Written Answers
Harmondsworth Centre: Commonwealth Detainees
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many citizens of Canada, Australia and New Zealand respectively were detained at Harmonds-worth detention centre in 1980, and for each of these groups, how many were detained for longer than seven days.
Eight citizens of Canada, 12 of Australia and four of New Zealand were detained at Harmondsworth during 1980. None was detained longer than seven days.
Hm Customs And Excise: Limitation On Seizure Of Imported Goods
asked Her Majesty's Government:What limitations are applied to the right of HM Customs and Excise to take away property from private individuals after it has been brought into the United Kingdom.
The circumstances in which imported goods may be seized are prescribed by statute, as is the obligation on the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to institute civil proceedings if a claim against forfeiture is made.
North Sea Oil: Tax Revenue
asked Her Majesty's Government:What estimates they make of the tax revenue from North Sea oil for the years 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85 at present tax rates.
The most recent published estimates are those in the Treasury's July 1980 Economic Progress Report. These are:
| £ billion at 1978–79 Prices | |
| 1980–81 | 2¾ |
| 1981–82 | 3¼ |
| 1982–83 | 4¾ |
| 1983–84 | 4¾ |
Political Activities Of Civil Servants: Armitage Committee Report
to ask Her Majesty's Government:Whether they are prepared to initiate parliamentary debate on the Report of the Armitage Committee on the Political Activities of Civil Servants (Cmnd. 7057); and, if so, when.
The Government have the recommendations of the report of the Committee on Political Activities of Civil Servants under consideration. There are no plans at this stage to initiate a parliamentary debate.
The Armed Services: Training Staff
asked Her Majesty's Government:How many officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks are serving as staff or support in training and educational establishments for each of the three armed Services, and what were the corresponding numbers in 1960 and 1970.
The following table shows the estimated figures for the financial year 1980–81 and the corresponding numbers for 1970–71. The numbers for 1960 are not available.
| 1970–71 | 1980–81 | |
| Royal Navy: | ||
| Officers | 2,000 | 1,751 |
| Other Ranks/Rates(1) | 11,129 | 10,554 |
| Army: | ||
| Officers | 2,277 | 2,189 |
| Other Ranks(1) | 10,199 | 9,491 |
| Royal Air Force: | ||
| Officers | 2,147 | 1,372 |
| Other Ranks(2) | 8,449 | 6,495 |
| Service Colleges:(1) | ||
| Officers | 928 | 716 |
| Other Ranks/Rate(1) | 1,792 | 1,113 |
| (1) A breakdown as between NCOs and more junior ranks is not readily available. | ||
| (2) These figures cannot readily be apportioned among the individual Services. | ||