asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average level of profits of pig farmers in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Information is not available in the form requested, although the Ministry does commission various economic studies of farm and horticultural enterprises, and these include annual sample surveys of pig production, the results of which are published regularly by the Universities of Cambridge and Exeter showing the financial results of various types of pig production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the Potato Marketing Board;(2) if he will make a statement on the future of the Milk Marketing Board.

The Milk Marketing Board will cease to implement the guarantee to milk producers when the common dairy policy of the EEC comes into full operation in the United Kingdom. Apart from this, the Government do not at present forsee any fundamental changes in the functions of these boards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the loss of good agricultural land in the last two years; what he expects the current figure to be; and whether this acreage is tending to show an annual increase or decrease.

It can be misleading to give changes between one single year and another, but the average yearly reduction over the five years ending in June 1972 was 74,800 acres, of which 57,600 acres were crops and grass. Preliminary examination of the 1973 census figures suggest that the loss of land under crops and grass has decreased compared with the average for the previous five years, but losses of rough grazing have increased.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the basis for his calculation of 40 per cent. as the rise in the price of animal feeding stuffs since January 1973; and to which feeding stuffs the calculation related.

I regret that it is impossible to provide this information in the time available, and I shall therefore be writing to my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the hardship suffered by farmers who are affected by rising feed costs, he will arrange for awards made in this year's Price Review to be made to operate retrospectively

I cannot anticipate the findings of the Annual Review, but the determinations will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now reply to the letter sent him by the hon. Member for Renfrew, West asking for an inquiry into allegations of hoarding of lentils; and if he will now institute such an inquiry.

I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 6th February explaining why there are no grounds for instituting an inquiry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the EEC proposal to establish a system of production aids for canned pineapple will in any way affect the position of Asian Commonwealth producers of canned pineapple.

The Community draft regulation is intended to enable Community producers of canned pineapple to maintain prices for their product which are competitive with those fixed by the main third country producers. Community production is restricted to Martinique, and the support proposed is limited as regards amount and eligible tonnage. The proposals will not affect Asian Commonwealth producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the effect of the EEC proposal to modify the conditions for triggering intervention measures on the beef market.

The effect of Commission Regulation 196/74 is to enable intervention measures to be taken on meat from certain national qualities of cattle when the Community reference price for adult cattle falls below 98 per cent. of the guide price, without regard to the level of prices of the qualities concerned in relation to the guide price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the light of discussion at the Oxford Farming Conference, details of which are in his possession, he will take steps to initiate an international negotiation with a view to restricting the use of dieldrin.

I am not aware that the proceedings of the Oxford Farming Conference called for a new initiative of this kind. We already play a very full part in international discussions, for example in the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which take in questions such as restricting the use of dieldrin and other persistent pesticides. However, there are wide differences in the pest control problems facing the many nations concerned, and it would be unrealistic to expect that other countries—particularly developing countries—would necessarily be in a position to operate the very strict regime which applies in the United Kingdom and which was described in the reply given to the hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy) on 15th November last,—[Vol. 864, c. 210.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the increase in the price of cod during the last 12 months; and how much of this is due to entry into the EEC.

The retail price of cod increased by 38·4 per cent. between December 1972 and December 1973, the latest date for which information is available. Membership of the EEC has not affected these prices, which are determined by the level of supplies in relation to demand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what negotiations he has had with his EEC partners regarding a common fisheries policy; what decisions have been taken: and whether he will make a statement.

My officials are in regular touch with our EEC partners through the consultative machinery of the Community, mainly in connection with the administration of the marketing aspects of the common fisheries policy. The structural policy has yet to be developed. Discussions on this have started, but they are at a very early stage, and we are not in a position to make any useful statement at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost of retaining storage facilities for butter on behalf of the Intervention Board at Welsh Cold Stores Ltd., Shaftesbury Street, Newport, Monmouthshire.

None. The Intervention Board has not reserved space for storing butter at this or any other cold store. When Welsh Cold Stores Limited has butter in store for the board, payment is made at rates agreed with the National Cold Storage Federation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received the report of the committee of inquiry into the export of live animals under the chairmanship of Lord O'Brien; and when he proposes to publish it.

I refer the right hon. Lady to the replies given to the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins) on 23rd January and my hon. Friends the Members for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) and Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 7th February.—[Vol. 867, c. 297; Vol. 868, c. 370.]

asked the Attorney-General how many actions have been brought under Section 96 of the Industrial Relations Act by firms which have suffered commercial loss due to picketing.

The total number of complaints alleging unfair industrial practices under Section 96 of the Industrial Relations Act 1971 which have been lodged with the Industrial Relations Court up to 6th February 1974 is 54. It is not possible, without detailed examination of the evidence in each case, to ascertain how many of these complaints have been made by firms claiming to have suffered loss due to picketing.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service in the case of which governmental agencies aggregate salary costs have increased by more than the 55 per cent. increase incurred by the Pay Board and Price Commission since the inauguration of statutory controls on pay and prices.

Almost certainly none; but I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why copies of the Air Navigation (Sixth Amendment) Order 1974 were not made available to the Vote Office on the day on which it was laid before the House.

It is regretted that printed copies of this order were not available on the date of laying because of production difficulties arising from the three-day working week.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants there were on the latest date for which information is available; and how this compares with the total number on 1st October 1964 and 1st July 1970.

The following were the total numbers of civil servants on the dates indicated:—

1st October 1964	654,981
1st July 1970	701,790
1st January 1974	694,384

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to give her approval for the enlargement of management bodies of voluntary schools for the inclusion of representatives of teachers and parents.

The choice of a particular individual to serve as the manager or governor of a voluntary school is at the discretion of the appointing body; there is nothing in current practice to prevent the appointment of a parent. The appointment of teachers as managers or governors of voluntary schools in which they are employed raises issues requiring further consideration. Enlargement of the body concerned would not necessarily be required in either case.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the annual cost of giving married women students the same level of grant as that accorded single students.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the figures for the annual totals of discretionary grants awarded to further education students since 1969.

This information is published in Statistics of Education Volume 5 Finance and Awards 1972, Table 26, lines 9 and 15, with a description of the awards covered on page xvi.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what amount, for each year since 1969, the total cost of discretionary grant awarded to students in further education fell short of the maximum.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what effect the recent cuts in public expenditure are likely to have on the development of schools both in the major and minor works programmes in Warley; if she will name the schools that will be affected, specifying which buildings have been deleted from the 1974–75 and 1975–76 programmes; and what is the total amount of cash involved;(2) what effects the cuts in public expenditure will have on teacher supply in Warley;(3) if she will now make a statement on the effects of public expenditure cuts on education in the Warley area.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what will be the effects of public expenditure cuts on the educational building programmes in the county of Cheshire, with particular reference to the divisional education executives 10 and 11;(2) what is the teacher-pupil ratio for maintained schools in the county of Cheshire; and how these figures compare with the national figure for England and Wales;(3) what is the teacher-pupil ratio for the maintained schools in No. 10 and No. 11 education divisional executives in the county of Cheshire.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now make available funds for a full-scale reconnaissance of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf for mineral resources other than oil.

I have been asked to reply.The Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Environment Research Council has been engaged in a systematic geological survey of the Continental Shelf for some years. All resources, not only oil, are included in this survey which will continue; the majority of the financial support will be borne by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that Service men under punishment are not put on fatigues where they come in contact with the general public.

It is the practice that Service men under punishment carry out work or training within the Service establishment in which they are serving their sentences. They should not, therefore, come into contact with the general public. The hon. Member may be referring to an article and photograph in the Sunday Mirror of 3rd February. On this exceptional occasion, two junior infantrymen serving sentences of detention were employed clearing up storm debris which was blocking drains in the roadway immediately outside the main entrance of the R.A.O.C. Training Centre at Blackdown. I have called for a full report on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a progress report on community industry demonstrating its impact on youth employment and some of the main projects undertaken since the inception of the scheme.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to publish a detailed report on community industry at its present stage of development. The scheme continues to expand and now employs 878 young people. Since it started 2,135 young people have been employed and projects undertaken have included renovation and decoration of community centres, sports grounds, etc.; construction of adventure playgrounds for schools; decoration of old people's houses; repair of clothing, furniture and household effects for the old and needy; landscaping, gardening, and general environmental work; and the restoration of a paddle-tug boat.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to initiate as soon as possible an inquiry under the relativities report of the Pay Board into the pay of nurses.

The immediate task of the new relativities machinery will be to examine the miners' case, taking due account of the relative claims of other groups. Further consideration will need to be given to its programme of work thereafter.

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: UNITED KINGDOM WORKING DAYS LOST THROUGH STOPPAGES IN PROGRESS
(a) Year				(b) All industries and services	(c) Coalmining	(d) (c) as a percentage of (b)
1963	…	…	…	1,755,000	326,000	18·6
1964	…	…	…	2,277,000	302,000	13·3
1965	…	…	…	2,925,000	412,000	14·1
1966	…	…	…	2,398,000	118,000	4·9
1967	…	…	…	2,787,000	105,000	3·8
1968	…	…	…	4,690,000	54,000	1·2
1969	…	…	…	6,846,000	1,039,000	15·2
1970	…	…	…	10,980,000	1,090,000	9·9
1971	…	…	…	13,551,000	63,000	0·5
1972	…	…	…	23,909,000	10,798,000	45·2
1973 (provisional)*	…	…	…	7,173,000	90,000	1·3
* Does not include figures for coalmining stoppages in December 1973 which are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of days lost in total through industrial disputes in each of the last 13 years to the nearest available date;

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware that a number of persons employed at the Lakeland Laundry, Carlisle, are being made redundant in the near future; and if he will take steps to ensure that suitable alternative employment is available for these persons.

My Department's local officers are in touch with the firm and as soon as details of those to be made redundant are available every effort will be made to ensure that they secure suitable alternative employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many working days were lost due to industrial disputes in each year from 1963 to 1973;(2) how many working days were lost in the mining industry due to industrial disputes in each year from 1963 to 1973, in each case giving the figure as a percentage of the total number of working days lost due to industrial disputes in that year.

Following is the information:what was the number of days lost per 1,000 employees; and how the United Kingdom compares with each of the Common Market States, and with the United States of America, Japan, Canada, Australia, and Sweden.

Following is the information:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: UNITED KINGDOM WORKING DAYS LOST THROUGH ALL STOPPAGES IN PROGRESS
Year	Total days lost	Days lost per 1,000 employees
1961	3,046,000	150
1962	5,798,000	250
1963	1,755,000	80
1964	2,277,000	100
1965	2,925,000	125
1966	2,398,000	100
1967	2,787,000	125
1968	4,690,000	200
1969	6,846,000	300
1970	10,980,000	475
1971	13,551,000	600

		1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966
Australia*	…	330	280	320‡	480‡	410‡	360‡
Belgium	…	60	160	140	250	40	320
Canada	…	510	590	330	560	790	1,570
Denmark §	…	3,340	30	40	30	400	30
France	…	330	220	770	280	100	240
Federal Republic of Germany	…	—	30	140	—	—	—
Ireland	…	590	320	760	1,620	1,720	1,420
Italy	…	870	2,270	1,150	1,270	540	1,710
Japan	…	440	350	180	190	360	170
Netherlands	…	10	—	20	20	30	10
Sweden║	…	—	—	10	10	—	110
United Kingdom	…	220	440	140	170	220	170
United States¶	…	650	730	630	850	860	880
		1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972 †
Australia*	…	320‡	460‡	860‡	1,040‡	1,300‡	840
Belgium	…	90	230	100	840	720‡	180
Canada	…	1,200	1,670	2,550	2,180	800	1,420
Denmark §	…	20	20	80	170	30	40
France	…	430	(a)	200	190	430	290
Federal Republic of Germany		30	—	20	10	340‡	—
Ireland	…	520	910	2,170‡	490‡	660	590
Italy	…	580	930	4,160‡	1,730‡	1,060‡	1,680
Japan	…	100	160	200	200	310	270
Netherlands	…	—	10	10	140	50	70
Sweden║	…	—	—	30	40	240	—
United Kingdom	…	220	370	520	740	1,130	2,080
United States¶	…	1,430	1,590	1,390	2,210‡	1,610	870
* Including electricity and gas, excluding communication.
† Preliminary figures.
‡ Revised figures.
§ Manufacturing only.
║ All industries included.
¶ Figures cover also electricity gas and sanitary services.
(a) Figures not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average length of strikes in each year from 1963 to 1973.

	Number of stoppages beginning in:
	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1972
Not more than 1 day	804	975	808	645	615	680	933	963	475	566
Over 1 and not more than 2 days	475	615	508	425	502	486	614	659	372	368
Over 2 and not more than 3 days	277	310	303	249	271	284	395	523	283	276
Over 3 and not more than 4 days	149	142	180	160	165	190	241	303	207	181
Over 4 and not more than 5 days	86	126	131	120	131	143	197	286	170	156
Over 5 and not more than 6 days	56	61	71	65	66	102	106	188	97	82
Over 6 and not more than 12 days	116	154	179	157	194	263	347	476	287	359
Over 12 and not more than 18 days	37	49	66	51	62	95	106	210	133	163
Over 18 and not more than 24 days	16	25	29	20	38	48	59	90	56	105
Over 24 and not more than 36 days	36	31	40	15	38	41	55	121	59	114
Over 36 and not more than 60 days	9	25	29	19	22	26	36	59	57	82
Over 60 days	7	11	10	11	12	20	27	28	32	45

Figures for 1973 on the above basis are not yet available. For provisional information for that year I would refer my hon. Friend to the written reply given to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 31st January 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of wholly unemployed men and women in Scotland in each of the past 10 years.

Following is the information for January each year:

Unemployed Adults aged 18 and over in Scotland
1965	71,271
1966	62,749
1967	78,563
1968	86,561
1969	81,936
1970	87,459
1971	104,953
1972	137,773
1973	120,140
1974	89,470

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of male and female jobs lost and gained in Scotland in each of the past 10 years.

Precise information about jobs lost and gained is not available but an indication of net annual changes can be obtained by comparing levels of the mid-year employment figures, the latest

I regret that information is not available in this form. Following is an analysis of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes by duration in working days for the years 1963–72:of which are for June 1972. Following is the available information:

Changes in the numbers of employees in employment in Scotland
	Thousands
June 1962 to June 1963	−32
June 1963 to June 1964	+31
June 1964 to June 1965	+ 18
June 1965 to June 1966	+ 4
June 1966 to June 1967	−43
June 1967 to June 1968	−14
June 1968 to June 1969	+ 12
June 1969 to June 1970	−21
June 1970 to June 1971	−59
June 1971 to June 1972	−14

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of young males and females unemployed in each of the employment exchange areas of Scotland; and if he will show how this compares with the same period in the previous five years.

I regret that the information could not be collated in the time available, but I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies within Scotland have been notified to his Department in each month since June 1970; and if he will give a break-down of the figures by male and female occupation.

I regret that from the information available it is not possible to

Statistical Months		Males	Females	Not distinguished by sex	Total
NUMBER OF REDUNDANCIES NOTIFIE 3 IN 5 SCOTLAND IN EACH MONTH SINCE JUNE 1970
1970—
9th May 1970—8th June 1970	…	2,014	921	—	2,935
9th June 1970—13th July 1970	…	1,750	1,068	—	2,818
14th July 1970—10th August 1970	…	1,933	863	—	2,796
11th August 1970—14th September 1970	…	2,734	1,137	—	3,871
15th September 1970—12th October 1970	…	2,168	1,051	—	3,219
13th October 1970—9th November 1970	…	2,353	1,649	—	4,002
10th November 1970—7th December 1970	…	1,503	864	—	2,367
1971—
8th December 1970—11th January 1971	…	2,055	1,454	—	3,609
12th January 1971–8th February 1971	…	2,638	1,210	1,036	4,884
9th February 1971—8th March 1971	…	2,295	1,984	500	4,779
9th March 1971—5th April 1971	…	4,260	1,443	—	5,703
6th April 1971—10th May 1971	…	3,020	805	—	3,825
11th May 1971—14th June 1971	…	1,992	1,266	400	3,658
15th June 1971—12th July 1971	…	1,718	726	400	2,844
13th July 1971—9th August 1971	…	1,614	591	—	2,205
10th August 1971—13th September 1971	…	2,401	894	350	3,645
14th September 1971—11th October 1971	…	1,408	575	—	1,983
12th October 1971—8th November 1971	…	2,286	503	—	2,789
9th November 1971—6th December 1971	…	2,028	723	—	2,751
1972—
7th December 1971—10th January 1972	…	2,328	1,188	—	3,516
11th January 1972—14th February 1972	…	2,021	1,017	—	3,038
15th February 1972—13th March 1972	…	2,311	595	—	2,906
14th March 1972—10th April 1972	…	817	828	—	1,645
11th April 1972—8th May 1972	…	1,859	788	—	2,647
9th May 1972—12th June 1972	…	2,458	817	—	3,275
13th June 1972—10th July 1972	…	1,727	495	—	2,222
11th July 1972—14th August 1972	…	965	425	—	1,390
15th August 1972—11th September 1972	…	715	268	32	1,015
12th September 1972—9th October 1972	…	1,164	347	—	1,511
10th October 1972—13th November 1972	…	1,916	454	—	2,370
14th November 1972—11th December 1972	…	964	521	—	1,485
1973—
12th December 1972—8th January 1973	…	987	274	—	1,261
9th January 1973—12th February 1973	…	1,462	581	—	2,043
13th February 1973—12th March 1973	…	1,172	302	—	1,474
13th March 1973—9th April 1973	…	376	198	—	574
10th April 1973—14th May 1973	…	1,010	718	—	1,728
15th May 1973—11th June 1973	…	950	416	—	1,366
12th June 1973—9th July 1973	…	1,380	216	—	1,596
10th July 1973—13th August 1973	…	511	195	—	706
14th August 1973—10th September 1973	…	72	6	—	78
11th September 1973—8th October 1973	…	420	154	—	574
9th October 1973—12th November 1973	…	444	157	—	601
13th November 1973—10th December 1973	…	814	445	—	1,259
1974—
11th December 1973—14th January 1974	…	211	74	—	285

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons in the London borough of Hackney claimed and how many were paid unemployment benefit in the week preceding

My Department does not maintain records of the total number of people claiming unemployment benefit and/or supplementary allowances. On 10th December 1973 the number of persons registered as unemployed in the Hackney local office area was 1,442; in addition, four persons were temporarily stopped and claiming benefit on that day. On 14th January 1974 the comparable figures were 1,964 and 4,348 respectively. The following table shows estimates of the number of temporarily stopped workers claiming unemployment benefit in the Hackney local office area on each Monday and Thursday since the three-day week began:1. Estimates of the number of persons laid off and claiming unemployment benefit in the

				Payments by the local office		Payments by employers
				by Cash (no breakdown available)	by Girocheque
				£	£	£
Week Commencing
17th December 1973	…	…	…	203	1,194	—
24th December 1973	…	…	…	162	366	—
31st December 1973	…	…	…	—	971	—
7th January 1974	…	…	…	—	277	72
14th January 1974	…	…	…	—	2,774	622
21st January 1974	…	…	…	—	1,372	1,117
28th January 1974	…	…	…	—	1,924	977

The figures showing payments of unemployment benefit by employers are based on records received at the local office from the employers concerned. A number of employers do not return the records immediately payment has been made and therefore the figures may not show a complete picture of payments each week.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what courses are

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister for Energy if export performance is taken into account by his Department in deciding whether a company shall receive a supplementary fuel allowance; and, if so, what criteria are employed.

In view of the present tight oil supply position, supplementary fuel allowances in general are granted only for those priority uses listed in the issue of Trade and Industry dated 29th November 1973, or to those consumers whose pattern of fuel consumption has increased substantially in 1973 through the addition of new capacity or increased production.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will give the number of persons at present employed by his Department administering petrol rationing the number working full-time and part-time, the places where they are employed and the total estimated cost of the scheme to the nearest convenient date.

Approximately 1,700 full-time staff are currently employed on petrol rationing work in my Department and at the regional petroleum offices listed in my reply to the hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Alan Williams) on 18th January. The total estimated cost of the contingency arrangements for rationing up to 31st January 1974 was approximately £4 million.—[Vol. 867, c. 188.]

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on his discussions with the motor and other industries on the technical and supply aspects of producing methane-derived alcohols and their use as blending components for motor spirit.

I cannot add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 18th January.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will clarify the position with regard to the purchase of petrol in cans for use in motor cycles with fuel tank capacities of less than one gallon.

The Motor Fuel (Restriction of Acquisition) Order 1973 does not restrict the sale of petrol in cans to motor cyclists if they have customarily purchased the fuel in this way, provided the fuel is acquired in a normal quantity from the purchaser's normal supplier and is not for use in a motor vehicle.

asked the Minister for Energy if he is satisfied with the extent of British involvement in the development of subsea completion systems for the production of oil.

A number of sub-sea completion systems for the production of oil are currently being developed and British companies are involved in the business. But this is an area where I believe there should be considerable scope for greater involvement by British interests, which I should welcome.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will give assistance to industry to develop a United Kingdom capability in the construction, inspection and repair of subsea pipelines.

I should be happy to consider any further applications for assistance in this area.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on his discussions with the French Government on the relative merits of the Eurodif method for producing enriched uranium by gaseous diffusion and of the Urenco centrifuge method.

The approach by the tripartite Governments to France inviting discussions on concerting European projects to expand uranium enrichment capacity is to lead to discussions between Urenco and La Commissariate a l'Energie Atomique.

asked the Minister for Energy what conclusions he has now reached about regulations requiring the presence on oil rigs of experienced radio officers and medical personnel, up to the standard of State registered nurse.

It is the intention that regulations being prepared under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 should require offshore installations to have on board at least one qualified radio operator and one qualified in first-aid.

asked the Minister for Energy what he estimates, for each week since 1st January, has been the total extra administrative cost and any other organisational costs involved in carrying out the regulations covering the three-day working week or otherwise making the changes required for this purpose; and what are the main components of each of the costs for each of these weeks.

To give a quantitative answer would involve disproportionate expense. The administrative costs of the emergency have been substantial, though small relative to the loss of output occasioned by the dispute in the mining industry.

asked the Minister for Energy, in the event of a miner's strike and a nil production of coal and nil movement of coal to power stations, what would be the maximum coal-equivalent in million tons of exclusively oil, nuclear and other non-coal inputs to power stations if all these alternative fuel sources were now brought into fullest operation; and how quickly this level of maximum input of alternative fuels could be reached.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will now give the response, which his Parliamentary Secretary promised within seven days, to the representations made to him by the hon. Members for Doncaster, Don Valley (Mr. Kelley) and Bradford, North (Mr. Ford) on 15th January about the difficulties facing the International Harvester Co., Doncaster, over electricity supplies.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for Energy what is the total cost up to the present date of the advertising campaign, in newspapers and on television, in connection with fuel economy; and what further expense is contemplated.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will give, for the latest period of time, the amount of money spent or allocated for the costs of the Government's "Switch Off ! Save Energy" campaign in the Press, radio and television.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further proposals he has for the use of nuclear energy for each of the following purposes: for power generation, for coal processing, for steel making and for the synthesis of hydrogen from water; and what progress has been achieved to date in each.

I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what results have been achieved following the discussions he had with the building societies about two years ago on the ways in which they could co-operate in urban renewal; and if he will make a statement.

I consider that building societies may well have a useful part to play in schemes of urban renewal, but their first priority at the present time must be to meet the demand for funds to finance home ownership.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many cases persons involved in accidents have had their eyesight compulsorily tested thereafter in each of the last 10 years for which records are available.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many cases persons seeking renewal of their licences have been required to undergo eye tests in each of the last 10 years for which records are available.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to monitor the number of tenants receiving rent rebates.

My right hon. and learned Friend has already done so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time taken to re-issue a driving licence to persons disqualified under the Road Safety Act 1967 on expiry of the period of disqualification.

The average time taken to reissue a driving licence after disqualification is about 15 working days. Separate figures are not available for drivers disqualified under the Road Safety Act 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the loss in rate support grant which each of the new Welsh counties will suffer under the new rate support grant proposals for 1974–75.

Because of changes in boundaries and functions and also because the amounts payable as resources and domestic elements have not yet been calculated, it is not possible to make a direct comparison of the grants payable to individual authorities for 1974–75 with those for earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the amount of rate support grant for the metropolitan county borough of Sandwell.

The needs element of the rate support grant payable to the metropolitan district of Sandwell for the year 1974–75 will be £12·2 million, at November 1973 prices. The resources element will depend on the rates levied by the district council; the domestic element has not yet been calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the latest rate support grant payment to the borough of Congleton under the old formula; what is the estimated payment under the new formula; and what are the equivalent figures for the area covered by the new Congleton District Council;(2) what was the latest rate support grant payment to the borough of Macclesfield under the old formula; what is the estimated payment under the new formula; and what are the equivalent figures for the area covered by the new Macclesfield District Council;(3) what was the latest rate support grant payment to the borough of Congle ton under the old 31st December 1973 formula in the boroughs of Macclesfield and Congleton, in Bollington and Alderley Bridge urban districts and in the Disley and Macclesfield rural districts.

Under both the existing and proposed rate support grant system, most of the grant is paid as needs element to the county councils. It is not possible to say how much of it is attributable to individual districts within a county.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the latest rate support grant payment to the Cheshire County Council under the old formula; what is the estimated payment under the new formula; and what are the equivalent figures for the area covered by the new Cheshire County Council.

The needs element of grant payable to Cheshire County Council for 1973–74 under the Rate Support Grant Increase (No. 2) Order 1973 is £61 million and the resources element is estimated to be £2·5 million. Under the new formula, the new Cheshire County Council will receive a needs element of £31·8 million at November 1973 prices. Resources element will be payable to districts in respect of both county and district expenditure and will depend on the rate calls of the districts. Because of the changes in functions and boundaries it is not possible to say how much grant might have been payable to new authorities under the old system or to old authorities under the new system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now state what effects the public expenditure cuts will have on roadworks in the Warley County Borough Council area.

Work on existing contracts will be continued. The two major principal road schemes on A457 will not be directly affected by the restrictions on 1974–75 expenditure as neither scheme is yet in the firm programme. The Oldbury Ring Road Phase I Scheme will be allowed to proceed to contract stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what effects the public spending cuts will have on capital programmes for Warley County Borough Council.

The effect of the cuts in public expenditure will largely be to postpone projects which might have started in 1974–75. Most of such projects in the sphere with which I am concerned are the responsibility of local authorities, the new regional water authorities or publicly-owned transport undertakings. The only projects for which I have direct responsibility are roads and it is too soon to determine the detailed implications for individual schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in which years since 1964 housing completions have been above 400,000; and in which years they have been below.

Figures for 1964 to 1972 are in Table 15 of Housing and Construction Statistics No. 6, a copy of which is in the Library. The 1973 housing figures were published on 31st January and the Press notice is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual percentage increase in the domestic rates in each year since 1964.

The percentage increases in average domestic rate payments in each year since 1964 were as follows:

Year and Percentage increase over previous Year
	Per cent.
1964–65	6·2
1965–66	12·3
1966–67	10·5
1967–68	1·4
1968–69	2·1
1969–70	4·9
1970–71	5·6
1971–72	15·3
1972–73	12·5
1973–74	9·2

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with regulations relating to the means of escape from flats in tall buildings, in the light of experience of fires in such buildings; and whether evidence relating to fires in foreign countries is available to him.

The building regulations were amended last year to require means of escape to be provided for flats in new tall buildings. Section 60 of the Public Health Act 1936 already enabled local authorities to require means of escape to be provided for flats in existing tall buildings. We have no evidence that these controls are not adequate, but the question of fire safety is kept under constant review in the light of experience both at home and abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has studied the memorandum written by Councillor Major E. W. Rushton, M.C., entitled "The Housing of Young Married Couples", a copy of which is in his possession; and if he will take action to implement the suggestions therein contained.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for sending me this memorandum. I shall study it with interest and will write to my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps designed to increase the provision of suitable housing at moderate prices to help alleviate the problems of young married couples.

The Government encourage local authorities to bring forward schemes for the building of houses for sale to meet local needs for lower priced houses, such as those of young married couples, which are not fully satisfied by private developers, and to make use of the permitted discounts from the unrestricted market value in determining selling prices.On house prices generally, it is important for all house purchasers that prices should stabilise and the indications are that this is happening.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what preservation order is in force in respect of Highcliffe Castle, Christchurch.

Listed building consent must be obtained before the building can be demolished or before alterations or extensions which will affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest can be carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to preserve Highcliffe Castle, Christ-church, and its grounds as an open space for the benefit of the public.

Christchurch Borough Council is considering an offer by the owners to convey to it the castle and 12 acres of its grounds for use as public open space.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many road accidents were reported during the last year for which figures are available, involving vehicles turning right at cross roads in a manner other than as shown in Figure 25 on page 82 of his Department's manual "Driving".

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the abandonment cost to the Government of a decision not to proceed with the building of a Channel Tunnel at the end of Phase II in May 1975.

The cost to be met by the United Kingdom Government in the event of a decision to abandon the Channel Tunnel project at the end of Phase II would vary according to the circumstances. In the worst case, it should not exceed £22 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is expected to be the cost of staff for local authorities in 1974–75; what is this cost as a percentage of the total cost of local government in the coming year; and how this percentage compares with the percentage cost of staffing in the current financial year.