Cox asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the effect on tourism to Great Britain of the high value of the £ sterling.

A number of factors, including the strength of sterling, affect tourism to Great Britain, but it is not possible to isolate the effects of any one. Despite the strong pound and a world-wide recession, some 11¾ million overseas visitors came here during the first 11 months of 1980—virtually the same number as in the same period in 1979. This success is due in no small measure to the resilience and the determined efforts of our tourist industry, supported by the tourist boards, and of the British Tourist Authority in promoting Britain overseas as a prime tourist centre. I believe they are all to be warmly congratulated on the very important contribution they make to the economy in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress is being made towards a settlement of the dispute between 17 world airlines and the British Airports Authority and Her Majesty's Government in relation to landing charges.

A summons by the British Airports Authority for an injunction against the airlines for withholding full payment of their airport charges was heard in the Commercial Court last week. A decision is not expected before tomorrow. No date for the hearing of the main legal action has yet been fixed, but my right hon. Friend intends to defend vigorously the action which is being brought against him. His defence is being prepared and will be served shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give an estimate of the likely balance of trade with Japan in 1981.

The deficit on visible trade with Japan was £1,115 million in 1980, offset by some £200 million of invisible trade. No reliable estimate of the balance for 1981 can be made at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out in the Official Report his principles on consultation on consumer matters; if he will list the organisations with whom he has already consulted and the purpose of the consultation; and if he will make a statement.

I consult as widely as the subject matter demands or I am required by statute. On occasion I have gone beyond the requirements of statute and custom. In many cases several hundred organisations have been consulted and it is not therefore practicable to provide a meaningful list of those whom I have consulted on particular occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many representations he has received since taking office on illegal discounting of air fares.

Apart from questions in another place, we have received representations from my hon. Friend and from the Association of British Travel Agents. My noble Friend, Lord Trefgarne expects shortly to meet a delegation from the travel trade led by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has yet received written assurances from Mr. Rupert Murdoch that Times Newspapers will conform to the terms announced to the House on 27 January.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his statement of 27 January, Official Report, c. 787, if he is satisfied with the progress towards the entrenchment of the conditions he attached to his consent to Mr. Rupert Murdoch's proposed purchase of Times Newspapers.

Yes. I have approved alterations to the articles of association of the two companies concerned, which I am satisfied meet the conditions I attached to my consent to transfer of the two newspapers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will impose quota control upon imported textile goods in those cases where he is of the opinion that disruption to the textile industry is being caused.

As the hon. Member must be aware, the great majority of imports of textiles, and also clothing, from low-cost countries is already under control. Problems have recently also arisen on imports from the United States and in this case I was able to secure the unanimous agreement of the Council of Ministers of the European Communities in December last that a new and urgent initiative was needed. The Commission has already held its first discussions with the new United States Administration and is to report back to the Council of Ministers tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps are being taken to improve the training of Merchant Navy officers handling dangerous cargoes.

My Department has recently approved training courses drawn up by the Merchant Navy Training Board for officers serving on tankers carrying bulk cargoes of petroleum, liquid chemicals and liquefied gas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the prices that have been referred under section 13 of the Competition Act 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the prices that have been referred under section 13 of the Competition Act 1980.

No references have yet been made by my right hon. Friend under these powers. The very satisfactory fall in the rate of inflation and the extremely competitive atmosphere in trade and industry are obviating any need for such references and are greatly benefiting consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what reduction has been made in the number of civil servants in his Department since May 1979.

Between 1 May 1979 and 1 January 1981 there was a reduction of 514 staff in my department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of exports to South Africa from the United Kingdom in 1970, 1975 and 1980, respectively.

The information is as follows:

United Kingdom Exports to South Africa
	£ million fob
1970	337
1975	691
1980	1,002

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many Japanese cars were imported into the United Kingdom during each of the last four years; and what were the corresponding figures of exported cars to that country.

The information is as follows:

	United Kingdom Exports to Japan	(Numbers) United Kingdom Imports consigned from Japan
1977	164,023	2,172
1978	168,192	3,393
1979	198,975	3,128
1980	187,727	3,641

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how the productivity and manning levels of British Airways compare with their competitors.

Actual comparisons differ depending on what precisely is being measured but, in general, British Airways' performance in terms of manning levels and productivity compares unfavourably with that of a number of their international competitors.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he is now taking to ensure that Shipping Conference rates do not place British exporters at a disadvantage compared with their continental competitors.

The Government supports the conference's system because it has consistently provided regular and efficient services at stable and commercial rates benefiting shippers and shipowners alike. The setting of freight rates is of course a commercial matter, but, as my hon. Friend is aware, my Department is looking into a number of questions he has raised and we will be writing to him on these in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will provide figures for the exports of used machinery for the most recently available 12-month period.

This information is not available. The statistics of overseas trade enable imports and exports of used machinery to be identified only to a limited extent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress is being made in the implementation of current cost accounting; and whether he will make a statement.

A statement of Standard Accounting Practice on Current Cost Accounting (SSAP 16) was issued by the Accounting Standards Committee in March 1980, relating to accounting periods starting on or after 1 January 1980. The standard applies to the financial statements of listed and other large companies; smaller companies have also been encouraged to adopt CCA accounting methods on a voluntary basis.The development of the standard by the accountancy professions was undertaken with the full support of this and earlier Administrations, in the belief that accounts compiled on the historical cost basis cannot give all the information the compilers and users of company accounts would find desirable in reaching decisions. As my right hon. Friend the previous Secretary of State told the House on 31 March 1980, the Government welcome the standard and the progress it represents towards more realistic financial reporting.Progress in implementation must be primarily a matter for companies and their auditors. Accounts drawn up in accordance with the standard are only just beginning to become available, so it is too early accurately to assess progress in its implementation. My Department will be following developments with close interest. I am informed that the Accounting Standards Committee has made arrangements to monitor compliance with the standard and to identify any practical problems. The committee has also commenced work on the development of a system of reporting for value-based companies, such as investment trusts, property companies and insurance companies, which are at present outside the scope of the standard. The treatment of comparative figures and 5–10 year summaries is, I understand, also under review.Where appropriate, public sector organisations are being invited to prepare their annual reports in accordance with the standard.The position will be reviewed in the light of experience, although the standard has been introduced with the understanding that there will be no substantial change until 1983. I hope that all concerned will make the fullest use of this familiarisation period both to resolve any outstanding technical problems and to develop a habit of making practical use of current cost information in their decisions and in the assessment of company performance.Current cost accounting is permissible in the statutory accounts drawn up and filed under the Companies Acts. This will be continued under the Companies Bill which was introduced earlier this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in view of the implications for air safety, he will initiate studies into the cumulative effects of long hours and changes in time zones upon the fatigue and stress of flight deck crews flying the new generation of longdistance aircraft.

No. Air safety is the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority, who inform me that the matters referred to were taken fully into account in the studies which led to the formulation of the present requirements governing the avoidance of excessive fatigue in civil flight crews.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will press for the negotiation of a code relating to restrictive business practices within the general agreement on tariffs and trade.

A voluntary code known as "The Set of Multilaterally Agreed Equitable Principles and Rules for the Control of Restrictive Business Practices" was agreed by a United Nations conference last year and adopted by the General Assembly in December. I see no need to press for a code to cover the same ground within the GATT.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if the further meeting of the European Community Council working party of officials, including representatives of his Department, on the drafting of a new proposed directive to promote the mobility of hairdressers and the mutual recognition of qualifications within the enlarged Community, originally envisaged for the autumn of 1980, took place; and if he will make a statement.

The meeting has not taken place.I understand the EC Commission is still engaged on the drafting of fresh proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how the level of retail sales in 1980 compared with previous years.

For 1980 as a whole, the volume of retail sales was just over ½ per cent. above the 1979 level. The volumes of retail sales over the last four years are as follows:

(Index numbers, 1976=100)
1977	98·3
1978	103·8
1979	108·6
1980	109·3

These figures were published in

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the dispute between the National Union of Seamen and the General Council for British Shipping.

This dispute is now the subject of arbitration. I regret the damage it has caused to the shipping industry and its future job opportunities. It is now for all parties in the shipping industry to strive to maintain its international competitiveness.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the working of the Fair Trading Act 1973 in relation to newspaper mergers.

Yes, although such matters might be the subject of a review if and when appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of recent discussions on EEC-Japan trade.

The Commission is reporting tomorrow to the Foreign Affairs Council, which I shall attend. My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal will inform the House about the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what method of marking country of origin he proposes to specify for cutlery and silverware.

The requirements are specified in detail in the order which I laid before Parliament on 4 February. Cutlery, like the other goods to which it applies, will have to bear a clear and conspicuous indication of origin at the point of retail supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received concerning the position of the clothing industry in relation to legislation on origin marking.

I have received representations from a number of trade associations and individual firms, as well as from the Derby group, which has expressed its full support for new origin marking requirements on behalf of the textile and clothing industry as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he anticipates he will receive from the Spanish authorities the report on the Tenerife air disaster.

On 30 January 1981 the accidents investigation branch of my Department received a telegram from the Spanish authorities stating that the text of the report on the Tenerife accident would shortly be available. This document has not yet arrived.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list those opportunities in the field of public sector purchasing which were lost during the period of the textile dispute with Indonesia; and what estimate he has made of the total value.

No reliable, comprehensive list can be compiled of opportunities which were lost to British exporters during the period of the textile dispute. I understand, however, that companies competing for contracts in the process plant, aerospace and scientific instruments sectors were affected. The important point for exporters, however, is that trading between Indonesia and the United Kingdom is now continuing normally.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has made to British Airways and Air France asking them to ensure that Concorde reverts to subsonic speed by the time it overflies North Devon.

No such representations have been necessary. Present operational procedures ensure that Concorde reverts to subsonic speed well before it reaches land. I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the answers I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will consult the British Insurance Association and the insurance industry over the state of the law relating to damages for death.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and I will certainly take note of the views of the insurance industry on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report the measures taken in the last two years to extend the application of metrification.

The following measures have been taken since the present Government came to office:The Weights and Measures Act 1963 (Milk) Order 1979 implemented Council directive 75/106/EEC to allow prepacked milk to be sold in prescribed metric quantities, in addition to customary imperial sizes.The Weights and Measures Act 1963 (Solid Fuel) Order 1979 extended the existing metric range of prescribed sizes in which solid fuel may be made up in containers.The Units of Measurement Regulations 1980 (as amended) defined and authorised metric units to be used for economic, health, safety and administrative purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received about Government policy on trading links with South Africa.

None recently.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the balance of trade in textile goods for 1980 and 1981 to the most recent practicable date.

In 1980 the crude deficit—exports valued fob minus imports cif—in trade in textile goods^* was £447 million. No information for 1981 is at present available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of integration of Greece into the European Economic Community; what safeguards exist for the United Kingdom textile and clothing industry; and what action he proposes to take if disruption takes place.

The Government welcomed Greece's accession to the European Community on 1 January this year. The Treaty of Accession includes provision for a general transitional period lasting five years. During that transitional period any member State may, under article 130 of the Treaty, apply to the Commission for protective measures to be taken should exports from Greece in any particular sector, including textiles and clothing, cause serious and persistent economic difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce legislation to provide for the United Kingdom Government to take action, independently of the European Economic Commission, against textile goods which, in the opinion of the Minister, are being dumped in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

No. Unilateral anti-dumping action would be contrary to our Treaty obligations to the European Community. Responsibility for taking antidumping action rests with the European Commission and we shall continue to press for speedy and effective remedies to be applied by the Commission in appropriate cases. We shall also continue to press for the Commission's anti-dumping staff to be strengthened, which we believe to be an urgent and necessary improvement. In the case of textile goods, however, virtually all imports from low cost countries are subject to the multi-fibre arrangement and are better dealt with under its provisions than by means of anti-dumping action.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what mandate the Government are considering for the multi-fibre arrangement; whether the mandate is to be more or less restrictive than present arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are consulting widely about the specific provisions it will be seeking in any successor to the current multi-fibre arrangement. In general, the Government believes an effective successor arrangement will be necessary and we propose to negotiate, through the Community and the GATT, the best possible deal we can obtain taking account of British interests as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, since September 1980, he has been advised by either Air France or British Airways, in their Concorde operations of any factors that have increased the levels of noise emission and shock waves near land to a point equal to, or in excess of, approved levels; what those levels are; and how they are monitored.

I have not been advised by British Airways or Air France of any factors affecting Concorde operations that would increase levels of emission of noise or shock waves. There are no approved levels of such emissions and they are not formally monitored, but regular reports are received from observers in South West England on the effects of Concorde operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, since September 1980, his Department has been advised by either Air France or British Airways of any changed route characteristics in the approach to South West England involving height, deceleration point, or the continuation of supersonic flight to a point nearer the Isles of Scilly.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if his Department will monitor the sonic boom phenomenon currently affecting the South West of England, to see if Concorde routes can be further amended to reduce grounds for public concern and complaint.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave his question on 13 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many complaints have reached his Department since September 1980 regarding the presence of Concorde over the South West of England; and if he will give the numbers of complaints over the comparable periods of the winters of 1979–80, 1978–79 and 1977–78.

Although Concorde does not overfly the South West of England supersonically that part of the country is affected by secondary sonic booms resulting from the aircraft's supersonic flight when approaching the United Kingdom. Since September 1980 there have been 118 complaints from South West England about these booms; the numbers of complaints in the comparable periods of 1979–80, 1978–79 and 1977–78 were 62, 246 and 293 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to discuss with the United Kingdom insurance companies the possibility of including damage allegedly caused by sonic booms within normal insurance schedules for domestic property.

My Department has already discussed this with bodies representing the United Kingdom insurance companies who, for a number of reasons, feel that the inclusion of damage allegedly caused by sonic booms within normal domestic insurance policies would not be justified. As this is a matter for commercial judgment I must accept their decision. However, there is no evidence that the intensity of secondary sonic booms which may be heard in some parts of the United Kingdom is sufficient to cause damage to domestic property which is in good repair.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many tumble driers originating from Australia have been imported into the United Kingdom during the last year;(2) how many tumble driers have been exported to Australia during the last 12 months.

One non-centrifugal textile dryer was exported to Australia from the United Kingdom in 1980. 496 non-centrifugal clothes dryers of Australian origin were imported into the United Kingdom from Australia in the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list, by value, the exports from the United Kingdom to Australia and the imports from Australia into the United Kingdom of the following electrical white goods: air conditioning machinery, food freezers, combined freezer and refrigerators, domestic refrigerators, domestic electric cookers, electrically operated washing machines and domestic tumble driers, for the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

The available information is as follows:

Value of Trade with Australia in Selected Equipment, 1980
(£ thousand)
	U.K. Imports c.i.f.	U.K. Exports f.o.b.
Air conditioning machinery	21	200
Deep freezers (domestic)	—	34
Electrical freezer—refrigerators (domestic)	—	4
Electrical refrigerators (domestic)	0	158
Electric cookers (domestic) (including microwave ovens)	—	1
Electrically operated washing machines (domestic)	—	—
Clothes drying machines (non-centrifugal)	29	—

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to secure a reduction in imports of electrical white goods from Australia having regard to the circumstances which these goods enjoy preferential tariffs of between 4·8 per cent. and 7 per cent. against the import duty tariffs imposed by Australia of at least 25 per cent. upon similar goods manufactured in the United Kingdom.

In recent years imports of electrical white goods from Australia have been very small. I see no case for action in relation to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the nature and extent of restrictions placed on Anglo-Soviet trade following the invasion of Afghanistan, other than the cessation of regular ministerial trade talks; and if any of these are still operative.

The House was informed by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal, on 24 January 1980—[Vol. 977, c. 658]—of the measures taken by the Government in respect of trade credit, tightening controls on the transfer of sensitive technology, and food exports. These measures remain in force. Discussions with Soviet representatives will take place as necessary to carry out the Government's policy that trade should be pursued on a basis of mutual advantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from the textile and clothing industries regarding the multi-fibre arrangement; and if he will list the items considered to be most sensitive by (a) the industry and (b) his Department.

I have received a great many representations from the textile and clothing industries both about the present multi-fibre arrangement and the negotiations for a successor arrangement. I have also received representations from bodies representing the interests of importers, retailers, consumers and the developing countries. Many of these bodies have listed points they wish the Government to take into account in the negotiation of a new multi-fibre arrangement, but without, in general, assigning specific priorities. My Department is currently considering all these submissions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects to publish the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the Severn-Trent water authority.

The Commission has until 8 April to complete this report. Arrangements will be made to publish it within a few weeks of receipt.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make an assessment of the cost of the dispute between the shipowners and the National Union of Seamen.

The total cost of the dispute is not available and cannot be assessed with accuracy or without disproportionate effort. There have been major losses to shipowners, in terms of both current revenue and new trading opportunities. There will be consequences through loss of ships to the United Kingdom register, with fewer job opportunities for seamen. There is also a cost to other sectors of the economy which is difficult to quantify.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the figures for firework injuries in November 1980; and how they compare with the previous two years' figures.

I am pleased to announce that following an even more extensive publicity campaign by my Department in 1980 the figures for firework injuries in Great Britain fell once again and are the lowest ever recorded.In 1978, 953 persons required hospital treatment; in 1979 there were 745 and in 1980 the number fell to 555.The number of more serious injuries fell by about 12 per cent. and minor injuries by 29 per cent. Injuries to children under 13 fell by almost a quarter.It is worth noting that following an agreement with the manufacturers to reduce the explosive content in bangers, the number of injuries caused by bangers fell by nearly 30 per cent. The number of street incidents also fell significantly.The detailed breakdown of the figures is as follows:

Firework Injuries in England and Wales (4 week period in October-November)
	Year
	1980	1979	1978	1977	1976
Place of accident
1. Family or private party	163	233	345	272	273
2. Semi-public party (e.g. Scouts, cricket club)	47
3. Large public display	90	128	164	138	161
4. Casual incident in street etc.	177	277	336	248	154
5. Other place	31	49	49	51	75
6. Indoors*	17	18	18	—	—
Total	525	715	912	709	663
Type of firework
1. Banger	125	183	210	174	153
2. Rocket	64	64	111	82	85
3. Roman candle, coloured lire etc.	79	118	153	111	89
4. Home-made or extracted powder	18	33	39	18	17
5. Other proprietary fireworks	45	64	103	90	119
of which: 5.1 Flyabout†	—	—	—	14	14
6. Sparklers‡	30	47	70	65	72
7. Unspecified type	164	206	226	234	200
Severity of injury
1. Fatal injury	—	—	—	1	—
2. Detained more than one night	44	47	62	65	47
3. Sufficient to cause absence from work or equivalent	80	91	117	88	112
4. Minor injury	380	545	694	523	473
5. Unspecified injury	21	32	39	32	31
Eye injuries (included in 2–5)	247	303	350	268	300
Age group of injured persons Over 20	94	139	161	141	126
16–20	65	78	68	38	47
13–15	140	203	216	185	143
Under 13	226	294	467	345	347
* Included in 'other place' prior to 1978.
† Included in other proprietary fireworks from 1978.
‡ Included in other proprietary fireworks prior to 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many anti-dumping applications from (a) all sources and (b) textiles, clothing and footwear are currently before the EEC.

Fifteen anti-dumping complaints are currently under formal investigation by the European Commission. Two of these relate to textile products. There are no current cases involving clothing or footwear. A number of other complaints, some of which may result in formal investigations being undertaken, are at varying stages of preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what period of time anti-dumping applications in clothing, textile and footwear products are taking with the European Commission; and what representations he is making to shorten the period.

In 1980 two anti-dumping cases involving textile products were completed. These concerned acrylic fibre from the United States and Japan and polyester yarn from the United States. Provisional duties were imposed against the United States six and three months respectively after formal opening of the investigations. The provisional duties were made definitive for acrylic fibre after a further five months and for polyester yarn after a further four months, and price undertakings were accepted from Japanese suppliers. No investigations have been undertaken recently involving clothing or footwear.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what further study he has made of the working party recommendations for reinforcing advertising controls; if, in the light of the report, he will now take steps to introduce further statutory provisions in this area; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to her reply, 13 February 1981, c. 448,]: We are considering the recommendations of the working party and will announce our conclusions in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what study he has made of the European Economic Community draft directive on misleading and unfair advertising; and if he will take steps to set up a body with adequate consumer representation to monitor advertising standards.

[pursuant to her reply, 13 February 1981, c. 448]: The Advertising Standards Authority and the Independent Broadcasting Authority already monitor advertising standards, with adequate arrangements for consumer representation. We shall be working for agreement on a Community directive compatible with these and other essential features of our regulatory system.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement following the recent ministerial visit to the famine-stricken areas of Karamoja.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State visited Karamoja on 1 February during his visit to Uganda. He was deeply impressed by the work of the British and other voluntary agencies, whose efforts played a signal part in helping overcome last year's famine in Karamoja. The volunteers have been working in difficult, often harrowing, conditions. The generous contributions made by the British public in response to the Karamoja appeal are being put to excellent use.My hon. Friend concluded that there was no immediate famine in Karamoja, but serious and widespread malnutrition. The situation remains very delicately balanced, and it is particularly important that the hoped-for rains arrive soon and a new crop planted. We are keeping in close contact with the voluntary agencies and others involved in providing relief, and have recently provided the Save the Children Fund with £160,000 to enable it to transport food to the affected areas.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is his estimate of the number of Zimbabwean students who will be studying in the United Kingdom in 1981–82 with the assistance of funds from his Department.

1,861 Zimbabwean students are now on courses in this country with financial support from my Department; 1,308 will complete their courses by next summer and the remaining 553 will continue into the 1981–82 academic year. Further nominations from the Zimbabwe Government are expected for new awards beginning at the start of the 1981–82 academic year.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what were the total amounts spent by Her Majesty's Government on overseas educational projects in the years 1979 and 1980.

Expenditure on capital projects in the field of education in developing countries in 1979 was £4·22 million.The main concentration of British aid to education however is in the field of personnel. The financial costs are not readily available, but in 1979 the numbers financed were:

asked the Lord Privy Seal further to his reply to the hon. Member for Aberdare, Official Report, 19 January, c. 5, what recent contributions have been made by Her Majesty's Government to international action designed to help the developing countries and to participation in international discussion of North-South issues.

We participate almost continuously in discussion of North-South issues in the United Nations and elsewhere. In the IMF we have recently supported increased quotas and other measures helpful to developing countries. Contributions from our aid programme are usually announced as they are made. A current example is support for relief work in Karamoja.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many job descriptions for consultant posts in obstetrics and gynaecology included a commitment to terminate pregnancies in the years 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980; what was the total number of consultant appointments in obstetrics and gynaecology for each of these years; and in which health boards the requirement to terminate pregnancies was included in the job description.

The number of consultant appointments in Scotland in obstetrics and gynaecology is set out in the table below. The further information requested is not available centrally.

Year ending September 30	No. of consultants appointed
1977	11
1978	3
1979	5
1980	7

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities exist within his Department for the evaluation of overseas educational projects; and whether any individual has direct responsibility for such evaluation.

My Department is not responsible for the evaluation of such projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total amounts of funding given by the Scottish Education Department to overseas educational projects in the years 1979 and 1980.

The Scottish Education Department does not provide funds for overseas education projects. When professional advice is given to overseas countries, the cost is met by the country concerned, by an international development agency, or by the Overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will list in the Official Report the total amount of money spent by Scottish educational establishments on overseas education projects in 1979 and 1980.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many schemes there are under construction by housing associations to assist the housing of mentally and physically-handicapped persons in Scotland; and how many extra homes are likely to be provided this year by such sponsoring bodies.

I understand from the Scottish office of the Housing Corporation that there are at present two schemes under construction by housing associations to assist the housing of mentally and physically-handicapped persons in Scotland. These schemes will provide 43 houses for physically-disabled persons and hostel accommodation for 15 mentally-handicapped persons.In addition, housing associations have 23 schemes at various stages which will provide 107 houses for physically-disabled persons, and houses and hostel accommodation for 233 mentally-handicapped persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Housing Corporation in Scotland is taking to give special attention to projects by housing associations for housing the mentally and physically handicapped.

The provision of specialised accommodation for mentally and physically-handicapped persons has for some time been a priority in the Housing Corporation's strategy. In particular, housing associations are being encouraged to provide wheelchair accommodation for disabled people, not only by way of new building but also on the ground floor of rehabilitated tenement property.The chairman of the Scottish committee of the Housing Corporation would be happy to provide the hon. Member with any further information he may require.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish transport group about the Lothian regional council's plans to provide a subsidy to reduce bus fares; and if he will make a statement.

The group advised me that proposals put to it by the regional council to increase substantially the level of bus support payments would imply a change in the group's external finance limit for 1981–82. I informed the group on 10 February that I was not prepared to consider an increase in the external finance limit to accommodate Lothian regional council's proposals, which run directly counter to the Government's request to local authorities to moderate their current expenditure in 1981–82 in the national interest.The group's external finance limit already allows for an increase in the level of support provided by local authorities, and I do not regard it as unreasonable to ask the group and local authorities to discuss support arrangements within that framework.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm workers there were in Scotland in each of the last three years; and how many of them were dairymen.

The numbers of workers on all farms recorded at the last three June agricultural censuses were as follows:

1978	1979	1980
41,505	41,195	40,602

It is not known how many of these were dairymen, but the number of full-time adult male dairy workers classified as specialists in terms of minimum wages legislation is estimated to have been of the order of 1,600 in recent years.The total numbers of workers on dairy farms at the June censuses have fallen as follows: reflecting a reduction in the number of dairy farms as the average size of dairy herd has increased:

1978	1979	1980
8,457	8,038	7,494

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of local government personnel in Scotland in 1978 and 1980 and the total cost in salaries and wages in each case.

At March 1978 the number of local goverment personnel in terms of full time equivalents was 245,593^* and at March 1980 the comparable figure was 258,706†. The total cost to local authorities in salaries and wages in the financial year 1911–78 was £1,027·6 million and in 1979–80 £1,392·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what level the television licence fee was introduced; and what level the fee would now have to be to maintain the same value in real terms.

Television licence fees were introduced at £2 for monochrome in 1946 and £10 for colour in 1968. When revalued by the general index of retail prices these figures become £19 and £43 respectively in December 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prison labour is employed (a) in the domestic services and (b) by the farms and garden group of the Directorate of Industries and Farms.

Of the total inmate population on 30 June 1980, when the annual census was last taken, 22 per cent. were employed on domestic services and 7 per cent. on farms and gardens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average working week of a prisoner under normal circumstances; and what was the average working week of a prisoner during the recent industrial action by the Prison Officers' Association.

Workshops were open for an average of 22½ hours a week immediately before the industrial action; the average had fallen in December to 6½ hours a week. Hours of work on farms and gardens and other activities in December were greater than those in workshops, but no precise figures are readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average earnings of (a) prisoners doing non-industrial work on a flat rate, (b) prisoners doing industrial work on piece rate and (c) prisoners working under the special incentive pay scheme; to how many prisoners the scheme applies; in which prisons it is available; and which industries are eligible for incentive wages.

(a) 141p per week; (b) 183p per week; and (c) 269p per week. Some 2,250 prisoners are being paid under the higher incentive scheme in workshops at the following establishments:

• Albany
• Appleton Thorn
• Cardiff
• Coldingley
• Gartree
• Haverigg
• Hull
• Kirkham
• Long Lartin
• Northallerton
• Preston
• Rudgate
• Standford Hill
• Sudbury
• Swansea
• Verne

The "higher incentive" scheme is gradually being replaced by the "modified piecework" scheme, irrespective of the nature of the industry, where the working hours and resources are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much is spent on civil defence by each county council in England and Wales.

Following are unaudited figures of net civil defence expenditure by county councils in 1979–80:

	£
English counties
Avon	42,547
Bedfordshire	35,402
Berkshire	29,189
Buckinghamshire	43,101
Cambridgeshire	55,626
Cheshire	65,831
Cleveland	51,488
Cornwall	32,060
Cumbria	92,576
Derbyshire	43,646
Devon	90,504
Dorset	39,004
Durham	40,348
East Sussex	49,830
Essex	40,486

	£
Gloucestershire	60,834
Greater London	337,762
Greater Mancheste	41,405
Hampshire	51,044
Hereford and Worcester	45,069
Hertfordshire	41,907
Humberside	73,317
Isle of Wight	22,431
Kent	68,712
Lancashire	54,277
Leicestershire	58,988
Lincolnshire	49,211
Merseyside	75,829
Norfolk	40,892
Northamptonshire	42,299
Northumberland	64,158
North Yorkshire	51,788
Nottinghamshire	63,095
Oxfordshire	34,974
Salop	30,260
Somerset	64,142
South Yorkshire	45,439
Staffordshire	63,839
Suffolk	47,453
Surrey	68,651
Tyne and Wear	41,617
Warwickshire	42,235
West Midlands	157,464
West Sussex	40,694
West Yorkshire	62,540
Wiltshire	75,496
Welsh counties
Clwyd	35,972
Dyfed	40,975
Gwent	44,146
Gwynedd	19,019
Mid-Glamorgan	36,476
Powys	18,736
South Glamorgan	60,917
West Glamorgan	44,548
Rounded total =	3,074,249

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responses he has received to draft ES circular 1/1981 addressed to county and district councils.

The circular has been sent in draft to local authority associations and the GLC, and their comments are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals have been lodged to the immigration tribunal against decisions to make deportation orders under section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971 during each of the last six years; and how many such appeals have been allowed, dismissed, or withdrawn.

I regret that the information for the years 1975 to 1978 is not readily available. The information for 1979 and for the first six months of 1980, which is the latest period for which complete figures are available, is as follows:

	Total	Allowed	Dismissed	Withdrawn
1979	60	6	40	14
1980 (January-June)	33	8	16	9

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of persons against whom deportation orders have been made under section 3(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1971 during November and December 1980.

Nine such orders were made in November and 12 in December 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of persons against whom it has been decided to make deportation orders under section 3 (5) (b) of the Immigration Act 1971 during each of the last six years.

The number of notices of intention to deport under section 3(5)(b) issued were as follows:

	Number
1975	46
1976	59
1977	53
1978	56
1979	98
1980	66

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in the light of the statement made by the Director of Public Prosecutions on 6 February of the need for an adjustment of the present system of complaints against the police being investigated by the police, he will review the present procedure.

I have recently received the report of the working party that I set up, under Lord Plowden's chairmanship, to consider how the recommendation in the first triennial review report of the Police Complaints Board for an independent element in the investigation of complaints against the police might be implemented. In the light of those reports I shall be considering further, in consultation with the Police Advisory Board, what changes, if any, may be necessary in the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the licensing of premises where space invader machines are installed; and whether he has any proposals to require such licensing.

I have received no representations about the licensing of premises where such machines are installed. I have no present plans to extend the licensing arrangements in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend section 1(1)(a) of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 to insert the words "or cause it any distress" immediately after the words "terrify any animal".

My right hon. Friend has no plans to amend the Act in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is yet in a position to give details of the planned investigations into extremist and racist organisations;(2) when he intends to start discussions with chief constables about the possibility of setting up special police investigation units into racism.

My officials are examining the ways in which this study can best be taken forward and are already in touch with chief officers of police. I intend to gather a wide range of views on the issues involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 17 December, if he has yet finished his consideration of changes in the guidance issued to prison staff about suicides and attempted suicides; and if he will make a statement.

The work is not yet complete.

asked the Prime Minister what undertakings were given by members of Her Majesty's Government on taking office to maintain the integrity of the United Kingdom and to serve the Crown in Parliament.

The official oaths of allegiance.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state, following her reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill, on 10 February, Official Report, column 738, her reasons for refusing to meet a delegation of employees from Tate and Lyle sugar refinery in Liverpool.

Delegations on departmental matters should be received by the appropriate Minister, in this case my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food He is keeping me in touch with his discussions.

asked the Prime Minister when she expects to publish Lord Diplock's report on telephone tapping.

Shortly.

asked the Prime Minister what reduction there has been in the total numbers of local government employees in the United Kingdom; and if she is satisfied that sufficient progress is being made to implement the policy of Her Majesty's Government to reduce the levels of local government staff.

The latest available figures are as follows:

		September 1979– September 1980 Per cent.*
England	–32,578	–1·7
Wales	–3,846	–3·0
Scotland	+2,170	+0·8
		March 1979– March 1980 Per cent.
Northern Ireland	–191	–2·3

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether, in the light of the representations already made by him to the Government of El Salvador, referred to in his reply to the questions of the hon. Members for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley) and for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) on 15 December, he will express concern to the diplomatic representative of the Republic of El Salvador at the kidnapping of a number of teachers of the National university in San Salvador on Tuesday 10 February.

I will take the opportunity of my meeting with representatives of the Salvadorean Government on 26 February to raise the matter with them.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list in the Official Report the bodies which have made representation against the recent proposed increases in public bus fares in Hong Kong.

[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1981, c. 424]: The following organisations have submitted petitions to the Hong Kong Government or to the Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils:

1. Hong Kong Overseas Chinese United Society

2. Joint Committee Against Bus Fare Increase of Chi Mo Groups in Tuen Mun Area

3. New Territories Commercial and Industrial General Association Limited

4. Hong Kong Kowloon Trades Union Council

5. North Point Kaifong Welfare Advancement Association

6. Joint Committee of Catholic Organisations, including:

(a)Hong Kong Catholic Youth Council

(b)Hong Kong Federation of Catholic Students

(c)Ngua Tau Kok Christ the Worker Parish Justice and Peace Group

(d)Mother of Good Counsel Parish Social Service Commission

(e)Kung Kao Po Workers' Page

(f)Catholic Graduates' Association

(g) Hong Kong Joyful Vanguard Movement

(h) Mater Dei Wria

(i) Hong Kong Catholic Nurses' Guild

7.Hong Kong Polytechnic Students' Union

8.Tai Wor Hau Residents' Association

9. Tai Wor Hau Youth Centre of the Salvation Army

10.Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions

11. The Methodist Church, Hong Kong (Methodist Epworth Village Community Centre, Social Welfare Department)

12. Industrial Evangelist Fellowship

13. Hong Kong Chinese Literative Institute (submission by six members)

14.Hong Kong Central Council of Catholic Laity (claims over 100 member organisations)

15. Joint Committee to oppose Bus Fare Increases: initially comprised the following organisations:

(a) Hong Kong Christian Council

(b) Hong Kong Methodist Church Social Concern Commission

(c) Breakthrough Magazine

(d) Hong Kong Social Workers' General Union

(e) Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union

(f) Society for Community Organisation

(g) Hong Kong Association for the Blind

(h) Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee

(i) Faculty and Students of Chung Chi College Theological Unit

• This group now also includes a large number of fringe committees, such as mutual aid committees, which have added support to the joint committee.

16. New Territories General Chamber of Commerce

17. Group and Community Work Services Unit, Caritas, Hong Kong

18. Kwun Tong District Joint Committe Against Bus Fares Increases

19. Hong Kong Federation of Students

20. Social Policy Action Centre

21. Hong Kong Baptist College Students' Union

22. Hong Kong Students' Union Christian Fellowship.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, following the announcement by the French Government of the intention to manufacture Carbyrol, he will seek to hold discussions with motor manufacturers, producers of synthetic fuels, and the Commission of the European Economic Community with a view to establishing compatible and interchangeable standards for fuels and vehicle internal combustion engines within the European Economic Community and wider afield; and if he will make a statement.

International standards for the alcohol content of petrol are under discussion in the European Economic Community. The motor and oil industries are represented in these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards a Community approach to the establishment of an oil bank against which member countries could draw in times of economic difficulties.

Oil sharing agreements to take effect in the event of a severe oil supply shortfall already exist within the Community and International Energy Agency. The establishment of an oil bank is one of a number of ideas recently put forward to alleviate the problems that may arise from a less severe shortfall. We are studying them with interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assumptions he has made in arriving at the estimated tax yields for the proposed new gas levy of £130 million in 1980–81, £420 million in 1981–82 and £750 million in 1982–83.

The estimated yield of the proposed gas levy takes into account the British Gas Corporation's forecasts of purchases of gas liable to the levy and the rates of the levy proposed in the Gas Levy Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether it is his intention that the levy proposed under the Gas Levy Bill will be imposed on gas ultimately used as a petrochemical feedstock.

It is proposed that the levy will be imposed on gas purchased under particular contracts as defined in the Gas Levy Bill, irrespective of the end use of the gas.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will consider using the proceeds of the levy proposed under the Gas Levy Bill for (a) research and development of alternative fuels or (b) to diminish the high rates imposed on industries where the cost of gas is a high percentage of total costs, to permit them to compete more effectively with Continental manufacturers.

No. Public revenues are not hypothecated to particular purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why the levy proposed to be imposed under the Gas Levy Bill is to be paid to the Secretary of State under clause 3, and not direct to the Treasury, which is the ultimate recipient under clause 6.

It is normal for public revenues to be collected by the appropriate Government Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of its financial character, he will seek to withdraw the Gas Levy Bill with a view to including the provisions in the forthcoming Finance Bill.

No. It is not uncommon to introduce a new income-raising measure by means of a Bill for the particular purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many privately owned coal mines are currently in operation; how this compares with the position 12 months earlier; how many applications for licences to mine have been granted in the last five years; how many have been turned down; and what proposals he has to relax the licensing procedure.

Under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946 it is for the National Coal Board to grant licences for operating private mines. I have therefore asked the chairman of the board to write to my hon. Friend to answer to the statistical part of his question. As regards licensing policy, I have this at present under review with the board.