asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set up an investigation into the affairs of the Cedar Holdings Finance Company, in view of the involvement of National Coal Board pension funds and electricity supply pension funds.

I am not aware of any grounds under the Companies Act on which the Department should exercise its investigatory powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the standards of safety on British airlines have been affected by the present shortage of aviation fuel.

The general shortage of aviation fuel has resulted in there being certain areas in which only wide-cut fuel is available. I am advised by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for safety matters, that danger from fire may be greater with this fuel in the event of certain types of accident. In view of the rarity of these circumstances the use of wide-cut fuel has only a marginal effect on safety but British airlines have been advised by the CAA to use kerosene wherever it is obtainable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will issue a direction to British Airways prohibiting the use of low flashpoint fuel, in view of the danger arising therefrom.

No. The Civil Aviation Authority advises me that although JP1 (aviation kerosene) is the preferred fuel the additional risk from using JP4 (wide-cut gasolene) is only marginal.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the European Commission regarding the limitation of national subsidies to shipbuilding in the next stage of the Community's shipbuilding policy; and if he will make a statement.

The Commission formally submitted proposals on these matters to the Council of Ministers on 5th November 1973. The proposals are now being discussed by a working group of officials from the member countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the United Kingdom balance of trade figures were for June 1964, and each succeeding year from June 1970, and up to the latest convenient date for which details are available.

The figures are available from published sources, but I list them for the convenience of hon. Members. They are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to announce the trade figures for January 1974.

The Central Statistical Office announced on 17th January that this would be done on 25th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the surplus or deficit in visible trade of the United Kingdom with the original six EEC countries in 1973.

The "crude" trade defiict—i.e. the difference between imports c.i.f. and exports f.o.b.) was £1,115 million; the deficit on a balance of payments basis with the original six EEC countries is not available for 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the policy of the Government over the use of flags of convenience on vessels serving the oil rigs.

The Government are opposed to flag discrimination in both coastal and intternational trades. We do not therefore forbid the servicing of oil rigs by ships of particular flags.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will conduct an investigation into the abuse of party plan selling techniques particularly by companies previously connected with pyramid selling.

The investigation of such abuses falls within the Director General of Fair Trading's field of responsibility, and the matter has been drawn to his attention. If the hon. Member has any relevant information I hope he will make it available to the Director General.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the Italian Government regarding their ban on British charter flights entering or leaving Italy due to a dispute on provision of aircraft fuel; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the breakdown of his discussions on the fuelling of British charter aircraft in Italy.

Discussions with the Italian Government on the allocation of aviation fuel to the Italian charter airline SAM will be continuing during this week. Meanwhile, there is an understanding that all flights already authorised in January will be permitted to operate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will pay an official visit to Merthyr Tydfil in the near future.

I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to reply to the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on Tracked Hovercraft Limited; and whether he will now make a statement.

A Government White Paper will be published shortly and it is not therefore appropriate to make a statement at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he intends to give approval for the expansion of Heathrow Airport by building a new terminal building on the site of Perry Oaks sewage farm.

We have not been asked to give approval for any airport development on the Perry Oaks site.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that the names of British manufacturing companies are being registered by Japanese companies in Japan and that this creates problems for British exporters to Japan; if he will make representations with the object of seeking to put an end to this practice; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has always strongly recommended British exporters to register their trademarks and trade names in Japan in their own name at the earliest opportunity and is prepared to seek the co-operation of the Japanese authorities where there is evidence of unfair competition. The best security, however, can be obtained only if British companies are careful to take adequate steps in good time for their own protection by ensuring proper registration in the first place.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the development of the Seahorse marine engine.

This engine is being developed by Doxford Hawthorn Research Services Ltd. The Department is keeping itself informed of the progress of its development. The company has made certain proposals to the Department which are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the Fair Trading Act provisions of pyramid selling; and if he will make a statement.

Part XI of the Fair Trading Act and the Pyramid Selling Schemes Regulations 1973 have not been in force long enough for me to assess their effectiveness, but I am watching the situation closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the extent and nature of agreement made with Japanese industry relating to participation in industrial and commercial projects in the United Kingdom with particular regard to offshore oil operations.

In my recent visit to Japan I reached understandings with the Japanese Government about co-operation in a number of fields. The Japanese are interested in setting up industrial projects in the United Kingdom, either on their own or in joint ventures with British concerns. I have warmly welcomed this, because of the contribution it can make to our economy and to our trading position. As for individual projects, my Department will be in consultation with the companies concerned whether Japanese or British. It is too early yet to say whether the Japanese will participate in offshore supply operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many motor insurance companies deposited their annual accounts for 1972–73 with his Department on the date of publication; and how many took up part or all of the statutory limit of six months from that date in which to do so.

No returns from motor insurance companies are overdue. The statute requires insurers to deposit their accounts within six months of the close of the period to which they relate. Those obligations are unrelated to the date of publication of accounts, which can take place in a variety of ways. No significance can be attached to the extent to which insurers take advantage of the period of grace to which they are entitled.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware of the hardship caused to gliding clubs operating from Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, if they cannot fly on Sundays; and, in view of the fact that this ban will result in only a small fuel saving but cause the collapse of these and other gliding clubs, whether he will now relax his policy in this regard.

There is no discrimination, but I am aware of the problems created by the restriction on Sunday flying, and my right hon. Friend has already announced the end of the ban on gliders other than aero-towed gliders. I am considering with my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Energy whether further relaxation would now be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on his recent talks in Geneva with the Shah of Iran.

As I told the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) today, negotiations were satisfactorily concluded during the course of my discussions at St. Moritz last Friday. As a result, Britain will receive an additional 5 million tons of crude oil from Iran during 1974 and the early part of 1975 and will supply £110 million worth of British goods during the same period. The oil will be purchased by BP acting as agents for Her Majesty's Government. Parliamentary authority for the expenditure will be sought in the usual way. We reviewed the progress being made on the £250 million of industrial joint-venture prospects in Iran, which were negotiated at the Iran-United Kingdom Investment Conference last November. We also agreed to examine at an early date the potentialities for Iranian investment in the United Kingdom and agreed that there were many spheres in which substantial investments from Iran into United Kingdom industry and technology could be of mutual benefit to both countries. This agreement marks a further important stage in the valuable and increasing inter-relationship between the economies of Iran and Britain.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on measures to conserve energy.

In my statement of 25th January I announced the continuation, with some increased flexibility, of the electricity restrictions needed for the immediate emergency. In the longer term the efficient use of energy will take on a new importance, and the Government are actively considering what further they can do to encourage it.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on petrol rationing.

The need for petrol rationing has so far been avoided because the reduced deliveries to petrol stations have been matched by the economies that motorists have made. The future position will depend on developments in the energy situation. It remains important that all petrol users should continue to exercise restraint.

asked the Minister for Energy what was the percentage reduction in the allocation of petrol supplies in the United Kingdom for November, December and January.

The restrictions on deliveries of oil were not introduced until 20th November 1973. From that date until 31st January 1974 the allocation of petrol supplies has been based on a 10 per cent. reduction in deliveries made in the corresponding period a year ago. The allocation scheme does, however, provide for a supplementary allocation to be granted on appeal in cases where there has been a marked change in circumstances during 1973.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will resume the practice of publishing precise oil stock figures, in view of the fact that he did provide such figures up to and including 23rd November 1973 and taking into account his continued publication of precise coal stock figures.

The Department of Energy issues oil stock figures in Weekly Statistical Statements; copies are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister for Energy what are his latest estimates of the availibility of diesel and fuel oils, respectively, in the United Kingdom; and what shortfall he anticipates over the next two months.

While the situation on all oil products remains very tight, and we may have to ask for further economies, there is no immediate prospect of critical shortfalls in the supply of diesel and fuel oil.

asked the Minister for Energy what representations he has received requesting him to publish in a Green Paper the recommendations of the Nuclear Power Advisory Board on the reactor designs which should be used for the next stage of Great Britain's nuclear programme.

The suggestion of a Green Paper on nuclear reactors has been made by some hon. Members in recent weeks.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on the current situation with regard to nuclear reactors policy.

The question of thermal reactor choice is currently under consideration by the Nuclear Power Advisory Board. The Government will reach a decision on this matter after receiving the board's advice.

asked the Minister for Energy whether, in considering the type of nuclear reactor to be used in new electricity generating plants, he will take into account the fact that "safe" reactors, such as Magnox, could be sited comparatively near to centres of population, and that the surplus low-grade heat from them could thus be used for district heating schemes and for other useful purposes.

The merits of each of the reactor systems under consideration are being carefully assessed by the Nuclear Power Advisory Board. Under present policy, nuclear power stations may not be sited close to dense urban populations and there is thus little scope for using low-grade heat from them for district heating or other purposes.

asked the Minister for Energy what is the level of national coal stocks at the latest available date.

The Department's latest Weekly Statistical Statement on Energy, copies of which are available in the Library of the House, shows that on 19th January the National Coal Board held 10·2 million tons and power stations held 13·6 million tons. Recorded stocks at other storage places, mainly coke ovens, are estimated to be about 2 million tons.

asked the Minister for Energy what consideration he has given to modifying the three-day week to consist of Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, or Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, to avoid week-end working during the present energy shortage; and what representations he has had to this effect.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House on 25th January and the order which has been laid today.

asked the Minister for Energy how much of the £1,000 million investment in North Sea oil and gas exploration by the end of 1973 is investment belonging to British nationalised industries.

The National Coal Board's and British Gas Corporation's share of currently licensed territory is approxi- mately 8 per cent. Their share of the £1,000 million expenditure to the end of 1973 is approximately £100 million.

asked the Minister for Energy whether the EEC will have any control over the pricing or distribution of North Sea oil.

The terms and conditions under which companies operate on the British section of the Continental Shelf are the responsibility of the British Government.

asked the Minister for Energy whether Her Majesty's Government will have any further control over the international oil companies when they have fulfilled their obligations under the original agreements and agreed the terms.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State is currently examining all aspects of licensing policy.

asked the Minister for Energy what arrangements have been made between Her Majesty's Government and the international oil companies about the sharing of profits from North Sea oil.

Licensees are required to pay rental and royalty of 12½ per cent. of the wellhead value of the oil. They are also subject to corporation tax. My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State is currently examining all aspects of licensing policy and the financial benefits that accrue.

asked the Minister for Energy to what extent the system of royalty payments will be considered when final agreements are reached between Her Majesty's Government and the oil companies.

All aspects of licensing terms are currently under review.

asked the Minister for Energy what investigations are being made into the exploitation of geothermal power in Cleveland where test borings for other purposes are reported to have produced results indicating the suitability of this area.

The Government keep under review the general situation and prospects for geothermal energy in this country, but we are not aware of any specific investigations related to the Cleveland area. I shall, of course, be pleased to receive any special information that the hon. Member may have.

asked the Minister for Energy how many firms in the Northern Region and Sunderland, respectively, have been exempted from power restrictions; if he will list the firms which have applied for exemption and have been refused; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will clarify his official statements, in connection with the fuel emergency, on special concessions to exporters, bearing in mind the difficulties of such relatively small firms as the Magnavox Electronics Company of Barking, which export the whole of their product to the United States of America and are therefore unable to maintain their dollar earnings by reducing domestic sales.

With the need still to maximise electricity savings I am sorry but at this time I am unable to give a concession purely on the grounds of exports.

asked the Minister for Energy whether, in the event of cuts of electric power being made to industry, he will permit the timing of those cuts to be made by individual factories where the supply is by meter and the percentage of total cut-back can be easily varied.

No. If rota disconnections become necessary it is essential for the control of the system that they be made in accordance with the detailed rota plans already published by electricity boards.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will break down into its components the £1,100 million committed to the coal industry in 1973 by Her Majesty's Government indicating which component is written-off debt, how much of the £1,100 million has already been spent, how much is specifically committed for expenditure, under what headings that expenditure has taken place or will take place, and over what time scale that expenditure is envisaged.

The Coal Industry Act 1973 provided for (i) the National Coal Board's assets to be written down by £275 million; (ii) its accumulated deficits up to 31st March 1973 of £175 million to be written off; (iii) grants to the industry of up to £695 million spread over the years 1973–74 to 1977–78. The purposes and maximum amounts of these grants are set out in the Act.In the year 1973–74 the published estimate of support for the coal industry is £154·6 million. Estimates for future expenditure will be laid before the House at the appropriate times.

asked the Minister for Energy what estimate he has made of the average current cost per therm of imported oil and of home-produced coal.

I have made no such estimates. Fuel costs can only be meaningfully compared for specific uses and must be considered in conjunction with many factors such as availability, technical suitability and comparability of feedstocks.

asked the Minister for Energy what is his latest estimate of the cost in 1974 of Great Britain's oil imports, assuming that the quantity supplied is the same as in 1973.

If the quantity of crude oil imported in 1974 were to be the same as in 1973 and if the present level of prices and exchange rates were to hold throughout the year, the cost of Great Britain's crude oil imports in 1974 would be over £3,000 million.

asked the Minister for Energy, in view of the evidence of the damage to health attributable to working in the coal industry contained in the journal the Lancet, a copy of which is in his possession, whether he will direct the National Coal Board to draw up plans for improving the working conditions and general environment of this industry.

There have been considerable improvements in the mining environment over the past 20 years and marked reductions in the incidence of diseases associated with mining. The board is continuing its efforts.I have had extensive consultation with both sides of industry on new comprehensive regulations which I hope will be operative during the year. They provide for the measurement and reduction of respirable dust levels and medical supervision of those at risk.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will prepare publicity material on the medical effects of mining coal upon those engaged in the mining industry, as a health warning to those contemplating entering the industry.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will instruct his health department to compile information on the medical effects of mining coal upon those engaged in the mining industry in Scotland so as to assist those contemplating entering the industry.

Statistical information about industrial diseases in coal mines is published in the annual reports of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Mines and Quarries, and the published annual reports of the National Coal Board's Medical Service give a detailed account of medical conditions in the industry.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will initiate a full-scale survey of the land area of Great Britain to determine the extent of all recoverable energy resources.

Much work has been, and continues to be, done in this field. My right hon. Friend is considering what section work may need to be done.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will issue a White Paper on a common energy policy covering coal, North Sea gas. North Sea oil and nuclear energy.

I believe it would be wise to allow present uncertainties to clear before considering publishing a White Paper; I would certainly expect any such document to deal with all the aspects referred to.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will give details of the common energy policy which Her Majesty's Government will be presenting at the energy conference in Washington.

Our broad aim will be to bring about effective international collaboration in solving current world energy problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from local authorities and other organisations for the reinstatement of the ambulance service at Porthmadog, Caernarvonshire; and whether, in view of the concern felt locally, he will ensure that the service is restored.

None. Suspension of the service was a result of the pay dispute and I am happy to say that following agreement between the county council and the men they returned to full duties at all stations in Caernarvonshire yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will address a Welsh national conference of local authority members and officials and Members of Parliament from Wales on the effect upon Wales of the Government's proposed changes in rate support grant.

No. All local authorities will shortly be informed of their grant entitlement for 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give details of the projected percentage increase of the water rate in each of the Welsh authorities as from 1st April 1974 for domestic consumers and metered supplies, respectively.

The information for the water supply divisions within the area of the Welsh National Water Development Authority is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the approximate increase in the cost of local government services in the current financial year; and what the increase is expected to be in 1974–75.

So far as 1973–74 is concerned I would refer the hon. Member to the recent report on the Rate Support Grant (Increase) No. 2 Order 1973 (HC48). As regards 1974–75, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 22nd January by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, in which he said that local authority relevant expenditure in 1974–75 would grow in real terms by 2½ per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the present average number of patients per general practitioner in Wales; and how this com- pares with the other regional hospital boards in the United Kingdom.

The information is not available in the form requested. At 1st October 1972, the latest date for which most of the detailed figures are available, the average number of patients per general practitioner in Wales compared with Scotland, Northern Ireland and the standard regions of England were:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now specify the areas in which improvement grants will be made available to house owners after June 1974.

The Government's proposals have now been published in the Housing and Planning Bill. Improvement grants will continue to be available throughout Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will amend the Housing Finance Act 1972 to provide an independent appeals procedure for local authorities and council tenants in disagreement with the fair rents fixed by rent scrutiny boards.

No. Where it disagrees with the assessment of a local authority a rent scrutiny board is already required by law to consider representations from the council. All authorities have been advised to seek and consider the views of tenants before making such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of all urban district councils which have written to him about the powers of the rent scrutiny board.

Aberdare, Ammanford and Knighton urban district councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many council house starts there were in Wales in 1973 or to the nearest convenient date; and how many council houses were completed in that period in Wales.

2,738 and 2,815 respectively, up to November 1973. In addition, the number of council houses in approved tenders in Wales for the whole of 1973 was 5,265.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent there is a shortage of building materials in Wales; and in what materials there exists a shortfall in supply to builders.

To the same extent as in the rest of the United Kingdom; I am advised that steel, timber, plaster, plasterboard and sanitary ware are currently in short supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he can now state what effect the recently announced public expenditure cuts are likely to have on the building of primary schools in Wales.

The replacement or improvement of pre-1903 schools included in the design and starts lists of the 1973–74 major school building programmes will now be deferred unless an authority can justify the inclusion of any improvement project in the basic need programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he can now state what effect the recently announced public expenditure cuts are likely to have upon hospital building in Wales.

The Welsh Hospital Board has reviewed the 1974–75 hospital building programme in the light of the recently announced reductions in public expenditure. The revised programme has been drawn up on the basis that contracts already let may proceed: there should be no deferment of schemes having a safety element or necessary to prevent a deterioration in the existing service, and some priority should continue to be given to the improvement of facilities for long-stay patients. As a result of this review the starts of some schemes have had to be postponed for periods of up to 12 months.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now seek to visit Chile.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on industrial affairs delivered at Eastbourne on 18th January.

I did so on 23rd January.

asked the Prime Minister which Department of State will have the responsibility for the acquisition of sites for oil production platform purposes; and whether new planning legislation is proposed for this purpose.

The Government are urgently considering all possible ways of accelerating the production of oil from the Continental Shelf. If the Government were to acquire such sites the departmental responsibility would be decided in the light of the circumstances of the case.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now seek to resume negotiations with the TUC with a view to a settlement of the miners' pay claim; and what further proposals lie will put to it to enable such negotiations to be started.

As I explained to the House on 22nd January, the Government have done everything in their power, within what they believe to be right in the interests of the country as a whole, to make possible a settlement of this dispute.I expressed the hope in my letter to Mr. Gormley on 23rd January that the executive would conclude that in the light of the situation facing the country acceptance of the substantial and fair offer that had been made and of the Government's proposals for joint discussion of the industry's future would do justice not only to the aspirations of their members but also to the needs and circumstances of the country.I also said that if the officers or the executive of the National Union of Mine-workers would like to come and discuss the matter further with me and my colleagues, I should be very ready to arrange a meeting. That offer still holds and I am equally ready to meet the TUC.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to prevent small firms from being forced into bankruptcy or liquidation, he will consider arranging for 50 per cent. progress payments against orders to those small firms which are sub-contracting to the Government and to public authorities.

Government contracts frequently include provision for progress payments against expenditure actually incurred, where the length or value of the contract makes it appropriate. Arrangements between contractors and sub-contractors are a matter for them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the overall balance of payments position for 1973; and how much of this he attributes to the higher cost of imports resulting from the devaluation of the £ sterling against a weighted average of foreign currencies.

The total currency flow, which is the best single measure of the overall balance of payments, shows a net inflow of £188 million in the first nine months of 1973; published figures for the fourth quarter are not yet available.Imports increased in value by about £4,000 million in 1973. Full figures for the year are not yet available but probably about £3,000 million of this increase was because of higher import prices. The depreciation of sterling accounted for under half of the price increase while the remainder, some £1,700 million, was because of rises in world market prices. The provisional current account deficit for the full 12 months of 1973 is £1,520 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the medium-term economic forecasts required in the second stage of EEC economic and monetary union would involve the forecasting of Government revenue as well as expenditure.

The nature of the medium-term economic forecasts referred to in Article 4 of the draft EEC directive concerning stability, growth and full employment has not yet been decided; nor has the article yet been formally adopted. The draft article makes no reference to forecasts of Government revenue and expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, regarding his answeres on 18th January to two Questions from the hon. Member for Oldham, West concerning real take-home pay at different gross income levels, what would be the real take-home pay levels for each year after 1970 on the basis that the gross incomes of men earning at each of the stated levels in 1970 increased each year in line with the percentage rise in national average earnings.

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

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the location of each cold store with which the Intervention Board has a contract to store butter, and the amount covered by each contract.

The Intervention Board has entered into contracts for storage of butter with each of the cold stores listed below. These contracts are not for fixed quantities of butter. Individual cold stores are free to balance their activities on behalf of the board with their commercial storage of butter and other commodities.NAME AND ADDRESS OF STORE

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on EEC price proposals for the 1974–75 marketing year.

The Commission presented its proposals to the Council of Ministers on Monday last. A preliminary discussion took place on an oral presentation by the EEC Commissioner for Agriculture. The proposals are now being studied in detail and they will be discussed by the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) at its next meeting on 11th–12th February. A further meeting has been arranged for 18th–19th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is intended that EEC CAP reform proposals for individual commodities will take effect from the beginning of a marketing year.

There is no general rule, but no doubt those review proposals, which are now included in the Commission's price proposals and which the Council approves, will take effect from the beginning of a marketing year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he is giving to increasing the allowance paid to sugar beet producers for their transport costs of delivering beet to factory.

The transport allowance is a matter for negotiation between British Sugar Corporation Ltd and the National Farmers' Union. It is only if the parties are unable to reach agreement that I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland are jointly required to arbitrate, or to appoint an arbitrator.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will provide statistics which show each year over the last 10 years the percentage of judgment debts by landlords against the arrears of rent of tenants, broken down into council housing and privately rented housing, which have been fully satisfied.

The information sought by my hon. Friend is not collected by the courts and no such statistics are therefore available.

asked the Attorney-General what is the number of litigants in person broken down by type of civil court who have, each year over the last six years, proceeded before such courts; and how many of these litigants have been successful in their cases.

The information is not available in the form asked for by my hon. Friend. Judicial statistics in respect of civil matters are recorded on the basis of the number of cases entered and not the number of individual litigants. No information is recorded on legal representation in such cases, and information regarding the number of successful litigants who were not legally represented is not therefore available.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects police inquiries into the collapse of the Vehicle and General Insurance Company to be completed; and when he anticipates a decision will be taken on whether charges will result from it.

The investigation is necessarily very complex, and some persons who may be able to help are now overseas. Police inquiries are still proceeding. It is hoped that it will prove possible to complete the inquiries by April. It is not possible to say when the decision will be taken on whether charges will result.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the size of the Civil Service, industrial and non-industrial, separately, each year since 1964 to date.

Following are the figures. They are related to 1st October each year since those for 1st October 1973 are the latest available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many private security firms are employed by Government Departments for the protection of buildings and other undertakings within their responsibility; and if he will list the firms concerned.

The Civil Service Department is responsible for giving general advice on departmental expenditure on the services of private security firms but the negotiation of individual contracts is a matter for each Department. No central record is maintained of the number of contracts entered into or of the security firms concerned. Such information could not be obtained without disproportionate costs to public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make further reductions in defence expenditure following the announcement of the latest balance of payments figures.

We shall continue to assess our requirements in the light of all the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men are seconded to the Sultan of Oman for service with the army and navy of Oman.

One hundred and twenty-three.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men are in Oman but not seconded to the forces of the Sultan of Oman.

It is not our practice to disclose details of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men are engaged in the British Army training team in Oman.

It is not our practice to disclose details of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men, either seconded or under contract, have died in Oman in the last two years.

Three British Service men seconded to the force of the Sultan of Oman have died in Oman in the last two years. Contract personnel are not serving members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces and no figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men seconded to the Sultan of Oman are serving with the Iranian forces in Oman.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any of the facilities of British bases in Oman have been made available for Iranian forces.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of defence expenditure is in Wales.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 19th November 1973—[Vol. 864, c. 322–3.]—The figure for 1972–73 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take Steps to increase defence expenditure in Wales to 5 per cent. of the total so as to correspond approximately with Wales' share of United Kingdom population.

No. However, the pattern of defence expenditure takes account of all the relevant circumstances, including regional ones.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of civilians employed by his Department are employed in Wales.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 19th November 1973.—[Vol. 864, c. 322–323.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give truancy figures for State schools in Bedfordshire indicating the percentage thereof of total children attending county schools.

Head teachers of maintained middle and secondary schools have been asked for a count of pupils absent from school on a day in January. It is hoped that results will have been collated by early summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish the number of schools in Greater London which are at present operating some part-time education.

I am told by the local education authorities that in the week ended 18th January, out of nearly 3,000 schools in the Greater London area, 122 were offering less than their normal school hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will meet a deputation of parents of schoolchildren in Hilcote in the Bolsover constituency to discuss the proposed closure of their school.

If the hon. Member is referring to Berrester County Infants School, no statutory proposal to cease to maintain it has been received. If the Derbyshire Education Authority makes such a proposal, objections may then be submitted to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what major and minor school projects in the London borough of Wandsworth will be delayed as a result of Government cuts in public expenditure.

The Department's Circular 15/73 announced that of major school projects only those to meet basic needs for additional places would be eligible for approval between 1st January 1974 and 30th June 1975. Improvement projects at St. Faith's Church of England Primary School and the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School will therefore be delayed until after 1975.The local education authority, in this case the Inner London Education Authority, is responsible for deciding which miner projects should be carried out within its minor works allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will investigate extended copyright as a possible source of revenue for financing public lending right as a means of providing additional income for living authors.

As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Mr. Jeffrey Archer) on 18th January—[Vol. 867, c. 181.]—my right hon. Friend and I are impressed with the arguments for seeking to recompense authors for the use of their works through public libraries, but there are difficult practical problems to which we are giving urgent study. The question of extending the period of copyright would have wide implications and is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations she has received on the consequences of her decision to raise the school-leaving age; what action she is taking to monitor the effects in each area; and what policy she has to ensure that pupils receive the maximum benefit.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of requests, to which she has not been able to accede, to exempt individual pupils in one way or another from the requirements of the existing legislation. It is primarily for local education authorities and teachers to observe the effects of raising the school leaving age and to enable pupils to receive maximum benefit from the extension of secondary schooling. My Department, the Schools Council and Her Majesty's Inspectors have provided guidance on making good use of this opportunity and my right hon. Friend is watching developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he can make any estimate of the number of jobs created in oil-related industry, county by county, in Scotland; and whether he can project these figures on a regional basis to 1976, 1978 and 1980.

I regret that information is not available on the basis requested by the hon. Member. However, the following table gives estimates of the numbers of workers employed at 31st December 1973 in oil-related industries in six areas of Scotland. It does not include additional jobs created in the construction industry or all those in firms supplying goods or services to the oil industry. The second column gives estimates of the jobs likely to be created as a result of firm projects already announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to extend opportunities for worker representatives and shop stewards to undertake modified National Examinations Board Certificate of Supervisory Studies (NEBSS) courses in the principles and practices of supervision, technical and financial aspects of management, industrial relations and communications, in order to make representatives more effective in their rôle.

My right hon. Friend has no specific proposals. My Department is interested in the general promotion of training in industrial relations and in the development of improved facilities to this end. Initiatives to encourage worker representatives to study subjects relevant to this field and the extension of existing facilities where necessary are to be welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present average wage paid in Great Britain.

The latest available comprehensive information on average earnings is obtained from the New Earnings Survey and relates to April 1973. The following are estimates from that survey of average gross weekly earnings in April 1973 in Great Britain of full-time adults whose pay for the survey reference period was not affected by absence:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many full-time workers employed in the Warley area have been reduced to a three-day week; and how this change has affected weekly earnings in terms of cash and as a percentage.

I estimate that about 16,600 workers in the Warley area were temporarily stopped and claiming unemployment benefit on 21st January. Information about the effect on weekly earnings is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest figures showing the number of persons put on short-time as a result of the three-day week.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why workers on a three-day week from Monday to Wednesday receive one day less unemployment benefit than those working from Thursday to Saturday; and if he will take steps to end this distinction.

I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Petersfield (Miss Quennell) on 25th January.—[Vol. 867, c. 384–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will detail the proposals he has under consideration for amending the Industrial Relations Act.