asked the Secretary of State for Employment what financial contributions have been made by his Department to the pathway scheme.

My Department makes no direct financial contribution to this scheme, although the Manpower Services Commission's disablement resettlement officers work closely with pathway employment officers and the commission's job introduction scheme is available to help fund placements wherever appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he plans to take to increase the availability of skills in British industry.

We are already spending over £300 million on the training for skills programme and the training opportunities scheme and are considering urgently how best to implement the proposals in the document "A New Training Initiative".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation for compulsory secret ballot on all strike decisions.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce the Government's proposals for further legislation on industrial relations shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek an accord with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress on a new programme of industrial training.

Proposals for a new training initiative were published in May with the full backing of the Manpower Services Commission. I am now awaiting a report from the commission on the results of consultations it has had, including the position of the TUC and the CBI.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage of male unemployment in Cornwall; and if he will list those counties that have a higher percentage.

At 8 October, the male unemployment rate in Cornwall was 17·2 per cent. The percentage rate was higher in the following counties:

• West Midlands
• Shropshire
• Humberside
• Merseyside
• Tyne and Wear Cleveland
• Durham
• Clwyd
• Gwent
• Gwynedd
• Mid-Glamorgan
• South Glamorgan
• West Glamorgan
• Strathclyde
• Western Isles

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many divers are employed on the United Kingdom continental shelf; and how many of these are foreign divers.

The requested information is not available.

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

Wages councils exist in certain trades and industries where there is no adequate machinery to negotiate wages. They are independent, trade-based bodies with powers under the Wages Councils Act 1979 to set statutory minimum rates of pay, holiday entitlement and certain other conditions. The operation of the Wages Councils Act is kept under constant review. There are no plans at present to amend the Act, but my right hon. Friend is taking a number of steps to streamline the system within the existing legislation and is willing to consider abolition of particular councils or reductions in scope where statutory protection is no longer needed because of the development of collective bargaining. He is also prepared to amalgamate councils where appropriate, and on 9 June last laid an order before the House which merged seven of the clothing councils into one from 20 July.

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

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

The job release scheme was extended on 1 November to men aged 63. Applications for the scheme are being received at a rate of about 1,000 a week. In September, 50,868 people were receiving payments under the job release scheme. There will be a further extension in February 1982, when men aged 62 will be able to join the scheme. The total number receiving payments is expected to increase to over 70,000 in March 1982 and to continue increasing thereafter. People who join the job release scheme by giving up their jobs create job opportunities for those on the unemployed register.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to reach a decision on the future of the printing industries training board.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on Monday 16 November.—[Vol. 13, c. 30.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whom he has consulted in connection with his proposed legislation affecting employment and labour relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many responses he has received on the Green Paper on industrial relations; and if he will make a statement.

We have received responses to our Green Paper on trade union immunities from over 300 employers, trade unions, and other organisations and individuals. My right hon. Friend and I have also met a number of those who commented to discuss their submissions in greater detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review the dock labour scheme in conjunction with the British Transport Docks Board with the aim of ensuring that the differential pay disputes which have hampered the smooth functioning of the Southampton docks through 1981 are permanently resolved.

Levels of pay, including the determination of appropriate differentials, are entirely a matter for the British Transport Docks Board and its employees through their joint negotiating machinery. The dock labour scheme requires only that the wages and conditions of a registered dockworker "shall be in accordance with the national or local agreements for the time being in force".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are currently vacant in the youth opportunities programme.

On 2 October 1981 there were 45,000 opportunities immediately available to young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the youth opportunities programme Christmas undertaking will be honoured.

Up to the end of September about 190,000 school leavers had entered the youth opportunities programme. It is still too early to say whether the Christmas undertaking will be fully met, but I am satisfied that all those concerned are making every effort to meet it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now increase the £23·50 weekly payment for young people taking part in the youth opportunities programme.

We are considering the level of allowance in the light of advice we have received from the Manpower Services Commission and will be making an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures of unemployment for the United Kingdom.

At 8 October, the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,988,644.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the numbers and percentages of the working population who are unemployed; what is the unemployment percentage of men over 60 years of age; and if he will make a statement.

At 8 October 1981, the United Kingdom unemployment was 2,988,644 and the rate, expressing the unemployed as a percentage of the employed population, both in employment and unemployed was 12·4 per cent. The unemployment rate for men aged 60 and over was estimated to be 20 per cent. at the same date.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment figures.

We are determined to reverse the long term decline which has led to the tragically high figures. But there cannot be a sustained fall in unemployment until we establish economic recovery, become competitive and regain our place in world markets. Meanwhile, we are helping those worst affected through special employment measures, which will cost £1 ½ billion next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total numbers in the United Kingdom of those registered unemployed, on short time and engaged in Manpower Service Commission schemes; and by how much unemployment has increased since May 1979.

At 8 October 1981, the total number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 2,988,644.Information about the numbers on short-time working relates to operatives in manufacturing industries in Great Britain. In the week ended 15 August 1981, the latest date for which figures are available, 196,000 operatives were on short-time working either for the whole or for part of the week.The numbers of people covered by the special employment and training measures are available for Great Britain and the estimated figure at the end of September 1981, the latest available, was 697,300, broken down as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total number of registered unemployed and the percentage of the working population this represents and the equivalent figures for June 1979.

At October 1981 the number of people registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom, excluding school-leavers and seasonally adjusted, was 2,728,900 and the unemployment rate 11·3 per cent. The corresponding figures for June 1979 were 1,283,900 and 5·3 per cent. The rate of unemployment is based on the estimated number of employees—employed and unemployed—which differs from the working population in that it excludes members of Her Majesty's Forces and the self-employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to meet leaders of the Trades Union Congress to discuss his proposed industrial relations legislation.

No specific meeting has yet been fixed. But I am ready to meet representatives of the Trades Union Congress at any time to discuss matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to announce his proposals for further legislation on industrial relations.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the member for Chorley (Mr. Dover) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of working days lost in 1980 and so far in 1981 through strikes.

The number of working days lost through industrial stoppages recorded in 1980 was 11,964,000. The total so far in 1981, based on provisional figures up to September, is 3,180,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are currently unemployed in (a) the North-West, (b) Merseyside, (c) Kirkby and (d) Ormskirk travel-to-work areas.

The following table gives the numbers of young people under 20 years of age registered as unemployed at 8 October in the areas specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further action he intends to take to assist the recruitment and training of apprentices, especially in the engineering industry.

The level of Government support for industry's long-term skill training has been increased considerably this year. Out of a total of about £50 million allocated for this purpose, about £23 million is being used to support apprentice training in the engineering industry. One of the major objectives of the "New Training Initiative" is to achieve more flexible and open arrangements for training young people and adults to recognised standards of skill.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what techniques he employs to assess the degree of mobility of labour.

There are a number of different facets of labour mobility, including movement between regions, changes in job or labour turnover, and movement between occupations. Various Government surveys provide information on all these aspects of labour mobility; for example, my Department collects information on labour turnover based on quarterly employment returns from a sample of manufacturing employers; and information on geographical and occupational mobility is available from the census of population, and sample household surveys such as the general household survey and the labour force survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions his officials have had with the Courtaulds company and with the Health and Safety Executive concerning carbon disulphide levels and their effect upon workers health; what steps he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Safety Commission has requested the advisory committee on toxic substances to review all the epidemiological and other evidence, including current practices in industry, to advise on the most suitable threshold limit value—the accepted guideline for occupational hygiene purposes—to be adopted for carbon disulphide (CS₂). This will of course include a review of the effects of CS₂ on workers' health.Since 1968, Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate have carried out two surveys in a number of factories using CS

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what specific action has been taken to reduce unemployment in Sunderland.

The reduction of unemployment in Sunderland, as in other parts of the country, will largely depend upon firms there producing the goods which people both at home and abroad want, and at prices they are prepared to pay. It is only in this way that the jobs which are so much needed will be created. Meanwhile, Sunderland will continue to benefit from my Department's special employment and training measures.Sunderland is also to retain its special development area status so that firms setting up or expanding there and creating new jobs will be eligible for the maximum financial assistance available under the Industry Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to ensure that the full list of plants assessed by the Health and Safety Executive as at risk is made public.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what fresh proposals he has for arresting the decline in apprenticeships to industry.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Fareham (Mr. Lloyd) on 21 July—[Vol. 9, c. 73–74]—the Government are providing a further £9·6 million in 1981–82 and £11 million in 1982–83. This will bring the total to support industry's long term training needs in the current training year to some £50 million. My right hon. Friend expects to make a further statement about skill training in the context of the Government's response to the consultations on "A New Training Initiative" by the turn of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of 1981 school leavers in Greater London other than those taking further or higher education is now employed.

It is not possible to give an answer in the form requested. The Department of Education and Science estimates some 80,000 young people left school in Greater London this year for employment, and the number of unemployed school leavers in October in Greater London was 39,092.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss the new training initiative.

My right hon. Friend is always ready to meet the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress to discuss matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to reduce unemployment in the Workington travel-to-work area.

A reduction in unemployment in Workington, as in the country as a whole, will depend primarily on the ability of firms in the area to produce the goods which people in this country and abroad want to buy at prices they are prepared to pay. The Government's policies aim to produce the conditions which will help such firms to become competitive and so enable them to create the jobs we all want to see. Meanwhile, Workington will continue to benefit from the Government's programme of special employment measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the working population in Nottinghamshire is unemployed at the present time.

At 8 October, the unemployment rate in Nottinghamshire was 11·3 per cent. The rate is based on the estimated number of employees—employed and unemployed—which differs from the working population in that it excludes members of Her Majesty's Forces and the self-employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures for the North-West and Merseyside, respectively.

At 8 October, the numbers of people registered as unemployed in the North-West region and in the Merseyside special development area were 424,224 and 130,460, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present rate of unemployment within the Dinnington employment exchange area; and if he will list those employment exchange areas in Yorkshire and Humberside which have a higher rate of unemployment.

At 8 October, the unemployment rate in the Sheffield travel-to-work area, of which the Dinnington employment office area is a part, was 13 per cent. The percentage rate was higher in the following areas in the Yorkshire and Humberside region:

• Barnsley^*
• Bradford^*
• Bridlington
• Dewsbury^*
• Doncaster^*
• Goole
• Hull^*
• Maltby
• Mexborough^*
• Rotherham
• Scunthorpe^*
• Whitby

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to make decisions as to the future of the industrial training boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to retain in operation al, the Manpower Services Commission's industrial training boards and to maintain their present funding arrangement.

I refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on Monday 16 November.—[Vol. 13, c. 30.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those firms in Greater Manchester which are employing at least 3 per cent. disabled people.

Information about the numbers of registered disabled people in individual firms is obtained in confidence, and cannot be disclosed without the consent of the firm concerned.However, on 1 June 1981, the latest date for which information is available, 926 or 40 per cent. of employers in Greater Manchester subject to the 1944 Act employed at least 3 per cent. registered disabled people. We have no information about the numbers of disabled people in employment who are not registered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the operation of the Employment Act 1980; and if he will make a statement.

The Employment Act 1980 came into force just over one year ago. It is still too soon to make any final judgment about its effectiveness. We have, of course, taken experience of the operation of the Employment Act so far fully into account in assessing the outcome of consultations on the Green Paper on trade union immunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many cases were investigated this year by his Department of imported goods bearing fraudulent labels; and what actions were taken as a result.

False and misleading trade descriptions are prohibited under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, which is enforced by local authority trading standard departments. Cases of the kind my hon. Friend has in mind are not separately identifiable in the statistics available centrally on the application of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will seek to ban imports of electrical goods from East European countries with which the United Kingdom has no reciprocal trade facilities.

I do not believe that import controls would be justified. The EEC Commission is, however, examining a case for anti-dumping duties against imports from certain Eastern European countries of domestic refrigerators and cylinder vacuum cleaners.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will now introduce legislation to make it illegal to sell solvents to anyone under the age of 21 years;(2) if he will hold discussions with manufacturers of solvents to ask them to add to the manufacturing process any substance which would make it obnoxious to smell or to alter the formula used to make it odourless.

[pursuant to her reply, 13 November 1981, c. 189.]: If, as I assume, the hon. Member wants to prevent the practice of glue sniffing, I do not consider it would be practicable or justifiable to try to achieve this by banning sales of solvents or products containing solvents to those under 21. It would be unreasonable to deprive those under 21 of the right to buy the very wide range of products concerned when they want to use them for their proper purpose, and it would be difficult for shopkeepers to distinguish those over from those under 21. I suspect that many youthful sniffers would still be able to get hold of goods containing solvents if they wanted to, as some would find them at home or get those over 21 to buy them for them. From inquiries it appears impossible to deter sniffers by making solvents obnoxious to smell without at the same time making them unsuitable for their purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the regional breakdown within the United Kingdom of loans received from the European Investment Bank in 1980.

Loans granted by the European Investment Bank for projects in each member State of the European Community are detailed in the EIB' s annual reports. The regional breakdown for 1980 as indicated by the 1980 annual report, is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates Her Majesty's Government have made of the net cost of the United Kingdom's contribution for 1982 to the European Community, given that the rebate arrangements of the last two years are to be extended into the next year.

This matter depends upon negotiations still in progress.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the factors which account for the difference between his estimate of the average annual cost per unemployed person and the recent estimate of the Manpower Services Commission; and if he will make a statement.

I shall let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the cost savings to the Inland Revenue of changing the basis of collecting tax on car and fuel benefits to pay-as-you-earn; and how these savings are made up.

The proposals in the Finance Act 1981 requiring employers to apply PAYE to car and car fuel benefits from April 1982 would have made possible a reduction in Inland Revenue staff numbers of about 150. However, in the light of a number of representations received about the difficulties the regulations would have created for employers the Government have decided to postpone the introduction of any change for one year. Amending legislation to this effect will be included in the next Finance Bill. The Inland Revenue will continue to discuss with employers' representatives ways of overcoming the problems that have been identified and of achieving worthwhile staff savings in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people were employed by the British National Oil Corporation in Glasgow in 1979 and 1980; how many are currently employed; and what projections he has for employment in the British National Oil Corporation, Glasgow in 1982, 1983 and 1984.

The British National Oil Corporation employed 686 people in Glasgow at the end of 1979, and 948 at the end of 1980. Almost 1,200 are currently employed there and the corporation has firm plans to recruit more staff in 1982. Figures for later years are not currently available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many energy conservation projects operating under the community enterprise programme are known to his Department; how many employees are involved; and how many homes are being insulated by such schemes.

The Manpower Services Commission is supporting 37 schemes through its community enterprise programme employing approximately 400 people on energy conservation work. It is estimated that these schemes will insulate up to 30,000 dwellings a year. A further 12 schemes have been approved by MSC and will employ approximately 150 people and insulate up to another 23,000 dwellings a year. The schemes are not necessarily concerned solely with insulation work.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what support his Department has given or plans to give to the work of neighbourhood energy action.

I refer to the answer given to my hop. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd) on 2 June 1981, in which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Energy announced that my Department will contribute £11,500 in 1981–82 towards the costs of neighbourhood energy action. The Manpower Services Commission is contributing an equal amount. The Department is also making available £93,000 for grants to help voluntary organisations get community insulation projects under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of the total investment made by each of the following in North Sea oil exploration and development (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Esso, (d) Conoco, (e) Mobil, (f) Gulf, (g) Texaco, (h) the British National Oil Corporation, (i) French oil companies, (j) German oil companies, (k) British independent oil companies, (l) British banks, (m) American banks, (n) British insurance companies, (o) other British companies and (p) the International Energy Bank.

Publication of estimates in the detail requested made from the exploration and field expenditures that are collected by my Department would involve a breach of statutory confidentiality.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many officials at principal level and above are dealing with North Sea development; how many have held jobs in the oil industry; and whether these divisions of his Department are understaffed.

Seventy-seven staff at principal level and above in my Department are directly involved in North Sea development. Of these 16 have held jobs in the oil industry. The petroleum engineering division has about 20 petroleum specialist vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what further consideration he has given to his policy for developing marginal oilfields since he received the study group's first report in January.

The oil industry has made proposals for assisting marginal fields in recent submissions to my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to myself on the structure of the North Sea fiscal regime. These proposals are now being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there is any extra cost, in terms of electrical energy used for lighting, incurred by moving from summer to winter time; and if he will estimate that cost.

Present estimates of the effect of moving from British summer time to Greenwich mean time, based on past experience of extending British summer time throughout the year, indicate that any additional lighting costs are likely to be negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the 4 per cent. level for salary and wage increases as operated for public servants is expected to be applicable to the British Broadcasting Corporation and all of its employees, full and part-time;(2) whether he will ensure that any change so be made in the charge for television licences will not exceed the Government's 4 per cent. norm for public service salary and wage increases.

In deciding increases in the television licence fee, and for what period fees should be established, my right hon. Friend has regard to the needs of the BBC and to what is fair to licence fee payers. Under the BBC's charter and licence and agreement it is for the BBC's governors to decide how to allocate the resources available from the licence fee revenue. The BBC is responsible for determining pay agreements with its staff, and it is not a matter in which the Government intervene. The BBC is aware that, like other organisations, it needs to pay particular attention to containing increases in costs, especially labour costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place between his Department and the British Broadcasting Corporation regarding an increase in the cost of the television licence; and whether, before agreeing to any alteration in the present cost, he will ensure that the British Broadcasting Corporation makes full details of its costs and charges available to the public in general and to hon. Members in particular.

There have been discussions both at official level and between the chairman of the board of governors and my right hon. Friend about the BBC's application for an increase in the television licence fees. The BBC already gives information about its expenditure in its annual report and accounts which are laid before Parliament and also in its booklet "BBC TV: Facts and Figures 1981".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research there is available to him which supports the theory that sending juvenile offenders to institutions with physically demanding regimes acts as a deterrent (a) on the juveniles sent there or (b) on others; and if he will identify the individual research studies.

There is a considerable body of research on the effectiveness of sentencing but we are not aware of research specifically dealing with this particular point. The evaluation programme which is part of the tougher regime pilot project in a number of detention centres will, however, compare the nature and measurable effects of the regime of those centres with that of other detention centres. The results of the evaluation will not be available before 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the efficacy of his measures to prevent private radio stations broadcasting in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on his policy.

The investigation of all illicit uses of radio is carried out by British Telecom on behalf of the Home Office. Within the limitations of resources and other demands on their services my right hon. Friend is satisfied that everything practicable is being done to prevent illegal broadcasting in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange for one copy of the transcript of the hearing at each local public inquiry held by a Parliamentary Boundary Commission to be placed in the Library free of charge.

No. I understand that the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for England and Wales are prepared to supply copies of such transcripts to the House of Commons Library at the current rate of 8p per page, plus VAT. The supply of transcripts of the hearings of local inquiries held by the Boundary Commissions for Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department who has decided that the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England should aim to complete its current general review of constituencies by the end of 1982.

The Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England is an independent statutory body and has itself decided to try to complete its current general review by the end of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received in each month of 1981 for (a) registration as a citizen and (b) naturalisation as a citizen.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken to process an application for citizenship by (a) registration and (b) naturalisation.

The current average time taken to complete the processing of an application for registration is 12 months where there is an entitlement to registration, and 28 months where registration is discretionary. The current average time to complete the processing of an application for naturalisation is 20 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for (a) registration and (b) naturalisation have been granted or refused in each month of the current year.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the administrative and other changes necessary before the commencement date of the British Nationality Act 1981.

The main changes necessary are the making of new regulations; the design and printing of new application forms, explanatory leaflets and certificates; the preparation of publicity material; and the drawing up of new administrative instructions for staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to publicise the provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 among those communities in the United Kingdom and abroad who are directly affected by it.

A press release was issued on 30 October explaining the main provisions of the Act. Preparations are being made for further publicity both at home and overseas explaining how the Act will affect particular groups of people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were employed by the Equal Opportunities Commission on 1 15August.

A total of 174, of whom 20 were part-time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish any statistics he has which would show the number of women attacked between the hours of 6 pm and 12.30 am, compared with other periods of the day over the last three years, broken down into county areas.

Information is not collected centrally on the sex of the victim or the time of day of serious offences recorded by the police in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to publish the findings of his study into racial attacks.

This study has now been completed by my officials and a copy of their report has been placed in the Library of the House. I consider that the report is a significant document and I am grateful to all those bodies and individuals who contributed to the work of the study team. I have indicated in a foreword to the report the lines of action that I intend to pursue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to reply to the observations made to him jointly in March by the Lincolnshire county council, the Boston borough council and the Freiston parish council about the future public rights of way between Freiston Shore and the Plumbers Hotel on land occupied by the North Sea camp detention centre.

The draft document granting the rights and various amendments to it, has been the subject of several exchanges of correspondence since March 1981 between the parties concerned. At present a reply is awaited from the Lincolnshire county council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any changes to make on the cash limit for the Prisons Vote, class IX Vote 8.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit on the prisons Vote will be raised by £7,384,000 from £440,737,000 to £448,121,000. The increase provides for the impact on the prison system of the urban unrest in the summer—£4,361,000—and residual expenditure on last year's prison emergency—£4,057,000. However, in accordance with normal practice, a deduction has been made from the cash limit in respect of the overspending in 1980–81—£1,034,000. The additional provision will be found from the contingency reserve and so does not add to planned spending totals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received the first reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons; and what arrangements he proposes to make for the publication of such reports.

I have now received reports from Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons on Her Majesty's prisons Featherstone, Erlestoke House and Cookham Wood. I have placed copies of these reports together with statements of the action taken on Her Majesty's chief inspector's main recommendations in the Libraries of both Houses. Members of the public may purchase copies from the Home Office library, Room 1007, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT. The same arrangements will apply to future reports on individual establishments by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list hex official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will state her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give details of her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 17 November.

This morning I had a meeting with King Hussein of Jordan. Following other meetings with ministerial colleagues, I attended the memorial service for Lord Boyle of Handsworth. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen, before departing for Bonn, where I shall have talks with Chancellor Schmidt tomorrow.

asked the Prime Minister when last she met the leaders of the Confederation of British Industry.

On 16 June, when I addressed the annual dinner of the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when next she plans to meet the leaders of the Confederation of British Industry.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on the return of Iranian students to Iran in view of the current situation in that country.

Under the immigration rules, a student seeking admission must show that he intends to leave on completion of his studies and can maintain himself and his dependants without working or recourse to public funds. The Government do not believe that the current situation in Iran is such as to entitle Iranian students in general to remain exceptionally, but we do consider carefully applications that individual Iranians should not be returned to Iran owing to a well-founded fear of persecution. A general exception for Iranian students would be incompatible with our policy of maintaining a tight control on immigration.

asked the Prime Minister whether she will dismiss the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts).

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received about the expenditure of North Sea oil revenues.

I answered a question from my hon. Friend on 10 November. I have had no other such representations recently.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members she has seen on matters relating to factory closures since she last answered oral questions; and how many jobs are expected to be lost in the closures discussed.

I have had no such meetings since 12 November.

asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to meet the chairmen of nationalised industries.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what representations she has received from Church leaders regarding nuclear disarmament and aid for the Third world; and if she will make arrangements to discuss these topics with them.

I have received a number of such representations on these topics, but I have at present no plans for meetings of the kind my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give instructions that no copies of ministerial statements should be issued to the press before such statements are made in Parliament.

Ministerial statements are not issued to the press before they are made in Parliament. This necessary courtesy is well understood and observed. As I made clear last week—[Vol. 12, c. 661]—I find leaks of the contents of ministerial statements offensive.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give instructions that when parts of nationalised undertakings are sold off, Scottish financial institutions shall have an opportunity of participating in such sales and Scottish workers and managers in such undertakings are given the opportunity to takeover such operations as are based in Scotland.

I am particularly anxious to respect the special concerns of employees in the industries being privatised, and the arrangements we shall make for forthcoming sales will reflect this. These considerations apply in Scotland as elsewhere in the United Kingdom. An important objective of our privatisation programme is the promotion of wider share ownership, whether directly or through pension funds. For the purpose of advice and guidance on privatisation matters, we shall continue to select those financial institutions best suited to the job, as is essential if the interests of the taxpayer are to be protected.

asked the Prime Minister how the percentage rate of unemployment in Wales in October 1981 compares with the percentage rate in the standard regions of England.

At 8 October the percentage rates of unemployment in Wales and in the regions of England were as follows:

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to make comparable the licence fees applicable to yacht radios and citizens band sets.

The fee for each group of licences under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 is set with regard to the costs involved. Since the costs differ, so do the fees.

asked the Prime Minister if she will take steps to appoint a separate Registrar General for Wales, as in Scotland.

No. In Scotland there is a separate body of law governing marriages and the registration of births and deaths, administered by a separate Registrar General. There is another body of law for both England and Wales. Legislation would be needed to establish a separate office of Registrar General for Wales and a separately administered local registration service. I cannot see that this would offer any practical advantage to the public in Wales.

asked the Prime Minister if she will give an estimate of the number of jobs directly and indirectly dependent on United States bases in the United Kingdom.

There are probably 25,000 or more jobs in the United Kingdom arising directly or indirectly from the presence of United States bases here. This is, of course, a very considerable side benefit of the presence of these bases, but our primary purpose in providing military facilities for the United States forces is to maintain the strength and the deterrent value of the North Atlantic Alliance. This is the cornerstone of our defence policy.

asked the Attorney-General whether there will be any change in the prosecution policy of the Law Officers or of the Director of Public Prosecutions following the recent verdict in the trial of Dr. Arthur.