asked Her Majesty's Goverment:Whether they intend to introduce any measures to restrict and register the sale of crossbows, bearing in mind the lethal qualities of those weapons, and the recent cases of gross cruelty brought about by their misuse.

My right honourable friend is not at present persuaded that the introduction of controls over crossbows would justify the additional workload that would be created for the police. He is continuing to keep the matter under review.

Cross asked Her Majesty's Government:What would be the approximate cost to the Revenue of raising the starting threshold for income tax to

If all the main personal allowances—that is, the married man's allowance, single and wife's earned income allowance, and the aged married and single allowances —were increased to the level specified, the approximate costs in a full year at 1982–83 income levels would be:

(a)Average manual earnings… … £25 billion

(b)average manual earnings… £17 billion

The average earnings of full-time adult male manual workers in 1982-83 are broadly estimated to be some £140 per week.The costs given cannot directly be compared with the estimated yield of income tax for 1982-83 as they are on accruals basis while the yield figures are on a a receipts basis.

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they will update the information about the United Kingdom subvention to Northern Ireland as stated in the Written Answer on 28th July 1981 (HI. Debates, Vol. 423, No. 127, col. 748).

The revised figures for the subvention from the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland for 1980-81 and the provisional figures for 1981–82 are as follows:

£ million 1980–1981 revised outturn
£ million 1981–1982 revised outturn
Grant in Aid under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973	640	585
Expenditure by Northern Ireland office	304	341
Expenditure by Northern Ireland Courts Service	5	5
Expenditure by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheris and Fod	42	34
Contribution from the Great Britain National Insurance Fund	99	96
Total subvention	1,090	1,061

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they intend implementing the Reservoirs Act 1975 and what timetable is envisaged.

Reservoir safety is currently dealt with under the Reservoir (Safety Provisions) Act 1930. Departments have recently written to all local authorities reminding them of their powers and responsibilities under this Act and asking them to report as to whether the 1930 Act requirements on the documentation of construction, adequate maintenance and inspection of the reservoirs in their areas are fulfilled. Further action on reservoir safety, which includes possible implementation of the 1975 Act, will be considered in the light of the replies.House adjourned at two minutes past eight o'clock.