are available.

Analysis of jobcentre placings by sex is available quarterly. Following is the available information for the period 7 October 1985 to 3 January 1986. These figures exclude placings on Government schemes.

asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to amend the Sex Discrimination Act in such a way as to equalise the retirement ages of men and women; and if he will make a statement.

The Government issued a consultative document on 1 April, which was placed in the Library of the House, setting out proposals for amending our legislation in the light of the recent European Court judgment concerning sex discrimination and retirement, and inviting comments by 30 April. The proposed amendments will make it unlawful for a woman to be dismissed on the grounds of age when a man of the same age and in comparable circumstances would not. We believe that this represents a desirable extension of equal opportunity in employment.

asked the Paymaster General what progress has been made with the inner cities initiative.

Since the initiative was announced on 6 February, we have set up the eight inner-city task forces and the central unit in my Department and started work. We are still establishing contact with the local communities, evaluating proposals being put to us and drawing up plans for action in each of the districts concerned.

asked the Paymaster General what plans he has to encourage links between industry and charitable organisations as part of his inner cities initiative.

The task force we have set up to implement the initiative will aim to involve all sections of the communities it covers in its work. This will certainly include local industry and charities and I hope that direct links between them will be fostered by our work.

asked the Paymaster General what statistics he has relating to unemployment in shipbuilding communities in the United Kingdom.

An analysis of the claimant count by industry or occupation is not available. The labour force survey provides a national estimate of those unemployed who had previously worked in shipbuilding, but data for local communities are not produced. Monthly figures are available for the total claimant count in individual wards. These are deposited in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General how many people are presently employed in the printing industry; and how this compares with the figures for 1975 and 1980, respectively.

In December 1985 there were 353,000 employees in employment in the printing and publishing industry in Great Britain.The corresponding figures for June 1975 and December 1980 were 341,000 and 355,000 respectively.

asked the Paymaster General what are the most recent figures for the success rate of the enterprise allowance scheme.

Since its introduction in August 1983, the enterprise allowance scheme has helped almost 134,000 unemployed people to start their own businesses. The latest statistics show that 89 per cent. of those who enter the scheme are still in business at the end of the year in which they receive support. Recent survey evidence has also revealed that 61 per cent. of recipients who received the allowance for a full year were still in business two years after the allowance stopped, and that for every 100 continuing businesses, 99 additional new jobs had been created.

asked the Paymaster General how many franchises have received support under the enterprise allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement.

No statistics are kept of the number of franchise businesses supported under the enterprise allowance scheme.The purpose of the allowance is to encourage unemployed people to set up new and independent businesses. Although franchise businesses are not automatically excluded from the scheme, many franchise agreements restrict the franchisee's freedom of action in important aspects such as source of supplies, prices and market area and they cannot therefore be regarded as independent businesses for the purpose of the scheme.

asked the Paymaster General if he will take steps to improve business skills training for those joining the enterprise allowance scheme.

People on the enterprise allowance scheme can take advantage of both public and private sector training, including the provision made available through the Manpower Services Commission's training for enterprise programme. In addition, the Commission has introduced a revised system of induction and follow-up of enterprise allowance participants. This new system will include a one-day self-employment awareness session to replace the present two-hour information session attended by all applicants to the scheme. One of the main purposes of the revised system is to highlight the importance of enterprise training and its benefits to the participants' businesses, as well as providing an introduction to basic business concepts. Follow-up monitoring by the MSC will be enhanced to reinforce the emphasis on training and business counselling for participants.

asked the Paymaster General if he has come to a decision as to how the increased number of places available under the enterprise allowance scheme will be distributed around the United Kingdom.

The enterprise allowance scheme applies to Great Britain. There is a similar but separate scheme running in Northern Ireland.From April 1986, the enterprise allowance scheme has been expanded to 80,000 entrants and places have been distributed by the Manpower Services Commission in accordance with demand, following consultation with MSC regional and area management. From September 1986, the scheme will be increased to an annual rate of 90,000 entrants and again in April 1987 to 100,000. The precise allocations of places will be determined by the MSC after consultation with their regional management.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will quantify the effect of enterprise agencies in the creation of employment.

Local enterprise agencies are clearly making a significant contribution to job creation at the local level. The annual reports of individual agencies frequently give details of jobs that the agencies have helped to create or save, but no reliable national figures are yet available. My Department is supporting a survey, currently being undertaken by Business in the Community, which looks at both the support provided to agencies and the work they undertake; this should enable a better overall picture of the impact of agencies to be established.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to how many industrial disputes there were over the last 12 months for which figures are available.

A provisional total of 840 stoppages of work due to industrial disputes have been recorded as being in progress in the 12 months to 28 February 1986.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to how many industrial disputes involving strike action there have been in the public and private sectors, respectively, in the past 12 months.

A provisional total of 421 stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the public sector, and 419 in the private sector, were recorded as being in progres in the 12 months to 28 February 1986.

asked the Paymaster General how many disabled people are currently registered as unemployed in Basildon; and what encouragement his Department is giving to find them jobs.

On 4 April 1986, there were 269 unemployed disabled persons registered at Basildon jobcentre. Disabled jobseekers are encouraged to make full use of the services available to all jobseekers at jobcentres. In addition, a wide range of special help—including guidance from a specialist disablement resettlement officer—is available to assist with the particular problems which disabled people may face in getting and keeping employment.Disabled people will, from July 1986, also be helped under the restart programme through which all those who have been unemployed for a year or more will be invited to an interview at a jobcentre and offered positive help towards finding work.Disablement advisory service teams provide employers with advice and guidance on progressive employment policies and practices in the recruitment, retention, training and promotion of disabled people, and remind them of their obligations under the quota scheme which places a duty on those with 20 or more workers to employ a 3 per cent. quota of registered disabled people.A new leaflet, "Action for Jobs", which contains details of the help available through my Department to unemployed people, including those who are disabled, is freely available through jobcentres, unemployment benefit offices and main post offices.

asked the Paymaster General when he next intends to meet representatives of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the operation of industrial relations legislation.

I have no plans at present to meet the Trades Union Congress to discuss industrial relations matters.

asked the Paymaster General what further initiatives he is considering for legislation in the field of industrial relations; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans at present for further legislation, but we are keeping the situation under review. A major factor in deciding whether anything further needs to be done will be the behaviour of unions themselves.

asked the Paymaster General how many extra community programme places would be needed to ensure that a place was available for every eligible unemployed person.

asked the Paymaster General what is the ratio of eligible unemployed to available places for the extra 25,000 community programme places announced in the Budget.

The community programme is just one of a range of options available to long-term unemployed people. We are expanding the programme to 255,000 places by November which in a full year will provide opportunities for up to 330,000 participants. There are about 1·5 million unemployed people in the eligible group.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the future of the training element of the community programme.

The aim of the community programme is to provide temporary employment. But training can be provided for workers both by agents and sponsors as part of their projects. And as part of the wider opportunities training programme. We shall continue to encourage sponsors to provide training on their projects and aim to provide broadly the same amount of training nationally under the wider opportunities training programme in 1986–87 as in the previous year.

asked the Paymaster General how many community programme places are currently unfilled.

On 7 February 1986, the latest available date, the number of unfilled community programme vacancies nationally was 24,258.The total number of community programme vacancies notified to jobcentres from April 1985 to February 1986 was 224,300. During the same period, 195,700 community programme vacancies were filled by jobcentres.

asked the Paymaster General if he will make a statement on the premium place arrangements for the two-year YTS.

Under two-year YTS, premium funding of £110 per month for each filled place will be paid in addition to the basic funding of £160 per filled place where appropriate. During 1986–87, around 51,000 first and one-year places and 13,000 continuation places, for those starting a second-year programme, will be payable. The Government are confident that this and the other measures contained in the new YTS will ensure that there is an adequate supply of high quality training places to provide for all eligible trainees.

asked the Paymaster General what recent representations he has received on the future of mode B YTS provision.

Most mode B providers will have contracts for premium places, or premium mixed with basic places, in two-year YTS; some will have additional funding for the disabled.There have already been wide consultations over transitional funding, and the Manpower Services Commission has recently announced a further review of transitional funding to be undertaken by a sub-group of the Youth Training Board this autumn. The review will offer an opportunity for public representations.

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate how many young people have left YTS since it began without going into a job or full-time education.

This information is not available in the form requested. Since 1984 the Manpower Services Commission has conducted regular follow-up surveys of young people some three months after they leave YTS.

asked the Paymaster General what steps are taken to seek to ensure that young people on YTS schemes receive proper training for jobs.

Potential managing agents are required to set out in detail their proposals for training including the job skills that young people will receive. The formal contract with the managing agent refers to the agreements reached on these proposals. Thereafter, there are arrangements to monitor the acquisiton of skills and the quality of training provided. To strengthen these monitoring arrangements, the Government are introducing a new training standards advisory service, and is requiring all providers of training to apply to become approved training organisations. Only organisations who gain such status will be able to take part in YTS.

asked the Paymaster General what he is planning to do to simplify the forms and leaflets produced by his Department particularly those concerning employment protection.

My Department is publishing a simple guide to employment legislation this afternoon, for use by advisers to small businesses. We are considering what can be done to simplify our publications.

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate the relative position of the United Kingdom in the western European business conference market; and what steps he will take to improve our current standing.

Detailed information on the business conference market in western Europe is not available. However, the Brussels-based Union of International Associations produces annual figures on international association conferences held throughout the world which indicate that in 1985 the United Kingdom hosted more events than any other western European country. More generally, the British Tourist Authority advises that, alongside France, the United Kingdom has ranked as the premier destination for business and conference tourism in western Europe over recent years.In order to maintain our current position, many conference and exhibition facility developments and improvements are taking place, with five major centres due for completion this year. The BTA recognises the importance of the business and conference sector both in terms of higher spending yield and as a means of achieving its objective of encouraging off-peak traffic. It will be allocating additional resources to the sector in 1986–87.

asked the Paymaster General whet her he will take steps to seek to increase the activity of venture capital companies outside the south-east of England.

There is a wide range of investment opportunities throughout the United Kingdom. Some venture capital companies are represented outside the south-east and investors in industry have offices throughout the country. In recent years there have been valuable initiatives to provide venture capital to small companies on a regional basis, including the establishment of local business expansion scheme funds. Figures published in the recent report by Peat Marwick Mitchell showed that the regional distribution of investment under the business expansion scheme was broadly in line with economic activity as shown by VAT registrations. I am, however, keen to encourage the further development of venture capital facilities in all areas.

asked the Paymaster General what steps he will take to improve the marketing skills of the small business sector.

At present, advice on marketing is available to the small business sector as part of the general business advice offered by the Department's small firms service. In addition the Department of Trade and Industry provides help with marketing and market research to small businesses in areas affected by closure in the steel, shipbuilding, textile and fisheries industries through its business improvement services package, whilst the British Overseas Trade Board provides a range of assistance which can help the small exporter with marketing overseas.The Department of Trade and Industry announced on 11 April a "Support for Marketing" scheme which will start in the autumn. Under the scheme, the cost of the first two days' consultancy will be met, as well as 75 per cent. of the cost of up to 13 days' further consultancy. I welcome this initiative, as I believe it is important to improve the marketing skills of the small business sector.

asked the Paymaster General if he will take steps to ensure that very small businesses obtain access to funding through the business expansion scheme.

The business expansion scheme is an important initiative to promote the flow of equity finance to unquoted companies. Inland Revenue statistics show that more than half the companies raising money under the terms of the scheme in 1983–84 obtained investments of £50,000 or less and about half of the companies employed fewer than 10 people. Some local enterprise agencies have established local funds and other measures to bring together potential investors and small companies and I hope that others will also do this. In September 1985, my Department also published a new leaflet designed to increase awareness of the benefits the business expansion scheme can offer to both potential investors and small companies.

asked the Paymaster General what recent representations he has received on the situation confronting small businesses faced with large customers delaying the payment of invoices for up to five months.

We continue to receive representations on this issue from small firms and small firms organisations. These representations confirm the adverse effects of delays in payment on the financial position of small businesses particularly.We shall publish guidance shortly on good practice in the payment of bills.

asked the Paymaster General, what plans he has to provide help for small firms with presentation of business plans for consideration by banks.

Advice on the preparation of detailed business plans is available from a number of sources. Professional advisers can help the small business man with the presentation of a case to financial institutions, and bank managers can advise on the information they require when considering applications for loan finance for small firms. Local enterprise agencies and small firms centres can also assist the preparation of business plans and explain the importance of planning, budgeting and control as aspects of the management of successful small firms. These services will continue to be available.

asked the Paymaster General if he will give the number of business counsellors working with the small firms service for each year since 1979.

During the course of a year, the numbers fluctuate slightly. However, on 31 March of each year, the number of counsellors in England under contract to the Secretary of State was:

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of companies applying under the small firms loan guarantee scheme for support are successful.

Since the inception of the loan guarantee scheme in 1981, 68 applications, 0·4 per cent. of the total have been rejected by my Department on technical grounds. The Department does not assess the commercial viability of proposals, which is a matter for participating lenders. The Department has no record of loan applications declined by participating lenders which do not result in an application for a guarantee.

asked the Paymaster General if he will take steps actively to promote the new small firms loan guarantee scheme.

Many small business men will no doubt become aware from the banks of the more attractive terms now applying to the loan guarantee scheme. Information on the scheme forms part of a recently launched "Action for Jobs" promotion. I am considering what further promotion of the scheme is required.

asked the Paymaster General how many firms have so far received assistance under the loan guarantee scheme.

At 31 March 1986, a total of 16,642 guaranteed loans had been issued under the scheme to approximately 16,000 firms. Firms are permitted to receive more than one guaranteed loan, up to a maximum of £75,000.

asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to alter the requirements upon companies obtaining work permits for the employment of foreign nationals; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the present requirements adequately protect job opportunities for resident labour and ensure that overseas nationals are admitted for employment only when their presence here is essential.

asked the Paymaster General what is the latest figure for firms setting up in business in the United Kingdom.

Using the number of new registrations for VAT, it is estimated that there were 177,000 new business starts in the United Kingdom in 1984. Over the period 1980–84, there were some 830,000 new business starts in the United Kingdom. Full details were published in an article in British Business on 23 August 1985, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General what evidence he has that his Department's city action teams and inner-city initiatives are improving the lot of small businesses.

The city action teams have been active in promoting enterprise and business initiatives in their areas and there are several encouraging signs of progress. The inner cities initiative has only been operating for just over a month and it is too early for results. But the encouragement of small business will be high on their agenda.

asked the Paymaster General what he is doing to increase the number of tourist information centres.

As a result of the increase in its grant-in-aid, the English Tourist Board has been able to allocate additional resources in 1986–87 to the improvement and extension of tourist information center facilities, including at points of entry.

asked the Paymaster General to what extent new job creation measures announced recently by his Department will involve training in new technologies.

It is not possible to assess the extent to which the measures to encourage enterprise and employment announced in the Budget will lead to jobs involving training in new technologies.

asked the Paymaster General when he next intends meeting representatives of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss employment prospects in the new technologies.

Ministers in this Department meet CBI representatives frequently to discuss matters of mutual interest. We have no plans at present to convene a meeting specifically on this subject.

asked the Paymaster General what steps he will take to improve the value for money obtained from grant-in-aid to the English tourist board.

I have already asked the board to make proposals in the course of this year for the introduction of performance measures and value for money criteria, in line with the principles of the financial management initiative. Ways of improving value for money will also be among the aspects covered by a financial management survey shortly to be undertaken jointly by my Department, the ETB and the British Tourist Authority, under the general arrangements for periodic reviews of the activities and performance of non-departmental public bodies.

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of unemployment benefit offices are now fully equipped with individual staff video screens and up-to-date computers; and by what date he expects all offices to be so equipped.

As at 11 April 1986, the new equipment is installed in 252 unemployment benefit offices; 159 of these offices are still undergoing training; 93 (representing 11 per cent. of the total) are providing the full service to the public. About 10 additional offices come into the programme each week. All offices should be fully equipped by the end of September 1987, and fully operational by December 1987.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to how many unions have now amended their constitutions in order to comply with the terms of the Trade Union Act 1984.

Most of the requirements of the 1984 Trade Union Act apply whether or not union constitutions have been amended to take them into account. Most rule books are silent on the question of ballots before strikes and neither prevent nor require them. Press reports indicate, however, that at least 38 unions have conducted ballots believed to comply with the Act.In practice, constitutional changes are most likely to be adopted to give effect to the new requirements for the election of members of their executives. Twenty-one unions are reportedly to make permanent changes and a further four to comply by issuing temporary regulations. For some unions no change of policy is required.Trade unions wishing to retain political funds must conduct review ballots under rules expressly approved for that purpose by the Certification Officer. Thirty-eight trade unions have now had such rules approved.

asked the Paymaster General whether he has made any estimate of the number of hotel and guest house bed spaces which will be lost to rest home accommodation as a result of the proposed changes in the use classes order.

These effects have not been estimated, but my right hon. Friend. The Secretary of State for the Environment has received comments on this aspect of the use classes order from representatives of the hotel and guest house industry. I know that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Environment, will be taking careful account of these and other representations when considering his response to the Property Advisory group's proposals.

asked the Paymaster General what national and local publicity campaigns are planned for the restart scheme, other than publicity through jobcentres.

The Manpower Services Commission is currently developing plans for national and local publicity about the restart scheme. This will be carried forward in a variety of ways, including newspaper and media coverage.

asked the Paymaster General how many unions have received funds for trade union ballots.

I am informed by the Certification Officer that 29 trade unions have received public money towards the costs of ballots under the provisions of section 1 of the Employment Act 1980.

asked the Paymaster General if he has any plans to guarantee places for the long-term unemployed on a Manpower Services Commission scheme after a specified period of unemployment.

Our response to the recent report of the Employment Committee has made it clear why we regard its proposal to provide a guarantee for the long-term unemployed as neither practicable nor cost-effective compared with our own approach to the problem of long-term unemployment. In July this year, we are launching the nationwide restart programme under which every person who has been unemployed for 12 months or more will be invited to come for an interview at a jobcentre, which will provide him or her with individual help and advice, leading in as many cases as possible to submission to a job. A place on the community programme, a training course, entry to the enterprise allowance scheme or membership of a job club.

asked the Paymaster General if he has given consideration to the Greater London council building, county hall, being used as the national tourist centre.

The British Tourist Authority, in partnership with British Rail and other private sector interests, are opening a new British travel centre in Lower Regent street on 1 May. This centre is intended to play a key role in encouraging overseas visitors to travel to all parts of the country. It will enable them to obtain information and purchase all the services they require under one roof. In view of this development, I have not given consideration to the use of county hall for this purpose.I can assure my hon. Friend that a number of potential purchasers have already expressed an interest in county hall, with a variety of uses in mind. The London Residuary Body is now working at all the options open, with a view to securing the best deal for London's ratepayers.

asked the Paymaster General what has been the level, at constant prices, of United Kingdom advertising expenditure around the world intended to increase incoming visitors each year since 1979.

Advertising aimed at increasing tourism to the United Kingdom is carried out by a wide variety of organisations including the tourist boards, trade associations, local authorities, carriers and individual providers of tourist services. Information relating to the expenditure on such advertising is not available.

asked the Paymaster General what was the average pay settlement in 1985 for workers earning over £200 a week.

asked the Paymaster General what was the average pay settlement in 1985 for workers earning less than £100 a week.

Comprehensive information relating to average pay settlements for all workers at particular levels of earnings is not available. Details on changes in minimum pay rates determined by particular national collective agreements and wages orders affecting manual workers are published in the Department of Employment loose-leaf volume, "Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work", a copy of which is available in the Library. Details on changes in average earnings between April 1984 and April 1985 for selected occupational and collective bargaining groups are given in part A of the report, "New Earnings Survey 1985", a copy of which is also in the Library.

asked the Paymaster General how many inspectors are presently employed by the Health and Safety Executive; and how many of these are on site inspectors in area offices.

On 1 April 1986, the Health and Safety Executive employed 1,231 inspectors; 850 of these are engaged in inspection activity in the field. There were also 99 inspectors in the nuclear installations inspectorate based at HSE's London and Bootle headquarters, many of whom visit field sites regularly.

asked the Paymaster General how many inspectors are presently employed by the Health and Safety Executive; and how this figure compares with that for April 1980.

On 1 April 1986 the Health and Safety Executive employed 1,231 inspectors. On 1 April 1980 it employed 1,444.

asked the Paymaster General how many staff are presently employed by the Health and Safety Executive; and how this compares with the figure for April 1980.

On 1 April 1986, the Health and Safety Executive employed 3,585 permanent staff. On 1 April 1980, it employed 4,110.

asked the Paymaster General if he will estimate how many jobs have been created as a result of Government policies of deregulation.

The White Paper "Lifting the Burden" (Cmnd. 9571) indicated that it is not possible to prove a direct causal relationship between deregulation and job creation, and no reliable estimate can therefore be given of the effect on jobs of progress to date. The available evidence suggests, however, that there is a link between deregulation and jobs through stimulating economic activity.We will be publishing a second White Paper within the next few months, with further proposals for removing outdated and unnecessary regulations. The White Paper will also show what steps have been taken to ensure that, in framing new regulations, account is taken of their implications for business and for employment.

asked the Paymaster General whether he has commissioned any recent studies of the basis for determining travel-to-work areas.

The travel-to-work areas, and the methods used to determine them, were reviewed in 1984. The Department has not commissioned any more recent studies of the basis for determining travel-to-work areas. The areas are next scheduled for review in the early 1990s, when the results of the 1991 census of population become available.

asked the Paymaster General which areas of the United Kingdom he has particularly in mind when seeking, as part of tourism policy, to encourage the dispersal of foreign visitors away from London.

I have asked the British Tourist Authority and the English tourist board to pay particular attention to areas of the country which could attract more tourists and where unemployment is high.The BTA will be receiving almost £3·5 million of additional funding in 1986–87 and will be devoting the majority of this to campaigns concentrating on regions with above-average unemployment. Around 20 per cent. will go to Scotland, and 15 per cent. to Wales. In England, the North of England and the west country will each receive about 20 per cent., and the heart of England 15 per cent. The remaining 10 per cent. will go to more specific problem areas such as the Isle of Wight and Thanet.With its additional funding (£1·5 million for grant in aid activities and £1·5 million for the section 4 scheme) the ETB will be devoting additional resources to their tourism development action programmes which are planned for Bradford, Tyneside, Kielder, Birmingham and Exmoor. A major North of England promotion is to be mounted and other areas to receive special attention will include Cumbria, Merseyside and Stoke, which is of course building up to next month's opening of the 1986 National Garden Festival. The resorts will also benefit, in particular Bridlington and Torbay, the joint winners of the board's "Resorts 2000" competition.

asked the Paymaster General what proportion of the populatiom eligible for employment presently have an income below £100 a week.

Precise recent information is not available. However, according to the Family Expenditure Survey for 1984, excluding those aged under 16, the retired and those not seeking employment, about 46 per cent. of the persons surveyed had a gross weekly income of less than £100.Gross income in this context did not include housing benefits or rate rebates. Also, the percentage covers persons seeking or in part-time employment.

asked the Paymaster General what has been the estimated value of the conference market in England for each year since 1980.

The English Tourist Board has made broad estimates of the overall value of conference business in the United Kingdom as a whole for each year since 1981. The board's figures are as follows:

asked the Paymaster General whether he proposes to provide financial support to the London visitor and convention bureau, following the abolition of the Greater London Council.

The Government already provide financial support to the London visitor and convention bureau through the English tourist board, and this support will continue.

asked the Paymaster General what information he has as to the proportion of workers who were paid in cash in 1976 and at the latest available date.

Fifty-nine per cent. of workers were paid in cash in 1976 compared with 39 per cent. in 1984, which is the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Paymaster General how many factory inspectors were employed by the Health and Safety Executive in 1979; and what is the number at the latest available date.

On 1 April 1979, there were 951 factory and specialist inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive. On 1 April 1986, there were 825.

asked the Paymaster General whether he will now increase the number of factory inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive by 50 per cent. from the 1975 level; and if he will make a statement.

Decisions on the number of inspectors employed by the Health and Safety Executive are a matter for the executive, subject to the limits set by the Government on its total salary expenditure and manpower.

asked the Paymaster General what was the number of injuries from power presses per year from 1956 until the introduction of the Power Presses Regulations 1965; and how many injuries occurred in 1979 and 1983.

Information is not available in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The available information is listed below for power presses as defined in the Power Presses Regulations 1965, which include mechanical presses with a flywheel and clutch and and mechanical press brakes:

asked the Paymaster General what representations he has received about shortages of skilled manpower in (a) manufacturing industry and (b) the chemical industry in particular; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I have not received any direct representations about the shortages of skilled manpower in the manufacturing and chemical industries.Current information on skill shortages indicates that overall there is no shortfall of skilled workers although there are shortages of workers with particular skills, especially those associated with the application of new technology. In the chemical industry in particular a recent survey conducted by the Confederation of British Industry and the Manpower Services Commission reported that only 2 per cent. of respondents expected that skill shortages would limit output over the next four months.However, the Government are very concerned that, in the long-term, shortages of skills do not become a barrier to increased output and to individuals' work opportunities, so that positive action is being taken to help alleviate them. A number of the Manpower Services Commission's adult training schemes are designed to address immediate skill needs by focusing directly on the needs of local employers, as well as action to increase the supply of skills in the longer term through two-year YTS, the non-advanced further education initiative and other adult training policies. Nevertheless, the Government remain convinced that training to meet skill needs is primarily the responsibility of industry itself and consistently urge employers to see that training is an investment rather than an overhead.

asked the Paymaster General when he intends to publish practical guidance notes on the late payment of bills to small firms.

A guidance booklet on payment of bills will be published on 20 May. It will give practical advice to purchasers and suppliers designed to ensure that bills are paid on time.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which of the recommendations of the Health and Safety Executive contained in its report entitled "The Contamination of the Beach Incident at British Nuclear Fuels plc, Sellafield, November 1983" published in February 1984, have been implemented fully by British Nuclear Fuels plc.

I am advised by the Health and Safety Executive that the recommendations in its report on the 1983 beach incident were that British Nuclear Fuels should revise operating instructions and carry out examinations, investigations and reviews as soon as practicable; and that this was done by BNF, which submitted findings to NII.Resulting from this, the need was identified for improved administrative arrangements and engineering modifications to be carried out by BNF. Some of these had to be carried out before the reprocessing plant was permitted to restart; others were to be implemented on a longer time-scale.Most of the latter requirements have been completed. Some work, including part of the refurbishing of the B211 complex, is still in progress. In addition, a third sea tank is under construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, when he next meets the chairman of the British Gas Corporation, he will raise with him the possibility of the corporation introducing free energy audits, coupled with interest-free loans for the installation of energy-saving measures; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1983, the British Gas Corporation has offered free basic home energy audits, on an experimental basis, in its south-eastern region; the public response has been minimal. My right hon. Friend welcomes the support which the corporation is giving to Energy Efficiency year, but has no plans to raise with the chairman the provision of interest-free loans to consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is prepared to recommend to private sector companies in the energy industry that they should adopt a policy similar to his own when faced with computer suppliers in the United Kingdom insisting on extraterritorial restraints; and if he will support such actions.

This is a matter for the industry, which will, however, no doubt take account of the Government's policy on extraterritoriality as confirmed in the answer which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 27 March 1986 at columns 556–7.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his policy on the acquisition for the use of his Department of computers and equipment supplied by companies which seek to impose extraterritorial United States controls on their United Kingdom staff or on non-Government United Kingdom customers or on United Kingdom exports; and if he will make a statement.