asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many jobs have been lost in local government in Scotland since May 1979.

Precise comparisons involving dates before June 1981 are not possible because some local authorities until then omitted certain categories of workers from their Joint Manpower Watch returns.Subject to this, returns for June 1982 suggest a reduction of about 3,200 staff—full-time equivalents—since June 1979, when about 258,000 staff were recorded, a reduction of just over 1 per cent. Reductions have been concentrated on manual workers and, because of falling school rolls, on teachers and other educational staff. The total figure thus conceals an increase in the number of non-manual staff, other than teachers and lecturers, by about 5,400 between June 1979 and June 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the reasons for the delay in the implementation of the Scottish knitwear industry promotion scheme; when he expects it to be introduced; and if he will make a statement.

The Scottish knitwear industry is free to implement its export promotion scheme at any time; it is for the industry to determine when it will do so. The industry has, however, been anxious to secure a financial contribution from the Scottish Development Agency for the scheme, and I had to inform the agency in July that I could not confirm my conditional approval of a contribution because it had become clear that any special support from public funds for such a scheme would prejudice the Government's efforts to end the spiral of State aid to textiles within the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are currently registered as unemployed in Scotland; and what has been the percentage increase in unemployment since May 1979.

At 11 November 1982, the most recent date for which Information is available, seasonally adjusted unemployment in Scotland stood at 309,300 or 14·2 per cent. The comparable figure for May 1979 was 165,900 or 7·3 per cent. Between May 1979 and November 1982 therefore seasonally adjusted unemployment has increased by 86·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report, for October 1979 and October 1982, respectively, the unemployment figures for (a) Scotland and (b) each region of Scotland, separately distinguishing males and females, by age, using the following categories: (i) under 18 years, (ii) 18 years, (iii) 19 years, (iv) 20 to 24 years, (v) 25 to 29 years, (vi) 30 to 34 years, (vii) 35 to 44 years, (viii) 45 to 49 years, (ix) 50 to 54 years, (x) 55 to 59 years, (xi) 60 to 64 years, (xii) 65 years and over and (xiii) the total for all ages, and disaggregating each of the age categories into the following categories of the weekly duration of unemployment: (a) one or less, (b) over one and up to two, (c) over two and up to four, (d) over four and up to six, (e) over six and up to eight, (f) over eight and up to 13, (g) over 13 and up to 26, (h) over 26 and up to 39, (i) over 39 and up to 52, (j) over 52 and up to 65, (k) over 65 and up to 78, (l) over 78 and up to 104, (m) over 104 and up to 156, (n) over 156 and (o) the total.

I shall send the information to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy towards proposals for regional control of fisheries.

Once we have agreement on a common fisheries policy, I intend to consult the fishing industry about the management of our national quotas and the organisation of fishing effort within the waters over which we have exclusive control.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his current estimate of the likely capital cost of Torness power station on the most recent available price base.

The estimated capital cost is £1,094 million at March 1980 prices.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement about proposed new arrangements for recruitment to the Civil Service.

Under the Civil Service Order in Council 1978, the Civil Service commissioners are responsible for approving and certifying the qualifications of all candidates for appointment in the Home Civil Service and the Diplomatic Service. For many years, however, Government Departments have recruited staff to a wide range of junior grades under authority delegated from the Civil Service commissioners. The commissioners' role in this recruitment has in practice been confined to checking certain aspects of eligibility and issuing a certificate of qualification.From 1 January 1983, full responsibility for recruitment to these junior grades will be transferred from the Civil Service commissioners to Departments. This extension of Departments' autonomy, where they already perform the actual recruitment and selection task, will eliminate a good deal of nugatory administrative work. Departments will undertake recruitment in accordance with guidance and instructions issued by the Management and Personnel Office on the authority of the Minister for the Civil Service. Specific and formal arrangements will be made to ensure that, in the departmentally recruited area, Ministers are not concerned in individual selection decisions, and that final responsibility for such decisions rests with the permanent head of the Department concerned. The Civil Service commissioners will remain wholly responsible for central recruitment to the more senior grades, which they are best placed to undertake.To give effect to the new recruitment arrangements, the Civil Service Order in Council 1982 was made at a meeting of the Privy Council which was held today. The order, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, revokes and re-enacts with amendments the Civil Service Order in Council 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidance to local education authorities on those findings of Professor Michael Rutter relating to the contribution to education standards made by staff commitment and the methods to be used to which he referred on 9 November, Official Report, c. 412.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, when issuing further advice to local education authorities on curriculum matters, he will include reference to development education.

Our guidance document "The School Curriculum", published in March 1981, commended a list of broad educational aims which included helping pupils "to understand the world in which they live, and the interdependence of individuals, groups and nations". We have at present no plans to issue further advice on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what courses on development education are available to students at teacher training colleges; and if he will encourage education authorities to ensure that the subject is available as an option within each college.

Development studies, whether under this or some other title, are more likely to be an element of a course-for example, in geography-than a course in their own right. Options designated as development studies are, however, available at Crewe and Alsager college of higher education, and at Bulmershe college of higher education, Reading.Inasmuch as developments studies represent a dimension of a wider discipline, it is a matter for those teaching the courses to determine in conjunction with the validating bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list the per capita expenditure on education of secondary school age children in each local education authority in each of the last five years.

Figures for 1980–81 and 1981–82 have been published in "Local Government Comparative Statistics 1982" by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy-CIPFA-but comparable figures are not readily available for individual local education authorities for earlier years. CIPFA has also published information about local authorities' expenditure per pupil which does cover each of the last five years. Copies of all these publications are in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to announce the remaining arts grants for 1983–84; and what they will be.

I announced to the House on Monday 20 December—[Vol. 134, c. 664–65]—the new provisions I propose to make for the Arts Council for this year and next. I am now able to announce details of the remaining arts and libraries allocations. First, I propose, subject to parliamentary approval, to meet certain special needs by making additional provision in 1982–83, to be found from the Contingency Reserve, of £1·4 million for the British Film Institute and £100,000 for the National Film School. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and I will make a joint statement in due course about future provision for the national heritage memorial fund. Estimates to be submitted in due course for parliamentary approval will provide for increased funding in 1983–84 for the British library, the national museums and galleries and the other institutions for which I am responsible. Expenditure by the Property Services Agency on the buildings of the national museums and galleries, and on the new British library building, will be provided for in Estimates in the usual way. Details of the provisions I propose to make for 1983–84, which are within the arts and libraries total given in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement, are as follows:

Estimate provison 1982–83*and provisional allocations for 1983–84
	1982–83	1983–84
	£ million	£ million
The Living Arts
Arts Council	86·000	92·000
British Film Institute	7·014	7·200
National Film School	0·840	0·850
Crafts Council	1·600	1·700
South Bank Theatre Board	0·650	0·300
Support for National Museums
British Museum	11·722	12·536
Imperial War Museum	4·130	4·140
National Gallery	6·041	6·797
National Portrait Gallery	1·691	1·789
National Maritime Museum	3·855	4·080
Tate Gallery	5·025	5·375
Wallace Collection	0·765	0·791
Science Museum	7·159	7·728
Victoria and Albert Museum	9·324	10·456
Support for Other Museums etc.
Government Art Collection	0·100	0·110
Museum of London	1·203	1·229
Sir John Soane's Museum	0·159	1·065
Museums and Galleries Commission	0·318	0·473
Area Museum Councils	1·907	2·070
Research Projects etc.	0·190	0·261
Public Lending Right	0·300	2·000

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that teaching staff in primary and secondary schools have adequate mathematical training in order to optimise the use of computer facilities.

The effective use of computers in schools requires a range of skills on the part of the teacher including, for particular aspects, mathematical skills. It is one of the objectives of the Government's microelectronics education programme to encourage and support local education authorities with the necessary training.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from colleges of further education as to the need to develop engineering related courses in information technology; and if he will make a statement.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on progress to implement the 17-plus intermediate examination.

Since the publication in May of our consultative document "17 +: A New Qualification", we have received many helpful comments. Possible alternative administrative arrangements which were circulated for discussion in September can be regarded as overtaken by the very recent joint statement of intent by the Business and Technician Education Councils and the City and Guilds of London Institute. The latter statement represents major progress towards a practical solution of the problem and we are indebted to those who have prepared it. We are encouraging urgent discussion of the remaining issues by those concerned with the aim of reaching agreement early in the new year so that we can keep to or even improve on the planned timetable for the implementation of the 17-plus CPVE courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the elements of the newly announced rate support grant for 1983–84 relating to education will permit each local education authority to discharge its statutory duties and maintain its present level of provision.

I am satisfied that the rate support grant settlement for 1983–84 should permit every local education authority to discharge its statutory duties. However, the level of service that can be provided by local education authorities in 1983–84 will depend crucially on the extent to which they are able to contain their cost increases and in particular on the level of pay settlements for local authority employees over the months ahead. For example, if pay settlements are of the order of 3½ per cent., up to 400,000 teachers could be employed which would allow some improvement in pupil-teacher ratios above the January 1982 level. Reductions in expenditure will be necessary in advanced further education where the plans reflected in the AFE quantum imply a reduction of some 2,000 full-time equivalent lecturers by next October and corresponding reductions in non-teaching costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his statement of 16 December, Official Report, c. 187–89, if he will give details of his proposals for the expansion of information technology provision in the local authority sector of higher education.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel) on 21 December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library the interim appraisal of the progress of restructuring in the universities he has received from the chairman of the University Grants Committee.

I have already done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is yet in a position to announce the advanced further education capped pool allocations for 1983–84.

Letters are being sent to local education authorities today notifying them of their ATE capped pool allocations for 1983–84. Copies of a note which sets out the allocations and summarises the methodology used in deciding on the allocations—together with a more technical supplement—have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.After consultation with the local authority associations, I have determined the AFE quantum for 1983–84 to be £560·5 million. This includes an addition of £2 million for the expansion of provision for information technology, details of which I announced yesterday.The principles and methodology I have adopted in distributing the capped AFE pool for 1983–84 are those recommended by the committee of the national advisory body. These include most notably the provision of a common level of funding for equivalent areas of work and adjustments to take account of the level of expenditure on AFE 1981–82 and the capped pool distribution for 1982–83. The resulting allocations should place the greatest pressure for economies on those institutions with the highest unit costs and afford a measure of protection to the more economical institutions.The national advisory body will be considering further refinements in the method of distributing the quantum in the context of its 1984–85 planning exercise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to ensure that a common electoral system will be used for the European elections in 1984.

Member States of the European Community are required to adopt a uniform electoral system for European Parliament elections only if it is

Grants administered by the VSU	1981–82	1982–83	Statutory Authority
	£	£
Action Resource Centre	20,000	20,000	Appropriation Act
Association of Researchers in Voluntary Action and Community Involvement	7,450	7,400
AVEC	12,200	13,000
Bristol Courts Family Conciliation Service	—	23,000
British Association for Counselling	10,000	8,750
British Association of Settlements and Social Action Centres	32,600	25,500
British Council of Churches (Community Work Resource Unit)	17,336	12,880
Brixton Neighbourhood Community Association	4,600	—
CETU	27,700	29,500
Charity Trading Advisory Group	8,000	8,500
Church Army (Inner Cities Unit)	—	11,250
Community Projects Foundation	695,000	764,000
Community Service Volunteers	473,200	529,500
Community Transport	27,400	34,000
Fair Play for Children	25,000	25,000
Federation of Community Work Training Groups	14,065	20,000
Festival Welfare Services	17,000	18,500
Gamblers Anonymous General Services Board	375	1,000
Higher Education Foundation	1,500	—
Horticultural Therapy (Land Use Volunteers)	3,500	4,000
International Voluntary Service	21,800	18,000
London Voluntary Service Council	162	1,798
Merseyside Council for Voluntary Service	11,000	15,000
Midland Public Service Announcement Scheme	9,000	—
National Association for Asian Youth	10,330	—
National Association of Victim's Support Schemes	15,100	—
National Association of Young People's Counselling and Advisory Service	22,500	24,000
National Council for Voluntary Organisations (Grant-in-Aid)	742,000	724,000
National Council for Voluntary Organisations: (for International Conference on Social Welfare)	18,500	9,700
(Management Training)	4,500	—
National Federation of City Farms	19,000	24,000
National Federation of Community Organisations	—	72,000
National Playing Fields Association	75,600	80,200
Newham Community Renewal Programme (Homeless Young People's Project)	12,500	—
Northern Association for Community Care	42,400	39,600
Operation Drake Fellowship	18,750	25,000
Princedale Trust (for Release)	60,000	65,000
Retired Executives Action Clearing House	6,750	8,375
Scoutreach	750	—
Standing Conference of Women's Organisations	1,929	3,000
Stockport Job Shop	350	52
Student Community Action Development Unit	16,624	21,500
Task Force	84,200	89,000
Time for God	3,800	9,000
Trinity Overnight Shelter, Birmingham	15,000	15,600
Voluntary Action, Lewisham	—	500
Volunteer Centre	514,000	558,000
West End Coordinated Voluntary Services	105,450	102,350

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all non-statutory bodies to which his Department has made grants for 1981–82 and 1982–83 showing the name of the organisation, the amount of grant and the powers under which the grant is made; and if he will give similar information for grant-aid by other statutory bodies for which his Department is responsible.

Details are as follows: not all grants for 1982–83 are yet determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has had from Newbury district council about changing byelaws relating to the control of Greenham and Cookham Commons; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that Newbury district council is considering strengthening the controls applicable to these two commons to bring them into line with the controls in force in respect of other commons in the district. In this connection the council sent the Home Office a set of draft byelaws in October and asked for comments. These were sent in November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will discuss with the purveyors of alcoholic beverages the installation of breathalyser machines at retail establishments that sell alcohol; and if he will consider the possibility of Government finance towards the costs of the same.

No. The Blennerhassett committee did not favour self-testing. My right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Transport agree.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Gower on 26 November, when he will arrange for the hon. Member for Gower's constituent to be interviewed about Miss Jaikaran Singh's application.

The hon. Member's constituent was interviewed on 11 December. A report of the interview has been sent to the entry clearance officer in Trinidad, who will take the decision on the application.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an amnesty for holders of illegal weapons and ammunition.

We are not persuaded that there is sufficient justification for a further amnesty at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what have been the dates of amnesties for illegal holding of weapons and ammunition; and how many weapons and rounds were recovered in each amnesty.

The information is as follows:

Year	Firearms	Rounds of Ammunition
1933	16,000	26,000
1935	8,000	151,000
1937	14,000	144,000
1946	76,000	2,500,000
1961	70,000	2,000,000
1965	40,660	1,694,276
1968	25,088	795,162

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove of 23 November, Official Report, c. 407, if he will describe the present zoning system at terminal 3, Heathrow airport; and how this differs from previous arrangements.

Since 1979 passengers arriving at terminal 3 have been directed to one of two zones. Those from flights originating in North America and the Caribbean use zone A and flights from elsewhere use zone B. Passengers holding United Kingdom and European Community passports are dealt with separately and arrangements are made for passengers who require special facilities, for example those in wheelchairs.The previous arrangement separated passengers into those holding United Kingdom, European Community, Commonwealth and other passports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the hourly rate of passenger clearance by the immigration service at terminal 3, Heathrow airport, during peak periods.

The hourly rate of clearance of passengers by the immigration service inevitably varies, since it depends on the proportion of those who can be dealt with quickly, particularly those holding United Kingdom passports, and those who require more detailed examination under the immigration rules. At terminal 3 the British Airports Authority lays down a maximum of 3,000 arriving passengers per hour and the maximum number of immigration officers is provided at peak periods, subject to the economic deployment of staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, for each of the last five years, the numbers of first offenders appealing against their conviction; and if he will subdivide these data according to (a)the average length of time prisoners waited for their appeal to be heard and (b)whether the prisoners were on legal aid.

The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the complement of prison officers at the major London prisons; how far below these figures the current establishments are; and what are the implications of this for hours of overtime worked and costs of overtime over the most recent available six-month period.

The authorised staffing levels and the staff in post figures for prison officers in the five major London prisons on 30 November 1982 were as follows:

	ASL	SIP	Shortfall
Brixton	652	572	80
Holloway	304	276	28
Pentonville	318	291	27
Wandsworth	341	298	43
Wormwood Scrubs	453	410	43

The amount of overtime worked is affected by so many variables—such as fluctuations in the court commitment, sickness, and absence on leave or on training courses—that it is not possible to identify separately the specific effect of shortfalls in staff. If, however, it is assumed that the conditioned hours of each vacant post are covered by overtime, the cost per vacancy per week in overtime is approximately £185.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the relevant experience and part-time official appointments, if any, held by persons holding full-time appointments as chairmen or members of non-departmental public bodies associated with his Department.

The relevant experience of persons holding full-time appointments as chairmen or members of non-departmental public bodies for which the Home Office is the sponsoring Department is as follows. None of these persons holds any part-time paid official appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the full-time occupation and relevant experience of each of the persons holding part-time appointments to non-departmental public bodies associated with his Department.

This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on 25 October, Official Report, c. 279, if, in his consideration of whether to implement section 48 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, he will take account of the experimental project involving a scheme of advance disclosure which has been in operation in Leeds.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish his Department's report giving details of deaths and injuries arising from fires in dwellings.

Summary fire statistics for 1981, including some information on casualties from fires in dwellings, were published on 16 September, in Home Office Statistical Bulletin, issue No. 18/82, a copy of which is in the Library.The detailed publication "Fire Statistics United Kingdom 1981" is expected to be published in February 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has set a date for the implementation of any of the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act 1982.

It is the Government's intention to bring the following provisions of the Act into force on 31 January 1983:

• Sections 26–28 (sanctions against parents and guardians);
• Section 30 (partly suspended sentences);
• Section 31 (activation of suspended sentence);
• Section 34 (computation of sentences);
• Section 52 (reciprocal execution of warrants of commencement for non-payment of sum adjudged to be paid by conviction);
• Section 63 (deferment of sentence);
• Section 64 and Schedule 10 (persons recommended for deportation);
• Section 65 and Schedule 11 (probation and after-care);
• Section 66 (right of appeal against probation, discharges and associated ancillary orders);
• Section 67 (compensation orders);
• Section 70 (abolition of imprisonment for vagrancy offences);
• Section 71 (abolition of imprisonment for loitering and soliciting for purposes of prostitution);
• Section 73 (recall of witnesses);

together with other related and minor provisions in Schedules 14 and 15 (minor and consequential amendments), 16 (repeals) and 17 (transitional provisions).As my right hon. and learned Friend indicated in reply to a question from the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 15 December—[Vol. 34, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is available on the use of partly suspended sentences.

The provisions of the Criminal Law Act 1977, Section 47, on partly suspended sentences which were implemented on 29 March 1982 enabled a sentence of immediate imprisonment of between six months and two years when given to an adult to be partly suspended at the discretion of the court. In the three months July to September 1982 of those received into prison department establishments in England and Wales with a sentence of immediate imprisonment within this range, about 9 per cent. had part of their sentence suspended. The part suspended was on average more than half of the sentence imposed. Of course the use of the sentence in these early months could prove untypical. More detailed information will be included in "Prison statistics, England and Wales" for 1982. Information on the use of the sentence by the courts will be included in "Criminal statistics, England and Wales" for 1982. Both publications will be issued in the second half of 1983.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the report of the joint committee for refugees from Vietnam.

The report is being published today and copies are available in the Library.The report describes the joint committee's conduct of the reception and resettlement programme for the Vietnamese; points to lessons for the future, and draws attention to the continuing difficulties and needs of the Vietnamese in the areas in which they have settled.I am most grateful for all that has been done by the joint committee, the refugee agencies, local authorities, housing associations, local support groups and individual volunteers to assist the reception and settlement of some 16,000 refugees from Vietnam. I have accepted the committee's recommendation that the three refugee agencies currently involved in the Vietnamese programme—the British Refugee Council, the Ockenden Venture and Refugee Action—should continue to receive Government funds to help them provide a variety of support services during 1983–84. There is also a need to consider what continuing support may be needed by the refugees, by the local authorities and by the other agencies caring for refugees and how this can best be provided. With the agreement of its chairman, Sir Arthur Peterson, KCB, MVO, I have asked the joint committee to continue in being for a further period in order that it may examine these questions and explore ways of resolving them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how long the one man given an immediate sentence of imprisonment for drunkenness in 1981 was sentenced; where he was held; and for how long.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 December 1982, c.285]: Further investigation has shown that this man's offence was wrongly classified: he was found guilty of disorderly behaviour while drunk during the period of a conditional discharge order and a sentence of 14 days' imprisonment was imposed for the earlier offence. A further seven days was imposed in default of payment of a fine for his drunkenness offence. He was received into Leeds prison and served a total of 16 days.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the level of unemployment in the area, he will take steps to increase the level of Government assistance for industry in the London borough of Waltham Forest.

Firms in the area are eligible for assistance under many national schemes for projects which meet the necessary criteria. With regard to regional policy, following the changes in the assisted areas announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 28 June 1982, we do not expect any further adjustments to the assisted areas in the lifetime of this Parliament, other than in the most exceptional cases, for the reasons frequently stated in the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of its implications for employment in the Bristol area, he will oppose the proposals from the Common Market Commission concerning the restructuring of the zinc industry.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to proposals submitted by the European zinc producers to the European Commission. It is for the company concerned to assess its future prospects against the background of substantial over-capacity in the European zinc smelting industry and the fact that it has been incurring substantial losses.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if there has been any official transfer of technology to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics from the United Kingdom resulting from Anglo-French collaboration in the development of Concorde.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what percentage of the gross domestic product was produced by the textile and clothing industries in the most recent period for which figures are available.

I regret that firmly based estimates are not available for the textiles and clothing industries alone. The percentage of gross domestic product produced by the textiles, clothing and footwear industries in 1979 was 2·2 per cent., as derived from tables 3.1 and 3.2 in "National Income and Expenditure", 1982 edition. Departmental estimates suggest that the percentage was about 1·7 per cent. in the first half of 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a further statement on the progress of the microprocessors in schools programme; and if he will give details in the Official Report of the numbers of primary and secondary schools which have some computer facility.

My Department's micros in schools scheme has received 5,800 applications from secondary schools. This means that almost every school in Britain has taken advantage of the scheme. As far as we can judge, every secondary school now has some computer facility, and we are the first country in the world to achieve this.Under the primary schools scheme, which has just started, approximately 3,400 applications had been received by 20 December. I am confident that nearly all primary schools will purchase a microcomputer under the scheme by the end of 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry to what extent the West German and the Dutch Governments provide subsidies for testing services in their agriculture engineering industries which are not available to United Kingdom companies.

[pursuant to his reply. 16 December 1982, c. 218]: The Government do not aim to match any subsidised facility provided by foreign Governments. Their objective is to establish a trading environment for the manufacturers within which they can operate competitively. We are aware of the schemes operated in West Germany and the Netherlands, and of the proposals for matching this work by the Agricultural Engineering Association. The latter are being considered by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what indications he has been able to give to commercial firms he has sought to take over the Chatham dockyard ropery of possible future orders for the Royal Navy.

We have had informal discussions with a number of rope manufacturing companies with a view to the ropery at Chatham being operated commercially following its closure next year by MOD. We would be prepared, on a term basis, to offer MOD orders to a suitable commercial operator. Subsequently, any further MOD orders would be as a result of open tender procedures. At no stage has it yet been appropriate to indicate the possible size of future orders.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all non-statutory bodies to which his Department has made grants for 1981–82 and 1982–83 showing the name of the organisation, the amount of grant and the powers under which that is made; and if he will give similar information for grant-aid by other statutory bodies for which his Department is responsible.

The Ministry of Defence provides financial assistance to a number of bodies by means of grants-in-aid, all of which have been approved by the Treasury. These are listed individually in the Defence Estimates—Vote 1, section K—but the following is the information requeated in respect of non-statutory bodies:

	Amount of grant
	1981–82	1982–83
	£	£
Royal British Legion	160,000	160,000
Council of Voluntary Welfare Work	336,000	145,000
Naval and marine museums	40,000	46,000
National Army Museum	70,000	80,000
Royal Air Force Museum	60,000	70,000
Royal Aeronautical Society	1,000	1,000
Scott Polar Research Institute	20,000	20,000
Royal United Services Institute	24,000	35,000
Royal Hospital Chelsea	—	2,842,000

In the case of the Royal hospital, Chelsea, the grant-in-aid arrangement came into effect only on 1 April 1982. Before then the financial support provided by the Ministry of Defence was funded from a number of Vote subheads.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to purchase a new light trainer aircraft from Brazil for the Royal Air Force.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for De fence whether he is able to give a breakdown of the number of the Argentine forces which were on the Falklands between each of their three services and their marines.

Some 11,400 Argentine prisoners of war were taken on the Falklands, of whom the majority were in the army. A detailed breakdown between different parts of the Argentine armed services is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will study the effectiveness of his Department's purchasing systems to ensure that goods are bought competitively when needed.

The Department's purchasing systems provide for orders to be placed in time to ensure that the Services' requirements are met, but need also to have regard to other factors, such as international commitments, industrial capacity, value for money considerations and so on which may also influence the timing of orders in individual cases. Goods are bought competitively whenever practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the total defence expenditure in the last year on goods which are in storage as surplus to current use.

A large proportion of the material held by the Ministry of Defence is not in current use at any given moment. Stocks include war reserves and other material required to maintain continuity of supply. Figures for stocks in major depots are published annually in the Statement on Defence Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total defence expenditure on cars in the last year where the cars are in storage as surplus to current use as staff cars.

In 1981–82 the expenditure on cars was £700,000. No staff cars in storage are surplus to requirements and none is bought for putting into storage. The number held in depots varies constantly as cars are received into and issued from them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent by the South Atlantic fund in direct help to persons in each category of injury listed in his reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe, Official Report, 18 October, c. 50; and what is the average figure for a person in each category.

A total of £498,200 has been paid out to the injured from the South Atlantic fund as 258 separate interim payments, including to those who were injured and have subsequently left the Service. Payments have ranged from £300 to £20,000, and currently average £1,946. The payments are calculated according to the degree of seriousness of each injury.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been disbursed by the South Atlantic fund to the latest available date in direct payments to bereaved families and Service men who were disabled in the Falklands conflict; and what are the total remaining assets of the fund.

As at 16 December 1982 over £2·3 million has been disbursed in direct interim payments from the South Atlantic fund either to the next of kin of those who died or to the injured. The total assets of the fund remaining amount to about £10 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has decided to purchase British Aerospace 146 aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

The Royal Air Force is buying two British Aerospace 146–100 aircraft so that the type may be evaluated in the air transport force for its suitability to replace the Andovers of the Queen's Flight. The evaluation will take place over a period of about two years, during which time the aircraft will provide a useful supplement to the air transport force, which is heavily committed in the South Atlantic. On the assumption that the evaluation shows the aircraft type to be acceptable, these aircraft will then be replaced by the long-range Executive version which will be available to replace the Andover.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the objections to the proposed change of use of this land expressed by Gravesham borough council and its call for a public inquiry, he still intends to purchase Court and Brokers' Farm at Luddestown in Kent for use as an Army training area.

I still see a need to acquire this land to meet an important military training requirement. I have therefore asked the Property Services Agency to refer the unresolved planning issues to the Department of the Environment in accordance with the provisions of DOE circular 7/77. It will be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to consider whether a public inquiry should be held before he reaches a decision. In the meantime, it is clear that we shall have to acquire the land, against the possibility of a successful outcome to the planning procedures, if the opportunity is not to be lost. Accordingly, I have authorised the PSA to make a firm offer for the purhase of the property. This purchase does not in any way prejudge the consideration of the planning case by the DOE. If in the end my right hon. Friend is unable to give planning clearance for the proposed change of use, the land will be resold. Meanwhile, arrangements will be made for it to continue to be farmed. My Department remains ready to have discussions with the Gravesham borough council and with local environmental and conservation groups about possible ways of overcoming the objections expressed by local people.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for West Lothian on 13 December, if he will list the locations of British helicopters lost at sea in the South Atlantic conflict.

[pursuant to his answer, 16 December, c. 264]: The information requested is given in the following table:

Date of loss	Aircraft type	Position
23 April	Sea King Mk. 4	29°47′S 26°53′W
12 May	Sea King Mk. 5	50°53′S 54°40′W
18 May	Sea King Mk. 5	50°54′S 54°21′W
19 May	Sea King Mk. 4	49°43′S 51°43′W
21 May	Lynx	Close inshore in the Falkland
		Sound—lost with HMS "Ardent"
25 May	Lynx	To the north of the Falkland
		Sound—lost with HMS
		"Coventry"
25 May	6 Wessex 5	50°40′S 54°28′W
	3 Chinook
	1 Lynx

asked the Minister for Trade what proportion of total United Kingdom exports was accounted for by exports of food and agriculture produce in every year since 1972; and what proportion of agricultural imports from the other member States of the European Community was covered by United Kingdom agriculture exports to the Community in the latest year for which figures are available.

In the year November 1981 to October 1982 the value, fob, of United Kingdom exports of food and agricultural produce to other EC member countries was 42 percent, of the corresponding value, cif, of imports. The percentage of total United Kingdom exports accounted for by exports of food and agricultural produce in every yer since 1972 is as follows:

Year	Percentage
1973	4·4
1974	4·0
1975	4·7
1976	4·2
1977	4·6
1978	5·3
1979	4·5
1980	4·5
1981	4·7

asked the Minister for Trade if there are any tariffs, quotas or any other trade barriers to the export of tin plate from the United Kingdom to the United States of America.

The export of tin plate to the United States of America is subject to a rate of customs duty of 4·7 per cent, ad valorem in the case of unclad tin plate and 9·3 per cent, ad valorem for clad tin plate, levied on the free on board price.Tin plate is also included in the recent EC arrangement for steel exports to the United States of America. The EC has been allocated a percentage share, based on traditional levels of exports, of the United States market for certain carbon steel products. The actual distribution amongst member States of export levels for these products is still under discussion.

asked the Minister for Trade if there are any tariffs, quotas or any other trade barriers to the export of titanium from the United Kingdom to the United States of America.

The export of titanium to the United States of America is currently subject to rates of customs duty ranging from nil up to 17·5 per cent, ad valorem on the free on board price. The actual duty levied is determined by the structure and composition of the product.There are no specific quotas on the import of titanium into the United States but under the United Kingdom Export of Goods (Control) Order 1981, schedule 1, part 1, group 3h, certain titanium products may not be exported to the United States of America or any other country.

asked the Minister for Trade how much public money is available for the current year for tourism projects under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969; and how this compares with the past five years in real terms.

A sum of £5 million has been made available to the English Tourist Board in 1982–83 for assistance to tourism projects in England under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969. The board spent the following sums on section 4 in the previous five years:

	£'000
1977–78	1,668
1978–79	1,350
1979–80	4,171
1980–81	4,278
1981–82	4,018

Using 1977–78 as the price base, the above sums are equivalent to the following in real terms:

	£'000
1978–79	1,222
1979–80	3,223
1980–81	2,796
1981–82	2,372
1982–83	2,746
* Allocation.

Section 4 assistance to projects in Scotland and Wales is a matter for the respective Secretaries of State.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will list the criteria and the priority he will now give for those tourism projects which will receive assistance under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969.

The criteria for eligibility for assistance under section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 include the viability of the project, its anticipated benefits to tourism and employment and the degree of need for assistance from public funds.In addition, the national tourist boards and their sponsoring Departments decide from time to time which types of project or which geographical areas should be given priority for assistance under section 4. Priorities for projects in England were most recently announced in my statement of 30 July about the extension of section 4 support to all parts of England. I then said that for hotel and guest house accommodation, the emphasis would be on encouraging projects involving the upgrading of existing accommodation rather than on new developments or expansion of bedroom capacity. Priority would also be given to projects designed to extend the tourism season and to projects to improve visitor facilities at important tourist attractions. I stressed that these guidelines did not rule out assistance to good projects of other types. As part of my tourism review, I am considering evidence on whether section 4 grants should not be directed more towards the development of tourist attraction.

asked the Minister for Trade why the Government are planning to grant export credit guarantee support for the sale to Indonesia of naval frigates, Sea Wolf missile launchers, armoured security vehicles and five more Hawk ground-attack aircraft.

It has been the policy of this and previous Administrations not to make public details of Export Credits Guarantee Department support for particular transactions.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make it his policy not to offer any assistance, including export credit guarantees, for military equipment sales to Indonesia, in view of the infringement of human rights in East Timor.

No. The Export Credits Guarantee Department will continue to support British exports on the basis of its assessment of the risks involved in each transaction.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on the working group of officials of the Governments of the United Kingdom and Norway established in June 1982 to investigate technical barriers to United Kingdom supply and service ships operating in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea whose report was expected before the end of 1982.

The report of the joint working group has just been submitted. As soon as I have considered it fully I intend to consult further with Mr. Skauge, the Norwegian Minister for Trade and Shipping, and will make a statement after that.

asked the Minister for Trade what representations he has received in the last 12 months about the misleading advertising of package tours; if he will give details of the representations in the Official Report; and if he will make a statement.

The Association of British Travel Agents made representations in January against the Trade Descriptions (Amendment) Bill as it affected holiday advertising. In addition, we have traced nine complaints over the last 12 months about allegedly misleading statements in particular holiday advertisements. Four were about inadequate description of hotel facilities; the others gave no precise details of the ground for complaint.

asked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hazel Grove on 16 December, what arrangements he makes to monitor the effectiveness of existing or future voluntary arrangements applied by Japanese industries to their exports; and if he is satisfied with their adequacy.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) if he will list the full-time occupation and relevant experience of each of the persons holding part-time appointments as members of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council;(2) if he will list the full-time occupation and relevant experience of each of the persons holding part-time appointments as members of the Overseas Projects Board.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will estimate the number of retail greengrocers at the most recent convenient date, and how the number has changed during the past five years.

It is estimated that there were 15,595 retail outlets owned by businesses above the VAT registration threshold classified as greengrocers and fruiterers in 1980 compared with 15,246 in 1976. However, the VAT threshold increased from £5,000 in 1976 to £13,500 in 1980. The sources of information are "Business Monitors SDA 25 Retailing 1978", appendix A, table 3, and 1980 table 3.

asked the Minister for Trade (1) how many workers employed by British companies in South Africa were paid below the minimum living level in June 1981; and what percentage this represents of all workers employed by these companies in South Africa;(2) when his Department will publish its summary report on the implementation of the European Economic Community code of conduct for firms with South African employees for the year ended June 1982.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade if his Department has received the report due under the European Economic Community code of conduct from Burmah Oil regarding levels of payment of the South African employees of its subsidiary Quinton Hazell; if so, how many are being paid by this latter company below the supplemented living level; and how this number compared with previous years.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade if he has received from Associated British Foods the report for the year ended April 1982 due from it under the European Economic Community code of conduct for companies operating in South Africa.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for Trade whether he has received a report by the Director General of Fair Trading on sections 21 and 25 of the Opticians Act 1958; and if he will make a statement.

The Director General of Fair Trading submitted his report to me on 30 November 1982. He has informed me that the report is to be published on 5 January 1983.

asked the Minister for Trade what decisions have been made following the Government's review of the nationalised industry consumer councils.

After full consultations with all concerned I am today publishing a departmental paper outlining a strategy for reform of the nationalised industry consumer councils. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.The Government are working in a number of ways to improve the performance of the nationalised industries and their responsiveness to consumer needs. The NICCs play an important role here by monitoring the quality and value for mony of the services the industries provide. I believe that they are needed now to speak up for the ordinary customer more than ever before. We have therefore decided to retain the essentials of the present NICC structure, based on independent councils for each industry manned primarily by volunteers. Our priorities are to give the councils a cleaner lead on how to tackle their job and to strengthen their relationship with the industries and with Government. To this end, practical guidelines for NICC operations will be prepared on the basis of proposals from the councils themselves and in consultation with the industries. This and other action to be set in hand now will be reinforced by legislation, when parliamentary time permits, to put the NICCs on a more up to date and more uniform statutory footing.

asked the Minister for Trade, pursuant to the reply of 29 July to the hon. Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins), how he proposed to wind up the aviation security fund.

In my written answer of 29 July to my hon. Friend the Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins) I said that the aviation security fund would be wound up with effect from 31 March 1983, and I promised that detailed arrangements would be announced later. I am now ready to announce these arrangements.

asked the Minister for Trade if he will review the progress of the operation of the British Midland Airways Heathrow to Glasgow route; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 14 December 1982, c. 67]: Following my right hon. and noble Friend's decision to uphold British Midland Airways' appeal for permission to fly in competition with British Airways and British Caledonian on this route, the airline commenced operations between Heathrow and Glasgow on 25 October.The progress of the operation is, of course, a matter for the management of the airline, but I understand that the load factor has progressively increased and flights are currently about 60 per cent. full, which is what the company in its evidence to the Civil Aviation Authority forecast for the first year of operation.Experience in these early days supports the Government's view that additional competition on the route would be beneficial, and that it was justified by the potential for the development of traffic. Passengers are now benefiting from the greater number of services available each day. Passengers are also benefiting from the fact that the advent of the new service has helped to keep down the general level of fares on this route.

asked the Minister for Trade how many company liquidations and bankruptcies have been declared in each county council and metropolitan county council area of England and Wales since May 1979; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 December 1982]: I regret that figures of company liquidations by individual area are not available.The nearest available information on bankruptcies is given in the following table. It gives numbers of bankruptcies handled by the High Court and the county courts having bankruptcy jurisdiction in each area for the calendar years 1979 to 1981. The figures relate to net cases administered and are given for complete years because the quarterly figures are less reliable and not on exactly the same basis.