Written Answers of 20 October 1981

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 October.

  Mr. Dormand
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 October.

  Mr. Moate
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 October.

  Mr. Temple-Morris
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 October.

  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 October.

  Mr. Robert Atkins
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 October.

  Mr. Aitken
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 October.

  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 October.

  Mr. Thomas Cox
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 October.

  Mr. Neubert
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 20 October.

  Mr. Stanbrook
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 October.

  Mr. Alan Clark
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 20 October.

  The Prime Minister:
  This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others, including one with the Romanian Foreign Minister. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Youth Unemployment
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list all those measures Her Majesty's Government have taken since 1 August to reduce youth unemployment.

  The Prime Minister:
  On 27 July I announced further measures which the Government are taking to help reduce youth unemployment, including the new young workers scheme. These are being introduced progressively. Since 1 August 1981 the number of young people covered by existing special measures has risen by more than 90,000.

  Perthshire
  Mr. Bill Walker
  asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Perthshire.
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  The Prime Minister:
  I have at present no plans to do so.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
  Mr. Arthur Lewis
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis; and when he expects to have a further meeting.

  Mr. Whitelaw:
  Yesterday; tomorrow.

  Mr. Barry Prosser
  Mr. Christopher Price
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now set up a public inquiry into the death of Mr. Barry Prosser in Winson Green prison, Birmingham, in 1980.

  Mr. Whitelaw:
  I understand that the matter is under consideration by the Attorney-General, and it would not be proper for me to comment further at this stage. I shall make a further statement as soon as possible.

ENERGY

  National Coal Board
  Mr. Chris Patten
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the average output per man in the National Coal Board in each of the last five years and at the latest date for which figures are available; and what are the comparable figures for output per man in coal mines in the United States of America, West Germany, France and Belgium.

  Mr. John Moore:
  Information on a consistent basis is readily available only for countries in the European Community and then only on the basis of output per man underground. The latest available information is given in the table which follows. The figures should be interpreted with caution since mining conditions vary widely in the different countries and there may be variations in definitions.

  Output Per Man-Hour Underground*

  Kilograms

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  United Kingdom

  363

  376

  385†

  384†

  Germany, Federal Republic of

  521

  533

  546

  539

  France

  325

  332

  337

  352

  Belgium

  283

  281

  276

  279

  * Figures for 1976 are not shown because the previous statistical series from Eurostat is not comparable.† These figures for the United Kingdom relate to 1979–80 and 1980–81. Because the National Coal Board changed the method of calculating productivity from April 1979, the figures are not comparable with those for 1977 and 1978.Source Eurostat Coal Monthly Bulletins, except for United Kingdom.

  Policy Studies Institute
  Mr. Field
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy on what date the Policy Studies Institute study into the fuel supply industries' code of practice will be completed; on

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  what date it will be published; what period of time will be allowed for comment between publication and any decisions; and what are the dates of meetings of the full review group of the study's sponsors between now and the publication of the study.

  Mr. Viggers
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what action he proposes to take in the light of the recently published report by the Policy Studies Institute on its review of the gas and electricity industries' codes of practice on the payment of bills; and if he will arrange for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.

  Mr. Mellor:
  I presided at a meeting on 13 October of the parties concerned in setting up the PSI review. The meeting decided on immediate publication of the study in order to give interested parties every opportunity to make their views known to the industries.
  The PSI report finds that in general the industries operate in accordance with the provisions of the code of practice and that breaches occur only occasionally and accidentally. But the report points to areas of the industries' debt collection procedures in which there is room for improvement.
  The industries have accordingly agreed to consider changes in the operation of the code in the light of the report. I have asked them to report back to me after consultation with the Gas and Electricity Consumers Councils by February 1982. The aim will be to introduce any changes to the code and its operation by March, when consumers will be receiving their main winter fuel bills. I shall maintain a close interest in the progress of the discussions on the code.
  For the present the gas and electricity industries will continue to stress to their staffs the need for strict observance of both the letter and the spirit of the code. In particular, attention will be paid to the need for the industries to offer repayment arrangements to people with fuel debts and to the availability of prepayment meters.
  I have arranged for a copy of the PSI report to be placed in the Library of the House.

DEFENCE

  American Service Personnel (Drugs)
  Mr. Arthur Lewis
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the official statement by the Government of the United States of America that large numbers of American Service men, including those overseas, are under the influence of drugs, if he will take whatever action is necessary, including legislation, to enable him to investigate the extent to which this is happening at American Service bases in the United Kingdom, especially those housing nuclear weapons.

  Mr. Blaker:
  No. The United States Forces in this country have a comprehensive programme to counter drug abuse and there are special screening procedures for personnel engaged in sensitive areas.

NATIONAL FINANCE

  European Community (Payments)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest total of the payments which the United Kingdom has received and paid into the EEC
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  since the United Kingdom joined the EEC; and if he will express the totals as a ratio and also as a net amount per day, including Saturdays and Sundays.

  Mr. Ridley:
  Gross payments made by the United Kingdom to the Community budget from 1 January 1973 to 30 June 1981 amounted to £7,676 million. Receipts from the Community budget in the same period amounted to £4,510 million in accordance with the following table. The difference expressed as a ratio is 1:7:1 and about £1 million as a net amount per day.
  After the 30 May 1980 agreement our net payments were dramatically reduced. The figures for receipts include £336.5 million paid in the first quarter of this year under the supplementary measures scheme and £210·5 million paid in January 1981 under the financial mechanism.

  £millions

  Gross Receipts Payments

  Receipts other then refunds

  Refunds

  Net Total

  1973

  181

  79

  —

  102

  1974

  181

  150

  —

  31

  1975

  342

  398

  —

  -56

  1976

  463

  296

  —

  167

  1977

  737

  368

  —

  369

  1978

  1,348

  544

  —

  804

  1979

  1,606

  659

  —

  947

  1980

  1,767

  963

  98

  706

  1981*

  1,051

  408

  547

  96

  Total

  7,676

  3,865

  645

  3,166

  * 1 January to 30 June.(Number of days between 1 January 1973 and 30 June 1981=3, 103)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the actual net payments made to the EEC in the year to date, and what were the comparable figures in the same period of each of the past eight years.

  Mr. Ridley:
  The United Kingdom made net payments to the EC budget totaling £96 million in the period 1 January to 30 June 1981. Comparable figures for each of the last eight years are shown in the following table.

  Net payments to the EC budget for the first six month of each year

  £ million

  1973

  72

  1974

  24

  1975

  -57

  1976

  61

  1977

  186

  1978

  434

  1979

  342

  1980

  346

  1981

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  Peers (Daily Allowance)
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total attendance claimed by members of the House of Lords in the latest year.

  Mr. Francis Pym:
  I have been asked to reply.
  Members of the House of Lords do not receive an attendance allowance, but they may claim reimbursement of expenses within specified daily limits. Those eligible

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  to make such claims may do so in respect of expenses actually and necessarily incurred in attending sittings of the House of Lords.
  The total sum paid in settlement of claims from Members of the House of Lords in the 1979–80 financial year, the latest year for which figures are available, was £501,500.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Non-departmental Public Bodies
  Mr. Philip Holland
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether further guidance is to be given to Departments about the implementation of the Government's policies towards non-departmental public bodies.

  Mr. Hayhoe:
  I am today publishing "Non-Departmental Public Bodies: A Guide for Departments". The guide emphasises the responsibilities of Departments to ensure that these bodies achieve the highest standards of effectiveness, efficiency and economy. To this end it discusses the systems of control and accountability required by Departments and also internally by non-departmental public bodies.
  I believe that by defining the regime under which these bodies operate, we can help them to be more effective in achieving the purposes for which they were established and in minimising calls upon the public purse.

SOCIAL SERVICES

  Mentally Handicapped Persons
  Mr. Ashley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in recent months in transferring patients from mental handicap hospitals to small community units.

  Mr. Fowler:
  The report of the review of mental handicap services since 1971—"Progress, Problems and Priorities", published last year—demonstrated the shifting balance of care from hospitals to residential homes and, while we have no precise numbers, I believe that residential provision for the mentally handicapped in small community units—including those provided by the Health Service—is continuing to increase. The total number of patients in mental handicap hospitals continues to fall. As I made clear in my speech at Blackpool last week, we intend that this shall continue to be a priority area.

  St. George's Hospital
  Mr. Thomas Cox
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the future of St. George's hospital.

  Dr. Vaughan:
  I cannot yet go beyond my previous replies on this subject. The possible future use of the site, which governs its sale value, is currently being considered by Westminster city council.

  Overseas Visitors (Medical Charges)
  Mr. Robert Atkins
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the progress of the scheme to charge tourists for using National Health Service facilities.
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  Mr. Fowler:
  I now expect to receive next month the report of the working party on hospital procedures announced in June. It was hoped to introduce the scheme early in 1982. This is still my intention.

  Benefits (Uprating)
  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the uprating of benefits in November.

  Mr. Rossi:
  Social security benefits are to be increased in the week beginning 23 November in accordance with the order and regulations which were approved by the House on 31 July.

  Mr. Ennals
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is still satisfied with his estimate that the year-on-year inflation rate at the time of the November benefit uprating will be 10 per cent.

  Mr. Fowler:
  It is now clear that the year-on-year increase in prices will be higher in November than was envisaged earlier this year. What is uncertain is by how much; we will not know this until December.

  Consultants (Contracts)
  Mr. Colin Shepherd
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had concerning whether consultants' contracts in the National Health Service should be held at regional or district level.

  Mr. Fowler:
  There have been some 845 representations from individuals and groups in the health services and elsewhere on this matter. Following these I have decided that regional health authorities and those districts designated for teaching will hold these contracts after 1 April 1982, and I have written to the chairmen of regional health authorities and the leaders of the professions informing them of this.

  Drugs (Assessment)
  Mr. McCrindle
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the time delays in new drug assessment by the Committee on Safety of Medicines.

  Dr. Vaughan:
  I am satisfied that the time taken by the Committee on Safety of Medicines to offer its advice to the licensing authority on product licence applications for new drugs is reasonable.

  Supplementary Benefit Claimants (Capital Ceiling)
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has had regarding the effect of the £2,000 ceiling of capital on supplementary benefit claimants and on the inclusion of the surrender value of insurance policies in the calculation of this ceiling.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about the £2,000 capital rule from people who have been directly affected by the change, from those representing them, from other interested organisations and from hon. Members. They have mainly been concerned with the level of the disregard and its sharper impact as compared with that of the

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  previous sliding scale. A small number of the representations related to the treatment of insurance policies, and these included representations from the Life Offices Association and the Industrial Life Offices Association. We were able to reassure these organisations that very few people were likely to be affected; subsequent experience has shown this to be the case.

  Unemployment and Mortality
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the recent progress of the research at Queen Mary college into the correlation between unemployment and mortality.

  Dr. Vaughan:
  The research team at Queen Mary college is examining the work of Professor Harvey Brenner, who has suggested a link between unemployment and mortality in Britain for the period 1936–1976. The work so far calls into question the validity of the statistical model used by Professor Brenner since it fails to take account of relevant factors such as improvements in diet and medical care which occurred during the period. The work also suggests that for other periods, for example 1922–1976, no statistically significant relationship between unemployment and mortality can be shown. Copies of the article in The Lancet in which the findings are discussed have been sent to the Social Services Committee.

  Disabled Persons (Benefits)
  Mr. Hardy
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to develop integration of benefits available for the disabled.
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  Mr. Rossi:
  The Government remain committed to the long-term aim of introducing a coherent system of benefits for disabled people. But, as we have made clear, there is no prospect of progress towards this objective until the economy has improved.

  General Practitioners (Retirement and Re-employment)
  Mr. Pavitt
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many general practitioners in the North West metropolitan regional health authority have taken 24 hours retirement and returned to medical practice drawing both remuneration and pension; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Vaughan:
  Data collected from all family practitioner committees in England as part of the review of the retirement arrangements for general practitioners are now complete and are being analysed by the Department. I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the information he requires becomes available.

  Allowances (Take-up)
  Mr. Leadbitter
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are drawing social security allowances for each category of allowance including supplementary benefit.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  The latest available information for Great Britain—except where otherwise stated—is as follows

  Benefit

  No. of recipients (Great Britain)

  Date of latest information

  Notes

  Attendance allowance

  295,000

  30 September 1980

  Estimate

  Child Benefit

  7,241,750

  22 July 1981

  Provisional

  Child's Special Allowance

  878

  31 December 1980

  Death Grant

  592,282

  —

  Number of awards in year ending 31 December 1980

  Family Income Supplement

  97,000

  31 December 1980

  Guardian's Allowance

  3,499

  31 December 1980

  Housewives' Non-Contributory

  44,700

  31 May 1980

  Invalidity Pension

  Industrial Injury Benefit

  36,900

  31 May 1980

  Industrial Death Benefit

  30,748

  30 June 1981

  Industrial Disablement Gratuity

  159,210

  —

  Number of awards in year ending 30 September 1979 excluding late awards but including overseas castes

  Industrial Disablement Pension

  197,850

  30 September 1979

  Includes overseas cases

  Ivalid Care Allowance

  6,949

  30 September 1981

  Invalidity Benefit

  614,500

  31 May 1980

  Includes overseas cases

  Maternity allowance

  114,650

  31 March 1980

  Estimate

  Maternity grant

  663,500

  —

  Number of awards in year ending 31 March 1980

  Mobility allowance

  203,600

  30 September 1981

  Includes special mobility allowance

  Non-contributory Invalidity Pension

  125,900

  31 May 1980

  One Parent Benefit

  464,125

  22 July 1981

  Provisional

  Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Misc.

  1,714

  30 September 1980

  Diseases

  Retirement Pension

  8,918,000

  28 November 1980

  Includes old person's pension and overseas cases

  Sickness Benefit

  384,000

  31 May 1980

  Includes overseas cases

  Supplementary allowance

  1,423,000

  3 December 1980

  Supplementary pension

  1,694,000

  3 December 1980

  Unemployment Benefit

  940,000

  12 February 1981

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  Benefit

  No. of recipients (Great Britain)

  Date of latest information

  Notes

  War Disablement Pension

  266,450

  26 December 1980

  Includes overseas cases

  War Widows Pension

  76,500

  26 December 1980

  Includes overseas cases

  Widow's Allowance

  35,000

  30 November 1979

  Estimate

  Widowed Mother's Allowance

  118,900

  30 November 1979

  Includes overseas cases

  Widows Pension

  333,400

  30 November 1979

  Includes overseas cases and age related pensions

  Workmen's Compensation

  4,291

  30 September 1980

  Elderly and Disabled Persons (Telephones)
  Mr. O'Halloran
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many elderly and disabled people are supplied with telephones by local authorities under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act; how many are entitled to such provision; and what steps he is taking to see that local authorities give priority to providing this service where necessary.

  Mr. Rossi:
  In the year ending 31 March 1980, local authorities supplied telephones in some 13,000 cases and at that date some 95,000 rentals were being paid. It is up to each local authority to assess the needs of individuals for this service and to make the necessary provision.

  Small Cars (Power Steering)
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the report of the MIRA study on the fitting of power steering into small cars has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rossi
  Yes. The study has shown that it would be technically feasible to fit conventional power assisted steering to a number of small and medium sized production cars. Copies of the report have been sent to the appropriate motor car manufacturers. The technical development committee of Motability which is currently undertaking research, financed by a research and development grant from our Department, into the development of a hand control system for production cars using modern electronic technology has been asked to consider the MIRA report as part of its continuing programme.

  Disabled Persons (Mobility)
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the survey on the different mobility problems of disabled people in urban and rural areas has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rossi
  There have been two studies. The first on urban areas was completed and published by the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation in 1978. The recent study on rural areas is near completion and we hope to have it shortly. It is to be published by RADAR and it is hoped that it will be available by the end of the year.

  Children's Wheelchairs
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the main conclusions of the report on children's wheelchairs mentioned in paragraph 35 of House of Commons Paper 401, "Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled 1980"; why it was decided that no further action should be taken; who made this decision; and if he will make a statement.
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  Mr. Rossi
  This development of children's wheelchairs was initiated by a consultant and helped financially by the Department. Primarily the aim was to enable easier propulsion, particularly for children with weaker arms by centring the propelling wheels; balance was maintained by adding a further two small wheels. Trials showed that there was some improvement in propulsion for weaker children but it was at the expense of the loss of sideways transfer—as the propelling wheel got in the way—more difficulty on slopes and some loss of facility in folding. Out of the normal processes of consideration a consensus emerged that few children would benefit from the development and most of these could be better helped with a powered wheelchair already available.

  Invalid Care Allowance
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the earnings limit for people in receipt of invalid care allowance; when this limit was fixed; to what amount it would need to be raised to keep pace with inflation; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rossi:
  The weekly earnings limit of £6 was fixed when the benefit was introduced in July 1976. To keep pace with inflation the earnings limit would need to be raised to £11.50. However, invalid care allowance is not intended to be a subsidy to earnings, even from limited part-time employment. To qualify for the allowance a person must be regularly and substantially engaged in caring for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week. Any marked increase in the earnings limit would change the nature of the benefit, and I have no plans for any increase.

  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many single women, single men and married men, respectively, are in receipt of the invalid care allowance; and what is the total cost on an annual basis.

  Mr. Rossi
  At 30 June 1981, there were about 3,300 single women—including widows—and 3,150 men in receipt of invalid care allowance. I regret that separate figures for single and married men are not available. The estimated cost for 1981–82 is £8 million.

  Geriatric Patients (Sandwell)
  Miss Boothroyd
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has discussed with the West Midlands regional health authority the reasons for the delay in the provision of long-stay accommodation for geriatric patients in the Sandwell area; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  I am fully aware of the work done by the West Midlands regional health authority in planning long-stay accommodation for geriatric patients in the Sandwell area. The provision of service facilities for

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  client groups is, however, a matter for health authorities to determine in the light of local and national priorities and available resources.

  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to amend section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 so that the Secretary of State is required to state whether he is satisfied with the research and development work carried out by each Minister of the Crown on which he is required to report to the House.

  Mr. Rossi:
  No, but I am always willing to listen to constructive criticism of the current research programmes or concrete suggestions for extending them.

  Dental Care
  Mrs. Renee Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consideration is being given to paying dentists a capitation fee for children regardless of the treatment given;
  (2) if he is satisfied that enough attention is being given to preventive as opposed to corrective dental care; and if he will make a statement;
  (3) what reviews there have been of dental strategy in 1981; if he will publish these; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Vaughan:
  The Dental Strategy Review Group's report "Towards Better Dental Health" was published on 22 September 1981. Among the many recommendations in the report was one advocating a voluntary capitation fee system for maintaining dental fitness of young children. The group saw this as part of an overall preventive dental strategy and I very much welcome the emphasis in the report on preventive dental care. We are consulting widely on the report, a copy of which is in the Library.

  Supplementary Benefit (School Leavers)
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations have been received over the changes in the payment of supplementary benefit to school leavers; whether he will now consider reverting to the former position over payments; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  Since the new scheme started we have received about 270 letters from hon. Members, educational, careers and local authority interests, and members of the public. There have also been some 20 parliamentary questions and an Adjournment debate on the subject. The matter is currently under consideration.

  Pharmacists Review Panel
  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 16 July, if he is yet able to make a further statement on the Pharmacists Review Panel and the references that he is putting to it.

  Dr. Vaughan:
  The membership of the Pharmacists Review Panel is now complete and consists of Mr. Edward Gibbons, solicitor, as chairman, with, as members, Mr. G. Carter, an accountant, Miss P. L. Cook, an economist,
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  Mr. J. G. Grindle, representing retail trade experience and Professor G. F. Thomason, an expert in industrial relations. The panel will shortly be asked to consider references on the subjects of profit and property costs in relation to pharmacies in contract with the National Health Service.

  Industrial Injuries Scheme
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce the result of the review of the industrial injuries scheme.

  Mr. Rossi
  The responses received to the Government's consultative document are still under consideration but I hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the near future.

  Social Security Benefits
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he proposes to reduce or eliminate discrimination of treatment between the sexes in the system of social security benefits.

  Mr. Rossi
  Changes in the treatment of men and women in social security which were made in the Social Security Act 1980 are due to come into effect in November 1983 and November 1984. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Department is also reviewing the household duties test for married women claiming non-contributory invalidity pension.

  Child Benefit
  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will restore child benefit to its level of purchasing power in April 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker
  No. Child benefit will be increased next month by 50p a week and this will restore its November 1980 value. We shall review the rate again next year in the normal way and in the context of the Budget strategy as a whole.

  Retirement Pension
  Mr. Gwilym Roberts
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest figures available for the net cost of reducing the pensionable age of men to 64, 63, 62, 61 and 60 years, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Rossi
  On the assumption that the numbers deferring retirement would be higher than is presently the case amongst men aged 65 to 69 years, that only two-thirds of the jobs vacated by men in employment retiring earlier were actually filled, and that of those jobs filled only three-quarters would be filled by persons on the unemployment register, the net cost to central Government funds for a full year and at average 1981–82 rates is estimated to be of the order of

  Reduction of pension age to

  Cost £ million

  64

  400

  63

  900

  62

  1,400

  61

  2,000

  60

  2,600

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  These estimates take account of the net cost to the national insurance fund, the loss of national insurance surcharge, National Health Service, redundancy fund and maternity pay funds income, a broad estimate of the loss of income tax revenue and a saving in supplementary benefit. In addition to the above costs there would be important financial implications for occupational pension schemes. The net cost would be higher with lower levels of unemployment.

  Mr. Rooker
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current purchasing power of the retirement pension compared to (a) November 1978 and (b) November 1979.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  The single person's basic retirement pension at September 1981 is £27·15. Taking account of movements in the general index of retail prices up to September 1981, the value of the pension rates introduced in November 1978 and 1979 would, at September 1981 prices, be £28·99 and £29·50 respectively.

  Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979
  Mr. Foulkes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the operation of the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979.

  Dr. Vaughan:
  I am satisfied that the scheme provided for by the Act is being operated in the way that Parliament intended.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Mr. Josif Noll
  Mr. Dobson
  asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make representations to the Romanian Government about the imprisonment of Mr. Josif Noll, a Romanian of German extraction who was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for attempting to leave Romania without official permission, in contravention of his fundamental right under article 13(2) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

  Mr. Humphrey Atkins:
  We frequently take suitable opportunities to make clear to other Governments our strong views on matters affecting individual rights, for instance, in the context of the implementation of the Helsinki Final Act. But it is not in general our policy to make public the details of individual approaches since in our experience that can undermine the effectiveness of our representations.

  Consular Officers (Legal Advice)
  Mr. Michael Marshall
  asked the Lord Privy Seal to what extent consular officers are able to offer legal advice or assistance to inquirers overseas.

  Mr. Luce:
  Consular officers are not qualified to give legal advice; it is in any event no part of the function of Government to do so. However, posts are normally able to provide a list of lawyers practising locally who will, of course, be familiar with local law and procedures.

  Foreign Affairs Council
  Mr. Lee
  asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 14 September.
  104
  Mr. Humphrey Atkins:
  My right hon. and noble Friend chaired the 14 September Council. My hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Oxon (Mr. Hurd) represented Her Majesty's Government.

  The Council discussed the implementation of the decision of the EC/Cyprus Association Council on 24 November 1980 that negotiations should take place this year on a new trade regime between the European Community and Cyprus to cover the years 1982 and 1983. No decisions were taken and the Council will consider the matter again at its meeting on 26 and 27 October.

  Ministers discussed the Community's position in preparation for the next ministerial meeting with Spain in the context of the negotiations for Spain's accession to the Community. Agreement was reached on some important elements.

  There was a brief review of recent international developments and of the prospects for the Cancun summit. Italian ideas on food and agriculture received a general welcome, and further papers on this subject will be submitted by the Commission. The Council agreed on a management regulation for the Community's programme of food aid for developing countries. The regulation should help improve the administration and effectiveness of the European Community's large food aid programme. The text agreed will now be considered by the European Parliament.

  Ministers also discussed the implications for the Community of the recent establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council and agreed that preliminary informal contact would be established with a view to considering the scope for co-operation.

  The Council took note of a statement by the United Kingdom Presidency on the political importance of agreeing a mandate for negotiations for a possible accession by the Community to the International Sugar Agreement, and discussed the state of negotiations with supplier countries on imports of manioc into the European Community.

  The Council took note of statements made by a number of member States, including the United Kingdom, stressing the political importance of the Community's relationship with Yugoslavia. The Council expressed the hope that negotiations with Yugoslavia, due to begin later in September, on a protocol to adapt the 1980 EC/ Yugoslavia co-operation agreement to take account of Greek accession to the Community would be speedily concluded.

  Finally, the Council had a first discussion of the issues raised in the Commission's report on the 30 May 1980 mandate. All member States set out their initial positions on the mandate. For the United Kingdom, my hon. Friend emphasised the need to give a real impetus to the Community's development by improving existing policies and developing new ones; the need for improvements in the common agricultural policy, with a view to curtailing the rate of growth in expenditure on it; the importance of maintaining the 1 per cent. VAT ceiling; and the need for the Community to take conscious decisions on how the budget should affect individual member States with the aim of ensuring a defensible pattern of net contributions and receipts.

  The Council agreed that future discussions should proceed in parallel on the three broad areas identified in the Commission's report: development of Community policies—other than the CAP—improvements to the CAP,

  105
  and the question of a budgetary corrective mechanism. The arrangements for further discussions in the period leading up to the European Council meeting on 26–27 November were approved.

  Passports
  Mr. Cyril Smith
  asked the Lord Privy Seal how many applications for cash refunds in respect of visitors' passports which were charged for during the unavailability of full passports during the recent Civil Service dispute were received up to 31 July 1981; and whether he will consider making refunds for the unexpired period of the visitors' passports concerned.

  Mr. Luce:
  No statistics are available of the number of inquiries about refunds of fees for British visitors' passports which were obtained because applications for standard passports had been delayed by industrial action at the passport offices. The statutory fee for a visitor's passport does no more than cover the cost of issue of the document and is not related to its period of validity. Refunds cannot, therefore, be authorised in respect to the remaining period of validity of British visitors' passports that are replaced by standard passports.

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT

  Inter-American Development Bank
  Mr. Hooley
  asked the Lord Privy Seal whether the United Kingdom is represented on the governing body of the Inter-American Development Bank; and, if not, by what means Her Majesty's Government are able to influence the allocation of British aid funds channelled through that bank.

  Mr. Hurd:
  Yes. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development is the United Kingdom's governor for the bank. We are also represented on the board of directors, together with seven other non-regional members with whom we form a single constituency, by an executive director.

  Mr. Hooley
  asked the Lord Privy Seal what allocations have been made from the British aid programme in 1979, 1980 and 1981 to the Inter-American Development Bank; and what information he has as to disbursements by the bank during that period to Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador.

  Mr. Hurd:
  The United Kingdom disbursed £6·098 million in 1979 and £7·004 million in 1980 to the bank. It is not yet possible to indicate how much will be disbursed in 1981.

  Cuba is not a member of the Bank. Disbursements to the other three countries from the Bank's funds to which the United Kingdom now contributes were as follows:

  1979 £ million

  1980 £ million

  El Salvador

  11·8

  9·7

  Guatemala

  13·6

  14·5

  Nicaragua

  13·0

  16·9

  Disbursements for 1981 will not be available until the bank's 1981 annual report is published early next year.
  106

TRADE

  South Africa
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of trade between the United Kingdom and South Africa for the financial years 1970–71 to 1980–81, broken down into visible and invisible trade.

  Mr. Peter Rees:
  Estimates of the United Kingdom's total invisible transactions with South Africa are not available, nor are details of visible trade in the financial year 1980–81. The value of visible trade in the earlier years in question was as follows:

  £ million

  Financial year

  United Kingdom Imports cif

  United Kingdom Exports fob

  1970–71

  252.87

  356.42

  1971–72

  263.42

  371.83

  1972–73

  321.83

  312.32

  1973–74

  440.59

  385.62

  1974–75

  598.70

  586.51

  1975–76

  618.60

  671.40

  1976–77

  820.38

  599.67

  1977–78

  993.79

  584.51

  1978–79

  831.43

  643.18

  1979–80

  655.65

  779.64

  Note: All figures are on the current (1981) statistical basis, seasonally adjusted.

  Manufactures
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what surplus or deficit occurred in the United Kingdom's trade in manufactures with the EEC and with the rest of the world, respectively, in the period from the beginning of 1981 to the most recent date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures, respectively, in the same period of each of the previous 16 years;
  (2) if he will list in the Official Report the five nations with which the United Kingdom had the largest positive balance of trade in manufactures in 1972 and 1980, respectively; and if he will also publish a table showing the five countries with which the United Kingdom had the largest negative balance of trade in manufactures in these years, respectively.

  Mr. Peter Rees:
  I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade by what percentage the United Kingdom deficit in trade in manufactures with West Germany has increased or decreased since 1972.

  Mr. Peter Rees:
  The United Kingdom's crude deficit on trade in manufactures with the Federal Republic of Germany increased from £0·3 billion in 1972 to £2 billion in 1980. This is a change of about 550 per cent. However, the ratio of exports to imports for this trade£which makes some allowance for inflation£ showed little change at around 60 per cent. in both years.

  Trade Promotion (Departmental Expenditure)
  Sir David Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his latest estimate of his Department's expenditure

  107
  for 1981–82 in respect of trade promotion and in support of public sector industry and private industry, respectively.

  Mr. Biffen [pursuant to his reply, 19 October 1981]:
  Preliminary estimates of my Department's figures are as follows

  £ million

  Trade Promotion

  27·8

  Support for the public sector

  32·4

  Support for the private sector

  61·4

  INDUSTRY
  High Technology Industries
  Mr. Chris Patten
  asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much financial assistance, including provision for training, has been given to high technology industries in each of the last five years; what is the expected level of assistance in 1981; and what are the comparable figures for the United States of America, West Germany, France and Japan.

  Mr. Patrick Jenkin:
  In each of the last five financial years the Department of Industry's financial assistance to high technology industries, excluding payments of regional grants and selective assistance under the Industry Act 1972, amounted to

  1980 survey prices * £ million

  1976–77

  332

  1977–78

  205

  1978–79

  254

  1979–80

  318

  1980–81

  329

  * This includes scientific and technological support, part of NEB assistance and project assistance in the aerospace sector.Source: "The Government's Expenditure Plans"; Cmnd 8175.
  The level of such assistance in 1981–82 is expected to be £385 million—in 1980 survey prices. Some provision for training is included in the above figures but the Department of Employment is the main source for such funding.

  Assistance to high technology industries in the form of regional development grants and selective assistance under the Industry Act 1972, amounted to:

  Current prices £ million

  1976–77

  171

  1977–78

  170

  1978–79

  217

  1979–80

  219

  1980–81

  282

  1980–81

  282

  Sources: Annual Reports of the Industry Act 1972.Department of Industry.
  The RDG estimates do not include aerospace but it is thought that RDG expenditure in this sector is relatively low.

  No comparable figures on the above basis are available for the United States of America, West Germany, France and Japan.
  108

  British Telecom
  Mr. Chris Patten
  asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the increase in productivity achieved in the telecommunications division of the Post Office in each of the last five years; and what increase has been achieved by British Telecom at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. Wakeham:
  The annual productivity increase of the telecommunications division of the Post Office measured by the increase in real sales income per employee in the last five years is as follows:

  Productivity Increase (per employee)

  Year

  per cent.

  1976–77

  8·6

  1977–78

  11·4

  1978–79

  7·3

  1979–80

  3·6

  1980–81

  1·6

  There are no more recent figures.

  British Shipbuilders
  Mr. Chris Patten
  asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the average output per man in British Shipbuilders' main shipyards in each year since nationalisation and at the latest date for which figures are available; and what are the comparable figures for major shipyards in Japan, Korea, Sweden, Brazil, the United States of America, West Germany and France.

  Mr. Norman Lamont:
  The following table gives throughput per employee figures for British Shipbuilders' merchant yards. Information about throughput per employee at individual British Shipbuilders' yards is commercially confidential. Comparable information about overseas yards is not available. Throughput per man figures are affected both by changes in productivity and changes in the industry's work load and, during the period covered by the table, the loading of British Shipbuilders' yards has been affected by the shipbuilding recession.

  Throughput per employee year in merchant yards

  Year

  Compensated gross registered tons

  1978

  15·3

  1979

  13·2

  1980

  15·0

  Source:British Shipbuilders.Note:Throughput is completions allocated according to man hours worked per quarter.

  British Leyland (Chairman's Salary)
  Mr. Cadbury
  asked the Secretary of State for Industry what will have been the average annual increase in the cost to British Leyland of Sir Michael Edwardes' salary and pension contribution over the period of his chairmanship of the company.

  Mr. Patrick Jenkin:
  The cost to BL of Sir Michael Edwardes' remuneration will have increased at an annual

  109
  rate of 5·1 per cent. compound over the five year period of his service, excluding early retirement arrangements. BL's auditors have verified this figure.

  EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
  School Leavers
  Dr. Edmund Marshall
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of pupils entitled to leave school in England at Easter 1981 did so then.

  Dr. Boyson:
  This information is not yet available.

  EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

    Education Expenditure
    Mr. Chris Patten
    asked the Secretary of State for Education, and Science what was the level of education spending per child in 1979–80 and 1980–81; and what is the expected level in the current financial year.

    Dr. Boyson:
    The net institutional recurrent expenditure per primary and secondary pupil in 1979–80 and the corresponding sum allowed for in the Government's expenditure plans for 1980–81 and 1981–82, are as follows—at 1980 survey prices:

    1979–80 £

    1980–81 £

    1981–82 £

    Primary

    422

    429

    427

    Secondary

    601

    613

    609

    Private Education
    Mr. Hill
    asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children are educated outside the State education system; and what would be the cost to the Exchequer if they were educated within the State system.

    Dr. Boyson
    There were about 527,000 pupils in independent schools in England in January 1981. The average recurrent cost of educating that number of pupils in maintained schools is nearly £400 million a year at current prices. There would also be the initial capital costs of providing additional school places: depending on the geographical distribution of the pupils concerned and the extent to which currently surplus school places could be used, those could amount to around £2,000 million.

  Independent Schools (Teachers' Pensions)
  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 16 July, if he is yet ready to bring forward proposals to charge independent schools for membership of the national teachers pension fund.

  Dr. Boyson:
  My right hon. Friend will address himself to this issue as soon as possible.

  University Graduates (Technology)
  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East on 16 July, if he is now able to list all those universities which had students graduating from them in technological subjects in 1980, with the numbers involved; and what information there is on what percentage of them in each case subsequently got jobs.
  110
  Mr. Waldegrave:
  The following table gives the total number of first and higher degree graduates in engineering and technology from each university in the United Kingdom during the academic year 1979–80. Information is collected in respect of the first known destination of these graduates between graduation and 31 December 1980. Not all graduates will seek employment directly, many will enter further education, while overseas graduates may return home. For all universities together, 64 per cent. of the first degree and 42 per cent. of the higher degree graduates were in employment by 31 December 1980. However, the corresponding percentages, excluding those entering further education or students from overseas returning home, were 92 per cent. and 97 per cent. respectively. It has not in the past been the policy of the University Grants Committee to disclose such information for individual universities. However, I am informed that its policy committee is to consider later this month whether to make this information available in the future. I shall write to the hon. Member in due course when its decision has been made.

  Graduates in engineering and technology from universities in the United Kingdom—1979–80

  University or College

  First Degree

  Higher Degree

  Aston

  526

  203

  Bath

  233

  28

  Birmingham

  374

  190

  Bradford

  290

  133

  Bristol

  161

  10

  Brunel

  173

  80

  Cambridge

  359

  86

  City

  281

  66

  Durham

  59

  2

  East Anglia

  —

  4

  Essex

  74

  38

  Exeter

  62

  5

  Hull

  22

  1

  Keele

  —

  —

  Kent

  53

  36

  Lancaster

  53

  31

  Leeds

  577

  213

  Leicester

  61

  8

  Liverpool

  267

  44

  London Graduate School of Business Studies

  —

  —

  London University

  821

  561

  Loughborough

  438

  140

  Manchester Business School

  —

  —

  Manchester

  260

  49

  University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology

  353

  268

  Newcastle

  307

  119

  Nottingham

  327

  58

  Oxford

  113

  46

  Reading

  183

  76

  Salford

  481

  95

  Sheffield

  226

  140

  Southampton

  260

  146

  Surrey

  270

  93

  Sussex

  78

  22

  Warwick

  68

  21

  York

  —

  —

  Aberystwyth U.C.

  2

  Bangor U.C.

  52

  12

  Cardiff U.C.

  191

  33

  St. David's Lampeter

  —

  —

  Swansea U.C.

  179

  42

  Welsh National School of Medicine

  —

  —

  University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology

  139

  20

  Aberdeen

  56

  6

  Dundee

  69

  20

  111

  University or College

  First Degree

  Higher Degree

  Edinburgh

  89

  9

  Glasgow

  183

  22

  Heriot-Watt

  222

  49

  St. Andrews

  —

  —

  Stirling

  5

  17

  Strathclyde

  373

  100

  Queen's Belfast

  137

  —

  Ulster Coleraine

  —

  —

EMPLOYMENT

  Manufacturing Industry
  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of those persons normally engaged in manufacturing industry are currently employed; and what is the percentage of those currently engaged in manufacturing industry as a percentage of total employment.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  The information is not available in the form requested.

  However, it is estimated that in Great Britain, at June 1981, about 89 per cent. of manufacturing employees—defined as those, at that date, employed in manufacturing industries plus the unemployed who last worked in those industries—were in employment. At that date 29 per cent. of all employees in employment were engaged in manufacturing industries.

  Work Experience on Employers' Premises
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether steps are being taken by the special programmes division of the Manpower Services Commission to persuade large firms to sponsor more places on the work experience on employers' premises part of the youth opportunities programme.

  Mr. Alison:
  The Manpower Services Commission's special programmes division has always encouraged large companies to expand their participation in the youth opportunities programme. Large sponsors are constantly being urged to offer more work experience places.

  Disabled Persons (Occupational Aids)
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in setting up a computer-based data bank of occupational aids for disabled people following research by the Production Engineering Research. Association; and if he will make a statememt.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  West Midlands (Statistics)
  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people aged 20 and under in (a) Wolverhampton and (h) the West Midlands have never had a job; and what were the comparable figures for April 1979.

  Mr. Alison:
  At 8 October 1981 the provisional number of registered unemployed young people aged 18 and under
  112
  in the Wolverhampton employment office area and the West Midlands region who had not entered employment since completing full-time education was 2,788 and 31,028 respectively. The corresponding figures at April 1979 were 330 and 2,621, respectively. Information for the precise age range requested is not available.

  The April 1979 count excluded Easter school leavers. In contrast, October figures include many of the large number of school leavers who register each summer.

  The Government have expanded the youth opportunities programme, which exists to help unemployed young people with appropriate training and work experience, to provide 550,000 places in the current financial year.

  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the industries in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands in which there have been increases in unemployment since May 1979; and if he will give the percentage increase.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment numbers and rate amongst ethnic minorities in (a) Wolverhampton and (b) the West Midlands; and what were the comparable figures for April 1979.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by ethnic origin in February, May, August and November.

  The following is the information for May 1979 and August 1981. Figures for August are normally higher in any one year than in May, partly because of the registration of summer school leavers.

  Unemployed ethnic minority group workers*

  May 1979

  August 1981

  Wolverhampton employment Office area

  1,220

  3,079

  West Midlands

  10,558

  30,740

  * Unemployed people born in, or whose parents were born in, the New Commonwealth and Pakistan.
  Unemployment rates for ethnic minorities cannot be calculated as there are no estimates available of the numbers of employees for this group of workers.

  Wolverhampton (Employment and Training Measures)
  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in Wolverhampton are covered by the special employment and training measures at the latest date.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  The information requested is given in the following schedule:

  Special Employment and Training Measures Wolverhampton

  Measures

  Numbers Supported

  Temporary short time working compensation scheme

  *1,476

  Job release scheme

  †172

  Youth opportunities programme

  †2,100

  Community enterprise programme

  **400

  Community industry

  ††Not known

  113 NB Unless otherwise stated, the figures relate to the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area which comprises Wolverhampton, Bilston and Wednesfield.Notes:* The figure relates to the number of potentially redundant employees who were supported under the TSTWCS at the end of September.†Number supported at 13 October 1981.† The figure relates to the number of entrants to the programme between 1 April 1981 and 31 August 1981 in the Wolverhampton local authority district.** The figure comprises the number of people who were on projects funded under the programme at the end of August in the Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton local authority districts.†† At present there is no community industry unit in Wolverhampton. The nearest units are in Birmingham and Coventry-Nuneaton where there may be young people from Wolverhampton participating in the programme.

  Wolverhampton (Statistics)
  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest unemployment number and rate amongst males and females in Wolverhampton; and how this compares with May 1979.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

  Wolverhampton (Redundancies)
  Mrs. Renée Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified to his Department in Wolverhampton for each month since May 1979.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  There are no comprehensive statistics of redundancies. The numbers of redundancies, involving 10 or more employees, reported to the Manpower Services Commission as due to occur in the Wolverhampton travel-to-work area between May 1979 and September 1981 are as follows:

  Month

  1979*

  1980

  1981†

  January

  —

  —

  400

  February

  —

  210

  559

  March

  —

  29

  498

  April

  —

  1,288

  205

  May

  —

  157

  388

  June

  1,800

  377

  235

  July

  —

  343

  104

  August

  251

  223

  †156

  September

  —

  357

  †88

  October

  —

  751

  —

  November

  —

  330

  —

  December

  313

  410

  —

  Notes:* Prior to January 1980 figures relate to redundancies notified within the month concerned rather than redundancies taking place in the month. † Figures for February 1981 and later are not fully comparable with those for January 1981 and earlier because of improvements in data collection designed to secure a better coverage of reported redundancies which are actually expected to take place.† Provisional.

  Apprenticeships
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage of school leavers during 1980 and so far in 1981 who obtained apprenticeships for a period of three years and more; and if he will give figures for 1977, 1978 and 1979.

  Mr. Alison:
  The information is not available in the form requested.
  114
  However, from results of a survey started in 1978 it is estimated that in England and Wales about a quarter of 16-year-olds entering employment, both in 1978 and 1979, had a first job that involved an apprenticeship or similar skilled training lasting two years or more. Information for 1980 is not yet available.

  Unemployment Statistics (International Comparisons)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current unemployment percentages in Austria, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, respectively; and what were the comparable percentages at the same time in the year before the United Kingdom joined the EEC.

  Mr. Alison:
  The unemployment rates for August 1972 and August 1981, the latest available common date for the countries requested, are given below. The rates for different countries are not directly comparable because of differences in concepts and coverage.

  August 1972

  August 1981

  Austria*

  1·3

  1·4

  Norway*

  0·6

  1·6

  Swedent†

  3·0

  2·6

  Switzerland*

  0·1

  0·2

  United Kingdom*

  3·8

  12·2

  * Registered unemployed as a percentage of total employees.† Labour force survey figures as a percentage of total labour force. Source OECD main Economic Indicators—except United Kingdom, supplemented by labour attache reports, etc.

  Mobility of Labour
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Southend, East on 3 July, Official Report, cols. 524—5, whether he can make an assessment of the effect on unemployment in the United Kingdom of the admission of Spain and Portugal to the European Economic Community with their nationals enjoying normal freedom of movement and employment under European Economic Community rules.

  Mr. Alison:
  As my hon. Friend indicated in his reply on 3 July, it is not possible to quantify with certainty the employment effects of membership of the European Community. This applies equally to the future effect of the free movement of labour provisions in relation to Community enlargement. The employment effects of Spanish and Portuguese accession will in any case to some extent depend on a number of factors which have yet to be determined, including the timing of entry and the terms of the Treaty of Accession.

  European Community (Statistics)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Southend, East on 3 February, Official Report, c. 110, he will outline the main reasons why Norway and Austria have suffered from a substantially lower percentage increase in unemployment compared with the United Kingdom and other EEC countries since 1972; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alison:
  I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend on 3 February.
  115
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the main reasons for the United Kingdom suffering from a more substantial percentage increase in unemployment than other members of the EEC since 1972; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Alison:
  The United Kingdom has in fact since 1972 experienced a smaller percentage increase in unemployment than several other member States of the European Community. Circumstances vary a good deal between individual member States; the United Kingdom's unemployment problems largely reflect our lack of competitiveness as well as the effects of world-wide recession.

  Mr. Teddy
  Taylor asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will list the main positive and negative factors which have influenced unemployment levels in Great Britain in consequence of United Kingdom membership of the EEC in 1973; and if he will make a statement;
  (2) if the information available to him indicates that the net effect of the United Kingdom's joining the EEC on unemployment levels since 1973 has been positive or negative.

  Mr. Alison:
  Levels of unemployment in Great Britain since 1973 have been influenced by many factors. Some important factors, such as increases in oil prices, are quite independent of Community membership. It would be neither possible nor realistic to isolate from all influences bearing on employment any which are solely due to our membership of the European Community and to quantify or assign relative weights to them. Factors influencing employment are interactive and it is impossible to demonstrate their effects separately, particularly in relation to the entirely hypothetical situation of the United Kingdom having remained outside the European Community.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Hannam
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were removed from the disabled persons register from October 1979 to October 1980 because they were classified as unable to work; and what percentage this was of the total register.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

  Youth Employment (Statistics)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of males and females, under 20 years of age, respectively, are finding employment after participating in a youth opportunities programme scheme at the latest available date in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Alison:
  I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

SCOTLAND

  Dundee (Depopulation)
  Mr. Gordon Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take measures to reverse the continued
  116
  movement of population out of the city of Dundee; and if he will take steps to encourage young people in particular to stay in the city by improved job provision.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  Dundee enjoys special development area status whereby maximum incentives are available to encourage the establishment and expansion of industry and the Scottish Development Agency is undertaking a major development programme in the City. Young people in the city of Dundee will benefit, in addition, from the expansion of the Government's programme of special employment measures announced on 27 July, which included a further major allocation of resources to the youth opportunities programme and other schemes aimed at alleviating unemployment amongst the young and improving the opportunities available to them to undertake skill training or further education.

  Import Penetration
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on import penetration of the manufacturing sector of the Scottish economy.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  Statistics of imports of foreign goods into Scotland are not kept separately. Current figures for the United Kingdom are not available because of the recent Civil Service dispute.

  Certain sectors of the economy have indeed suffered from growth in imports as a direct result of the loss of competitiveness by United Kingdom manufacturers. The Government's fiscal and economic policies are designed to help United Kingdom industry reverse this trend and to create a climate in which our industry can succeed in domestic and overseas markets.

  Science Pupils
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number and percentage of girls who do not study science after the age of 14 years at school.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  Information based on the age of pupils is not available. From a sample survey of school leavers from session 1975–76, it is estimated that 18,600, or 42 per cent. of girls ceased to study the main sciences, that is physics, chemistry and biology, after the second year of secondary education.

  Colleges of Education (Places)
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of both men and women (a) applying for and(b) accepting places at colleges of education in each of the past five years; and if he will express these figures in percentage terms.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  The available information in relation to full-time pre-service teacher-training courses is as follows:

  Session

  (a) Number of applications* (as at 1 June each year)

  (b) Number of students taking up places

  Percentage (b) of (a)

  1976–77

  8,850

  4,360

  49

  1977–78

  6,200

  2,430

  39

  117

  Session

  (a) Number of applications* (as at 1 June each year)

  (b) Number students taking up places

  (b) Percentage (b) of (a)

  1978–79

  5,998

  2,401

  40

  1979—80

  6,759

  2,959

  44

  1980–81

  6,065

  2,354

  39

  * Separate figures for men and women are not available.

  Teaching Posts (Women)
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the following posts are held by women (a) primary school heads, (b) all promoted posts in secondary schools and (c) secondary school heads.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  At September 1979, the latest date for which the information is available, the percentage of the following posts in education authority schools that were held by women were:

  per cent.

  (a) primary school headteachers

  50·6

  (b) all promoted posts in secondary schools

  28·9

  (c) secondary school headteachers

  3·2

  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will express in percentage terms the number of women employed in the following sectors (a) full-time nursery teaching staff, (b) primary school teaching staff, (c) secondary teaching staff, (d) lecturers in colleges of education and (e) lecturers in central institutions.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  On the dates indicated the percentages of women in each of the five sectors were as follows:

  per cent.

  (a) Full-time nursery teaching staff

  99·7*

  (b) All primary teaching staff

  88·7*

  (c) All secondary teaching staff

  43·9*

  (d) Full-time lecturers in colleges of education

  32·9†

  (e) Full-time lecturers in central institutions

  17·2†

  118

  1975–76

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  Scotland

  14

  17

  21

  23

  25

  England

  11

  15

  17

  18

  20

  Wales

  26

  28

  —

  30

  32

  Community Enterprise Programme (Lothian)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were covered by the community enterprise programme in the Lothian region in June 1981.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  There were 394 people taking part in community enterprise programme schemes in Lothian region in June 1981.

  Short-time Working Compensation Scheme (Lothian Region)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were covered by the temporary short-time working compensation scheme in the Lothian region in each June since the scheme started.
  * At September 1979.† At September 1980.

  Psychiatrically Disturbed Children
  Mr. Gordon Wilson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that resources are available for research into the incidence of psychiatric disturbance among children in substitute care in institutions—outwith the list D school system—to assess their treatment needs and to determine staffing and other resource requirements.

  Mr. Allan Stewart:
  Applications for Government funding of research projects are considered on their merits and on the availability of resources within planned budgets. The treatment needs of children in care and the staffing and other resource requirements involved are the responsibility of the local authority or other governing body of the appropriate social work establishment.

  Nursery Education
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing the percentage of children receiving nursery education in Scotland below the age of five years in each of the past five years; and how this compares with England, Wales and other European Economic Community countries and Sweden and Norway.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  Information in the form requested is not readily available for European Economic Community countries, Sweden or Norway and could not be provided except at disproportionate cost. Total numbers of pupils receiving pre-school training in European countries are given in the "Eurostat— Education and Training Statistics" and in the "Educational Statistics in OECD Member Countries", copies of which are available in the Library.

  The following table shows children below the age of 5 receiving nursery education from education authorities in Scotland, England and Wales, expressed as a percentage of the total 3 and 4-year-old home population.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  The number of potentially redundant employees in Lothian region covered by applications current in June of each year was as follows:

  June

  Number

  1979

  118

  1980

  539

  1981

  2,161

  Vacancies (Edinburgh)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many notified vacancies there were in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in each June of the past three years.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  The information is set out in the following table.
  119

  Number of vacancies notified to

  Employment Offices

  Careers Offices

  June 1979

  3,161

  276

  June 1980

  2,931

  144

  June 1981

  1,815

  48

  Notes:1. The figures are not a measure of total vacancies but represent only the number of vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and remaining unfilled on the day of the count.2. Because of possible duplication the two series should not be added together.

  Unemployed Persons (Edinburgh)
  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of people were registered as unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in June of the past three years; and what were the corresponding figures for males, females and young people, respectively.

  Total registered unemployed

  EO Area

  July 1979

  Males 18 and over

  Females 18 and over

  Young people under 18

  Total

  Edinburgh (1)

  1,670

  1,193

  1,521

  4,384

  Edinburgh (2)

  3,108

  821

  93

  4,022

  Edinburgh (3)

  419

  286

  13

  718

  Leith

  2,000

  609

  88

  2,697

  Portobello

  1,165

  361

  80

  1,606

  Dalkeith

  741

  347

  358

  1,446

  Loanhead

  416

  189

  10

  615

  Musselburgh

  633

  354

  290

  1,277

  Penicuick

  150

  167

  75

  392

  Tranent

  244

  111

  8

  363

  Total

  10,546

  4,438

  2,536

  17,520

  EO Area

  July 1980

  Males 18 and over

  Females 18 and over

  Young People under 18

  Total

  Edinburgh (1)

  1,933

  Edinburgh (2)

  3,555

  1,069

  93

  4,717

  Edinburgh (3)

  514

  302

  22

  838

  Leith

  2,271

  706

  118

  3,095

  Portobello

  1,416

  432

  125

  1,973

  Dalkeith

  908

  459

  423

  1,790

  Loanhead

  431

  157

  17

  605

  Musselburgh

  773

  332

  372

  1,477

  Penicuick

  210

  199

  128

  537

  Tranent

  320

  165

  13

  498

  Total

  12,331

  5,035

  3,273

  20,639

  EO Area

  July 1981

  Males 18 and over

  Young people under

  Total

  Edinburgh (1)

  2,838

  1,714

  1,896

  6,448

  Edinburgh (2)

  5,057

  1,644

  104

  6,805

  Edinburgh (3)

  757

  482

  34

  1,273

  Leith

  3,163

  972

  119

  4254

  Portobello

  2,101

  569

  152

  2,822

  Dalkeith

  1,433

  629

  454

  2,516

  Loanhead

  675

  208

  19

  902

  Musselburgh

  1,268

  529

  406

  2,203

  Penicuick

  327

  216

  125

  668

  Tranent

  562

  238

  25

  825

  Total

  18,181

  7,201

  3,334

  28,716

  120
  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  Percentage unemployment rates for males, females and total registered unemployed in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area are set out in the following table. It is not possible to calculate percentage rates for particular age groups.

  Percentage rates

  Males

  Females

  Total

  June 1979

  7·4

  4·1

  5·9

  June 1980

  8·4

  4·7

  6·8

  June 1981

  11·8

  6·2

  9·3

  Mr. Strang
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were registered as unemployed in each employment exchange in the Edinburgh travel-to-work area in June of the past three years; and what were the corresponding numbers of males, females and young people, respectively.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  The information is not available in the precise form requested. An age analysis of the unemployment register is carried out quarterly in January, April, July and October. The following table shows the numbers registered as unemployed in July in each of the past three years.
  121 Note:Edinburgh 1—South St. Andrew Street Jobcenter.Edinburgh 2—Shandwick Place Jobcenter.Edinburgh 3—Wester Hailes Jobcenter.

  Educational Expenditure
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will express the educational expenditure per pupil for both Tayside and Scotland for each year since 1976; and if he will also express the figures at current prices.

  £(Out-turn prices)

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  Tayside

  414

  452

  520

  627

  Scotland

  422

  459

  549

  651

  £(November 1980 prices)

  1976–77

  1977–78

  1978–79

  1979–80

  Tayside

  760

  763

  785

  825

  Scotland

  777

  772

  825

  852

TRANSPORT

  British Railways (Productivity)
  Mr. Chris Patten
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the increase in productivity achieved by British Railways in each of the last five years and at the latest date for which figures are available.

  Mr. David Howell:
  Productivity on British Rail is traditionally expressed in terms of passenger miles and net freight tonne miles per member of staff employed per year. The performance indicators in the board's annual report and accounts for 1980 include the following:

  Passenger milesinet freight tonne miles per member of staff employed ('000s)

  end of year

  '000s

  1976

  137·2

  1977

  140·9

  1978

  144·7

  1979

  147·8

  1980

  142·9

  The recent decline is partly attributable to a drop in freight carryings as a result of the three months' steel strike and a falling off in industrial activity.

  British Rail is making vigorous efforts to match services to the reduced demand and to reduce staff numbers. The total number of staff employed by the railway business of British Railways, including corporate and common services but excluding British Rail Engineering Ltd., in each of the last five years is as follows:

  Number of staff

  31 December 1976

  186,833

  31 December 1977

  182,336

  31 December 1978

  182,198

  31 December 1979

  182,031

  31 December 1980

  178,059

  13 June 1981

  174,809

  122
  Mr. Alexander Fletcher
  Net school —as that term is used in "Rating Review"—per pupil is as follows:

  Road Safety (Car Design)
  Mr. Hooley
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department will ensure that research on car design aspects of road safety is carried out now that the vehicle occupants injury team of Birmingham university, partly funded by the Government, has been disbanded.

  Mr. David Howell:
  Yes. This is an important area, on which we shall continue research.

ENVIRONMENT

  Direct Labour Organisations
  Mr. Thornton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give, for each of the last 10 years, for England and Wales, the figures of expenditure carried out by direct labour organisations and the proportion which this represents of similarly defined total expenditure of local authorities in each of those years.

  Sir George Young:
  Information is collected from local authorities for the first and third quarters only in respect of the value of their direct labour organisations' new construction and repair and maintenance work. The relevant quarterly figures for local authority DLOs in England and Wales for the last 10 years are in the following table.

  Value of Work done* by Local Authority Direct Labour

  (†)

  £M, Outturn Prices England

  Wales

  April 1971

  87·0

  7·3

  Oct. 1971

  90·9

  7·7

  April 1972

  98·8

  8·2

  Oct. 1972

  102·1

  8·7

  April 1973

  121·2

  9·9

  Oct. 1973

  120·7

  10·0

  April 1974

  129·7

  11·2

  Oct. 1974

  138·8

  12·4

  123

  (†)

  £M, Outturn Prices England

  Wales

  April 1975

  186·5

  14·6

  Oct.1975

  193·9

  17·2

  April 1976

  224·7

  16·2

  Oct. 1976

  216·5

  17·5

  April 1977

  250·8

  21·5

  Oct. 1977

  252·2

  17·6

  April 1978

  277·8

  23·0

  Oct. 1978

  275·5

  23·2

  April 1979

  284·8

  25·9

  Oct. 1979

  317·8

  27·4

  April 1980

  362·5

  29·2

  Oct. 1980

  371·4

  32·1

  April 1981

  400·9

  34·9

  * On construction new work and repair and maintenance. 'New Towns' construction work is excluded.&dagger; 3 months ending 31 March and 30 September.Figures on a directly comparable basis are not available for similarly defined total expenditure of local authorities.

  Local Authorities (Staff)
  Mr. Thornton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total figures for local authority employment for each of the past 10 years showing separately the figures for (a) educational staff, (b) law and order staff and (c) direct labour organisations.

  Mr. King:
  The following table sets out the available information for England and Wales. Employment in local authority direct labour organisations is not separately distinguished in the surveys.

  June

  Education Lecturers and teachers

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1971

  429,132

  149,097

  578,229

  1972

  453,180

  161,599

  614,779

  1973

  476,554

  175,850

  652,404

  1974

  505,242

  171,481

  676,723

  1975

  517,102

  160,611

  677,713

  1976

  527,935

  144,601

  672,536

  1977

  532,748

  136,508

  669,256

  1978

  534,741

  141,778

  676,519

  1979

  543,071

  149,986

  693,057

  1980

  540,772

  145,703

  686,475

  1981

  529,608

  134,672

  664,280

  June

  Education—others*

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1971

  188,986

  387,225

  576,211

  1972

  201,332

  400,619

  601,951

  1973

  207,422

  421,754

  629,176

  1974

  210,935

  443,911

  654,846

  1975

  222,055

  490,353

  712,408

  1976

  222,547

  495,415

  717,962

  1977

  217,756

  495,879

  713,635

  1978

  213,196

  496,857

  710,053

  1979

  213,585

  503,127

  716,712

  1980

  201,015

  484,239

  685,254

  1981

  187,869

  472,641

  660,510

  * Education—Others—e.g. administration, secretarial, clerical and manuals.124

  June

  Police—all ranks

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1971

  95,086

  —

  95,086

  1972

  98,600

  —

  98,600

  1973

  100,372

  —

  100,372

  1974

  100,952

  —

  100,952

  1975

  103,564

  —

  103,564

  1976

  108,473

  —

  108,473

  1977

  109,338

  —

  109,338

  1978

  107,875

  —

  107,875

  1979

  111,905

  —

  111,905

  1980

  115,152

  —

  115,152

  1981

  118,550

  —

  118,550

  June

  Other Law and Order Services

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1971

  ·

  ·

  ·

  1972

  ·

  ·

  ·

  1973

  ·

  ·

  ·

  1974

  ·

  ·

  ·

  1975

  55,475

  10,830

  66,305

  1976

  55,435

  10,690

  66,125

  1977

  53,533

  10,936

  64,469

  1978

  52,070

  11,329

  63,399

  1979

  53,995

  10,405

  64,400

  1980

  55,505

  11,054

  66,559

  1981

  57,448

  11,654

  69,102

  · not included in 1971–74 surveys

  June

  Total—All Services· (excl. "other law and order")

  Full-time

  Part-time

  Total

  1971

  1,506,242

  728,201

  2,234,443

  1972

  1,569,928

  770,290

  2,340,218

  1973

  1,628,917

  824,606

  2,453,523

  1974

  1,598,465

  844,856

  2,443,321

  1975

  1,659,961

  895,907

  2,555,868

  1976

  1,681,878

  891,982

  2,573,860

  1977

  1,668,483

  887,735

  2,556,218

  1978

  1,665,196

  903,081

  2,568,277

  1979

  1,686,920

  923,936

  2,610,856

  1980

  1,661,364

  902,868

  2,564,232

  1981

  1,623,209

  879,748

  2,502,957

  · Figures for "other law and order services" have been excluded from the totals for June 1975-June 1981 to enable comparisons from 1971–1981 to be made on a common basis.Sources:1971–1974—Department of Employment Gazette.1975–1981—Joint Manpower Watch.

  Local Government Expenditure
  Mr. Thornton
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give, for each of the last 10 years, for England and Wales, the figures for local government current expenditure showing the target expenditure as set by the Government immediately before the year began and the outturn of expenditure for that year, both on a comparable price basis;
  (2) if he will give, for each of the last 10 years, for England and Wales, the figures for local government capital expenditure showing the target expenditure as set out by the Government immediately before the year began and the outturn of expenditure for that year, both on a comparable price basis.

  Mr. King:
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
  125

  Manod Slate Quarry
  Mr. Frank Allaun
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the purpose of the extensive work now being undertaken at the Manod slate quarry, Blaenau Ffestiniog; how much it will cost; whether it is intended to shelter persons as well as art treasures; and why lawn mowers and computers have been installed.

  Sir George Young:
  The Department is not engaged in any work of the nature described by the hon. Member.

  EC Exports of Foodstuffs to the Soviet Union and East European countries (a) ECU million (b)

  SITC Codes

  1973

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  1974

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  1975

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  1976

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  1977

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  00

  1·6

  14·9

  2·6

  15·3

  2·8

  9·0

  2·1

  16·1

  4·8

  13·4

  01

  4·9

  16·9

  77·1

  13·6

  57·5

  11·1

  35·6

  20·5

  65·2

  37·2

  02

  75·7

  13·4

  1·1

  8·8

  2·0

  5·5

  10·6

  5·4

  40·6

  25·1

  03

  0

  14·7

  0

  18·4

  0

  14·2

  0·1

  18·1

  0·2

  22·8

  04

  91·3

  87·6

  57·0

  74·9

  59·6

  98·9

  66·5

  172·9

  18·0

  31·1

  05

  2·5

  46·6

  5·9

  53·7

  5·6

  60·9

  9·6

  73·1

  10·0

  70·1

  06

  0

  44·8

  0·3

  20·7

  0·6

  16·2

  73·2

  15·2

  65·8

  34·7

  07

  5·3

  14·4

  16·8

  14·3

  17·6

  14·2

  21·6

  15·2

  20·8

  15·5

  08

  0·6

  162·7

  1·3

  162·9

  0·2

  46·9

  0·2

  52·2

  2·3

  89·7

  09

  0·2

  10·9

  0·6

  15·7

  0·6

  12·1

  0·7

  15·9

  3·9

  24·1

  Wine (Hectolitres)

  2,306

  N.a.

  1,845

  164,892

  2,764

  110,605

  1,421

  148,787

  1,391

  100,596

  SITC Codes

  1978

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  1979

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  1980(c)

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  1981 (January-June)

  USSR

  Eastern Europe

  00

  3·7

  13·6

  10·9

  9·5

  2·7

  25·2

  01

  5·5

  18·0

  113·1

  76·6

  169·9

  174·3

  02

  18·0

  15·7

  126·9

  47·5

  181·8

  34·6

  03

  7·1

  36·8

  19·7

  33·6

  10·8

  31·6

  04

  81·6

  208·7

  40·1

  284·6

  187·7

  499·6

  05

  6·3

  52·6

  7·3

  76·6

  5·8

  31·8

  Not Available

  06

  12·6

  7·0

  48·9

  8·7

  286·1

  22·8

  07

  3·1

  16·5

  0·7

  19·7

  1·1

  14·3

  08

  0·2

  66·0

  5·1

  61·3

  81·3

  62·3

  09

  9·4

  22·8

  4·4

  25·5

  6·6

  23·4

  Wine (Hectolitres)

  100,373

  133,659

  276,132

  122,845

  1,490,263

  76,067

  911,094

  126,572

  United Nations Standard International Tariff Classification Division: 00—Live Animals 01—Meat and Meat Preparations 02—Dairy Products and Birds Eggs 03—Fish, etc.04—Cereals and cereal preparations 05—Vegetables and Fruit 06—Sugar, sugar preparations and honey 07—Coffee, tea, cocoa, spices etc.08—Animal feedingstuffs 09—Miscellaneous edible products and preparations(a) German Democratic Republic; Poland; Czechoslovakia; Hungary; Romania; Bulgaria; Albania (only from 1973–1977); Yugoslavia.(b) Converted from US dollars at the annual average $/ECU rate.(c) Excluding exports from Belgium/Luxembourg and Italy (unavailable).Sources: OECD Trade by Commodities Series B, 1973–1980.Exchange rates from Eurostat–Selling Prices of Crop Products 1–1981.EC Statistics Doc. 10993/80 126

  AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
  European Community Exports
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the totals of each foodstuff and the total of wine exported by the EEC to the Soviet Union and the rest of East Europe, respectively, in the year to date; and what were the comparable figures, respectively, in the same period of each of the past eight years.

  Mr. Buchanan-Smith:
  I regret that the figures are not available in the form requested. The following table summarises comparable information available on food and wine exports to Russia and Eastern Europe since 1973:
  127

  Intervention Board
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the totals of foodstuffs and fish which have been destroyed or otherwise disposed of in consequence of the activities of the Intervention Board in the year to date.

  Mr. Buchanan-Smith:
  In the 12-month period 1 October 1980 to 30 September 1981 the following quantities bought into intervention or withdrawn from the market in the United Kingdom were sold, supplied as food aid, or given away as food:
  Beef—20,554 tonnes Butter—28,114 tonnes Skimmed Milk Powder—502 tonnes Breadmaking wheat—32,199 tonnes Fruit and vegetables—252 tonnes
  Other disposals in the period were as follows:
  Fruit and vegetables—5,788 tonnes supplied free for

  Quantities held in European Community Intervention Stores European Community Totals

  (thousands of tonnes)

  Community

  1973

  1974

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  1981

  Beef

  *22

  *488

  262

  307

  307

  217

  219

  235

  170

  Butter

  156

  98

  64

  194

  172

  213

  319

  179

  12

  Skimmed Milk Powder

  174

  318

  1,037

  1,294

  1,078

  882

  353

  231

  344

  Wheat

  N/A

  N/A

  1,951

  1,496

  604

  743

  1,332

  3,494

  2,577

  Barley

  N/A

  N/A

  529

  150

  54

  155

  54

  864

  830

  Rye

  N/A

  N/A

  285

  160

  324

  487

  508

  469

  324

  Durum

  N/A

  N/A

  1

  371

  213

  63

  152

  147

  225

  Oilseed Rape

  —

  —

  —

  8

  1

  —

  1

  92

  13

  Olive Oil

  N/A

  N/A

  14

  46

  49

  99

  63

  67

  132

  Note* End of year figures.N/A Not available.The European Community mainly disposes of surplus sugar by subsidised exports to the world market. Intervention is rare and no reliable figures are available.

  Council of Agriculture Ministers (Meeting)
  Mr. Body
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Agriculture Ministers' meeting on 19 October; and if he will make a statement.
  128 animal feed and 19,532 tonnes returned to the soil or otherwise destroyed;Fish—41,053 tonnes sold for use in fishmeal, 693 tonnes sold for pet food and 1,298 tonnes returned to the sea.

  Intervention Stores
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current levels of surplus food and wine in intervention stores under EEC arrangements; and what were the comparable totals, respectively, in each of the previous eight years.

  Mr. Buchanan-Smith:
  The following table lists stocks of foodstuffs held in public intervention stores within the European Community at comparable dates from 1973 to 1981:

  Mr. Buchanan-Smith:
  I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made in the House earlier today.

  THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON GAMBLING REPORT: POLICY
  THE ROYAL COMMISSION ON GAMBLING REPORT: POLICY
  THE DERBY
  THE DERBY
  HORSERACE BETTING LEVY BOARD: 20th ANNUAL REPORT
  HORSERACE BETTING LEVY BOARD: 20th ANNUAL REPORT
  AINTREE RACECOURSE AND THE GRAND NATIONAL
  AINTREE RACECOURSE AND THE GRAND NATIONAL
  PRISONERS: RESTORATION OF LOST REMISSION
  PRISONERS: RESTORATION OF LOST REMISSION
  MERSEYSIDE DISTURBANCES: SPECIAL CONSTABLES
  MERSEYSIDE DISTURBANCES: SPECIAL CONSTABLES
  WARTIME HEADQUARTERS
  WARTIME HEADQUARTERS
  UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES: CITIZENSHIP STATISTICS
  UNITED KINGDOM AND COLONIES: CITIZENSHIP STATISTICS
  >OVERSEAS ADMISSIONS TO UNITED KINGDOM
  >OVERSEAS ADMISSIONS TO UNITED KINGDOM
  PRISON ESTABLISHMENTS
  PRISON ESTABLISHMENTS
  STATELESS PERSONS: TRAVEL DOCUMENT PROCEDURES
  STATELESS PERSONS: TRAVEL DOCUMENT PROCEDURES
  THE CHARITY COMMISSION: ADVICE TO TRUSTEES
  THE CHARITY COMMISSION: ADVICE TO TRUSTEES
  NAIROBI CONFERENCE ON ENERGY SOURCES
  NAIROBI CONFERENCE ON ENERGY SOURCES
  INVESTMENT TAXATION
  INVESTMENT TAXATION
  NATO BUDGET: UK CONTRIBUTION
  NATO BUDGET: UK CONTRIBUTION
  ROAD CONSTRUCTION: COMPARATIVE COSTS
  ROAD CONSTRUCTION: COMPARATIVE COSTS