text:
Commons: 11 December 1979
Volume 975: debated on Tuesday 11 December 1979
Written Answers To Questions
Mr. Dalyell
asked the Prime Minister if she has now had discussions with the Government of Holland on the security risks involved in the Khan incident at the nuclear centrifuge establishment at Urenco, Almelo, Holland.
The Prime Minister
I raised this matter with the Netherlands Prime Minister, Mr. van Agt, at my meeting with him on 6 December 1979. He agreed that this was a matter of most serious concern and assured me that everything possible was being done to prevent a repetition.
Prime Minister (Engagements)
Mr. Dormand
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for 11 December.
Mr. Cook
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her official engagements for Tuesday 11 December.
Mr. Maxton
Mr. Flannery
Mr. Jessel
Miss Joan Lestor
Mr. Ashley
Mr. James Hamilton
Mr. Neubert
Mr. Brotherton
Mr. Norman Hogg
Mr. John Townend
Mr. Robert Hughes
asked the Prime Minister what are her official engagements for 11 December.
Mr. Peter Bottomley
Mr. Montgomery
Dr. Mawhinney
Mr. Dewar
Mr. Shersby
Mr. Parry
asked the Prime Minister if she will list her public engagements for Tuesday 11 December,
Mr. Edwin Wainwright
Mr. McCrindle
Mr. O'Neill
Mr. Hardy
Mr. Temple-Morris
Mr. Bob Dunn
Mr. Stoddart
Mr. Kenneth Lewis
Mr. Lawrence
I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk).
Mr. Michael Brown
asked the Prime Minister how many letters she has received concerning industrial relations since she became Prime Minister.
I have received over a thousand letters on industrial relations.
Mr. Race
asked the Prime Minister when last she met the leaders of the Trades Union Congress.
Mr. Colin Shepherd
asked the Prime Minister when last she met the Trades Union Congress.
Mr. Norman Atkinson
Mr. Eggar
On 25 June.
Mr. Gwilym Roberts
asked the Prime Minister if she plans to visit Staffordshire.
I have at present no plans to do so.
Speke Industrial Estate
Mr. Thornton
asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Speke industrial estate.
I have no plans to do so
International Year Of The Child
Mr. Harry Ewing
asked the Prime Minister whether Her Majesty's Government have any plans for special events to mark the end of the International Year of the Child.
Responsibility for organising events rests with the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child, which plans to mark the end of the year by a special service of thanksgiving on 31 December at Central Hall, Westminster.
European Economic Community
Mr. Ioan Evans
asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the progress of the policies outlined in the Gracious Speech as regards the European Economic Community.
All these policies are being pursued in the process of business within the Community. We have not yet been able to find a satisfactory solution of the problem caused by our excessive net contribution to the budget, but we remain intent on securing an adequate and lasting settlement.
Carrickmore, Northern Ireland
Mr. Soley asked
the Prime Minister if she has anything further to add to her comments to the House regarding the proposed "Panorama" programme on Carrickmore, Northern Ireland.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) on 29 November.
Council House Tenants (Mobility Of Labour)
asked the Prime Minister whether she is satisfied with co-ordination between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Employment regarding policies to encourage mobility of labour among council house tenants.
Yes. There is close and continuing liaison between the two Departments. Discussions are currently taking place with the local authority associations as to how mobility of labour for council tenants can be improved.
Mr. Foulkes
asked the Prime Minister if she has any plans to visit Girvan.
Mr. Stephen Ross
asked the Prime Minister if, when next she meets President Carter, she will raise the matter of the replacement of the Polaris missile system.
I anticipate that discussions during my forthcoming visit to Washington will range over the entire spectrum of United States-United Kingdom co-operation.
Heating And Thermal Insulation
Mr. Andrew F. Bennett
asked the Prime Minister if she is satisfied with the progress of the policies of Her Majesty's Government regarding the provision of heating and thermal insulation for pensioners and those on low incomes.
I am satisfied that the Government are doing as much as is reasonably possible in present circumstances.
Local Authorities (Autonomy)
Mr. Wigley
asked the Prime Minister if she will make a statement on the changes in general policy of her Government in relation to maximizing the freedom of action of local authorities.
There has been no change in the Government's general policy in this respect.
National Enterprise Board
Mr. McNally
asked the Prime Minister if she proposes to meet the National Enterprise Board.
Cleaning And Restoration
Mr. Greville Janner
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will now arrange for a start to be made on the cleaning and restoring of the Palace of Westminster; how much the cost of cleaning the exterior of the Palace of Westminster was estimated to be when the survey was carried out in 1973; and by how much it has risen in each year until reaching the current price of £5·3 million.
Mr. St. John-Stevas
In view of the present cutbacks in public expenditure, it is unlikely that this costly, though desirable, work can start in the foreseeable future. The estimated cost of cleaning the exterior of the Palace of Westminster in 1973 was £2·1 million. The estimated increases in each subsequent year are: 1974, £0·2 million; 1975, £0·5 million; 1976, £0·4 million; 1977, £0·3 million; 1978, £0·4 million; 1979, £0·8 million. I regret that the figure of £5·3 million for the current cost given in my answer to the hon. and learned Member on 26 November was based on an incorrect revaluation of the survey estimate. The present estimate is £4·7 million.
National Heritage Fund
Mr. Jim Callaghan
asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the Government's grant of £15 million to the national heritage fund is to be deducted from the total grant to the arts.
Mr. Macfarlane
I have been asked to reply.No. The provision for the national heritage fund and for the reimbursement of Inland Revenue for property accepted in satisfaction of tax will be split between the office of arts and libraries and the Department of the Environment. Part of the provision is being transferred from a public expenditure programme administered by the Treasury and part is an addition to total public expenditure.
Mr. Ralph Howell
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the cost of
LENGTHS OF EXPORT ORDER BOOKS OF CAPITAL GOODS* IN TERMS OF SALES
Engineering Products United Kingdom Shipbuilding Combined Index West Germany Capital Goods Industries
Periodt† Ratio of export orders-on-hand to export sales (in terms of average monthly sales)‡ Engineering and shipbuilding together in index form║ (1970=100) Ratio of index of the value of export order books to the index of export sales (1970=100)
1976 Q3 … … 8·3 18·7(R) 56·2 96·1
1977 Q3 … … 8·5 23·2 62·2 96·1
1979 Q3 … … 9·2 74·8§ 122·7§ 99·4
(1st two months) (1st month only)
* Statistics available for capital goods in West German publications are in index form only.
†Estimates have had to be used for the third quarter of 1979.
‡Ratios for United Kingdom engineering products are derived from valuations at 1975 prices. For United Kingdom shipbuilding, ratios are based on gross registered tonnages of merchant ships (100 gross tons and over) ordered and completed.
§This figure is abnormally high because shipbuilding completions in the first three quarters of 1979 were very small.
║The engineering and shipbuilding series have been weighted together using 1975 export sales and the resulting series has been recentered upon 1970=100
Mr. Alan Williams
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if it is his intention to renew the special scheme for low-interest loans from the European Investment Bank for small and medium-sized firms; if it is intended that his Department and the Welsh and Scottish Offices will continue as agents of the European Investment Bank for such loans; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. David Mitchell
The scheme providing exchange risk cover on loans from the European Investment Bank and the European Coal and Steel Community will continue for a further two years to 31
separating first class and second-class mail.
Mr. Michael Marshall
That is a matter for the Post Office.
Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will bring up to date the information published in the Official Report on 10 January 1977, volume 923, c. 423 concerning trade in capital goods.
The information available is given in the table below. Technical difficulties have precluded the precise updating requested and care should be taken in using the two sets of data together.December 1981 subject to a ceiling on new borrowing of £200 million. Loans already in the pipeline but not yet advanced will not be counted against this ceiling. Of the £200 million, £60 million will be set aside for loans to smaller firms through the existing agency arrangements. The scheme is now being extended to cover all manufacturing projects in the assisted areas which meet the criteria for regional selective assistance. Premium rates will be 1 per cent. per annum in special development areas and 2 per cent. in development and intermediate areas.
Corby And Shotton
Mr. Skeet
asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the upgrading of Corby to a development area and Shotton to a special development area will come into effect.
Sir Keith Joseph
I am laying before Parliament an order making the Corby employment office area a development area and the Shotton travel-to-work area, consisting of the employment office areas of Flint, Holywell, Mold and Shotton, a special development area. The order will take effect from 12 December 1979.
Meccano Limited (Liverpool)
asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much public money has been paid to Meccano of Liverpool over the past five years; and how this has been used.
[pursuant to his reply, 10 December 1979]: Details of Government assistance are normally confidential and published only with the company's agreement. However, following a recommendation of the Expenditure Committee, it has been our practice since 1974 to publish in "Trade and Industry" details of assistance offered to companies under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972.In the period 31 November 1974 to 31 November 1979, Meccano Ltd. has been offered two section 7 grants. A grant of £37,000 was offered to the company in June 1975 in respect of an expansion project, of which £19,000 was paid. No further payments were made from this offer due to difficulties with the project. A further grant of £787,500 was offered to the company in March 1978 for a modernisation and job preservation project, of which £210,000 was paid. With the company's agreement, I can also disclose that payments of regional development grant amounting to £708,000 were made to Meccano Ltd. in the period since 1 October 1974 to 1 October 1979. In addition, I understand the company has received temporary employment subsidy amounting to £966,890 in the period 5 March 1977 to 5 August 1978.
Television Licences
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the 36 per cent. increase in the price of colour television licences, he will reconsider the decision not to offer concessions on television licences to all pensioners not living with non-pensioners.
Mr. Brittan
Residential Care Orders
Mr. Kilroy-Silk
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he is making in introducing a residential care order; what organisations have indicated their opposition to the pro-proposal; and what are the reasons for introducing it.
The purpose of a residential care order will be to strengthen the powers of the courts in relation to juveniles. The details of the legislation which will be necessary for this purpose are still being considered and, until they become the subject of consultation, any views expressed cannot be directly related to our specific proposals.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to make a statement concerning the proposals that have been put to him by the licensed trade to use part of the compensation funds to set up a foundation for education and research into alcohol abuse.
Mr. Raison
Consultations about these proposals are continuing. I cannot say at this stage when it will be possible for a statement to be made.
Suspected Persons (Statistics)
Mr. George Cunningham
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions were brought in respect of the offence of being a suspected person loitering with intent in each of the past three years; and what was the breakdown between police force areas;(2) what proportion of prosecutions brought for the offence of being a suspected person and loitering with intent to commit an arrestable offence has resulted in conviction in any periods for which figures are available.
The total numbers of persons proceeded against and found guilty in England and Wales of offences of being a suspected person frequenting a public place with intent to commit an arrestable offence are published annually in the "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—offence classification 186 in table 1(a) of the volume for 1978, Cmnd. 7670. The additional information requested is given in the following table.
PERSONS PROCEEDED AGAINST FOR OFFENCES OF BEING A SUSPECTED PERSON FREQUENTING A PUBLIC PLACE WITH INTENT TO COMMIT AN ARRESTABLE OFFENCE BY POLICE FORCE AREA
Numbers and percentages
Police force area … 1976 1977 1978
Avon and Somerset … 17 20 13
Bedfordshire … 4 6 8
Cambridgeshire … 3 8 10
Cheshire … 29 29 42
Cleveland … 14 14 25
Cumbria … 5 4 22
Derbyshire … 5 10 9
Devon and Cornwall … 22 21 15
Dorset … — 5 8
Durham … 1 4 4
Essex … 9 12 14
Gloucestershire … 3 8 8
Greater Manchester … 250 240 263
Hampshire … 65 45 50
Hertfordshire … 4 8 5
Humberside … 32 27 28
Kent … 3 3 5
Lancashire … 54 26 57
Leicestershire … 4 9 6
Lincolnshire … — 4 3
London, City of … 49 69 89
Merseyside … 415 489 553
Metropolitan Police District 1,914 1,890 1,970
Norfolk … 4 7 11
Northamptonshire … 6 5 5
Northumbria … 42 45 44
North Yorkshire … 12 8 14
Nottinghamshire … 14 13 27
South Yorkshire … 18 16 26
Staffordshire … 18 19 18
Suffolk … 4 8 2
Surrey … 4 1 3
Sussex … 15 4 15
Thames Valley … 43 21 28
Warwickshire … 1 — 6
West Mercia … 3 1 7
West Midlands … 167 139 167
West Yorkshire … 82 69 85
Wiltshire … 5 5 2
England … 3,340 3,312 3,667
Dyfed-Powys … 3 5 5
Gwent … 1 — 3
North Wales … 9 5 4
South Wales … 148 125 112
Wales … 161 135 124
Total … 3,501 3,447 3,791
Percentage found guilty 78 75 73
Open Prisons
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed a review of open prisons; and if he will publish it.
Mr. Whitelaw
The report of the working party on open prisons has been completed and is under consideration. No decision has yet been taken about publication.
Mr. Cryer
asked the Attorney-General if he will publish the criteria governing the selection of magistrates.
The Solicitor-General
The Lord Chancellor is responsible for the selection of persons for appointment as magistrates. Candidates must be personally suitable in character, integrity and understanding, and be able to think and act in a judicial manner. Selections are made of men and women from all sections of the local community, so that as far as possible they are broadly representative of its various elements in terms of age, sex and social and occupational background. A brochure setting out at greater length the criteria and procedure for the appointment of magistrates, published by the Lord Chancellor's Office, has been sent to the hon. Member.
asked the Attorney-General if he will publish the membership of the selection committees for magistrates.
To avoid possible lobbying and harassment, it has been the practice of successive Lord Chancellors not to disclose the names of the members of his advisory committees on justices of the peace. The names and addresses of the secretaries of these committees are available and published.
asked the Attorney-General if he will publish instructions issued to the selection committees for magistrates.
There is no single set of instructions to which reference can be made. If the hon. Member would write to him on any particular points he has in mind, the Lord Chancellor would be happy to consider them. In the meantime, the hon. Member is being supplied with a copy of the brochure already published by the Lord Chancellor's Office which explains the general guidelines within which advisory committees work.
Mr. David Young
asked the Attorney-General if he will set out in detail (a) who can apply to be magistrates, (b) any restrictions on appointments such as age limits and (c) the selection procedures.
Any person or organisation may recommend a candidate for appointment as a justice of the peace by sending the name and particulars of the candidate to the local advisory committee on a form which can be obtained from the secretary. The Lord Chancellor is arranging for the hon. Member to be sent a copy of a booklet which amplifies this and covers the other matters he raises.
asked the Attorney-General what conclusion he has reached about the appointment of stipendiary magistrates.
It is not apparent from the question to what aspect of the appointment of stipendiary magistrates the hon. Member is referring. The Lord Chancellor will be very ready to consider any relevant matters if the hon. Member will draw them to his attention.
asked the Attorney-General how many magistrates have been appointed in the North-West in each of the last 10 years; and how these figures compare with other regions taking density of population into account.
I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
Male Nurses
Dr. Summerskill
asked the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department expects to complete the study it is making into the possibility of offering male nurses the opportunity of direct commissions in the Armed Forces in the same way that these are now available to women.
Mr. Pattie
At present only female SRNs are eligible for a direct commission in any of the three Services. Studies are well in hand to introduce direct commissions for male SRNs in all three Services. Care, however, has to be taken to ensure that the introduction of direct commissions does not prejudice the career prospects of the SRNs already serving. Depending on the outcome of these studies, direct commissioning of male SRNs could be introduced during 1980.
North Sea Oil (Licences)
Mr. Waldegrave
asked the Secretary of State for Energy If he will make a statement on further confirmations of sixth round licences.
Mr. Gray
[pursuant to his reply, 1 November 1979, c. 626]: I am today confirming the award of further licences of blocks conditionally allocated under the sixth round of offshore licensing, as follows:Block 73/7BNOC Phillips Petroleum Exploration UK Ltd, Hispanoil (UK) Ltd, Century Power and Light LtdBlock 73/1BNOC, Swedish Petroleum LtdBlock 20/2BNOC, Burmah Oil Exploration Ltd, Charter-house Petroleum Development Ltd, Petroswede (UK) Ltd, Canadian Industrial Gas (UK) Ltd, DSM Hydrocarbons (UK) Ltd, Norsk Hydro Oil and Gas LtdBlocks 206/2 and 209/7BNOC, Shell UK Ltd
Fuel Debts
Mr. Allan Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ensure that the severely physically handicapped in the 16 to 65-year age group are covered within his Department's code of practice for fuel debts.
Mr. Norman Lamont
The code of practice on payment of domestic electricity and gas bills is the industries' code. The contents and operation of the code are currently the subject of an independent review sponsored by the industries and their consumer councils. It would be premature to prejudge the outcome of the review. However, I understand that the industries already take account of all the circumstances of a particular customer before making use of their powers to disconnect supply.
Oil Sales (Policy)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his policy regarding the sale of oil from the British sector of the North Sea to other European Economic Community countries at preferential prices.
Her Majesty's Government do not determine the selling price of United Kingdom North Sea oil: United Kingdom oil prices follow the market. There is no preferential price for the United Kingdom market and there can be no question of such a price for EEC countries.
Organisation Of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Production)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list by countries the production of the several members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries in barrels per day last year and the cuts each has agreed to make in production either in 1979 or 1980 to maintain or enhance world crude oil prices.
Production levels for 1978 were mainly established before the world supply pattern was disrupted by events in Iran. The following table gives the production for each member of OPEC for 1978 and the first nine months of 1979.
Million barrels/day
Saudi Arabia* … 8·3 9·5
Iran … 5·2 2·9
Iraq … 2·7 3·4
Kuwait* … 2·1 2·5
United Arab Emirates … 1·8 1·8
Qatar … 0·5 0·5
Venezuela … 2·2 2·3
Nigeria … 1·9 2·4
Libya … 2·0 2·1
Indonesia … 1·6 1·6
Algeria … 1·3 1·2
Gabon … 0·2 0·2
Ecuador … 0·2 0·2
* includes one-half of production in the Neutral Zone.
Source: Petroleum Intelligence Weekly.
The introduction of production limits is not necessarily simply, or mainly, to maintain or enhance world crude prices; there may be other reasons. I have no definite information about the level of production limits likely to be applied in practice during 1980.
Oil Consumption
Mr. Gordon Wilson
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the extraction rate of the num- ber of barrels of oil which is sufficient to run the United Kingdom economy.
In 1979 it is expected that the United Kingdom will consume about 1·9 million barrels of crude oil per day and produce around 1·5 to 1·6 million barrels per day. However, United Kingdom refineries require a mix of crude oils including types not produced on the United Kingdom continental shelf and there will always be a requirement to import a certain amount of crude oil.
Mr. Ernie Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many firms in Dundee have been granted permission not to employ the 3 per cent. quota of disabled workers; what percentage of employers subject to quotas in Dundee this represents; and what were the reasons given.
Mr. Alexander Fletcher
No employers in Dundee have been granted permission not to employ the 3 per cent. quota. On 1 June 1979, the latest date for which information is available, 102 locally based employers in the Dundee employment office area had been issued with permits during the preceding 12 months enabling them to engage persons who were not registered as disabled. This represents 61 per cent. of employers subject to quota in Dundee. Permits are issued only when Manpower Services Commission's disablement resettlement officers are satisfied that no suitable registered disabled people are available to fill the employer's vacancies.
Commission (Audit)
Mr. English
asked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley), as representing the House of Commons Commission, who is responsible for the internal audit of the Commission's expenditure as distinct from the external audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General.
Mr. Arthur Bottomley
The responsibility rests with the Accounting Officer.
Youth Opportunities Programme
Mr. Golding
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people are being assisted by the youth opportunities programme.
Mr. Jim Lester
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that at 31 October 1979, 105,000 young people were engaged in the youth opportunities programme.
Motor Vehicle Industry (Earnings)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he
EARNINGS* IN MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AS A PERCENTAGE OF EARNINGS IN:
Manufacturing industries All industries†
October 1948 … … … … … … … 121 126
*Average gross hourly earnings of full-time male manual workers (aged 21 and over) including those whose pay was affected by absence.
†The industries covered are the index of production industries (except coalmining); transport and communication (except railways and London Transport); public administration and certain miscellaneous services.
The available figures for all the countries listed on the nearest comparable basis are as follows:
EARNINGS* IN MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURE AS A PERCENTAGE OF EARNINGS IN:
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES
France Germany (Federal Republic) Italy Japan(b) United Kingdom
October 1968 … … 107 112 128 (85) ..
1977 or 1978 … … 113 115(d) 102(e) .. ..
(105)(c) (111)(d) (101)(e) (104)(f) (107)(d)
ALL INDUSTRIES(a)
October 1968 … … 109 112 128 .. ..
1977 or 1978 … … 115(c) 116(d) 102(e) .. ..
(108)(c) (111)(d) (101)(e) .. (108)(d)
Statistical Office of the European Communities (SOEC).
Japan—Yearbook of Labour Statistics.
*Average gross hourly earnings unless otherwise stated.
Excluding manufacture of parts and accessories except where figures are shown in brackets.
(a) Manufacturing, mining, quarrying and construction industries.
(b) Average for the year based on data on monthly earnings.
(c) April 1977.
(d) October 1978.
(e) October 1977.
(f) 1977.
.. Not available
will circulate in the Official Report a table comparing average earnings in the motor vehicle industry in 1948, 1958, 1968 and 1978 with average earnings in ( a) manufacturing and ( b) the whole economy, together with the nearest comparable information available on earnings in the motor vehicle industries of Japan, Germany. France and Italy.
Because of differences in the definitions, coverage and statistical methods used in the various countries, comparisons of this kind should be regarded with caution. The available figures for the United Kingdom are as follows:
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people had been unemployed for (a) between one and two years and (b) over two years, in October of each year since 1950.
At 11 October 1979 the quarterly analysis indicated that 337,000 unemployed people in Great Britain had been registered for more than 52 weeks. Of these, 165,200 had been registered for between 52 weeks and 104 weeks and 171,800 for more than 104 weeks. Corresponding information is not available for earlier years because until 1979 there was no further analysis of those registered for more than 52 weeks.The following table gives the numbers registered as unemployed for more than 52 weeks in September of each year from 1950 to 1961, and in October of each year from 1962 to 1978.
1950 … … 35·9
1970 … … 101·7
Skillcentres
Mrs. RenéShort
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is considering proposals to reduce the number of centres for training workers in new skills; which skillcentres would face closure if such proposals were implemented and what training capacity would be lost as a result; what skills would be affected and which of these are suffering from manpower shortages; if he will ensure that no areas of high unemployment will face any closures of skillcentres; and if he will make a statement.
:The Manpower Services Commission informs me that, as part of the exercise being conducted by Ministers with the help of Sir Derek Rayner to promote efficiency in Government administration, an examination has been made of the role of the Commission's skillcentre network in providing training facilities. A number of options are being considered by the chairman of the Commission and Sir Derek Rayner aimed at rationalising the existing and planned provision of skillcentres and improving performance. Proposals based on these options will in due course be considered by the Commission which will then make recommendations to the Secretary of State.
Industrial Disputes (Lost Days)
Mr. Arnold
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the number of working days lost due to strike action per 1,000 people employed during the period January to June in each of the member countries of the EEC.
In January to June 1979 there were 333 working days lost from industrial disputes per thousand persons employed in all industries and services in the United Kingdom. Similar estimates for other members of the EEC are available only annually from the Statistical Office of the European Communities. The figures for 1978 will be published in the Department of Employment Gazette early next year.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the average duration of unemployment for each person unemployed in each year since 1950.
Figures are not available for the average length of time spent on the unemployment register for a person who has completed a period of unemployment. Data are compiled for the median lengths of time spent on the unemployment register by persons still unemployed on the date of the count. The table below gives these medians for Great Britain on one quarterly count date each year since 1950.
MEDIAN LENGTH OF TIME REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED. GREAT BRITIAN
Number of weeks September
1950 … … … … 5·5
1970 … … … … 10·1
The month of the quarterly counts changed in 1962. Adult students registered for vacation employment are excluded from 1973 onwards.
European Community Social Fund
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the grants obtained by voluntary organisations in Wales from the social fund since the United Kingdom joined the EEC; and if he will make a statement.
Since the United Kingdom joined the EEC four voluntary organisations in Wales concerned with the training for employment of handicapped young people have received allocations from the social fund. These amounted to £461,671.Applications to the fund by voluntary bodies in respect of eligible schemes are welcomed. However, few voluntary bodies appear to operate schemes which come within the scope of the social fund, since their work is mainly concerned with welfare rather than with training for employment. To be eligible for support from the fund a scheme run by a private body must in most instances also be in receipt of a grant from a public authority.
Mr. Carter-Jones
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list all the grants obtained by voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom from the social fund since the United Kingdom joined the EEC.
Since the United Kingdom joined the EEC, 20 voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom have received allocations totalling £3,233,414 from the social fund. This sum includes £1,830,825 allocated to seven organisations for schemes for the training and employment of young people; £1,212,633 to nine organisations concerned with the reintegration of the physically and mentally handicapped into open employment; and £159,582 to three organisations for schemes to assist the integration into working life of migrant workers.
Pneumoconiosis
Mr. Sheerman
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what criteria are laid down for entitlement to compensation under the provisions of the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978;and whether he will consider widening this to take account of industries not already included;(2) how many people are likely to benefit from a lump sum payment consequent upon the widening of the criteria of eligibility for entitlement under the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978.
Mr. Mayhew
The entitlement conditions for a lump sum payment under the provisions of the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 are set out in section 2 of the Act. The diseases to which the Act applies are pneumoconiosis, byssinosis and diffuse mesothelioma. All types of pneumoconiosis, including silicosis, asbestosis and kaolinosis, are covered. Entitlement is not related to particular industries and the question of widening the criteria to take account of additional industries does not, therefore, arise. There is no power to vary either the entitlement conditions or the diseases covered by statutory instrument.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to lay the regulations made under the Pneumoconiosis and Other Dust Diseases (Workers' Compensation) Act 1978 before the House.
Draft regulations prescribing the amounts of payments to be made under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 were laid before Parliament on Wednesday 5 December.
Mr. Park
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what additional steps he proposes to take to enable disabled people to play a part in the economic recovery of Great Britain by reducing unemployment among the disabled from the present level of twice the national average.
Practical experience shows that, given rehabilitation and training where necessary, and placing in the right job, most disabled people can compete on equal terms with the able-bodied in the world of work. We therefore attach great importance to assisting disabled people to obtain suitable employment. Our continuing support for the Manpower Services Commission's (MSC) "Fit for Work" campaign, the awards scheme and MSC's resettlement schemes for disabled people reflects the value we place on the contribution disabled people can make to the economic well-being of the country.
Mr. Heddle
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward proposals to give discretionary powers to local authorities to pay more than the £4 disregard to disabled workers without it affecting social security payments.
Mr. Prentice
I have been asked to reply.The powers of local authorities do not limit the amounts they can pay to disabled workers. Those receiving supplementary benefit will have only up to £4 disregarded. Any increase in that amount will be a matter of priorities for consideration as resources permit.
Sheltered Employment
asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many workers are in section 2 employment; how many are on the waiting list; and what is the number of vacancies;(2) if he will list the names and addresses of all the sheltered workshops, known to his Department, in the United Kingdom;(3) how many new places in sheltered employment are planned for the next five years; and whether any programme expansion has been stopped or delayed because of the Government's policy of cutting public expenditure;(4) what is the per capita cost per annum for persons in sheltered employment.
I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Private Schools (Careers Advice)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make arrangements for an appropriate charge to be levied on private schools using careers officers employed by local education authorities in England and Wales.
No. I am advised that the Employment and Training Act 1973 does not preclude local education authorities from charging for the provision of a careers service, but I am not aware that any authorities do so.
Magistrates (Recruitment)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in the light of the fact that many potential magistrates refuse to forward their names because they feel the loss of time at work will make them potential candidates for redundancy, what safeguards he plans to make the administration of law above such pressures, and to make the Bench representative of society as a whole.
I have no evidence that the holding of the office of magistrate places employees at a disadvantage in their employment. I therefore have no plans to amend the legislation in the way suggested.
Sheltered Workshops
Mr. John Grant
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish full details of those Government contracts which have been secured by sheltered workshops through the revised priority suppliers' arrangements put into practice last April; how many tenders from sheltered workshops were rejected in that period; if he will give the number of Government contracts and total expenditure involved for the preceding six months; and what steps have been taken to draw the attention of sheltered workshops to these revised arrangements through the sheltered employment procurement and consultancy services or other means.
[pursuant to his reply, 30 November 1979, c. 732]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the priority suppliers' arrangements, that the information requested on contracts awarded under the revised arrangements is not available.Information on the value of contracts awarded by Government Departments to priority suppliers, including both sheltered workshops and prison industries, is collected annually: the last available figure is in respect of the financial year 1977–78 when such contracts totalled £10·3 million.Steps taken to advise sheltered workshops of the revised arrangements include circulation of the terms, the issue of information sheets and visits by the director of the sheltered employment procurement and consultancy services and his staff.
Mr. Craigen
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the reduction in the number of places on the youth opportunities programme and the special temporary employment programme as a result of the reduction in the Manpower Services Commission budget.
[pursuant to his reply, 3 December 1979, c. 24–25]: I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that following the reduction in its budget for the present financial year there will be no reduction in the youth opportunities programmes. The original objective of 210,000 entrants has been preserved. Savings are being made through a shift towards the less expensive forms of provision and other operating economies.The special temporary employment programme is being concentrated in areas of greatest need and on the long-term unemployed. It will aim to provide 12,000 to 14,000 filled places in those areas compared with the previous intention of providing30,000 to 35,000 filled places in Great Britain as a whole.
Mrs. Renée Short
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what research is currently being undertaken by his Department into technology for cleaning up oil spills; how much was spent on this research work in the year 1978–79;how much has been allocated for this financial year; and what plans he has to increase the amount of research work.
Mr. Tebbit
Research into oil spill clearance technology sponsored by my Department, with the advice of the Ship and Marine Technology Requirements Board, and carried out largely by the Warren Spring laboratory of the Department of Industry, is aimed at improving the national capability for dealing with oil spills at sea.Current research includes the following fields:
(i) the influence of oil type and natural processes affecting spilled oil on the effectiveness of existing clearance techniques;
(ii) the improvement of the present seaborne dispersant spraying technique;
(iii) the development and operational evaluation of an airborne spraying technique;
(iv) the remote sensing of oil on the sea surface;
(v) the recovery of oil from the sea—the identification of the essential operating criteria, the evaluation of existing devices and the development and operational evaluation of a prototype system;
(vi) the combustion of oil in a ship's cargo tanks or on the sea surface.
The amount expended by the Department of Industry on this work on behalf of my Department during the financial year 1978–79 was £579,000. A sum of £727,000 has been allocated for the current financial year.
So far as can be forseen, the amount of research is likely to continue at about its present level. However, the emphasis will progressively change from basic work to operational evaluation and integration of the techniques developed.
Civil Aviation (Subsidies)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the total cost to central Government of subsidies paid towards the cost of civil aviation in Scotland.
Questions about subsidy for air services in Scotland should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland; but the grant-in-aid to the Civil Aviation Authority is in part attributable to the losses sustained on its aerodromes in Scotland. In 1978–79 the operating loss was £1,964,000 and the interest payable was £1,123,000.
Mr. Pawsey
asked the Secretary of State for Trade, further to his reply of 3 December to the hon. Member for Rugby, what steps he intends to take to improve the present balance of trade with (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Netherlands, (d) Italy and (e) the EEC as a whole.
The Government are fully conscious of the need to ensure that our industry is competitive so that our international trading position can be improved in relation to all markets. Our policies are directed to creating the right conditions to achieve this objective.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has sought the views of interested parties before formulating his own policy on the revised draft directive of the EEC Commission on product liability; and when he expects such discussions to be concluded.
Mrs. Sally Oppenheim
I believe that discussion of the draft directive will afford an opportunity to provide proper protection for the consumer without imposing undue burdens on industry. I have therefore sought the views of interested parties on the detailed provisions of the draft by 21 December and I shall decide my attitude to individual provisions as soon as possible thereafter.
Car Imports
Mr. Barry Jones
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total number of cars and taxis and so on, and their estimated money value, imported into the United Kingdom for the years 1970 to 1979.
The information is as follows:
IMPORTS OF PASSENGER MOTOR CARS
… Number Value (£thousand cif)
1970 … 158,848 85,956
1971 … 283,526 173,128
1977 … 701,728 1,328,159
January-October 1979 … 898,809 2,163,296
Multi-Fibre Arrangement
Mr. Woolmer
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what views on a new multi-fibre arrangement were expressed to him by the Trades Union Congress textile representatives at the meeting on or about 29 October; if he intends to meet them or to discuss this in the near future; and, if so, when.
At its meeting with my right hon. Friend on 29 October the TUC Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industries Committee expressed the view that consultations about the terms of a renewed multi-fibre arrangement should be started. My right hon. Friend suggested to the committee that it would be premature to do this immediately but offered to meet it again in a few months' time to discuss the question. No date has yet been set for this meeting.
British Railways
asked the Minister of Transport if he will bring forward proposals for the sale of British Rail loss-making and profit-making branch lines to private companies.
No, but I am interested in the possibilities of involving private capital in the board's subsidiaries.
asked the Minister of Transport, when, and for what purpose he last met the chairman of British Railways.
I last met the chairman of British Railways on 5 December, when we discussed several topics of common interest.
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Railways regarding the sale of British Railways' hotel division, its catering division or Sealink ferries; and if he will make a statement.
I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend on 3 December.—[Vol. 975, c. 48.]
North Devon Link Road
Mr. Speller
asked the Minister of Transport when he will publish the report of the inspector and the decision of Her Majesty's Government on the North Devon link road proposals.
Mr. Kenneth Clarke
My right hon. Friends the Minister of Transport and the Secretary of State for the Environment are considering the inspector's report and will announce their decision and publish the report as soon as possible.
Transport Costs (Manchester)
Mr. Litherland
asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the hon. Member for Manchester, Central on transport costs; and if he will make a statement.
I have received representations from the hon. Member about increases in bus fares in Greater Manchester. The level of fares is not a matter on which I can—or would wish to—intervene except in the context of a properly constituted appeal against a decision of the traffic commissioners.
Driving Tests (Stoke-On-Trent)
asked the Minister of Transport what is the average waiting time for driving tests in Stoke-on-Trent; how this compares with that in cities of similar size and with the national average; what proportion passed their first test; and how that compares with the national average.
The average waiting time for an L-test in Stoke-on-Trent is 24 weeks. The average wait in the West Midland traffic area is 30 weeks, and nationally 28 weeks. Waiting periods grouped by size of city are not readily available. The information requested about first-time passes is also not available. But for all L-tests, the average pass rate in the West Midlands traffic area is about 50 per cent., compared with the national average of 47·3 per cent.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Republic Of Ireland (British Citizens)
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will enter into negotiations with the Government of the Irish Republic with a view to securing for British citizens living in the Irish Republic all the rights and privileges accorded to Irish citizens living in the United Kingdom.
Sir Ian Gilmour
I have no plans to do so.
Palestine Liberation Organisation
Mr. Weetch
asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will accord full official recognition to the Palestine Liberation Organisation; and if he will make a statement.
Official recognition is extended only to Governments. We have not accepted the Palestine Liberation Organisation's claim to be the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinians, but we are aware of the importance of its views in determining Palestinian attitudes.
Apostolic Delegate
Mr. J. Enoch Powell
asked the Lord Privy Seal if Her Majesty's Government will defer the grant of diplomatic status to the Apostolic Delegate until he is accredited in respect of Northern Ireland to the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Ireland and not, as at present, to that hierarchy in England, in Wales and in Scotland only.
No. As a matter of courtesy the Government have already, with effect from 1 November 1979, granted diplomatic status to the Apostolic Delegate, who is thus a diplomatic agent within the meaning of the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964. However, as before, he continues not to be accredited to the Court of St. James's as a head of mission.The links between the Apostolic Delegate and the Roman Catholic hierarchy are entirely a matter for the Vatican.
St Helena, Ascension And Tristan Da Cunha
Sir Bernard Braine
asked the Lord Privy Seal what recent studies have been made of the economic prospects of the South-East Atlantic dependencies of St. St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, either jointly or separately; and what recommendations have been made.
Mr. Ridley
No specific economic studies have been undertaken recently. However, an official Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Overseas Development Administration team visited St. Helena in August 1979 to monitor the present aid programme and to discuss future development plans. The team concluded that, although prospects were limited, development aid should continue at roughly the present level. Ascension Island has no native population and was not included in the study. Tristan da Cunha maintains a fair standard of living from its fishing industry.
asked the Lord Privy Seal what specific help is being given to St. Helena currently either by Her Majesty's Government or by other agencies to develop and expand its fishery exports.
British aid funds, so far totalling about £300,000, have been made available to provide a research vessel, a tunny boat, two cold stores and a blast freezer; and for a long-term consultancy on the development and export potential of the fishing industry.
asked the Lord Privy Seal what are the reasons for the current proposals for reducing the number of calls at St. Helena to and from the United Kingdom by the RMS "St. Helena"; and what calculations have been made of the effect of any reductions in the currency and way of life of St. Helena.
We are anxious to limit the increasing cost of the subsidy to the British taxpayer of the shipping service to St. Helena and Ascension Island, estimated at £1·5 million for 1979–80. With the agreement of the St. Helena Government we shall shortly be asking consultants to examine how to make the most cost effective use of the subsidy. When making their recommendations the consultants will be required to take into account any effect they might have on the way of life on St. Helena.
Sir Bernard Braille
asked the Lord Privy Seal what developments have followed from the report on the possibility of encouraging tourism in the three south-east Atlantic dependencies of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.
The consultants' preli-South-East Atlantic dependencies of St. Helena and Ascension Island, is still being studied by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the St. Helena Government. There are many obstacles to be overcome before tourism could be developed. Tristan da Cunha is too inaccessible for a feasible tourist industry.
Mr. Jim Spicer
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that owners of mobile homes on a licensed caravan site have sufficient protection afforded to them under the various Acts now in force.
Mr. Stanley
We are currently considering this matter.
Local Authorities (Public Relations Department)
Mr. Sproat
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what figures his Department has, or what estimate his Department has made, of the spending by local authority public relations departments, for the years 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, respectively: and if he will make a statement.
Mr. King
I regret that there are no figures available in my Department; nor has any estimate been made.
Regional Water Authorities
Mr. Alexander
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the regional water authorities and the British Waterways Board are not merged.
We have already announced that we are not proceeding with the previous Government's proposals for the merger of the board into the water industry.
Unrebated Rents
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the average unrebated rents paid by recipients of (a) rent rebates and (b) rent allowances, distinguishing between single people, childless couples and married couples with two and four children.
Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg
Average weekly unrebated rents of rent rebate and rent allowance recipients in the financial year 1978–79–first three-quarters—were:
Rent rebate recipients Rent allowance recipients (unfurnished tenancies)
Single person … 5·50 4·40
Married couple with no dependent children … 5·90 4·90
These estimates are based on the 1978 family expenditure survey. Because of the smallness of the sample, reliable estimates are not available in respect of families with two or four dependent children.The estimates of rent, particularly those relating to rent allowance recipients, are subject to substantial sampling error and should be treated with caution.
Urban Aid Programme
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions he has made regarding funding of projects under his Department's urban aid programme; if he proposes to increase the present level of funding of £15 million in the next financial year; how many projects he estimates will have to be closed down if his Department does not allow more time for projects to change under the urban programme; and if he will make a statement.
Urban programme circular 20 published in September 1979 stated that projects which have been running for five years or more by the end of March 1981 should cease to receive any further automatic extensions of grant, but should instead be re-examined by the local authorities. If local authorities then wished to submit these projects, in competition with new ones, for a fresh period of grant lasting for five years they would be free to do so. Local authorities and voluntary groups running projects have over a year to prepare for this change. The Government are consulting those concerned about the future of the traditional urban programme. If there are particular problems involved these can be considered in the course of that review.The level of funding for the traditional urban programme will have reached £28million by 1980–81, which represents a slight increase over 1970–80. No decision has yet been taken about the allocation of resources in 1981–82, and this will depend on the outcome of the review.
British Railways (Land)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the chairman of British Railways regarding the sale of its waste land.
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government and Environmental Services met the chairman in July. They discussed ideas for registering public bodies' land to make known what is available and so bring about its re-use. Provisions to that effect appear in the Local Government, Planning and Land Bill.
Roads (Maintenance Costs)
Mr. Eldon Griffiths
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the undertakings given to Suffolk county council earlier in the current year by his Department that an additional central Government grant would be paid to cover the unforeseen extra costs arising in that administrative county from the effects of last winter's snow storms, he will now meet its claims.
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 6 December to my hon. Friend the Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton).—[Vol. 975, c. 325].
Orchard Street, Cambridge (Inquiry)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to investigate the complaints of the apparent bias of the inspector in the 1975 inquiry into the listed building consent appeal concerning Nos. 7 and 8 Orchard Street, Cambridge; what requests were received from the Cambridge city council concerning the way in which the inspector should allow the appellant's representative to present his case; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Munro
Following the closure of the public local inquiry in 1975, the inquiry was reconvened and completed with a different inspector in 1976. No requests were received by the Department from the Cambridge city council such as to influence either inspector's conduct of the inquiry. The Secretary of State's position is set out in the Department's letter of 24 July 1975 to the appellant's agent, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.
Mr. Cormack
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to obtain special advice on the Palace of Westminster.
Mr. Heseltine
Yes. In view of his special knowledge and experience of the architecture, furnishing and history of the Palace of Westminster, I have now appointed Sir Robert Cooke as my special adviser on matters affecting the Palace of Westminster and parliamentary buildings for which I have responsibility.
National Finance
Building Society Interest
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue for the current financial year of the amount of income tax levied on the interest on building society deposits, the amount which would be levied if this interest were taxed at the standard rate and the estimated cost of income tax relief on mortgage interest repayments.
Mr. Peter Rees
The estimated revenue is about £1,100 million, including higher rate tax. If tax on the interest were initially deducted at the basic rate the revenue would also be about £1,100 million, after taking into account higher rate tax and repayments to those liable at less than basic rate. The estimated cost of mortgage interest relief is about £1,450 million, which covers both building society and other mortgages.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for the current financial year, the impact on taxation yield of each percentage increase or decrease in the building societies' interest rates to borrowers and lenders for each percentage point between nine and 20.
A one percentage point change in the interest rate payable by borrowers in 1979–80 would result in a change in mortgage interest relief of about £100 million. Each percentage point change in the tax paid rate of interest payable to lenders would lead to a change of about £130 million in the yield of tax at the composite and higher rates on this interest. These amounts are full year changes calculated at 1979–80 income levels. Larger changes would be approximately, but not exactly, in proportion. To produce exact figures would require an undue expenditure of time and resources.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what latest estimate he has made of the loss to the Inland Revenue of tax relief on mortgage interest in 1978, in the current year and in 1980, respectively.
The information is:
1978–79 … £1,110 million
No estimate is available for 1980–81, since this will depend on the income tax rates and allowances, and on the amounts of allowable interest, in that year.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing the percentage increase in (a) the monetary base and (b) domestic credit expansion in each quarter since 1969–70 and the percentage increase in retail prices both two years and 18 months later, together with an estimate of the statistical correlation between the money series and the price series in each case and an explanation of its significance;(2) what is the statistical correlation between the two series referred to in his answer to the question from the hon. Member for Grimsby dated 14 November concerning the percentage increase in the money supply and the percentage increase in retail prices; what is the significance of the correlation in lay terms; if there is any other time lag that gives a significantly better correlation; and, if so, what is the figure and its significance.
Mr. Lawson
There is no generally agreed measure of the monetary base. Domestic credit expansion statistics are provided in Financial Statistics, table 7·3
(a) Money supply. For the United Kingdom (sterling M3) the latest estimates are given in table 7·1 in Financial Statistics, November 1979. For the other countries, the latest estimates based on the IMF's M2 definition are given in the individual country pages in International Financial Statistics, November 1979 (Money (row 34) plus Quasi-money (row 35)). For the United States and France, figures for one or two more recent quarters may be obtained from OECD Main Economic Indicators. November 1979 (M1+Quasi-money) but the IMF and OECD data are not strictly comparable.
(b) Gross national product at current and constant market prices. For the United Kingdom the latest estimates at current prices are given on page 83 of Economic Trends, October 1979. Corresponding figures at constant prices are not published quarterly, and the required percentage changes are given in the following table:
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT CONSTANT MARKET PRICES PERCENTAGE CHANGE ON CORRESPONDING PERIOD OF PRECEDING YEAR
United Kingdom (seasonally adjusted) … 1976 1977 1978 1979
Q1 … … +4·0 — +3·2 -0·1
Q2 … … +2·1 +1·0 +4·0 -0·9
Q3 … … +5·4 +0·3 +4·4
For other countries, the latest estimates are given in OECD Quarterly National Accounts Bulletin 1979/III and International Financial Statistics, November 1979 (rows 99a and 99b of the individual country pages).
(c) Wholesale and retail prices. The latest estimates for all countries are given in International Financial Statistics (rows 63 and 64 respectively of the individual country pages).
(d) Output per head in manufacturing. Data are available only for the United Kingdom and the latest estimates are given in Economic Trends, November 1979 (page 34).
The qualifications regarding the use of the data for making comparisons between countries given in the previous answer still apply.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will circulate in the Official Report a table showing for Germany, France, Italy, the United States
in the November 1979 issue, but there are no corresponding stock figures from which percentage increases can be calculated. To calculate and assess all the alternative correlation coefficients requested would incur disproportionate cost. Furthermore, because of the complexity of the relationship between monetary growth and inflation, simple correlations of this sort are unlikely to cast much light on it. I will write to the hon. Member about the correlation coefficient for the data supplied in my answer to him dated 14 November.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate information in the Official Report revising and bringing up to date the information on the money supply, output, prices and productivity of various countries supplied on 27 November 1978 in columns 61 to 65.
Mr. Biffen
The basic information required to revise and update the figures supplied on 27 November 1978 to the then hon. Member for Southampton, Test can be obtained from the publications described below.of America, Japan and the United Kingdom the percentage increase in the money supply, wholesale prices, retail prices, manufactured export prices and gross
domestic product between (
a) 1960 and 1970 and ( b) 1970 and 1978.
The data required to calculate percentage changes in wholesale and retail prices and, apart from Italy, money supply are given in International Financial Statistics Yearbook, 1979.Data for money supply for Italy for end-1978 are given in
International Financial Statistics, November 1979. For the United Kingdom, the data that are published in the yearbook for money supply are based on the IMF definition (M2), as are the figures for other countries. Figures for sterling M3, the definition usually used in the United Kingdom, are not available for period before 1963. Unit value indices for manufactured goods exported are given in special table C of the UN Monthly Bulletin of Statistics, September 1979. Figures of gross domestic product at current and constant prices are given in National Accounts of OECD Countries 1952–1977. volume 1–main aggregates.
Apart from money supply and gross domestic product, the annual data have not been adjusted to standardised international definitions. Thus any inter-country comparisons should be made with caution. This is particularly important for the series on wholesale prices where definitions and methods of calculation vary widely from country to country.
Departmental Answers
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what saving is made to the Exchequer by referring hon. Members to publications which are not readily available instead of providing the information asked for; and if he is satisfied that any such saving caused justifies the inconvenience to hon. Members and to others who rely on the Official Report for information.
Sir Geoffrey Howe
Since considerable resources are already committed to the publication of statistics for the use of Members and the general public, I would not feel justified in reproducing in the Official Report information that can be readily obtained or derived from United Kingdom and international statistical publications. If hon. Members experience difficulty in obtaining particular information I am always ready to try to help if they care to write to me.
Mr. Deakins
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect on the money supply of the direct tax cuts in his Budget.
No direct estimate is available. It would not be valid to assess the effects of the direct tax reductions in the Budget independently of the other policy measures taken both at the time of the Budget and subsequently. More generally, such estimates can be produced only from a simulation on a detailed economic model, and are critically dependent on the assumptions made about, for example, interest rates and the exchange rate. As stated in the answer my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-East (Mr. Leighton) on 14 November—[Vol. 973, c. 622–23]—I am unwilling to commit by Department's resources to carrying out such work as it would involve disproportionate cost.
European Community (Budget)
Mr. Marlow
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimated amounts of United Kingdom gross contributions to the EEC for each of the years 1980–81, 1981–82 and 1982–83 by source of funds: percentage value added tax, customs duties, agricultural levies, and so on.
The United Kingdom gross contribution to the EEC in 1980–81 is expected to be about £2,000 million at 1979 survey prices, but this will be partially offset by receipts. On present trends it will continue to increase in subsequent years. The EEC financial year coincides with the calendar year and forecasts of levies, duties and value added tax are only available on this basis. In calendar year 1980 the United Kingdom gross contribution is expected to be about £1,900 million, of which 12·6 per cent. is expected to be financed from agricultural levies, 46·4 per cent. from customs duties, and 41·0 per cent. from value added tax contribution.
Mr. Knox
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Great Britain's net contribution has been to the EEC in each year since 1973 at January 1973 prices.
The information requested is as follows:
U.K. NET CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EEC
£ million (January 1973 prices)
1973 … … … 94·9
1975 … … … -34·1
1977 … … … 162·7
Personal Output And Taxation
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North, Official Report, 15 November, c. 756, if he will make a similar comparison between gross domestic product, income
ESTIMATES PER HEAD OF TOTAL POPULATION IN 1977
Gross domestic product* Taxes on personal income Value added tax
In local currencies
Italy ('000 lira) … … … 3,064 214 167
Netherlands (Fl) … … … 18,847 2,298 1,391
Belgium (Fr) … … … 282,531 41,148 20,619
Luxembourg (Fr) … … … 279,081 36,356 14,176
Irish Republic (£) … … … 1,686 164 101
Denmark (Kr) … … … 54,282 11,930 4,382
In £ sterling
(a) Based on exchange rates—
Italy … … … 1,990 139 108
Netherlands … … … 4,403 537 325
Belgium … … … 4,520 658 330
Luxembourg … … … 4,465 582 227
Irish Republic … … … 1,686 164 101
Denmark … … … 5,178 1,138 418
(b) Based on purchasing power parities—
Denmark … … … 3,242 716 263
* At market prices.
GDP—National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1960–77.
Tax data—Revenue Statistics of OECD Member countries 1965–78.
Company Aircraft
Mr. John Wells
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will prepare a consultative paper on the revenue consequences and implications of the private use of company aircraft, similar to that prepared on company cars, in view of their increasing use and the scope for tax evasion.
Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all Motability
taxes and value added tax for each other member State of the EEC.
The information is given in the table below. Exchange rates do not provide a satisfactory basis for converting other national currencies to £ sterling in the context of gdp since they do not necessarily reflect the relative purchasing power of national currencies in terms of goods and services available in the countries being compared. It is generally recognised that a more realistic assessment of relative levels of gdp in terms of their domestic purchasing power can be made through the use of purchasing power parities. Estimates on both bases are given in the table.cars are exempt from vehicle excise duty, as was stated in the
Official Report, 2 July, column 443; and, if they are not, what rules govern entitlement to exemption from vehicle excise duty for a Motability car and for a car registered in the name of a recipient of mobility allowance.
I will let the right hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what study he has made of the taxation position of disabled people in receipt of various benefits or income from other sources; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Kaufman
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, on the basis of the family expenditure survey 1978, is the average gross income for 1978 of all households in England and Wales.
£106 per week.
Double Taxation (Norway)
Mr. Buck


We discuss staying at either the Swan or Dolphin on your next Walt Disney World trip!!!! It's become a much better value due to the new parking fees and how about the awesome dining & lounging!!!!!
While staying off property on property: "Please stand clear of the doors"!
Thanks for downloading Episode 547 of ResortLoop.com!


text:
Army Band Hit By Skydiver, Marches On
James Joyner · Monday, July 21, 2008 · 2 comments
OTB's Roving Correspondent Richard Gardner sent me this clip about an unfortunate incident at Fort Riley, Kansas wherein a hapless parachutist collides with an Army band.
A rogue parachutist veered off course yesterday and smashed into an unsuspecting military brass band in Kansas, injuring three musicians and destroying two tubas.
Members of the 1st Infantry Division band, which was ready to perform for thousands of spectators, heard nothing but a brief rustling of the jumper's parachute before taking a direct hit from the human missile.
"We know that they're going to be all right," said General Charles Campbell, head of the Army's Forces Command, who was overseeing the military event. Sgt. Rachel Boggs was knocked unconscious and suffered a fractured jaw after the aerial assault. Her fellow band member Sgt Andrew Spinazzolla suffered a fractured ankle as well as minor neck and head injuries. Staff Sgt Mark Lucero sustained a minor leg injury.
Since everyone is more-or-less fine, this naturally is prompting some good natured humor. Abu Muqawama's Kip has the best reaction thus far:
John Nagl has often quipped that it is difficult for the State Department to do its job when there are more members of military bands than there are Foreign Service officers. Kip isn't sure that this is exactly how Herr Nagl wished the equation addressed.
FILED UNDER: General, Military Affairs, Fort Riley, John Nagl, military bands, parachute, Video
BeldarBlog says:
Monday, July 21, 2008 at 10:49
And the band marched on…
On Outside the Beltway, Dr. James Joyner posted today a story (with an embedded video clip that, alas, appears to have already been zapped from YouTube) entitled Army Band Hit By Skydiver, Marches On. It reminded me of an incident that I witnessed in A…
I am confused by this story. I know the parachutist came in fast, by why didn't he yell out a warning?? Or, the cameraman—why didn't he/she yell a warning??
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Myth.Bungie.Org: Legends & Lore: Delusions:
The Fallen Lords
The Bungie Connection
Universal Theories
A.G.M. Connections
General Theories
Kevin Harrison writes:
Okay, after spending four hours going through various parts of the Marathon's Story website (Blam!, Cortana, and the story itself), I've come up with a few possible ways to tie Myth and Marathon together.
First off, many people are wondering why there should even *be* a connection. I wouldn't wonder myself, if it weren't for a comment by Matt Soell of Bungie:
Matt also had this to say about plot connections in Bungie's games:
...things are often more related than they may first appear. For example, there's no obvious similarity or connection between the Marathon world and the Myth one....
...but then there's the Great Devoid.
The Great Devoid was the big hole in the ground at the end of Myth:TFL.
How did it get there?
That sparked my imagination. Just where was he going with that? A further point was brought up by another reader to the MS site:
Omer points out that the origin of the Great Devoid is given in Myth. Omer writes:
MTFL manual p. 46:
Great Devoid: A bottomless chasm near Myrgard, created by the Callieach during their final days. Rather than be hunted to extinction by the Trow, the Callieach destroyed themselves and many Trow, leaving behind only the Devoid.
This is the only mention of the Callieach ever made.
{snipped}
Hmm. At this point, the question should be, 'What were the Callieach?'. They're never mentioned anywhere else, so we're left to speculate. Apparently they did not get along with the Trow, and were unable to survive in a war against them. However, they *did* have the firepower to put a huge, gaping chasm in the planet. So how is it they could be so easily dispatched when they had such technology/magic? Did they simply not know how to control it?
Another angle is that this creation story is in error, and something *else* caused the creation of the Great Devoid. That's when something I was reading from the story in Marathon 2: Durandal caught my eye:
Tycho's ship has been destroyed. The crater where it annihilated itself on Lh'owon's inner moon is still glowing. There were no survivors. With a focused message laser I burned his epitaph into the surface near the crash site, in letters three hundred meters high: "Fatum Iustum Stultorum".
Somehow I get the feeling a large starship dropping onto a moon would leave a *very* deep hole... as another point for this, isn't the Great Devoid rather near the Cloudspine, the largest mountain chain on the planet of Myth? I wonder what the peaks looked like from above thousands of years before the Myth story... ;) Although I'm wondering how a laser can burn a message 'three hundred meters high'. Shouldn't burning lasers cut into the ground, not raise it? Unless there was some sort of lava backflow, I don't see how this works out.
Admittedly, this is quite a stretch. Especially since the Lh'owon star was supposedly set nova by the Pfhor, and subsequently contained by the Jjaro space station in the system (Marathon Infinity).
Another possibility has been brought up before, with the Trow actually being descendants of the Behemoths enslaved by the Pfhor. In this case, I would guess that the Callieach were actually the few S'pht trapped on the moon after the battle. I doubt they could effectively fight Trow/Behemoths, so at the last they self destructed all their leftover technology in unison, creating the Great Devoid. This would also mean that the Myth world is Lh'owon itself, and not the moon.
Which brings us to the next item:
I ordered the deployment of the "trih xeem."
Almost immediately, our enemy then began transmitting ridiculous warnings concerning some sort of ancient chaotic being trapped deep in the Lh'owon sun. Of course, at this point mercy was unacceptable. The time to end the collective dream of the S'pht had come.
Durandal had discovered an ancient being trapped in the star, a W'rkncacnter:
According to the legends of a thousand worlds only a few of which are still habitable, the W'rkncacnter are those things that live in chaos, creating it around them. At the beginning of the universe, they were unmistakable in their entities, but as time has gone by, their existence has become difficult to detect among the chaotic elements of the universe, hidden in stars, trapped in storms, forever looking along the event horizons of black holes. Setting one free in ordered space is difficult and insane.
Of course, it's not entirely clear that the thing was contained at the end of the game. Honestly, I had trouble following the events as they're relayed on the MS site. I'll try the game, now that I've got a fast enough Mac to handle it. :)
Back to the story... the W'rkncacnter are apparently creatures of chaos, seeking destruction wherever they go. Isn't that what the Leveller wants? (Albeit on a smaller scale...the planet, not the universe). Perhaps some aspect of the W'rkncacnter is trapped in the 'comet' which appears every thousand years around the Myth homeworld? This allows it to resurrect the great hero of old, and turn them into the physical incarnation of the Leveller, controlling the forces of the Dark and leading them in the destruction of the world.
It also helps explain how magic works on this world, when it's completely against the Marathon paradigm. The other explanation is that the 'magic' is just leftover Jjaro tech that some of the beings surviving on the Myth world learned how to use.
Which brings us to another point...if this *is* Marathon related, how did the humans/humanoids get there? I'd guess they're descendants of the leftover colonists which Durandal kept on the Boomer, and released on Lh'owon and it's moon while trying to stop the Pfhor and find the S'pht'Kr.
Here's the kicker...perhaps the Leveller *is* the same person every thousand years? Might sound odd at first, but here's something else I found on MS:
Alex Samaras also writes:
The final screen says: "You were dead a thousand times. Hopeless encounters successfully won."
Another possibility is that this is referring to something much more immense. The Jjaro were obviously powerful beings. Their power was probably only limited by the closure of the universe. If so, then they may have created the player (us). The phrases " Yours to manipulate, destroy and rebuild" and " You are destiny" would take on a greater meaning. Perhaps we are another type of chaotic being, created long ago. We seem to have knack for upsetting the balance of power, cause a little chaos, and create order out of that chaos(e.g. Crush the mighty Pfhor, cause chaos throughout their ranks, and free the S'pht once and for all). There is some (possibly circumstantial) evidence supporting this.
1. The Jjaro were incredibly good at creating cybernetic organisms. The S'pht are obviously the prime example... powerful, intelligent... If they created the player, then they could have given him as much power as they wanted. Even the ability to be "dead a thousand times.".
2. We are not really recognized as human by anyone (except the confused message from Tycho in Marathon). Even if we were a battleroid created from a dead human, we could still be recognized as human. People w/ heart implants could be considered cyborgs, and they are recognized as and considered to be human.
If we "are destiny" then perhaps our niche in the universe is to keep any one intelligence (except the Jjaro who disappeared) from becoming too powerful. We do this by being at the right place and the right time to upset the balance of power.
The Leveller comes back every thousand years to upset the balance between Light and Dark, each milennia giving way to one or the other successively. Sounds similar, right?
So, if 'you' are the Leveller (who isn't *actually* the hero of the previous milennia, simply a simulacra, as you can't be fighting yourself very well...), then for some reason you were left behind with the other human colonists on this moon after the Pfhor/S'pht war. The W'rkncacnter somehow tainted you, and now you are doomed to forever continually fight as the hero and the villain alternately.
Another idea is that Durandal/Cortana now inhabits something else (the Jjaro station?), which orbits this star every 1000 years, and for fun he uses you as the Jjaro intended: to stir up chaos and fighting on the remnants of this world.
The one problem I have with this is that even a cyborg wouldn't survive the way the Leveller was killed each millenia. That would imply that perhaps you had been 'copied' into a database, and reconstructed every thousand years for your new role, making you a true simulacra each time, built in the image of the last hero.
Another problem is the destruction of the Lh'owon sun. Perhaps the containment of the nova caused it to collapse into another stable star? If not, then this whole theory goes out the window. :) Anyway, that's all I can remember of my theories for now. They're rather sketchy, and one helluva stretch, but it's fun to speculate sometimes. Any, all, or none of this may be true.
I'm definitely looking forward to Blam!. :)
Mark Levin writes:
Hmm... If you read dangerously far into it, the game could be a heavily mysticized version of real-world events in the Marathon universe. Perhaps this is a normal war retold over tribal generations, slowly losing accuracy to excitement. The Light units could be a medium-tech race, which would explain why nearly all the light units are armed with swords, bows, and other low-tech weapons while still being able to cause mass destruction with artifacts (advanced explosive or energy weapons) like the Bow of Furious Incandescence or extremely powerful units (the tank-like Forest Giants). They were attacked by a high-tech race with robotic armies (Thrall) and bio/chem weapons (Shades).
Or, you could go the cheap way and say it was all caused by another crashed W'rkncacnter in the Great Devoid. ;)
Character Crossovers
SD writes:
Greetings, this is the thinking I've been doing about Marathon and Myth, yes this is a crackpot theory. Yes, thats the point of it. Now then, rather than sort through terminal texts and such, I thought I'd go on what I could grab from my head, and let you folks connect any details or point out any factual errors I might have.
Setting: Some time after The Marathon Incident, on an unidentified planet.
Myth Units: The real explanation:
Berserks, Warriors, Journeymen- Humans of some kind. Most likely descendants of either settlers or a crashed Human spacecraft.
fir'Bolg: Possibly S'pht. Take into account, their previous hostility towards the Humans (The S'pht were forced to of course). Its a bit of a stretch, but an aura of mystery and seclusion surrounds both races...
Dwarves: I believe the that there were no actual dwarves, though an eastern Human settlement at one time was able to acquire technology greater than the other Humans of the Myth world. Perhaps they happened upon a trove of hence forgotten UESC weapons, or a Jjaro cupboard. Who knows? Maybe their leader was really short, and created a stereotype for the rest of them.
bre'Unor: Separatist Humans, who somehow managed to remove themselves from the other populations, probably stemmed from a conflict that arose soon after Humans first came to the planet.
Brigands: Simulacra. Obviously, time has twisted their place and behavior around a good deal.
Fetch: This is a confusing prospect. Though the slim stature and lethal nature of the fetch would suggest Pfhor, enforcer, there are other things at play. For example, where did the idea of wearing skin and rocketing into space come from? The latter mentioned is S'pht like (The S'pht would dematerialize upon destruction.)
Ghasts: Again, Simulacra.
Ghols and Muals: These must have been Pfhor client races, though neither of them correspond terribly clearly to records kept on the subject. However, both Ghols and Muals suggest the primitive and brutal society of the F'lickta. Though the lumbering mannerisms of the Mauls are reminiscent of the Pfhor Cyborgs or even Hulks.
Soulless: The unliving cold maintenance drones of the Pfhor bases could have been transformed by Myth into Soulless, though the wasp like creatures reported on the marathon are another possibility.
Thrall: Pfhor. Fighters most likely. The image of a semi nude figure with shoulder armor on is common to the Thrall and Pfhor. Both seem to be mostly devoid of any personal drives or wills.
Stygian Knights: Pfhor Hunters. They look similar, both are imposing armored figures, and both share an inconvenient immunity to certain weapon.
Myrmidons: Probably Pfhor troopers. Merely quicker deadlier versions of Thrall. The relationship (in terms of combat ability) between the Fighter and The Trooper is similar to the relationship between the Thrall and the Myrmidon.
Warlocks: S'pht, or possibly S'pht Kr. The S'pht's' alliance could be shifted easily enough (See "Welcome to The Revolution" and Durandal's deeds on the Marathon) They both open their robes to project energy of some kind. This sight was probably rather traumatic for anyone who saw it, so the image stuck, even if a few details changed.
Wights: Simulacra. There's no mistaking something that explodes itself.
Spiders: No doubt native pests, local to that planet. This could mean F'lickta. If it were Tau Ceti, they could be Chockisens, but the habitable areas of the Tau Ceti system were nuked down to Bedrock following the Marathon Incident.
Trow: I'd have to say Pfhor Armored Units, Juggernauts. Now, some historians have suggested hulks, but the rapid destruction of the Trow is too different from the slow ponderous nature of the hulks. Now, something like the Juggernaut, that comes in by surprise, fires a few Missiles and bullets, leaving splatter in its wake is reminiscent of the hulk.
Myrkidia: Not covered in depth, something tricker. Possibly Jjaro or Nar influenced.
Forest Giants: This I don't know about. Perhaps a native species? Converted Juggernauts?
The Nine: 9? Hmm. 10 Cyborgs lacking their tenth member. 9 competent combatants, capable of astounding feats in battle.
Alric: I'd have to say an AI. The most likely one of those we know would be Leela.
The Tain: Perhaps the moon (K'lia?) that the S'pht took with them when they left Lh'Owon. Perhaps a Sol Orbiter converted into a Colony ship. Hard to say. If it were Lh'Owon's moon, it would pretty much cement the spiders as F'lickta.
The Total Codex: This may be more of an ideal. Omniscience. Escape will make us God. (See: Escaping the collapse of the universe)
World Knots: The occasional instance of the still functional deportation technology frequently encountered in UEG and Pfhor Space.
The Fallen Lords: The infighting and such reeks of Artificial Intelligence. These are some important ones we know of Traxus IV, Durandal, Leela, Tycho, Thoth. There where rumors of some subsidiary AIs under Traxus IV that went rampant, but these remain clouded in mystery. I'm rather wary of trying to decide which AI is which lord, but just judging from the names alone, Tycho(perhaps Durandal even) would be the Deciever, and Thoth would be the Watcher.
The Leveller: The mysterious protaganist of Marathon. One who works for both sides? (Levels things out)
Forrest writes:
I think that, if Myth and Marathon are indeed in the same universe, then it is on some world, doesn't matter (could even be Earth; see my Myth/France comparison in BunCon2), and in the very far future. Quite a while after the war with the Pfhor. The Pfhor don't even seem to be involved here in Myth. But Humans definitely are, as may be the Jjaro and W'rkncacnter. Anyway, it seems that technology has been set back drastically on this world, probably due to some unknown cataclysm six thousand sixty years ago (from a MythII-time "present"), when the cycles began. (Yes, both Myths, TFL and Soulblighter, take place in the Seventh Era. We know of four unnamed Leveller incarnations, plus Tireces/Moagim, Connacht/Balor, and now Alric has begun the 7th Era).
Another race of humans. Remember, Europeans discounted Africans as Human in the olden days. Besides, there's been over six thousand years of separation to differentiate the two races (Human and fir'Bolg), so they could have some significant differences. Or, perhaps, they are a native humanoid race, or an alien race stranded there with the humans. Or a genetically altered race of humans. Anyway, they certainly aren't S'pht.
Agreed that they are Humans (or an offshoot thereof, see fir'Bolg), but I do think that they were *all* short. And I also think that they developed explosives on their own, as said in Myth, because the rest of humanity was set back far enough.
See fir'Bolg and Dwarves. Humanoid aliens (though three humanoid races on one planet is a bit of a stretch), or a Human or Human-derived race.
I think Brigands are exactly as they are portrayed in Myth: Humans, working for evil forces.
Aliens (probably not Pfhor), summoned from another world by Balor, just like said in Myth. It actually says they are being summoned from another world in the flavor text, so this does lend credence to any Myth-Marathon theories. They are noncorporeal as well, energy beings, who must inhabit human flesh (or another kind of flesh, or something) to survive on our world.
Undead humans, bred to have parylizing diseases fester within them. The player in Marathon is one of ten Mjolnir cyborgs who were all once dead. And the player doesn't seem to have much mind of his own, just doing whatever he is told by whoever, exactly like Thrall. This is just the beginning of my magic-tech connection.
Native life to the Myth world, or aliens stranded there along with the humans. The Fetch are now stranded on the Myth world since Balor was killed before he could send them home; previous Levellers could have done this as well.
Souls (electromagnetic patterns), stolen by sorcery (super-advanced technology, some of which may be embedded in the humans of the Myth world, like nanotech). Exactly as said in Myth... sorta :-)
Undead humans; really low quality battleroids, basically.
Suits of armor, animated by magic-tech, and controlled by a piece of their creator's soul (electromagnetic pattern).
Kin of the Berserks, suborned to the dark by Balor, and given eternal life but not eternal youth by his "magic".
Humans who learned to use magic-tech.
Ghasts, so full of pus and gas that they are explosive.
Native pests, or perhaps derived from terran spiders, a genetic experiment gone awry. (What's a Chockisen look like, anyway?)
Altered humans, or a humanoid alien race stranded on the Myth world.
W'rkncacnter dreams, focused into reality by Moagim.
Related to the Trow, no doubt, though their chimeric nature (plant or animal?) is rather odd.
Nine humans trained in the use of magic-tech.
The most competent member of the Nine, no doubt.
Jjaro technology. The Tain is a completely portable pocket universe, a big hunk of space-time compressed to the size of a tiny box, and linked to our "normal" universe world through a wormhole.
Jjaro, definitely. A book about the future, written in the past. The Jjaro could definitely do that.
The name gives this one away. They're wormholes, knots in space-time, connecting two points together. (Though the wormhole itself is likely tiny, and the four pylons are teleporters, which scan and dematerialize the things in the circle of the knot, send the particles and the data to rematerialize them through the wormhole, where they are reassembled at the other end. Most likely Jjaro-built).
Humans who have mastered magic-tech, and been suborned to the dark by Balor (or another Leveller incarnation, but these six were suborned by Balor).
The Leveller, contrary to the theory of mine you're thinking of where he levels the playing field, is a being of . . . PURE EVIL! [insert maniacal laughter]. But seriously, it's a transient divinity who inhabits powerfull people every thousand years, until they're killed by a great hero, who usually ends up as the next body of the Leveller.
But now, who is this Leveller, and what's with the cycles in the first place? I think there's a W'rkncacnter at the bottom of the Great Devoid, which is what makes it a bottomless pit instead of just a big hole in the ground. Before that, the W'rkncacnter was just down there. Both the Leveller and the W'rkncacnter seek nothing but chaos and destruction, which makes them perfect. This W'rkncacnter is awake and dreaming, and every thousand years it manages to take control of a particularly powerfull person on the surface and wreak havoc all over the place.
Compiled by Lophan.