Written Answers of 27 October 1981

ENERGY

  Continental Shelf Gas Prices
  Mr. Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to amend or repeal section 8 (3) of the Energy Act 1976 to allow the price of gas from the continental shelf to be determined by the market and not by the reasonable price formula as set out in the section.

  Mr. John Moore:
  Yes.

  Field

  Block

  Licence No

  BGC % Interest

  Status

  Beryl A

  9/13a

  P. 139

  10

  In production

  Beryl B

  9/13b

  P. 139

  10

  Under development

  Fulmar (extension)

  30/11b

  P. 185

  25.77

  Under development

  N. W. Hutton

  211/27

  p. 184

  25.77

  Under development

  Montrose

  22/17a

  P. 019

  30.77

  In production

  Montrose (extension)

  22/18a

  P. 020

  30.77

  In production

  Hutton

  211/27

  P. 184

  25.8

  Under development

  It also has interests in the following additional UKCS petroleum production licences—P. 016, P. 030, P. 064, P. 065, P. 066, P. 101, P. 105, P. 133, P. 143, P. 170, P. 184, P. 185, P. 235, P. 260, P. 281, P. 291, P. 292, P. 302, P. 303, P. 304, P. 318, P. 320, P. 323, P. 337, P. 360, P. 381, P. 395, P. 406.

  Natural Gas (Marketing)

  Mr. Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether it will be open to the producers of natural gas under his proposals to market their product in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the European Community.

  Mr. Gray:
  My proposals are aimed at removing special privileges enjoyed by British Gas, so that it will be open to the producers themselves to supply their gas direct to the market. The proposals do not affect the requirement in production licences for the United Kingdom continental shelf that all petroleum won and saved must be delivered onshore in the United Kingdom unless I consent to delivery elsewhere.

  Gas Prices (Calculations)
  Mr. Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what formula he proposes for the calculation of price payable by the corporation to producers for sale of natural gas to the domestic consumers who remain within the monopoly of the British Gas Corporation.

  Mr. John Moore:
  Prices payable by the British Gas Corporation for new supplies of gas will be a matter for commercial negotiation.
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  Mr. John Moore:
  Yes.

  British Gas Corporation (Assets)
  Mr. Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he assesses to be the total value of the assets of the British Gas Corporation scheduled for sale; what is the oil interest in the North Sea and of the British National Oil Corporation in its upstream business operations; and what is the expected contribution to the public sector borrowing requirement.

  Mr. Gray:
  I cannot comment on the value of BGC'S or BNOC's offshore oil operations, nor on the expected contribution to the public sector borrowing requirement. British Gas has the following interests in offshore oilfields.

  Natural Gas (Transportation)

  Mr. Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the gas grid common carrier status for the purpose of transportation of natural gas from producers on the continental shelf to industrial consumers.

  Mr. John Moore:
  I intend to introduce measures to ensure that private suppliers of gas have effective access to British Gas pipelines.

SCOTLAND

  Farmland (Sale and Lease-back)
  Mr. Myles
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent farmland in Scotland has changed hands on sale and lease-back agreements during the most recent 12-month period for which there are details.

  Mr. Younger:
  Detailed records of transactions involving farm land in Scotland are maintained only in respect of purchases by financial institutions. Of such purchases already recorded for 1980, 42 per cent.—covering approximately 3,000 hectares—were subject to sale and lease-back arrangements.

  Carpet Industry
  Mr. Bulmer
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been given in financial support to the carpet industry since 1 January 1975 by his Department; what form this assistance has taken; and under which schemes, including the various schemes to promote employment.

  Mr. Alexander Fletcher:
  Since 1 January 1975, 10 offers of selective financial assistance under section 7 of the 1972 Industry Act have been made to companies in the

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  carpet industry in Scotland by my Department. The total value of the assistance offered was £1.83 million, of which 93 per cent. was by grant and the rest by loan.

  I regret that information on assistance to the carpet industry under the special employment measures is not available.

  Council House Sales
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide the information on the number of public sector house sales, broken down by district, for the second quarter of 1981, in the same format as the first column of the table on page 22 of Scottish Housing statistics number 13.

  Mr. Rifkind:
  The information requested is as follows:

  Agency

  Total Number of Sales

  SCOTLAND

  *2386

  Local Authorities

  *1499

  BORDERS

  37

  Berwickshire

  9

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  19

  Roxburgh

  —

  Tweeddale

  9

  CENTRAL

  Clackmannan

  23

  Falkirk

  —

  Stirling

  10

  DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

  Annandale and Eskdale

  Nithsdale

  70

  Stewartry

  16

  Wigtown

  51

  FIFE

  84

  Dunfermline

  42

  Kirkcaldy

  8

  North East Fife

  34

  GRAMPIAN

  Aberdeen City

  —

  Banff and Buchan

  —

  Gordon

  —

  Kincardine and Deeside

  29

  Moray

  77

  HIGHLAND

  Banenoch and Strathspey

  —

  Caithness

  37

  Inverness

  —

  Lochaber

  5

  Nairn

  33

  Ross and Cromarty

  62

  Skye and Lochalsh

  9

  Sutherland

  16

  LOTHIAN

  East Lothian

  —

  Edinburgh City

  214

  Midlothian

  1

  West Lothian

  40

  STRATHCLYDE

  Argyll and Bute

  —

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  18

  Clydebank

  —

  Clydesdale

  2

  Cumbemauld and Kilsyth

  1

  302

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  67

  Cunninghame

  92

  Dumbarton

  —

  East Kilbride

  11

  Eastwood

  18

  Glasgow City

  178

  Hamilton

  14

  Inverclyde

  40

  Kilnarnock and Loudoun

  —

  Kyle and Carrick

  21

  Monklands

  24

  Motherwell

  —

  Renfrew

  8

  Strathkelvin

  61

  TAYSIDE

  Angus

  Dundee City

  2

  Perth and Kinross

  71

  ISLANDS COUNCILS

  Orkney Islands

  Shetland Islands

  —

  Western Isles

  57

  SSHA

  512

  New Town Development

  —

  Corporation

  375

  Cumbernauld

  156

  East Kilbride

  102

  Glenrothes

  80

  Irvine

  5

  Livingston

  32

  *Based on incomplete returns.

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the latest information on the number of applications to purchase public sector houses under part I of the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980, received by each local authority, each new town development corporation and the Scottish Special Housing Association.

  Mr. Rifkind:
  The following table gives the latest available figures, as supplied by authorities at the end of September 1981, on applications to purchase public sector houses received under the Tenants' Rights Etc. (Scotland) Act 1980. These figures do not include the substantial numbers of applications received by the SSHA and the new towns for purchase under voluntary arrangements: nor do I have reliable information about applications to local authorities for voluntary sales.

  Authority

  Number of applications

  Borders Region

  Berwickshire

  66

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  167

  Roxburgh

  240

  Tweeddale

  119

  Central Region

  Clackmannan

  133

  Falkirk

  1133

  Stirling

  238

  Dumfries and Galloway Region

  Annandale and Eskdale

  414

  Nithsdale

  522

  Stewartry

  210

  303

  Wigtown

  313

  Fife Region

  Dunfermline

  1441

  Kirkcaldy

  547

  North East Fife

  420

  Grampian Region

  Aberdeen City

  2047

  Banff and Buchan

  483

  Gordon

  477

  Kincardine and Deeside

  316

  Moray

  647

  Highland Region

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  107

  Caithness

  276

  Inverness

  390

  Lochaber

  193

  Nairn

  84

  Ross and Cromarty

  289

  Skye and Lochalsh

  95

  Sutherland

  59

  Lothian Region

  East Lothian

  573

  Edinburgh City

  1147

  Midlothian

  793

  West Lothian

  308

  Strathclyde Region

  Argyll and Bute

  442

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  270

  Clydebank

  195

  Clydesdale

  98

  304

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  71

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  171

  Cunninghame

  325

  Dumbarton

  275

  East Kilbride

  91

  Eastwood

  113

  Glasgow City

  3149

  Hamilton

  441

  Inverclyde

  220

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  219

  Kyle and Carrick

  184

  Monklands

  365

  Motherwell

  523

  Renfrew

  1547

  Strathkelvin

  509

  Tayside Region

  Angus

  659

  Dundee City

  253

  Perth and Kinross

  359

  Islands Areas

  Orkney

  182

  Shetland

  231

  Western Isles

  253

  New Towns

  East Kilbride

  925

  Glenrothes

  1108

  Cumbernauld

  2450

  Livingston

  256

  Irvine

  55

  SSHA

  218

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  Council House Sales

  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will explain how the forecast figure of 14,000 sales during the financial year, used by the Under-Secretary of State in his statement to the press dated 1 October 1981, was calculated.

  Mr. Rifkind:
  The forecast of 14,000 sales to be completed by local authorities during the current financial year takes account of the number of voluntary sales known to be still awaiting completion at May 1981—approximately 1,000—and of the number of sales under the right to buy which are likely to be completed in the current year. I believe that 13,000 is a prudent estimate of the latter figure: in making the estimate I was bearing in mind that the number of applications known to have been received by local authorities by May 1981 was about 20,000—some of which will have led to sales completed before the start of the financial year—and that the number of further applications known to have been received by July 1981 was about 3,000.

  Housing Revenue Account (Rate Fund Contributions)
  Mr. Home Robertson
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide for each local authority in Scotland the level of rate fund contribution to the housing revenue account for 1981–82.

  Mr. Rifkind:
  The estimated information is as follows:

  Authority

  £

  Berwickshire

  —

  Ettrick and Lauderdale

  —

  Roxburgh

  187,617

  Tweeddale

  166,524

  Clackmannan

  1,373,230

  Falkirk

  3,950,910

  Stirling

  3,994,365

  Annandale and Eskdale

  422,000

  Nithsdale

  650,000

  Stewartry

  128,070

  Wigtown

  109,770

  Dunfermline

  1,595,265

  Kirkcaldy

  1,755,000

  North East Fife

  264,480

  Aberdeen

  7,833,000

  Banff and Buchan

  —

  Gordon

  739,400

  Kincardine and Deeside

  390,070

  Moray

  —

  Badenoch and Strathspey

  113,000

  Caithness

  323,000

  Inverness

  1,191,000

  Lochaber

  521,380

  Nairn

  170,315

  Ross and Cromarty

  387,289

  Skye and Lochalsh

  125,460

  Sutherland

  157,000

  East Lothian

  680,483

  Edinburgh

  4,199,925

  Midlothian

  1,556,154

  West Lothian

  1,622,000

  Argyll and Bute

  844,858

  Bearsden and Milngavie

  576,512

  Clydebank

  714,320

  Clydesdale

  618,370

  306

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  793,430

  Cumnock and Doon Valley

  1,165,647

  Cunninghame

  2,253,994

  Dumbarton

  2,153,150

  East Kilbride

  456,340

  Eastwood

  438,432

  Glasgow

  36,150,800

  Hamilton

  5,253,050

  Inverclyde

  1,959,300

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  1,200,210

  Kyle and Carrick

  2,010,350

  Monklands

  5,269,460

  Motherwell

  4,620,380

  Renfrew

  4,887,700

  Strathkelvin

  1,422,062

  Angus

  —

  Dundee

  5,797,877

  Perth and Kinross

  —

  Orkney

  468,900

  Shetland

  575,000

  Western Isles

  919,550

  SCOTLAND

  115,156,399

  Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Rating Review

  Fish Marketing
  Mr. McQuarrie
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the marketing of fish to the consumers in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Younger:
  The Government do not have a direct role to play in the marketing of fish. The Sea Fish Industry Authority has a statutory duty to promote the efficiency of the sea fish industry as a whole and a power to promote the marketing and consumption of sea fish. I am confident that the new authority will be paying particular attention to marketing in the next few months.

  Nature Conservancy Council
  Mr. Morgan
  asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps, including legislation if necessary, whereby the permission of, or at least reasonable notice to, private landowners would be obligatory before entry on to privately owned land by officials of the Nature Conservancy Council could be legally effected.

  Mr. Macfarlane:
  I have been asked to reply.

  Council officers cannot at present demand entry on to occupied land in the exercise of their powers unless 14 days' notice has been given to the occupier. Further powers of entry are included in the Wildlife and Countryside Bill; these will not be exercisable on occupied land unless 24 hours' notice has been given to the occupier, except where an offence is suspected or has been committed. I do not consider that further restrictions on the council's powers would be justified.

PRIME MINISTER

  Engagements
  Mr. Heddle
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 October.

  Mr. Robert Atkins
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.
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  Mr Marlow
  asked the Prime Minister whether she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

  Mr. Moate
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

  Mr. Chapman
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 October.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

  Mr Montgomery
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

  Mr. Skinner
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

  Mr. Stanbrook
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 October.

  Mr Adley
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 27 October.

  Mr. Christopher Price
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 October 1981.

  Mr. Greville Janner
  asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 27 October.

  The Prime Minister:
  This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today. This evening I hope to have an audience of Her Majesty the Queen.

  Trades Union Congress
  Mr. Cryer
  asked the Prime Minister when next she expects to meet the Trades Union Congress.

  The Prime Minister:
  I have at present no plans to do so.

  Inner Cities (Riot Damage)
  Mr. Marks
  asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with co-ordination between the Treasury and the Home Department and the Department of the Environment on the subject of riot damage in the inner cities.

  The Prime Minister:
  Yes.

  Industrial Assistance
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Prime Minister what are the levels of industrial assistance for (a) factory rents, (b) training grants and (c) tax allowances in (i) Northern Ireland and (ii) special development areas in Great Britain.

  The Prime Minister:
  The information is as follows:
  Factory Rents
  In Great Britain the only assistance for factory rents is the provision of limited rent-free periods in Government factories to help let them. This is at the discretion of the various agencies concerned and information is not available on the total value of these concessions. In Northern Ireland there are a variety of concessions available, including rent-free periods of up to five years. The total value of actual and notional allowances is not available.
  Training Grants
  Expenditure by the Manpower Services Commission on training for the needs of industry—including expenditure on the administrative costs of industrial training boards—in Great Britain was £97 million in 1980–81. Expenditure in Northern Ireland was £18.5 million. Payments of training grants do not distinguish between special development areas and other areas of Great Britain.
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  Tax Allowances
  In general, the tax allowances for Northern Ireland and for special development areas are the same as for the rest of the United Kingdom.

  Mexico Summit Meeting
  Mr. Alton
  asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on her discussions in Mexico about North-South relations.

  The Prime Minister:
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made yesterday.

CIVIL SERVICE

  Pay (Committee of Inquiry)
  Mr. Peter Fraser
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether she will make available copies of the evidence which the Government have given to the Committee of Inquiry into Civil Service Pay, under the chairmanship of the right hon. Sir John Megaw.

  Mr. Hayhoe:
  The Government are making their formal written evidence to the inquiry publicly available. Copies of the memoranda which they have recently submitted have been placed in the Library.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will publish a table giving a breakdown of the civil servants made redundant since May 1979 set out by the various administrative grades and showing the total financial saving in each grade.

  Mr. Hayhoe:
  I am having the information collated and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Pwllglas (Television Reception)
  Mr. Morgan
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the poor state of television reception in the area of Pwllglas, Ruthin, Clwyd, if he will take steps to improve it.

  Mr. Mayhew:
  As my right hon. Friend explained in a reply of 20 July to my hon. Friend's question about television reception in Llangwm—[Vol. 9, c. 3]—the primary responsibility for extending the coverage of uhf television services rests with the broadcasting authorities. They are aware that the Pwllglas area is poorly served by the Moel-y-Parc transmitter on account of local topography. We understand that the population concerned is too small to benefit from phase II of the uhf engineering programme, but that the authorities will be considering the possiblity of a relay station for the area in the planning of phase III of the programme.

  Sheath Knives and Catapults
  Mr. David Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the present law permitting the sale of sheath knives and catapults to young people under the age of 18 years.
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  Mr. Mayhew:
  We have received no evidence to suggest that control of the sale of sheath knives and catapults would be justified. Existing legislation is available to deal with instances of their misuse.

  Parking Penalty
  Mr. Wheeler
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current estimated cost of collecting the £6 penalty for parking offences inclusive of all costs to the police and courts in the inner London area.

  Mr. Mayhew:
  The latest information available relates to 1978 and is contained in part IV—and annex K—of the report of the interdepartmental working party on road traffic law published in May. Figures for the inner London area are not separately available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Wheeler
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the —6 fixed penalty for parking offences was last reviewed; and what the current penalty would be if due allowance had been made for inflation.

  Mr. Mayhew:
  The interdepartmental working party on road traffic law, in its report published in May 1981, recommended that the fixed penalty of £6 should be increased to £10. The Government have accepted this recommendation and will be acting upon it in conjunction with other recommendations. Exact conformity with movements in the general index of retail prices since 1975, when the fixed penalty was increased from £2 to £6, would produce a figure of about £12.

  Metropolitan Police (Green Park)
  Mr. Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the Metropolitan Police took over a substantial section of Green Park; for what purpose; and for how long.

  Mr. Mayhew:
  By agreement with the Department of the Environment, the Metropolitan Police are using a small area of Green Park for the purpose of monitoring security arrangements at Lancaster House during the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Communities which runs from 1 July to 31 December 1981.

  European Community Citizens (Voting Rights)
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take an initiative during the United Kingdom Presidency of the EEC Council of Ministers to secure rights for EEC citizens living outside their own nation to have full voting rights in the EEC nation in which they are resident;

  (2) if he will take an initiative during the United Kingdom Presidency of the EEC Council of Ministers to secure voting rights for EEC employees in their home nation.

  Mr. Mayhew:
  My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

  Lookout Bunkers (Dundee)
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will name the location of lookout bunkers in the Dundee area.
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  Mr. Mayhew:
  United Kingdom warning and monitoring organisation fall-out monitoring posts are located in the Dundee warning group of the Royal Observer Corps as follows:

  Blair Atholl

  Dunkeld

  Aberfeldy

  Kinloch Rannoch

  Kirkmichael

  Alyth

  Clova

  Cortachy

  Letham

  Glamis

  Tarfside

  St. Cyrus

  Edzell

  Inverkeilor

  Arbroath

  Newbigging

  Killin

  Comrie

  Dunning

  Milnathort

  Abernyte

  Scone

  Methven

  Newburgh

  St. Andrews

  Cupar

  Strathyre Braco

  Kippen

  Callander

  Parole
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the parole system operates; what is the minimum length of sentence during which parole can be granted; at what stage parole is first considered; what proportion of those eligible are recommended by the parole boards; what proportion of those recommendations are accepted by him; what proportion of prisoners are accepted for parole whether or not they are recommended by parole boards; what is the average percentage of prison sentence actually served prior to parole; what percentage of (a) all prisoners and (b) prisoners convicted of violence re-offend during parole; and what proportion of prisoners who have at some stage been paroled are sentenced to further terms of imprisonment within (i) one year, (ii) two years, (iii) five years and (iv) 10 years.

  Mr. Mayhew:
  Details of the operation and scope of the parole scheme and of the numbers of prisoners considered for parole, released on licence and recalled to prison in successive years are given in the "Review of Parole in England and Wales" published by the Home Office in May this year, and in the annual reports of the Parole Board. Precise information about the average percentage of prison sentence served prior to parole and the numbers of parole licensees offending while on parole is either not available or could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. In 1980, 5,077 prisoners were granted parole, 183 licences were revoked following further convictions, and the average length of parole licence was eight months and 22 days. Information on reimprisonment following a period on parole is not available, but research on the subject of parole and reconviction generally is reported in "Parole in England and Wales (Home Office Research Study No.

  311
  38)" and in "Prison Statistics (England and Wales)" 1977 and 1978. All these publications are in the Library of the House.

  Police Forces (Arms Purchases)
  Mr. Meacher
  asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which other police forces in the United Kingdom, in addition to Manchester, have purchased submachine guns; what exactly these firearms were in each case; what steps he has taken to ensure that he is always informed of any such intended purchase in advance; and if he will recommend to chief constables that the purchase is made known to the public as well as beforehand to the police authority concerned.

  Mr. Whitelaw:
  Police forces in the United Kingdom are not required to notify the Home Office of firearms purchases as this is a matter for individual chief officers of police. Guidance is given to the police by the Home Office and the Association of Chief Police Officers jointly as to the types of firearms recommended. The current guidance does not recommend fully automatic weapons. I am not at present persuaded that the guidance which has been given needs to be extended.

TRANSPORT

  Dropped Kerbs
  Mr. Pawsey
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport further to his reply to the hon. Member for Rugby dated 21 July, if he is now able to say what advice will be offered to local authorities about the provision and design of dropped kerbs taking account of BS 5810.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke:
  I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the draft advice, which is subject to further consultation with representatives of disabled and blind people and local authorities.

  Road Humps
  Mr. Stephen Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he anticipates publishing the draft regulations under the Transport Act 1981 relating to the provision of road humps.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke:
  We shall not publish these regulations in draft, but we shall, of course, consult interested representative organisations on them. I hope to have a draft ready to show them early next year.

  Strategic Road Network
  Mr. Rippon
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in the last two years towards the completion of the strategic network of 4,500 miles of first class motorways and trunk roads; how many miles remain to be completed; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke:
  The concept of a strategic network was abandoned in 1977. The present Government prefer the examination of individual road schemes on a case-by-case basis to ensure value for money and to take account of both environmental and economic factors rather than a return to a system of building whole routes to a predetermined standard regardless of conditions in each section.
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  In the last two years roughly 85 miles of motorway, 46 miles of new or improved all-purpose dual carriageway trunk road and 19 miles of new or improved single carriageway road have been completed in England. Our national trunk road programme still contains nearly 400 schemes totalling around 1,400 miles of new or improved motorway and trunk roads at various stages of construction or preparation and we propose to press on with them as quickly as sensible management and resources will allow.

  Roads (Winter Maintenance)
  Mr. Charles Morrison
  asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the study by Sir Derek Rayner of the methods used to carry out winter maintenance on motorways and trunk roads has been completed; and, if so, in view of the co-operation and help afforded to the study team by the local authority association and their members, when copies of the study report will be made available to those associations as the representative bodies of the Secretary of State's agent authorities.

  Mr. Kenneth Clarke:
  The report of the scrutiny team made a large number of recommendations which are still being studied. The Government immediately accepted two suggestions—that the Department should publish a statement defining the winter maintenance service required on trunk roads and motorways together with a code of practice. These two documents, which have been drawn up with help from the local authority association, will be issued to agent authorities for action this winter. Inbucon, a firm of independent consultants is studying the whole question of recurrent maintenance of trunk roads by agent authorities at our request. I have now asked it to include winter maintenance and the Rayner recommendations as its study. My right hon. Friend's conclusions on the rest of the Rayner report and winter maintenance in general will be announced in due course, In the meantime, copies of the report have been sent to the local authority associations and been placed in the House Library.

  Liverpool to Belfast Ferry
  Mr. Parry
  pasked the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received concerning the proposed closure of the Liverpool to Belfast ferry; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. David Howell:
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has taken the lead on the discussions about the future of the service and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade is responsible for shipping policy. I have received three letters from hon. Members and three from members of the public about the proposed closure.

WALES

  Nature Conservancy Council (Powers of Entry)
  Mr. Morgan
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps, including legislation if necessary, whereby the permission of, or at least reasonable notice to, private landowners would be obligatory before entry on to privately owned land by officials of the Nature Conservancy Council could be legally effected.
  313
  Mr. Michael Roberts:
  I refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment.

  Industry (Assistance)
  Mr. Ray Powell
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to divert any assistance from the manufacturing to the service industries in Wales.

  Mr. Michael Roberts:
  No. However, the Government are aware of the need to increase the level and range of service industry activities in Wales. With this in mind, the assistance available to eligible service industry projects has recently been increased and additional publicity is being given to the assistance which can be made available under the office and service industry scheme.

  Mentally Handicapped Persons
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the individuals and representatives of organisations with whom he has discussed during the past six months the improvement of services for the mentally handicapped in Wales.

  Mr. Michael Roberts:
  The Welsh Office has regular contact with a wide range of individuals and organisations concerned with the care of mentally handicapped people with the continuous aim of improving services. My right hon. Friend will be addressing a specially convened conference on this matter in Cardiff on Tuesday 3 November, to which my right hon. Friend has invited representatives of the county councils, the Council for the Principality, the area health authorities, the main voluntary bodies concerned, the principal professional advisory bodies, the Manpower Services Commission and the Housing Corporation.

  Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowance and Suckler Cow Subsidy
  Dr. Roger Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider increasing the hill livestock compensatory allowances in line with inflation to meet the declining profitability and raise the suckler cow subsidy to the highest possible award under present European Economic Community regulations in order partly to check the decline in beef breeding in many parts of Wales.

  Mr. Michael Roberts:
  The Government are currently reviewing the rates of hill livestock compensatory allowances for 1982. All aspects of the hill and upland economy are being taken into account.

  The suckler cow premium is already being paid at the amount fixed and financed by the European Community. The Government have no proposal to increase the level of the premium from national funds.

  Sheep Rearing Hill Farmers
  Dr. Roger Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the present financial returns of the predominantly sheep rearing hill farmer in view of their decreasing profitability at a time when there is nearly a 4 per cent. increase in animals.

  Mr. Michael Roberts:
  The implementation of the EC sheepmeat regime has led to an encouraging improvement in returns for sheep farmers.

INDUSTRY

  Liverpool to Belfast Ferry
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received concerning the proposed closure of the Liverpool to Belfast ferry; and if he will make a statement.

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

ENVIRONMENT

  Sex Shops
  Mr. Skeet
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a change in the planning law to deal with the problem of sex shops taking over vacant shop premises and operating a business which the public generally find unacceptable, distasteful and detrimental to local morals.

  Mr. Giles Shaw:
  My right hon. Friend does not think that bringing sex shops under planning control would provide an effective solution to the problem, because planning permission cannot be refused on moral grounds. However, the Government have expressed support in principle for a proposal by the Greater London Council for legislation to introduce licensing control over sex shops in London. The question of more general legislation is being kept under review by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

  Rate Support Grant
  Mr. Pavitt
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in his consideration of local rate support grants, he will take note of the report financed by his Department and prepared by Leicester university, which shows the disproportionate amount of total local authority expenditure caused by a decline of population in inner cities because of debt charges spread over 60 years incurred in previous decades.

  Mr. King:
  Once I have received the report of this research project I shall be able to assess its conclusions.

  Housing Investment (Brent)
  Mr. Pavitt
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will accede to the request of the London borough of Brent for adequate funds to meet the needs envisaged in the housing investment strategy programme.

  Sir George Young:
  My right hon. Friend will certainly make an allocation to Brent, as to other local authorities, for its housing investment programme which is related to its housing needs and which takes into account the council's proposed strategy for meeting those needs. Since local authorities are now able to augment their allocations with capital receipts, and given the continuing need to contain public expenditure, the council should not expect its allocation to be sufficient for the substantially expanded programme it has put forward.

  Nature Conservancy Council (Powers of Entry)
  Mr. Morgan
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps, including legislation if necessary, whereby the permission of, or at least

  315
  reasonable notice to, private landowners would be obligatory before entry on to privately owned land by officials of the Nature Conservancy Council could be legally effected.

  Mr. Macfarlane:
  Council officers cannot at present demand entry on to occupied land in the exercise of their powers unless 14 days' notice has been given to the occupier. Further powers of entry are included in the Wildlife and Countryside Bill; these will not be exercisable on occupied land unless 24 hours' notice has been given to the occupier, except where an offence is suspected or has been committed. I do not consider that further restrictions on the council's powers would be justified.

  Local Authorities (Rate Income)
  Mr. Alexander
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of the total expenditure of local authorities in the United Kingdom is paid by domestic ratepayers.

  Mr. King:
  About 19 per cent. of the total net expenditure of local authorities is paid by domestic ratepayers—before allowance for rate rebates—in 1981–82, based on rate poundages set at April 1981.

  Liverpool (Ministerial Visit)
  Mr. Parry
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the recent official visit of the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services to Liverpool.

  Mr. King:
  I addressed a seminar organised by my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Steen) and also spoke to a group of Merseyside industrialists and members of public authorities about inner city policy, and the recent initiatives that my right hon. Friend has taken in Merseyside.

  London Borough of Haringey
  Mr. Norman Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set down in the Official Report full details of all money at constant prices actually paid or earmarked to be paid under all headings by Her Majesty's Government to the London borough of Haringey for the years 1979–80, 1980–81 and 1981–82.

  Mr. King:
  The latest estimates, at constant 1981–82 outturn prices, are as follows—they do not include capital grants, for which comparable figures for the three years are not yet available:

  1979–80 £ million

  1980–81 £ million

  1981–82 £ million

  Rate Support Grants

  70·2

  66·7

  57·8

  Rate Rebates

  1·9

  1·9

  2·5

  Housing Subsidies and other support

  19·4

  19·7

  16·1

  Specific Grants *

  8·4

  8·3

  8·6

  * Based on returns made by the borough.

  Enterprise Zones
  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the three-year study to monitor the progress of enterprise zones will cost.
  316
  Mr. King:
  The three-year contract will cost a total of £273,130, excluding VAT.

  Mr. Steen
  asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many statistical returns will be asked for from firms in enterprise zones; and how this figure compares with firms outside the zones.

  Mr. King:
  The only Government statistical inquiry that will go to firms in enterprise zones will be the census of employment. In addition, some firms will be surveyed each year as part of the study monitoring EZs. By comparison, in 1980 there were about 30 regular Government statistical service returns which firms nationally might have received depending on whether or not they fell within the samples.

TRADE

  Air Fares (European Community Directive)
  Mr. Warren
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he has received from the Council of the EEC Commission the draft directive on air fares; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in its production.

  Mr. Sproat:
  On 21 October the Commission presented to the Council a draft directive entitled "Proposal for a Council Directive (EEC) on Tariffs for Scheduled Air Transport between Member States". We had understood that at one time it was proposed to issue the draft directive in June of this year. We pressed the Commission strongly to issue the directive at the earliest possible date, as it was needed to form the basis of discussion on air fares during the United Kingdom Presidency. It is not, of course, possible for me to comment on the reasons for the delay. We are very glad that the draft directive has now been issued and have made arrangements for its early discussion in the council working group.

  Tariff Barriers and Import Controls
  Mr. John H. Osborn
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will list the countries outside the European Economic Community that maintain high tariff barriers or import controls against British products; and if he will list those product ranges where in his view there are grounds for seeking reduction of tariff barriers.

  Mr. Peter Rees:
  There are many developed and developing countries outside the European Community where imports of some British goods are impeded by high tariffs, non-tariff barriers and other import restrictions and it would not be practicable to list them. As far as those countries which are contracting parties to the GATT are concerned, the European Community sought reductions in tariff barriers on a wide range of products in the Tokyo roung of GATT multilateral trade negotiations. The resulting tariff reductions are generally being implemented in eight annual stages between 1980 and 1987. The White Paper, Cmnd. 7724, describing the outcome of these negotiations refers to some products and markets where tariffs are being so reduced, but further reductions would naturally be welcome to United Kingdom exporters. Such further reductions would, however, require reciprocal tariff reductions by the European Community, and a further round of tariff negotiations is not at present in prospect.

  Hoover (UK) Ltd
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the recent job losses at Hoover, whether he is satisfied at the reaction speed of European trading policies in those areas of manufacturing that Hoover proposes to close; and whether he will take action to safeguard British industry from further job losses in these areas.

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

  Balance of Trade
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether the balance of trade in manufactures with West Germany is in greater deficit than that with Japan;

  (2) whether he will consider similar action with regard to West Germany as he is considering with regard to Japan in order to achieve balanced trade.

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

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Home Food Production
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total value of home food production in each of the past five years at constant prices.

  Mr. Buchanan-Smith:
  The information requested is as follows:
  Value of food produced by United Kingdom agriculture and fisheries at farmgate quayside prices, including production for export

  Year

  £ million*

  1976

  4,087

  1977

  4,283

  1978

  4,320

  1979

  4,416

  1980

  4,463

  * At constant (1975) prices.

  Meat Hygiene
  Mr. Anderson
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has made to the proposals of the Institution of Environmental Health Officers' meat legislation review group for changes in the Meat (Sterilisation) Regulations which were sent to his Department in February 1981.

  Mrs. Fenner:
  A reply was sent on 30 April 1981 commenting in detail on the proposals and seeking further comments and clarification on a number of points. The institution sent a substantive reply to this letter on 16 September. My officials have also carefully examined the institution's report "Illegal Trade in Unfit Meat for Human Consumption" which was forwarded to the Department in June.

  Mr. Anderson
  asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the existing means of protecting the public against the supply of unfit meat.

  Mrs. Fenner:
  We consider that improved protection can be achieved by a combination of vigilance by companies in the meat business, strict enforcement of the
  318
  law, and some strengthening of the present law. Ideas on how the law might be amended will be put shortly to the main organisations concerned.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Chile
  Mr. Frank Allaun
  asked the Lord Privy Seal why an official invitation to visit the United Kingdom has been issued by Her Majesty's Government to a Minister in the Government of Chile; when the visit will take place; what meetings and talks are planned; and who the Minister will be.

  Mr. Luce:
  The Chilean Minister of Mines, who had already been invited privately to a function in London, accepted an official invitation to extend his stay from 11 to 17 October. He called on my hon. and learned Friend the Minister for Trade. The Chilean Minister of Finance has accepted an invitation from the British Overseas Trade Board and Canning House to visit London to address a business seminar on Chile on 16 November. His programme has not yet been finally fixed, but is expected to include calls on Ministers.

  Sinai (Peacekeeping Force)
  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement on the placing of British troops in Sinai as part of a peacekeeping force.

  Mr. Hurd:
  The United States Government have asked a number of countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Italy, to make a contribution to an international peacekeeping force in Sinai. We are considering this request together with our partners. No decisions have yet been taken.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

  United Kingdom Membership (Benefits)
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Lord Privy Seal whether there are benefits which the United Kingdom derives from membership of the European Economic Community which are not derived by other member States.

  Mr. Hurd:
  All member States have the same status under the Treaties and the benefits of Community membership are available to all.

EMPLOYMENT

  Islington
  Mr. O'Halloran
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently unemployed in the London borough of Islington; how many are on Manpower Services Commission schemes; and what were the comparable figures a year ago.

  Mr. Alison:
  At October 1981 the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Holloway and Kings Cross employment offices, which closely corresponds to the London borough of Islington, was 17,641. The corresponding figure at October 1980 was 10,478.
  319
  The number of people participating in the community enterprise programme in the borough of Islington at the end of August 1981 was 56. There is no comparable figure for the previous year.

  The community industry unit covering the boroughs of Camden and Islington employed 114 people on 13 August 1981 compared with 107 people on 14 August 1980.

  Information on the number of people participating in the youth opportunities programme is not available for individual boroughs within London.

  Willesden
  Mr. Pavitt
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of registered unemployed in September of each of the last three years in Willesden.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  The following is the information for the Willesden employment office area.

  September 1979

  2,017

  September 1980

  3,095

  September 1981

  6,738

  Unemployed Persons (Brent)
  Mr. Pavitt
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of the record number of people unemployed in Brent, he will now urgently introduce measures to create jobs in the area.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  The Government's policies are aimed at bringing down the rate of inflation and producing conditions that will help our firms become competitive. When these aims are achieved we shall see new worthwhile jobs created both in Brent and throughout the country.

  Meanwhile we are continuing with our programme of special employment and training measures that are helping large numbers of people in Brent.
  Special Measures
  The number of people currently benefiting from the Governments special employment and training measures in Brent are as follows:
  Temporary Short Time Working Compensation Scheme: 331 Potentially redundant jobs supported.Job Release Scheme 118 people currently benefiting.Youth Opportunities Programme 250 young people have entered the scheme between 1 April 1981 and 31 August 1981.Community Enterprise Programme 420 people have entered the Scheme between 1 April 1981 and 31 August 1981.Community Industry (No units in Brent)Nil.
  We are also launching a new scheme—the young workers scheme—to encourage employers to take on young people under the age of 18.

  Unemployed for up to 4 weeks (October 1981)

  Unemployed aged 55 years and over (July 1981—latest available)

  Number

  As a percentage oftotal unemployed

  Number

  As a percentage of total unemployed

  South-East

  90,978

  13.3

  94,571

  14.9

  East Anglia

  10,573

  15.1

  11,557

  17.0

  South-West

  24,692

  13.7

  29,145

  17.3

  West Midlands

  29,355

  8.4

  48,964

  14.9

  Job Creation and work Experience (Leek)
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in the Leek parliamentary constituency have been helped by his Department's Job Creation and work experience programmers.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  Information on the Manpower Services Commission's programmers in Leek is not available in the form requested However, the number of entrants ti the vouth opportunities programme in the local authority district of Staffordshire Moorlands, which approximates most closely to the parliamentary constituency of Leek, is as Follows:

  Financial Year

  Number of entrants

  1979–80

  100

  1980–81

  170

  1981*

  300

  * April to end of September.

  This gives a total of 570 since April 1979.

  Unemployment Statistics

  Mr. Thomas Cox
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the present number of (a) men and (b) women now unemployed in the London borough of Wandsworth;

  (2) what is the number of (a) men, and (b) women under the age of 21 years now unemployed in the London borough of Wandsworth.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  At 8 October there were 9,929 males and 3,935 females registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Clapham Junction and Tooting employment offices, which closely corresponds to the London borough of Wandsworth. The numbers of young people under 20 years of age included in these figures were 1,882 males and 1,310 females. Information for the precise age range specified is not available.

  Mr. Adley
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list, for each travel-to-work area in Great Britain, the percentage and total numbers for each area, of those registered as unemployed who are (a) out of work for four weeks or less and (b) aged over 55 years and voluntarily retired.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  The unemployment statistics do not distinguish voluntarily retired people. The following table gives for each region the provisional numbers of people who, at 8 October, had been unemployed for up to four weeks and for 9 July, the latest date for which an age analysis is available, the numbers unemployed aged 55 years and over. In each case the numbers are expressed as percentages of the total unemployed. The information could be provided for each travel-to-work area only at disproportionate cost.
  321

  East Midlands

  17,435

  9.8

  29,123

  16.5

  Yorkshire and Humberside

  28,828

  10.4

  40,262

  15.0

  North-West

  39,726

  9.4

  52,226

  12.7

  North

  22,481

  10.4

  30,270

  14.3

  Wales

  19,966

  11.8

  23.077

  14.3

  Scotland

  34,765

  10.7

  35,062

  11.0

  Great Britain

  318,799

  11.1

  394,257

  14.4

  School Leavers
  Mr. Alexander
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated number of this summer's school leavers who will be employed on a Manpower Services Commission job opportunity scheme at the end of the year.

  Mr. Alison:
  Estimates are not available in the precise form required. However, between April 1981 and March 1982, the Manpower Services Commission expects around 360,000 unemployed 1981 school leavers to take part in youth opportunities programme schemes—about half of all the current year's school leavers estimated to have left school for work.

  Disabled Persons
  Mr. Geoffrey Robinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of companies required by law to employ 3 per cent. disabled people do so.

  Mr. Alison:
  On 1 June 1981, the latest date for which information is available, 33.6 per cent. of all employers subject to the provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 employed 3 per cent. or more registered disabled people.

  European Social Fund
  Mr. Craigen
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what he estimates will be the effects on employment projects in the United Kingdom of the current proposals regarding the European Social fund.

  Mr. Alison:
  As laid down in its rules, the operations of the European social fund are due to be reviewed before the end of 1982. The European Commission has not yet put forward its formal proposals for the review of the fund.

  The United Kingdom
  hopes that the review will lead the fund to place more emphasis on measures to support training for young people, to deal with the effects of declining employment in traditional manufacturing industries and to meet the training needs of new technology.

  Redundancy Payments
  Mr. Nicholas Baker
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be the cost of removing the ceiling of £3,900 for redundancy payments in the last financial year.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  It is not possible to quantify the effect of such a change.

  Employed Persons (Statistics)
  Mr. Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in numbers and as a percentage of the total population the number of the people in work in each year from 1945.

  Mr. Peter Morrison:
  The available information is attached and relates to the middle of each year. The employed labour force consists of employees in employment, the self-employed and Her Majesty's Forces. The figures from 1945 to 1950* are for Great Britain; those for 1950† onwards for the United Kingdom. The methods of making employment estimates have changed on a number of occasions since 1945. In 1948 and 1959, when the changes led to discontinuities, two sets of figures are given: those marked‡ are consistent with the preceding figures and those marked** with the subsequent figures.

  Employed labour force (thousands)

  As a percentage of the total population

  1945

  21,546

  45.1

  1946

  20,147

  42.1

  1947

  20,107

  41.7

  †1948

  20,002

  41.1

  **

  22,504

  46.2

  1949

  22,515

  46.0

  *1950

  22,710

  46.1

  †

  23,257

  45.9

  1951

  23,603

  46.7

  1952

  23,590

  46.5

  1953

  23,703

  46.6

  1954

  24,038

  47.1

  1955

  24,298

  47.4

  1956

  24,514

  47.7

  1957

  24,543

  47.5

  1958

  24,278

  46.8

  ‡1959

  24,348

  46.7

  **

  23,760

  45.6

  1960

  24,183

  46.0

  1961

  24,457

  46.2

  1962

  24,632

  46.1

  1963

  24,661

  45.9

  1964

  24,950

  46.3

  1965

  25,204

  46.3

  1966

  25,355

  46.4

  1967

  24,992

  45.5

  1968

  24,841

  45.0

  1969

  24,857

  44.9

  1970

  24,753

  44.6

  1971

  24,399

  43.8

  1972

  24,391

  43.7

  1973

  24,972

  44.6

  1974

  25,059

  44.7

  1975

  24,932

  44.5

  323

  1976

  24,765

  44.3

  1977

  24,832

  44.4

  1978

  24,961

  44.7

  1979

  25,120

  44.9

  1980

  24,720

  44.1

  1981

  23,425

  41.8

  Mr. Greenway
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in numbers and as a percentage of the total population the number of people in each European Community country in employment in each year from and including 1972.

  Mr. Alison:
  I refer my hon. Friend to the publications: "OECD Labour Force Statistics 1968–1979" for information from 1972 to 1979.
  "Employment and Unemployment (31 July 1981)" issued by the Statistical Office of the European Communities for data on 1980.
  Copies are available in the Library.

  Youth Employment Statistics
  Dr. 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 [pursuant to his reply, 23 October 1981, c. 115]:
  The most recent survey, which covered a sample of young people who entered work experience schemes under the youth opportunities programme in Great Britain in the period April to June 1980 showed that 26 per cent. of males and 33 per cent. of females went into employment immediately after leaving their schemes. A further 12 per cent. of males, and 14 per cent. of females entered full-time education or another Manpower Services Commission scheme.

  Youth Opportunities Programme and Community Industry
  Mr. Waller
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are currently participating in the youth opportunities programme in each region.

  Mr. Alison [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1981, c. 161]:
  It is estimated that, at the end of September, there were 260,000 young people on the youth opportunities programme. The following table shows the estimated percentage share of this total for each region:

  percentage

  Scotland

  12.5

  Northern

  12.0

  Yorks and Humberside

  10.0

  North-West

  16.5

  Midlands

  19.0

  Wales

  8.0

  South-West

  8.5

  London

  2.5

  South-East

  11.0

  Great Britain

  100.0

  Percentage shares have been given as detailed information on the actual number of filled places in each region is not available.
  324
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will extend the tabulations given in reply to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Wainwright) on 10 July, Official Report, c. 234–40, by including the average number of weeks each trainee spends in each programme and the average cost both net and gross per week.

  Mr. Alison [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1981]:
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Mr. Foster)—[30 June, Vol. 7, c. 347–48]—which gives the gross and net costs per young person per week on the youth opportunities programme in 1980–81.

  The average length of stay on each type of YOP scheme in 1980–81 is shown in the following table:

  Scheme Type

  Average Duration Weeks

  Work Experience on Employers' Premises

  22

  Community Projects

  33

  Training Workshops

  32

  Employment Induction Courses

  2

  Short Training Courses

  13

  Remedial and Preparatory Courses

  10

SOCIAL SERVICES

  State Pensions
  Mr. Charles Irving
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is at present paid out annually in State pensions to women at 60 years and men at 65 years of age.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  £226 million and £340 million respectively.

  Health Care
  Mr. David Atkinson
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a scheme for compulsory periodic medical check-ups as a preventive care measure.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  No. Compulsory medical examination plays no part in the philosophy and practice of the provision of health care in the NHS, except in the control of some infectious diseases.

  Supplementary Benefit

  Mr. Richard Wainwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of people currently having supplementary benefit in the area covered by Kirklees metropolitan district authority and Oldham metropolitan district authority; and what were the numbers for autumn 1978, 1979 and 1980.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  Information is not available in the form requested. However, 49,800 people were receiving supplementary benefit from the four DHSS local offices in the two districts at 5 August 1981—the latest available date. This includes some people who live outside Kirklees and Oldham metropolitan districts.

  Figures for previous years are as follows:

  Number

  November 1978

  38,300

  November 1979

  36,800

  December 1980

  42,000

  325 Source:
  100 per cent. count of cases
  Mr. Richard Wainwright
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff were employed at each

  a. Kirklees Metropolitan District Area

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  Huddersfield

  193

  202

  204

  208

  213

  210

  Dewsbury

  169

  173

  177

  176

  179

  183

  b. Oldham Metropolitan District Area

  1975

  1976

  1977

  1978

  1979

  1980

  Oldham

  213

  230

  235

  237

  225

  221

  Failsworth

  158

  170

  169

  166

  160

  157

  Unemployment benefit offices are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  Mr. Proctor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of administration of supplementary benefit, including costs of investigations of abuse and prosecutions for fraud; and what is the total value of supplementary benefits paid.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  The estimated cost in 1981–82 is £340 million and £4,353 million respectively.

  Action on Smoking and Health

  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what public funds have been paid to Action on Smoking and Health in each year since its inception; what is the size of the grant in the current year; and what plans he has to make a further grant in 1982.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  Since its inception in 1971, Action on Smoking and Health and its Welsh and Scottish branches have been allocated the following sums by the Health Departments:

  Ash £

  Ash in Wales £

  Ash in Scotland £

  1971–72

  19,000

  —

  —

  1972–73

  6,000

  —

  —

  1973–74

  3,000

  —

  —

  1974–75

  6,400

  —

  —

  1975–76

  18,500

  —

  810

  1976–77

  31,000

  750

  1,740

  1977–78

  41,500

  750

  1,590

  1978–79

  59,500

  1,000

  1,440

  1979–80

  70,000

  1,200

  2,200

  1980–81

  80,000

  1,600

  * 11,000

  1981–82

  112,000

  1,600

  15,400

  *Introduction of revised funding arrangements and an end to the separate contribution from the former Scottish health education unit.

  No application has yet been received for a grant for 1982–83.

  Mr. Michael Brown asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he is having with Action on Smoking and Health concerning the possibility of a grant from public funds in 1982.
  326
  benefit office in (a) the Kirklees metropolitan district area and (b) the Oldham metropolitan district area in each year from 1975 to 1980; and if he will make a statement.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  The information requested on staff employed at DHSS local offices is as follows:

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  I shall shortly be meeting representatives of Action on Smoking and Health at their request.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions Ministers of his Department have met officers of Action on Smoking and Health since May 1979.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  There have been three formal meetings at the request of Action on Smoking and Health.

  Mr. Michael Brown
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what checks he makes on how the grant from public funds to Action on Smoking and Health is spent.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  Officials attend annual general meetings and meetings of the executive and council of Action on Smoking and Health as observers, and maintain regular contact with officers of the organisation. Like other voluntary organisations seeking grants from the Department under the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968, ASH submits detailed financial estimates and audited accounts annually, which are scrutinised by the Department and discussed as necessary with ASH.

  Family Income Supplement
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of families now receiving family income supplement; and what is the average amount of benefit paid out to each family.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  There were about 110,000 families receiving family income supplement on 28 July 1981, the latest date for which figures are available. The average amount received was about £9.30 a week.

  Hearing Aids
  Mr. Haynes
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average waiting time for hearing aid services at the hearing aid center, Nottingham, and at Kings Mill hospital, Sutton in Ashfield, respectively;

  (2) whether he intends taking any action to reduce the waiting time for hearing aid services at Kings Mill hospital, Sutton in Ashfield.

  Mr. Rossi:
  Information about waiting times at hearing aid centers is not held centrally. I understand, however,

  327
  that the Nottinghamshire area health authority (teaching) is concerned about the length of waiting times for hearing aid services at the Nottingham and Sutton in Ashfield centers and is taking steps to reduce them. The hon. Member may wish to contact the AHA(T) direct for information about the waiting times at these centers and for details of the steps being taken by the AHA(T).

  Prescription Charges
  Mr. Mike Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether, and in what circumstances, prescription charges are collected by general practitioners personally administering drugs to patients;

  (2) whether he will list those drugs on which prescription charges are payable at the retail pharmacy but not when personally administered by the prescribing doctor;

  (3) whether he will estimate the annual loss in revenue to the National Health Service caused by the failure of general practitioners to collect prescription charges on personally administered drugs.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  Subject to exemptions, prescription charges are payable by patients when obtaining drugs and appliances on prescription from chemists whether for personal administration to them later by the doctor or, more usually, for self administration. Charges are also paid generally where items are supplied by a dispensing doctor. Where a non-dispensing doctor supplies drugs and appliances which he personally administers to patients, no prescription is given to the patient and no charge is payable. NHS payment arrangements provide for dispensing payments to be made to a non-dispensing doctor for the direct supply to patients of certain items personally administered by the doctor; these are vaccines, anaesthetics, injections and certain diagnostic reagents and appliances.

  Sheltered Workshops
  Mr. Mike Thomas
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether joint financing money may be used in addition to Manpower Services Commission funds to provide sheltered workshops for the handicapped, disabled and mentally ill.

  Mr. Rossi:
  No. Joint finance money is available for the support of selected local authority personal social services schemes and related health services expenditure. The provision of sheltered workshops is a responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment.

  Invalidity Benefit Recipients (Prescriptions)

  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now reconsider the decision not to allow those in receipt of invalidity benefit to have their medical prescriptions free of charge.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  I have no plans to extend automatic exemption from prescription charges to this group. Apart from the fact that not all invalidity benefit recipients need frequent prescriptions, many already qualify for exemption by being in receipt of supplementary benefit, family income supplement or because their income falls below a certain level. The pre-payment
  328
  certificate—"season ticket"—arrangements can, of course, help those people not entitled to exemption to limit their outlay on medicines.

  Retirement Pensions (Payment Abroad)
  Mr. George Cunningham
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services approximately how many national insurance retirement pensions are currently being paid to persons living abroad; what proportion this represents of the total of national insurance retirement pensions in payment; and which are the main countries of residence.

  Mr. Rossi:
  At November 1980 there were 238,000 national insurance retirement pensions in payment to people living abroad, representing 2.7 per cent. of the total of 8,919,000. These figures exclude payments of non-contributory retirement pensions and graduated pension only. The main countries of residence were as follows:

  Australia

  29 per cent.

  Canada

  13 per cent.

  Republic of Eire

  12 per cent.

  United States of America

  9 per cent.

  New Zealand

  8 per cent.

  South Africa

  5 per cent.

  Peritoneal Dialysis
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the evidence he has received shows that diabetic patients with kidney disease have achieved better control of diabetes when treated for both conditions on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  I am not aware of any formal clinical trials on the effects of treating diabetic patients with chronic renal failure by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. It is thought possible that by putting insulin in the dialysis fluid a more even control of blood sugar may be achieved but it is as yet too early to evaluate the long term effects of this form of treatment for diabetic patients.

  Nurses (Pay)
  Mr. William Hamilton
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the minimum and maximum rates of pay for each grade in the nursing profession in April 1981, taking into account the most recent increases.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  The information requested is shown in the following table. It should be noted that the figures quoted relate to basic salary scales and do not include such allowances as payment for work done during unsocial hours.

  Annual Salary Scale

  Grade

  Minimum £

  Maximum £

  Regional Nursing Officer R1

  17,123

  21,924

  Regional Nursing Officer R2

  16,466

  21,389

  Area Nursing Officer AT1

  15,879

  20,793

  Area Nursing Officer AT2

  15,658

  20,380

  Area Nursing Officer A1

  15,378

  19,753

  Area Nursing Officer A2

  14,818

  18,611

  Area Nursing Officer A3

  14,258

  17,928

  Area Nursing Officer SDAT

  15,658

  20,380

  Area Nursing Officer SDA1

  15,098

  19,127

  Area Nursing Officer SDA2

  14,539

  18,202

  Area Nursing Officer SDA3

  13,978

  17,639

  329

  District Nursing Officer DT

  15,098

  19,127

  District Nursing Officer D1

  14,258

  17,928

  District Nursing Officer D2

  13,707

  17,062

  District Nursing Officer D3

  12,936

  15,730

  District Nursing Officer D4

  10,753

  12,944

  Regional Nurse R1

  11,986

  15,347

  Regional Nurse R2

  11,526

  14,973

  Area Nurse AN/T

  12,522

  14,139

  Area Nurse AN/A

  11,902

  13,438

  Area Nurse AN/B

  11,456

  12,997

  Divisional Nursing Officer I

  11,011

  12,654

  Divisional Nursing Officer II

  10,363

  11,834

  Divisional Nursing Officer III

  9,649

  11,005

  Divisional Nursing Officer IV

  9,033

  10,394

  Senior Nursing Officer I

  7,280

  8,462

  Senior Nursing Officer II

  6,954

  8,148

  Nursing Officer I

  6,523

  7,791

  Nursing Officer II

  6,248

  7,551

  Nursing Sister I

  6,248

  7,551

  Nursing Sister II (Ward Sister)

  5,628

  7,215

  Deputy Nursing Sister

  5,050

  6,234

  Staff Nurse SRN

  4,450

  5,426

  Enrolled Nurse

  4,008

  4,835

  Nursing Auxiliary

  3,143

  4,017

  Staff Nursery Nurse NNEB

  3,450

  4,246

  Hospital Nursing Staff NNEB

  3,583

  4,375

  Annual Salary

  1st Year £

  2nd Year £

  3rd Year £

  Student Nurse

  3,290

  3,428

  3,593

  Pupil Nurse

  3,290

  3,428

  Annual Salary Scale

  Minimum £

  Maximum £

  Director of Nurse Education I

  11,925

  13,425

  Director of Nurse Education II

  11,277

  12,777

  Director of Nurse Education III

  10,667

  12,161

  Director of Nurse Education IV

  9,747

  11,246

  Assistant Director of Nurse Education

  9,805

  11,133

  Senior Tutor

  7,392

  8,660

  Tutor

  6,805

  8,073

  Clinical Teacher

  6,248

  7,551

  Girocheques (Loss)
  Mr. Stan Thorne
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will revise the rule operated by his Department in respect of the re-issue of lost Giro payments only after seven weeks has expired in view of the considerable hardship this creates.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  The Department normally replaces a lost Girocheque only after a check that the original has not been cashed, a process which takes some weeks, but special procedures can apply in cases of financial hardship.

  Disabled Persons Act 1981
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he anticipates a circular being issued to local authorities and other interested parties concerning the implementation of the Disabled Persons Act 1981, which comes into force on 27 October; and what discussions he has held with organisations representing disabled people in drawing up this circular.

  Mr. Rossi:
  Work is proceeding in the Departments concerned on the preparation of guidance. Consultations will be undertaken as necessary.

  Retirement Age (Pension Costs)
  Mr. Hicks
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated increased cost for pensions if the retirement age for men were to be reduced to 60 years; and what would be the estimated net cost to public funds in the context of current unemployment levels.

  Mr. Rossi:
  I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) on 20 October 1981—[Vol. 10, c. 102–3]—for the current net cost. On the same assumptions it is estimated that the increased cost of retirement pensions would be £3,050 million per annum.

  National Insurance Fund
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual income and expenditure of the national insurance fund.

  Mrs. Chalker:
  The most recent estimates are given in the report by the Government Actuary on the draft of the Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 1981, Cmnd. 8296.

  Glue Sniffing
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate a comprehensive inquiry into the incidence of solvent sniffing; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg:
  Evidence suggests that solvent sniffing is sporadic and often clandestine and it is unlikely that a comprehensive inquiry into its incidence would be practicable or give reliable information.

  The Government's view is that the problem is best assessed locally by the health and local authorities, and best dealt with by education and persuasion through local initiatives involving parents, health, social and youth workers, police, teachers and others. I welcome the local initiatives already taken in several areas and we are exploring what more can be done to help.

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

  Sixth Form Education
  Mr. Dykes
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the number of children who are staying on for sixth form type education in secondary age schools because of the high rate of unemployment.

  Sir Keith Joseph:
  The number of children staying on for sixth form education in England this September is not yet known. But it seems that in many areas, particularly of high unemployment, there has been an increase in the proportion of the age group staying on.

  Universities (Expenditure Cuts)
  Mr. Marks
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the subject of expenditure cuts at universities of applied technology.
  331
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received on the cuts to be introduced in the financing of universities.

  Mr. Waldegrave:
  Ministers have received about 2,000 letters about the financing of the universities since the announcement of the allocation of recurrent grant on 2 July. Over half of these concerned universities that were formerly colleges of applied technology.

  Teachers
  Mr. Hooley
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current estimate of the shortage of teachers of mathematics and physics in State schools in England and Wales.

  Dr. Boyson:
  There is no single measure of teacher shortage in a particular subject because schools vary in the time allotted to different subjects in the curriculum, and many teachers teach more than one subject. But the number of unfilled vacancies reported by local education authorities indicates the immediate demand for additional secondary teachers by subject. In January 1981 local education authorities in England and Wales reported 383 unfilled vacancies in mathematics and 151 in physics.

  Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many qualified teachers are not now working as teachers.

  Dr. Boyson:
  About 300,000 qualified teachers in England and Wales under the age of 60 are estimated to be not currently working as teachers.

  Primary and Secondary Schools (Places)
  Mr. Spearing
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what response he has had to his circular 2/81 concerning surplus places in primary and secondary schools.

  Mr. William Shelton:
  The circular invited LEAs to submit information by 31 December 1981 about the number of surplus school places in their areas up to 1986 and their plans for taking those places out of use. As yet no returns have been received.

  Academic Staff (Redundancies)
  Mr. Christopher Price
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further consultations he will be having with the University Grants Committee about redundancies of academic staff.

  Mr. Waldegrave:
  My right hon. Friend will continue to consult the University Grants Committee as necessary.

  Full-time Education (16-year-olds)
  Mrs. Renèe Short
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the number of 16-year-olds who have decided to continue full-time education.

  Mr. William Shelton:
  My right hon. Friend is pleased by recent indications of an increase in the staying on rate among 16-year-olds, but he will not be wholly satisfied until we have achieved a much larger participation by our young people in education of suitable type and quality.

  Further Education
  Mr. Kenneth Lewis
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has made a decision on the future financing of further education.

  Sir Keith Joseph:
  Not about permanent arrangements. But I have put proposals to the local authorities for ad hoc machinery which should improve decisions about the pattern of provision and the financing of advanced further education. I am glad to say that they have welcomed this approach and are collaborating with me to get work started.

  University Grants Committee
  Mr. Torney
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ensure that future appointments to the University Grants Committee result in a wider representation of interests on the committee.

  Mr. Waldegrave:
  Members of the University Grants Committee and its sub-committees are not appointed to represent particular institutions. They are already drawn from a wide range of academic and industrial backgrounds.

  Education Programmes (North of England)
  Mr. Foster
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to encourage increased participation in education programmes amongst 16 to 19-year-olds in the North of England.

  Mr. William Shelton:
  My right hon. Friend is concerned to increase participation in all parts of the country. Additional expenditure of £60 million in 1982–83 has been announced to enable 50,000 more young people to stay on in full-time education.

  Aberdeen University
  Mr. Robert Hughes
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from Aberdeen university on the level of University Grants Committee grant for forthcoming years.

  Mr. William Waldegrave:
  No representations have been received from the University of Aberdeen. Ministers have received 17 letters about the allocation of grant to the university, including some from members of staff.

  European Foundation
  Mr. Rippon
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made towards the enactment of the European Foundation on the basis agreed by the Heads of State and Government in Rome in March 1977 and in Copenhagen in April 1978; and whether he will make a statement.

  Mr. William Shelton:
  The Government look forward to further discussion at an early date of the issues that have so far prevented the establishment of the foundation and are certainly ready to consider constructively with our partners any proposals put forward by them for resolving the difficulties.

  Books and Equipment (ILEA)
  Mr. O'Halloran
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much is spent per head by the

  333
  Inner London Education Authority on books and equipment for primary and secondary pupils, respectively; how this compares with expenditure in 1974–75 and 1978–79 at comparable prices; and how it compares with other education authorities.

  Dr. Boyson:
  Expenditure per head on books and equipment for primary and secondary pupils by ILEA and by English local education authorities as a whole, in 1974–75, 1978–79 and 1979–80—the latest year for which figures are available—was as follows:

  £ (1980–81 outturn prices)

  1974ߝ75

  1978ߝ79

  1979ߝ80

  Primary—ILEA

  35.0

  32.5

  43.5

  —England

  18.0

  17.0

  16.5

  Secondary—ILEA

  63.0

  67.0

  78.0

  —England

  35.0

  32.0

  30.5

  Secondary Pupils (Qualifications)
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students left secondary schools in the maintained sector last year with (a) no academic qualifications, (b) one CSE, (c) one to five CSEs, (d) one O-level, (e) one to five O-levels and (f) five to 10 O-levels.

  Dr. Boyson:
  The information readily available on qualifications of leavers from English maintained schools in 1979–80 is as follows:

  Leavers with:

  Thousands

  Five or more higher* grades at O-level or CSE

  147.5

  1–4 higher* grades at O-level or CSE

  201.3

  No higher* grades but one or more other grades

  266.8

  No CSE or O-level qualifications

  90.5

  All leavers

  706.1

  *O-level grades A-C and CSE grade 1 are classified as higher grades. All other graded results are classified as other grades.

  Information for leavers in 1980–81 is not yet available.

  Mr. Colvin
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of young people leave school without any approved educational qualification.

  Dr. Boyson:
  A total of 12.2 per cent. of all English school leavers in 1979–80 had no CSE or GCE graded examination result.

  Teachers (Efficiency Assessment)

  Mr. Dickens
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to introduce a procedure to assess the efficiency of individual teachers at regular intervals following qualification.

  Dr. Boyson:
  My right hon. Friend recognises the importance to education of the quality of teachers performance; and it is a topic to which he intends to give further attention. He does not, however, have any plans at this stage to introduce new procedures.

  Ethnic Minorities
  Mr. Ernie Ross
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the report of the committee of inquiry into the education of children from ethnic minority groups chaired by Lord Swann.
  334
  Dr. Boyson:
  The committee has been asked to submit its final report by the middle of 1983.

  Secondary Schools (Buildings)
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondary schools were built in the United Kingdom in 1980; and how many in each of the previous five years.

  Dr. Boyson:
  The number of secondary school projects completed in England in 1980 and in each of the previous five years is as follows:

  New Schools including first instalments

  Extensions and Adaptations

  1980

  8

  94

  1979

  17

  180

  1978

  20

  261

  1977

  64

  439

  1976

  58

  380

  1975

  70

  345

  Responsibility for secondary schools in other parts of the United Kingdom rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

  Teachers (Salaries)
  Mr. Knox
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the present system for negotiating teachers' salaries; and if he will make a statement.

  Dr. Boyson:
  My right hon. Friend is at present reviewing the negotiating arrangements for teachers' pay and intends to make a statement in due course.

  British Library Extension
  Mr. Grimond
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current estimate of the cost of the extension to the British Library.

  Mr. Channon:
  That part of the library's Euston Road building project on which a decision to proceed was announced on 28 November 1980 is estimated to cost £82 million at this year's prices.

  Expenditure
  Mr. Richard Page
  asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the estimated expenditure in England and Wales per pupil in (a)nursery and primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the maintained sector, excluding capital developments, for 1981–82;

  (2) what is the estimated expenditure in England and Wales per pupil in (a) nursery and primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the maintained sector, including capital developments for 1981–82.

  Dr Boyson:
  Planned institutional recurrent expenditure per pupil in England for 1981–82 is £614 in nursery and primary schools and £857 in secondary schools in cash terms. Capital expenditure on nursery, primary and secondary pupils cannot be separately identified within the planned provision for schools capital: planned capital expenditure per nursery, primary and secondary pupil in

  335
  England 1981–82 is £34 in cash terms. Expenditure in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

DEFENCE

  Married Quarters (RAF Boulmer)
  Mr. Beith
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters at RAF Boulmer are at present empty.

  Mr. Wiggin:
  Eleven officers' married quarters and 52 airmen's married quarters were empty on 22 October 1981. These quarters are being held against future RAF requirements.

  Arms Sales
  Mr. Frank Allaun
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the sale of arms to countries where there is evidence of torture of political opponents.

  Mr. Pattie:
  Her Majesty's Government's general policy is to withhold approval for the export of arms to a country where there are serious abuses of human rights and where the equipment is, in our judgment, likely to be used for internal repression.

  Chile (Warship Sales)
  Mr. Frank Allaun
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reverse his decision to sell a naval missile vessel to Chile.

  Mr. Pattie:
  No.

  Mr. Ennals
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the Government's policy concerning the sale of warships, including HMS "Norfolk" and HMS "Tidepool", to the Chilean Government.

  Mr. Pattie:
  All applications for the sale of arms to Chile, including warships, are considered on their merits taking all relevant factors into account.

  Pay Rates
  Mr. William Hamilton
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing the minimum and maximum rates of pay for each rank in the Army, the Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force in April 1981.

  Mr. Blaker:
  The military salaries for members of the Armed Forces effective from 1 April 1981 are set out in appendices 1 and 2 to the supplement to the Armed Forces Pay Review Body's Tenth Report 1981, Cmnd. 8241. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, in answer to a written question on 15 May—[Vol. 4, c. 343]—announced the Government's acceptance in full of the review body's recommendations and these are the rates that now apply.

  RAF Kemble
  Mr. Needham
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence

  what savings Her Majesty's Government expect as a result of the closure of No. 5 maintenance unit, RAF Kemble;

  what procedures the Royal Air Force is adopting for its study of the proposed closure of RAF Kemble; and whether the staff's opinions are being invited;

  336

  when the staff side will be invited to comment on the proposals to close RAF Kemble;

  whether he is satisfied that the entire If Kemble engineering task can be accommodated by surplus RAF Service personnel at the other two maintenance units;

  how many technical Service men, now surplus to RAF requirements, will take on the task currently performed by the No. 5 maintenance unit at Kemble;

  who in future will carry the surface finish tasks for the Queen's Flight;

  if he is satisfied that the quality of work carried out by the surface finishing section at RAF Kemble can be matched elsewhere within the Royal Air Force or by outside contractors;

  (8) what will be the capital costs if all work at RAF Kemble is transferred to other areas;

  (9) what are the alternative bases being considered to which work from RAF Kemble might be transferred, including contract work.

  Mr. Wiggin:
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Colchester (Mr. Buck), on 28 July.—[Vol. 9, c. 452.] Current studies are examining the issues referred to by my hon. Friend here and in other representations which he has made.

  Mr. Needham
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what are the numbers employed at RAF Kemble; what are their ages and grades; how many will have their jobs terminated if the closure of RAF Kemble takes place; and how many personnel will be offered alternative jobs at the other units to which work is transferred;

  (2) whether, if RAF Kemble is closed, redundancies will take place in the mobile grades.

  Mr. Wiggin:
  I shall write to my hon. Friend about the number of employees and their ages and grades. It is not possible to say how many would be made redundant or offered alternative jobs if RAF Kemble were to close. This would depend on a number of factors such as the level of natural wastage and to what extent suitable alternative jobs exist within the Ministry of Defence or other Government Departments.

  Jaguar and Tornado Aircraft
  Mr. Needham
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that the surplus personnel generated by the current rundown of the Jaguar maintenance programme will not be required by the introduction of the Tornado.

  Mr. Wiggin:
  I am satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made to maintain the Tornado in service.

  Service Men (Rehabilitation)
  Mr. Carter-Jones
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to permit a member of the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association to visit at an early stage Service personnel who have lost a limb in order to assist with rehabilitation and give practical help and advice; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Wiggin:
  In so far as medical and security conditions and the personal wishes of Service men allow, there are no restrictions on visiting.
  337
  Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary

  Mr. Speed
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names and type of each ship of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary that have been, or are intended to be, withdrawn from the active fleet in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively.

  Mr. Blaker:
  The ships from the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary that have been, or on current plans will be, withdrawn from the active fleet in the period 1980–83, are listed below. Certain of these vessels will enter the standby squadron, where they will remain declared to NATO.

  1. Royal Navy

  1980

  "Blake"

  Helicopter Cruiser

  "Ashanti"

  Tribal Class Frigate

  "Eskimo"

  Tribal Class Frigate

  "Gurkha"

  Tribal Class Frigate

  "Mohawk"

  Tribal Class Frigate

  "Nubian"

  Tribal Class Frigate

  "Tartar"

  Tribal Class Frigate

  "Berwick"

  Rothesay Class Frigate

  "Tenacity"

  Fast Attack Craft

  "Dittisham"

  Inshore Minesweeper

  "Isis"

  Inshore Minesweeper

  1981

  "Bulwark"

  ASW/Commando Carrier

  "London"

  County Class Destroyer

  "Juno"

  Leander Class Frigate

  "Brighton"

  Rothesay Class Frigate

  "Falmouth"

  Rothesay Class Frigate

  "Glasserton"

  Coastal Minesweeper

  "Sabre"

  Fast Target Boat

  "Scimitar"

  Fast Target Boat

  "Cutlass"

  Fast Target Boat

  Year of Acceptance

  Name

  Type

  Order Date

  1980

  HMS "Invincible"

  Anti-Submarine Carrier

  17 April 1973

  HMS "Exeter"

  Type 42 Destroyer

  22 January 1976

  HMS "Speedy"

  Hydrofoil

  29 June 1978

  1981

  HMS "Southampton

  Type 42 Destroyer

  17 March 1976

  HMS "Splendid"

  Fleet Submarine

  26 May 1976

  HMS "Brilliant"

  Type 22 Frigate

  7 September 1976

  HMS "Ledbury"

  Mine Countermeasures Vessel

  31 March 1977

  HMS "Leeds Castle"

  Offshore Patrol Vessel

  8 August 1980

  On our latest assessment the following vessels are expected to enter service in 1982 and 1983:

  1982

  HMS "Illustrious"

  Anti-Submarine Carrier

  14 May 1976

  HMS "Nottingham"

  Type 42 Destroyer

  1 March 1977

  HMS "Liverpool"

  Type 42 Destroyer

  27 May 1977

  HMS "Brazen"

  Type 22 Frigate

  21 October 1977

  HMS "Cattistock"

  Mine Countermeasures Vessel

  29 January 1979

  HMS "Dumbarton Castle"

  Offshore Patrol Vessel

  3 June 1981

  1983

  HMS "Trafalgar"

  Fleet Submarine

  7 September 1977

  HMS "Manchester"

  Type 42 Destroyer

  10 November 1978

  HMS "Cottesmore"

  Mine Countermeasures Vessel

  29 Janauary 1979

  HMS "Challenger"

  Seabed Operations Vessel

  28 January 1979

  HMS "Brocklesby"

  Mine Countermeasures Vessel

  19 June 1980

  Unnamed

  Offshore Patrol Vessel*

  1 July 1981

  Note * First of five for use in Hong Kong (75 per cent funded by Hong Kong Government)

NATIONAL FINANCE

  Value Added Tax
  Mr. Proctor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount value added tax would have to be increased to recover the costs incurred to the Treasury of abolishing corporation tax.
  338

  "Intrepid"

  Assault Ship

  "Norfolk"

  County Class Destroyer

  "Bacchante"

  Leander Class Frigate

  "Naiad"

  Leander Class Frigate

  "Rhyl"

  Rothesay Class Frigate

  "Crofton"

  Coastal Minesweeper

  "Lewiston"

  Coastal Minesweeper

  "Endurance"

  Ice Patrol Ship

  "Laleston"

  Coastal Patrol Craft

  "Porpoise"

  Porpoise Class Submarine

  1983

  "Hermes"

  ASW/Commando Carrier

  "Dido"

  Leander Class Frigate

  "Shavington"

  Coastal Minesweeper

  "Wasperton"

  Coastal Patrol Craft

  "Londonderry"

  Trials Ship

  2. Royal Fleet Auxiliary

  1980

  "Lyness"

  Stores Support Ship

  1981

  "Tarbatness"

  Stores Support Ship

  "Eddyfirth"

  Coastal Tanker

  "Tidepool"

  Fleet Tanker

  "Stromness"

  Stores Support Ship

  "Bacchus"

  Stores Carrier

  1982

  "Pearleaf"

  Support Tanker

  1983

  "Tide spring"

  Fleet Tanker

  Mr. Speed
  asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the names and type and date of ordering of each ship of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary that has joined or is expected to join the active fleet in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively

  Mr. Blaker:
  The following ships, with their order date, have been accepted into service in 1980 and 1981:

  Mr. Bruce-Gardyne:
  It is estimated that the standard rate of VAT would have to be increased from 15 per cent. to about 20 per cent.

  Sir Brandon Rhys Williams
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing what are now the rates at which value added tax is applied in member States of the European Community.

  Mr. Bruce-Gardyne:
  Following is the information:
  339

  VAT rates (percentage)

  Belgium

  6

  17

  25

  Denmark

  22

  France

  7

  17.6

  331/3

  Germany

  6½

  13

  Greece*

  Ireland

  0

  15

  25

  Italy

  8

  15

  18

  35

  Luxembourg

  5

  10

  Netherlands

  4

  18

  United Kingdom

  0

  15

  Notes:

  The Standard Rate in each case is in italic.

  Exports are zero-rated.

  In addition certain Member States have various temporary rates or additional rates with minimal coverage.

  * VAT not yet introduced.

  European Community (Rebates)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the rebates which are being considered by the European Assembly fall to be paid under the agreement of 30 May.

  Mr. Ridley:
  I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the United Kingdom's supplementary measures refunds in respect of 1981, which have recently been the subject of discussion in the Budgets Committee of the European Parliament. The 30 May 1980 agreement provides for these refunds in respect of 1981 to be paid out of the Community's 1982 budget, except to the extent that they have already been covered by advances from the 1981 budget.

  European Community (Membership Costs)
  Mr. Marlow
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of the United Kingdom's membership of the European Economic Community as computed by net budget deficit plus unemployment costs arising from increased net deficit in manufactured trade since 1973 plus the cost of net imports of European foodstuffs against probable prices available at world market prices.

  Mr. Ridley:
  I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

  Unemployment Benefits (Taxation)
  Mr. Rost
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is to be the starting date for the Government's proposals to bring into tax benefits paid to the unemployed.

  Mr. Ridley:
  Bringing these benefits into tax will involve withholding tax refunds while benefit is being paid to a claimant. We now propose to introduce these changes in two stages. The withholding of refunds will start from 6 April 1982, but benefit paid before 5 July 1982 will not be charged to tax. The necessary legislation will be introduced in the 1982 Finance Bill.

  Mortgage Interest
  Mr. Winnick
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to adjust the income tax relief on increased mortgage interest rates; and if he will make a statement.

  Mr. Ridley [pursuant to his reply, 21 October 1981, c. 130]:
  Tax offices will shortly be amending the PAYE
  340
  codes of taxpayers with building society mortgages to reflect the increased tax relief due as a result of the recently announced rise in mortgage interest rates. We intend the revised codes to be available for employers to apply them, at the latest, on the first pay day after 30 November.

  Employee Share Schemes
  Mr. Waller
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have received Treasury approval to introduce employee share schemes under the Finance Act 1978.

  Mr. Ridley [pursuant to his reply, 22 October 1981, c. 168]:
  By 30 September 1981, 247 profit-sharing schemes had been approved by the Inland Revenue under the provisions of the Finance Act 1978.

  Tax Threshold
  Mr. Field
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of raising the tax threshold to (a) the supplementary benefit level and (b) the family income supplement eligibility level.

  Mr. Ridley
  [pursuant to his reply, 23 October 1981]: It would cost about £2,500 million in a full year at 1981–82 income levels to raise tax thresholds for single people and married men to the current level of supplementary benefit plus average housing costs, assuming that the tax thresholds varied according to the numbers of dependants. In these calculations no adjustment has been made to the wife's earned income allowance.

  Only families with children have been considered in this case, as only these are eligible for family income supplement. The cost in a full year at 1981–82 income levels of raising tax thresholds to family income supplement eligibility levels assuming the tax thresholds varied according to the number of dependants would be about £3,100 million.

  European Community (United Kingdom Contribution)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the £16 million aid offered by the EEC Commission for housing projects in Northern Ireland will have the effect of reducing further the net contribution to be made by the United Kingdom to the EEC under the agreement of 30 May, or whether it will be included as income from the EEC in assessing the size of rebates to be made under that agreement.

  Mr. Ridley
  [pursuant to his reply 26 October 1981]: The Government's discussions with Commission officials have proceeded on the basis that the proposed grants for housing in Northern Ireland should lead to an increase in total United Kingdom receipts compared with what would have happened otherwise. It follows from this that, if the proposed payments are made, the effect would be to reduce further the United Kingdom's net budgetary contribution in the event of the agreement of 30 May 1980 being extended to cover the 1982 budget.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Unemployed Persons (Belfast)
  Mr. Concannon
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will state in the Official Report the numbers unemployed in each of the Belfast travel-to-work areas.

  Mr. Adam Butler:
  The number of people registered as unemployed in each of the employment service office areas which constitute the Belfast travel-to-work area is as follows:

  Employment Service Office Area

  Total *

  Belfast

  35,803

  Bangor

  2,765

  Carrickfergus

  2,566

  Larne

  1,958

  Lisburn

  3,631

  Newtownards

  2,512

  Total

  49,235

  * as at 8 October 1981.

  Redundancies
  Mr. Concannon
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many redundancies from factories located in Northern Ireland have been notified to the Northern Ireland Departments since January of the current year.

  Mr. Adam Butler:
  The information is not available in the form requested as the statistics kept by the Northern Ireland Department of Manpower Services do not segregate proposed redundancies in factories from those in other places of work. However, a total of 20,092 proposed redundancies were notified to the Department of Manpower Services during the period from 1 January to 30 September 1981.
  342
  These figures are not a true measure of the number of actual redundancies since many redundancies do not in fact take place—for example, because of subsequent applications under the temporary short-time working compensation scheme—and there is no statutory requirement to notify the Department of Manpower Services when proposed redundancies do not take place.

  Maze Prison (Irish Language)
  Mr. Wigley
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what rules govern the use of the Irish language during prison visits at HM prison Maze.

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

  European Community (Housing Aid)
  Mr. Teddy Taylor
  asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the £16 million aid offered by the EEC Commission for housing projects in Northern Ireland will be in addition to planned expenditure by Her Majesty's Government; and if the arrangements for the making of these grants have been finalised with the Commission.

  Mr. Prior
  [pursuant to his reply, 26 October 1981]: There is as yet no Community instrument to provide the legal authority for the Commission to make the proposed grant. Her Majesty's Government are co-operating fully with the Commission as it prepares the necessary regulation. Discussions with the Commission are proceeding on the basis set out in the answer given to my hon. Friend earlier today by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I can confirm that if the proposed grant is made available expenditure on housing in Northern Ireland will be higher than it could otherwise have been.

  CIVIL SERVICE PAY INQUIRY: GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE
  CIVIL SERVICE PAY INQUIRY: GOVERNMENT EVIDENCE
  CIVIL SERVICE PAY DISPUTE: "NO-VICTIMISATION" CLAUSE
  CIVIL SERVICE PAY DISPUTE: "NO-VICTIMISATION" CLAUSE
  HOME OFFICE CIRCULAR NO. ES 3/1976
  HOME OFFICE CIRCULAR NO. ES 3/1976
  BRITISH/SOVIET CULTURAL AGREEMENT
  BRITISH/SOVIET CULTURAL AGREEMENT
  EDUCATION OF CHILDREN: INQUIRY INTERIM REPORT
  EDUCATION OF CHILDREN: INQUIRY INTERIM REPORT
  ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL FIRE
  ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S HOSPITAL FIRE
  DISTRICT HANDICAP TEAMS
  DISTRICT HANDICAP TEAMS
  "ADDITIONALITY": INTERPRETATION
  "ADDITIONALITY": INTERPRETATION
  CONSULAR OFFICIALS: LEGAL ADVICE
  CONSULAR OFFICIALS: LEGAL ADVICE
  MALAYSIA: UK PASSPORT HOLDERS
  MALAYSIA: UK PASSPORT HOLDERS