asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will arrange meetings with the appropriate authorities in Scotland, with a view to reviewing assistance available to Scottish firms predominantly engaged in exporting.

The wide range of export promotion services available to exporters throughout the United Kingdom are reviewed regularly by the British Overseas Trade Board. Proposals for their improvement or amendment would be welcomed by the board from appropriate bodies in Scotland or anywhere else in the United Kingdom, at any time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress is being made in reducing the deficit in the balance of trade which Great Britain has with foreign countries.

The Government's economic objective is to secure a continuing improvement in the balance of trade. The slow-down in the rate of growth of world trade has inevitably affected our performance in recent months.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he intends to take any steps to limit the dumping of footwear from COMECON countries.

My Department is in close touch with the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation on the problem of imports of footwear from certain East European countries. It is already aware that, if it wishes, I am ready to consider resuming anti-dumping investigations which were put into abeyance at the end of 1973 by mutual agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he is taking arising out of the inquiry into the sinking of the "Glen Shiel"; and if he will now take steps to give statutory backing to some marine notice recommendations.

My Department has reminded the industry of the dangers of failing to fit hatch tarpaulines, has taken action to tighten up on musters and drills, and is giving special priority to the scrutiny of stability data for small vessels. The status of "M" notices and their relationship with statutory rules are currently being reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied with the law relating to bankruptcy; and whether he has any proposals for changes in the law.

Proposals for more urgent changes are currently being considered with a view to possible legislation this Session. A more fundamental review will be undertaken as soon as parliamentary time permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total value of United Kingdom imports by the other eight member countries of the EEC in the first three quarters of 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.

United Kingdom exports to the EEC, seasonally adjusted, were £2,124 million, £2,898 million and £4,127 million respectively in the periods in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied that security checks covering internal airline routes are adequate to prevent hijacking; and if he will make a statement.

Any statement of satisfaction would imply complacency, which cannot be justified so far as aviation security is concerned. However, I have called for searching of passengers and hand baggage on all scheduled domestic flights, and I keep the situation under continuous review. I refer the hon. Member to my statement after Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what estimate he has made of the total cost to public funds and British Airways of the hijacking of the British Airways BAC 111 aircraft on 7th January 1975.

I regret that this information is not available and cannot be obtained without disproportionate rt.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade at how many public airports in Great Britain security checks are

								January to November
			1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974
Imports	…	…	77,619	106,507	167,148	283,865	412,261	491,529
Exports	…	…	110,184	126,012	135,021	143,177	216,782	244,328
Figures of trade in manufactured goods defined as SITC(R) Sections 5 to 8 for the years 1970 to 1972 are published in Tables I and III of the appropriate Annual Statement of Overseas Trade and for 1973 and January to November 1974 in Tables II and V of the December 1973 and November 1974 issues of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many vehicles and how many passengers have been conveyed from Great Britain to the Continent of Europe by hovercraft in the last three years; and what plans he has for encouraging the more extensive use of hovercraft in this ferry trade.

The number of vehicles carried in the years 1971 to 1973 was 178,000, 196,000 and 214,000 respectively, excluding buses and coaches, which numbered 2,000 in 1973; 1974 figures of vehicles, and passenger figures for all years, are not available.The future development of these services is a matter for the commercial judgment of the operators concerned. Government policy towards the production of hovercraft is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has received any representations about the dumping of cars on the United Kingdom market by Japanese or any other foreign car

Security checks are in force at all airports with international services and at other airports with scheduled domestic services. I keep the position under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the value of manufactured goods imported from and exported to Japan in each of the last five years.

The figures are:producers; and what action he is taking to ensure that there is no unfair competition placed in the way of the United Kingdom domestic car industry.

We have received no such representations. If the British car manufacturing industry wishes to put a case to us about dumping or other forms of unfair competition we shall be ready to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the value of imports of zip fastener components from Japan in each of the past four years.

Following is the available information:—

£000 CIF
			January to November
1971	1972	1973	1974
151	458	620	899

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are now the average current prices per unit of electricity and gas to the industrial user and domestic consumer, respectively; and how far these have changed over the last six months, 12 months, and 18 months, respectively.

AVERAGE ESTIMATED PRICE OF ELECTRICITY SOLD BY AREA BOARDS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
pence/kWh.
		Bills rendered during
		July 1973	January 1974	July 1974	January 1975
Industrial consumers	…	0·77	0·82	1·04	1·18
Domestic consumers	…	0·96	1·02	1·02	1·34

AVERAGE REVENUE FROM REGIONAL SALES OF GAS IN GREAT BRITAIN*
pence/thm
		Year ended
		March 1973	September 1973	March 1974	September 1974
Industrial consumers	…	3·52	3·44	3·63	3·84
Domestic consumers	…	11·15	11·10	10·96	11·19
* The industrial figures are greatly influenced by special contracts for bulk sales. Many such contracts have been and will be coming up for renewal, and the figures given are not indicative of the higher prices which will be charged on renewal. Similarly, new special contracts for bulk sales will also be negotiated at higher prices. Industrial tariff sales are a relatively small element in the total volume of gas sold. The increases, averaging some 20 per cent., introduced in September 1974 on industrial tariffs have not been reflected in the figures in the table because statistics for the final quarter of 1974 are not yet available.
Domestic tariff increases averaging 12 per cent. are being implemented from the first meter reading after 1st January 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what percentage of the heat wasted in generating plant is used in district heating systems;(2) what action has been taken since October 1973 to increase the use of waste heat from power generation; and by what percentage the heat waste has been reduced.

The supply industry is actively seeking opportunities for providing heat from power stations and both my Department and the CEGB are carrying out studies on combined heat and power. The proportion of heat from power stations used for district heating is at present very small. It is estimated that about 7 per cent. of total generation, public and private, is linked to some form of heat recovery. I have no information on the change that has occurred over the last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what control he intends to exercise over oil extraction and depletion rates by secondary and tertiary recovery techniques in the North Sea; and whether he will make a statement.

Although precise figures in the form requested are not available, I append tables that have been supplied to me by the Electricity Council and British Gas Corporation.

My right hon. Friend said in answer to a Question on 6th December that he proposed to take full powers to control the rate of oil production from the North Sea, and that in applying controls he would have regard to the technical circumstances of the fields involved. It is not possible at this stage to indicate the precise use of the powers in relation to the various recovery techniques.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the total production of North Sea oil.

My Department's current estimates of recoverable reserves and annual production of oil from the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf remain within the ranges published in the report to Parliament in May.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the energy used for illumination of public places is consumed between midnight and 6.30 a.m.

There is no accurate or reliable information available, since the control of street lighting is a matter for the local authorities, whose practices vary widely. An estimate made by the Electricity Council and based on information collected a few years ago suggests that the proportion might be rather more than one-third of the total consumption for public lighting purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the energy used in providing public outdoor illumination during December; and, assuming that all the power generated is provided by oil, what the savings on imports would be if this could be reduced by 50 per cent.

The primary fuel requirements for supplying public street etc. lighting during December, assuming average annual generating efficiency, is around 70,000 tons of oil or oil equivalent. Assuming that all the power generated is by oil, the saving in oil imports due to a reduction in public lighting in December by 50 per cent. would thus be about 35,000 tons of oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the heat generated in British thermal units by various privately-owned oil-fired central heating units.

The total annual domestic fuel consumption by oil-fired central heating units in all houses and other dwellings was nearly 2·9 million tons in 1973, equivalent to nearly 130 million million BTUs or 1,300 million therms.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what encouragement Her Majesty's Government have given since March 1974 to the development of a heat pump to provide low temperature heat for central heating systems.

I have been asked to reply.A team of scientists at the Building Research Establishment is engaged in a review of experience with heat pumps in this country and elsewhere, with the aim of determining the best way in which they could be used in building services within the United Kingdom. The object is to specify equipment suitable for use in dwellings, and information will be disseminated so as to encourage the adoption of heat pumps wherever appropriate.The Government are also investigating the possibility of wider adoption of the heat pump in industrial and commercial buildings, and a review is in progress with the Property Services Agency to ascertain whether wider use would now be justified in Government buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the quantity of coal quarried from opencast sites in each year since 1969; and what are the estimates for 1974 and 1975.

Figures for opencast saleable output are only readily available for financial years:

Year	Million tons
1969–70	6·2
1970–71	7·9
1971–72	9·9
1972–73	10·1
1973–74	8·9

These totals include coal produced at licensed opencast sites delivering coal to the NCB, in addition to sites worked under contract to the board, but exclude output from sites from which coal is disposed of direct to markets.The output forecast for 1974–75 is 9·5 million tons; and during 1975–76 the aim is to produce in excess of 11 million tons. The exact figure will be dependent on the number of authorisations granted under the Opencast Coal Act of 1958. Over 1 million tons of this output would be from sites for which an authorisation has not yet been granted.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is now the tonnage of opencast coal being extracted; and what further steps are being taken to increase production over the next three to five years.

About 10 million tons per annum. The final report of the CIE states that opencast coal production could be increased to 15 million tons per annum or more within four years. The Government propose to facilitate this increase by restoring the NCB's power to make compulsory rights orders over land needed for opencast coal sites.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the nationalised industries giving the total energy used by each in each year since 1969 and the estimates for 1974 and 1975.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies he has made concerning an increase in the ethyl alcohol content of motor fuel, with a view to reducing the oil import bill; what conclusions he has reached; and whether he will make a statement.

My Department has had the advice of two working parties which were set up earlier in the year to examine the technical and economic factors relating to the use of methanol and its homologues as constituents of blends of petrol. They have advised that there would be no benefit to the oil import bill in the short term, and in the longer term North Sea oil will be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, on the basis of the assumption that the fuel used to generate the power consumed by motorway floodlighting is oil, what is the cost of importing this oil at current prices during a typical December week.

I regret that the precise figures are not available, but a round estimate suggests that the cost of importing sufficient oil to floodlight motorways during a typical December week is very approximately £6,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many firms in the Northern Region he estimates are now employed on work connected with North Sea oil.

Approximately 400 companies of all sizes have done, are doing or are actively tendering for North Sea oil work. Twelve of these are major companies currently engaged on large value North Sea contracts. Precise in- formation is difficult to obtain because subcontract work is not necessarily identified as bring destined for North Sea markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates is the value of work so far undertaken in the Northern Region on North Sea oil exploration.

The estimated value of work completed or in hand in the Northern Region in connection with North Sea oil and gas exploration and development is £200 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what measures he has taken to encourage the development of North Sea oil exploration work in the Northern Region.

An Offshore Supplies Unit has been established in the regional office of the Department of Industry and an oil management consultant appointed part-time from industry. The unit is working to increase the total contribution to offshore work by Northern industry. Very close liaison is maintained between the regional office and my Department's Offshore Supplies Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates will be the total market for offshore supplies and services on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf by 1980; and what proportion of this market he estimates will be supplied by contractors in the Northern Region.

It is estimated that expenditure in United Kingdom Continental Shelf activities may reach a total of £4,000 million by 1980. Northern industry at present has approximately 15 to 20 per cent. of the United Kingdom share of the North Sea hardware market. With more of the major companies now actively pursuing contracts, it is reasonable to assume that a high level of North Sea work will continue to find its way to the Northern Region.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total number of jobs which have been directly and indirectly created in the Northern Region as a result of work on North Sea oil.

The number of jobs directly attributable to North Sea offshore work in the Northern Region is approximately 5,000. Because of the very wide range of subcontract activities involved, some of which are not readily identifiable as being for the United Kingdom offshore market, it is not possible to estimate indirect employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what increase he expects in the number of jobs in the Northern Region over the next two years as a result of work on North Sea oil.

The estimate of additional jobs likely to arise over the next two years as a result of work on North Sea oil is 3,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many North Sea oil rig accommodation modules have been built on Teesside since the first United Kingdom module was built there in 1972; how many more are on order; and what is the total value of contracts for such modules in the whole of the Northern Region.

Since the first accommodation modules were built on Teesside in 1972, two more have been completed and a further five are currently on order. The total value of contracts placed for accommodation modules in the whole of the Northern Region is £5·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what centres in the Northern Region are carrying out research into new services and skills for use in North Sea oil exploration.

The International Research and Development Company Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne, is carrying out research into hardware and services for use in North Sea oil work. The University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Department of Surgery, specialises in diving medicine, which is relevant to North Sea underwater activities. The regional office of the Department of Industry has recently brought together industrialists, academics and professional associations to form a regional off- shore technology committee. A new sector committee of the Engineering Industries Training Board has been established covering employers wholly or mainly engaged in the mechanical engineering and electrical construction (MEEC) industries, and this in turn has resulted in the formation of a local group training association on Teesside to operate a group training centre in that area, financed by the Training Services Agency and Engineering Industries Training Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what additional centres are planned in the Northern Region for the building and servicing of oil rigs.

I understand that Seaham Harbour is at present being considered for such activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when and where the anticipates the first North Sea oil will be brought ashore in the Northern Region.

The first North Sea oil to be brought ashore in the Northern Region is expected to be from the Auk field and to be delivered by tanker to the Shell refinery at Teesport during 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the value of contracts so far agreed for the construction of oil rigs in the Northern Region.

The value of contracts so far agreed for work by Northern firms on production platforms is £90 million for steel jackets and £33 million for deck structures and modules.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the total production of North Sea oil will be brought ashore in the Northern Region.

On the basis of currently known company plans for the disposal of oil, about one-third of total oil production from the North Sea, including the Norwegian sector, will be brought ashore in the Northern Region of England in 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will arrange for a proportion of the revenues from North Sea oil to be used to overcome unemployment in the Northern Region.

The Government already have an extensive range of measures to help to overcome the unemployment problems of the development areas. We have already made it clear that, in ensuring that the community as a whole benefits to the maximum extent from the exploitation of our North Sea oil resources, particular attention will continue to be paid to the regions most in need of development.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the known reserves of coal in opencast sites in the United Kingdom.

The distinction must be made between physical reserves and those which are economically workable at any particular time. Fully and partly proved reserves of coal currently economically

			Coal	Petroleum	Natural gas*	Nuclear electricity	Hydro electricity	Total
1946	…	…	186·3	13·7	—	—	0·8	200·8
1947	…	…	184·5	18·0	—	—	0·7	203·2
1948	…	…	193·9	18·7	—	—	0·9	213·5
1949	…	…	195·8	19·9	—	—	0·8	216·5
1950	…	…	202·6	22·2	—	—	0·9	225·7
1951	…	…	207·8	24·8	—	—	1·0	233·6
1952	…	…	206·8	25·7	—	—	1·0	233·5
1953	…	…	207·8	27·8	—	—	1·0	236·6
1954	…	…	213·8	30·9	—	—	1·3	246·0
1955	…	…	215·2	34·5	—	—	1·0	250·7
1956	…	…	217·5	37·5	—	—	1·3	256·3
1957	…	…	212·9	36·7	—	0·2	1·5	251·3
1958	…	…	202·4	47·2	0·1	0·1	1·5	251·3
1959	…	…	189·4	56·1	0·1	0·5	1·5	247·6
1960	…	…	196·7	65·5	0·1	0·9	1·7	264·9
1961	…	…	191·8	71·0	0·1	1·1	2·1	266·1
1962	…	…	191·2	78·6	0·1	1·5	2·1	273·5
1963	…	…	194·0	85·3	0·2	2·5	1·8	283·8
1964	…	…	187·2	93·3	0·3	3·2	1·9	285·9
1965	…	…	184·6	102·8	1·2	6·0	2·3	296·9
1966	…	…	174·7	111·7	1·1	7·8	2·4	297·7
1967	…	…	163·8	119·3	1·9	8·9	2·7	296·6
1968	…	…	164·5	125·9	4·3	10·1	2·2	307·0
1969	…	…	161·1	135·7	8·4	10·5	2·0	317·7
1970	…	…	154·4	145·6	16·0	9·4	2·6	328·0
1971	…	…	138·7	147·3	25·8	9·7	1·8	323·3
1972	…	…	120·9	157·6	36·7	10·5	2·0	327·7
1973	…	…	131·3	159·4	39·7	9·9	2·0	342·3
1974 (January to October)	…	…	92·2	119·5	37·5	9·7	1·6	26·05
* Including colliery methane.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the steps workable by opencast methods total some 200 million tons. Prospecting for coal is a continuing process and during each of the last 10 years the Open Cast Executive of the NCB has proved more coal than has been produced from opencast sites. In addition to these fully and partly proved reserves it is estimated that further potential reserves are at least equal to those fully or partly proved.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total United Kingdom energy consumption of each primary fuel, i.e. coal, gas, oil, nuclear and hydro-electric, in million ton coal equivalents for each year since 1945; and what is the estimate for 1974 and 1975.

Total gross United Kingdom inland consumption, in million tons of coal or coal equivalent, for the years 1946–1973 and for January-October 1974 are given in the following table. I regret that figures for 1945 are not available. Because of the uncertainties about the supply situation, I am unable to estimate future consumption in these precise terms.he has taken to explain to the public the advantages to the balance of payments of energy conservation since 1st March 1974.

My Department has given priority in its programme since 1st March 1974 to those steps which would actively promote the more efficient use of energy which in turn will help us in our aim of easing the balance of payments. Ministers have also constantly drawn attention to the import or balance of payments advantages in their public statements including my right hon. Friend's major policy statements on 26th June and 9th December 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the nationalised industries, giving the total energy saved by each industry since March 1974 due to Government energy conservation policies.

That part of energy saved by the nationalised industries directly attributable to Government policies only would be impossible to quantify. All nationalised industries are fully aware of Government policies and the need to take active measures to use energy more effectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what expenditure has been undertaken on advertising the advantages of energy conservation since 1st March 1974.

Total expenditure on publicity to promote energy conservation since 1st March 1974 has been £39,235 In addition £14,863 has been spent on research into public attitudes to energy conservation. The figures do not take account of an energy-saving campaign which I shall be launching shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the price of a gallon of petrol (4-star) is divided up into its component costs.

It is not possible to give authoritative figures for the component costs of a gallon of petrol, as requested, since they vary according to such factors as the company concerned, its product balance and source of supply.Although maximum retail price control on petrol has been lifted, a typical retail price for four-star petrol in the inner zone is now thought to be about 72½p per gallon. This figure includes hydrocarbon oil duty of 22½p and value added tax at the rate of 25 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the total generating capacity, in electricity production, of each primary fuel, recognising that some plants can be operated by more than one fuel.

The output capacity of the public electricity supply industry in the United Kingdom at the end of October 1974, indicating the main primary fuel used, was as follows:

	Megawatts
Coal	43,474
Oil	14,316
Coal/oil	3,570
Coal/gas	1,566
Nuclear	3,746
Hydro (including pumped storage)	2,194
Total	68,866

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the maximum generating capacity of the public supply system.

Figures are regularly published in Energy Trends. The latest, published in the October issue, is for September and is 68,668 MW.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the total energy in British thermal units lost in the electricity generation process due to various cooling systems.

The amount of heat which had to be rejected to the cooling water for the whole of the electricity generation system in England and Wales in 1973–74 was approximately 1,300 million million British thermal units.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the percentages of the total United Kingdom energy consumption of each primary fuel used in the generation of electricity for each year since 1965; and what is the estimate for 1974 and 1975.

The percentages of total United Kingdom inland fuel consumption of coal, petroleum and natural gas used by power stations of the public supply—including transport undertakings—for the years 1965–73 and for January-October 1974 are as follows:

	Coal	Petroleum	Natural gas
1965	37·9	10·4	—
1966	39·3	11·1	—
1967	41·0	10·6	—
1968	44·5	8·7	—
1969	47·1	10·4	1·1
1970	49·2	14·5	1·1
1971	51·7	16·6	3·5
1972	54·3	20·0	6·2
1973	57·6	17·8	2·5
1974 (January to October)	56·8	18·5	8·0

Because of the uncertainties about the supply, I am unable to estimate future consumption in these precise terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that British interests and those of the United Kingdom's partners of the European Community are fully safeguarded under the voting rights for signatory States of the Agreement on an International Energy Programme.

The voting rights for signatory States of the Agreement on an International Energy Programme constitute an equitable arrangement which preserves the credibility of the crisis management proposals embodied in the agreement and which takes proper account of the interests of all the participants. It was accepted by all those members of the EEC which participate in the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will reassess the viability of the Severn Barrage Scheme in view of the rising costs and shortage of energy.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 20th December.—[Vol. 883, c. 640.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether his Depart- ment will now make a substantial grant to assist the National Centre for Alternative Technology and Resource Conservation with its experimental work.

No. The head of this centre has been in communication with my Department and has been informed that the Department might be prepared to consider financial support for a specific research project bearing directly on economic and efficient production of energy. No such project has been put forward.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he hopes to make a statement on the National Engineering Laboratory's report on the feasibility of harnessing wave power for the generation of electricity.

A draft of the report on wave power is currently under discussion between my officials and representatives of the National Engineering Laboratory. The question of a statement must await the outcome of these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made by the Edinburgh University team sponsored by his Department on the uses of wave power.

The Government have awarded a three-year contract to the University of Edinburgh for investigating the possibilities of generating electricity from the energy in sea waves. The project is being sponsored by the Department of Industry with the full support of my Department. The work began last October, and it is too early to consider making any report on progress.

asked the Seretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive the report of the Energy Technology Support Unit at Harwell on wind power; and if he will make a statement.

The report on wind power which is being prepared by the Energy Technology Support Unit in collaboration with the Electrical Research Association is expected to be presented to my Department in May 1975. It would not be practicable to consider a statement until the report has been examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis he has assumed that expenditure on defence by France and Germany will have increased to 4½ per cent. of gross national product by 1974–75; and what he expects to be the average percentage expenditure on defence of the European members of NATO other than Great Britain.

As to the first part of the Question, my right hon. Friend has made no such assumption. As to the second, the current average gross national product percentage expenditure on defence of the European members of NATO other than the United Kingdom is about 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report a table expressing expenditure on defence for each of the next 10 years both before and after the changes in policy announced in the defence review as a percentage of gross national product; and what is the assumed rate of growth for each of these years.

I have nothing yet to add to my statement in the House of 3rd December and my hon. Friend's reply of 9th December to the right hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker). More detailed information will be given in the Defence White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now take action to ensure that the families of all Service men killed in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist activity receive a payment of at least £16,575.

No. The present range of pensions and other benefits administered by the Ministry of Defence and by the Department of Health and Social Security make long-term provision for the families of Service men killed as a result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland. Depending on individual circumstances dependants may also receive awards under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the arrangements for the use of the British Army in Northern Ireland in view of the number of tours of duty British soldiers are required to perform.

Yes. The peace-keeping duties in Northern Ireland must and can be met. These duties are shared as fairly as possible among all available units, and the reductions in the force level which were possible during 1974 will substantially increase the interval between tours.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what classification was given by the Patent Office to patent application No. 24022/62 filed by the Secretary of State for Defence on 22nd June 1962 in respect of VX nerve gas; whether any change in classification has been made since the original application; and, if so, whether the interests of national security were considered in relation to such a change.

Patent Application No. 24022/62 does not relate to VX nerve gas but to improvements in the process of manufacture of a class of compounds of which VX is a member. The application was classified by the Patent Office following notification by the War Office that the invention to which the application related was secret. Classification was removed by the Patent Office following notification by the Ministry of Defence in 1973 that publication of the application need no longer be prohibited. The interests of national security were considered by the Ministry of Defence in authorising this change of classification.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what requests have been made to the Hong Kong Government to increase their financial contribution for defence purposes in the colony, and to agree upon a defence formula that would reduce defence personnel.

I cannot give details of our proposals at this stage, but discussions with the Government of Hong Kong are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is aware of the damage caused to buildings in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, on 19th December by a sonic boom; and if he will take steps to ensure that proper compensation claims are paid promptly.

The damage was caused by a supersonic boom which occurred while a Phantom aircraft was carrying out a trial flight. I very much regret this incident, and I can assure the hon. Member that all claims for compensation will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, of the average annual cost of operating the United Kingdom Polaris force, namely £37 million, what proportion has been spent (a) inside the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28th November 1974 in which I informed her that national security precluded the publication of such information.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that under the proposals in his defence review there would be sufficient air transport to move troops in fulfilment of British interests and obligations; and what are the arrangements for the requisitioning of civilian aircraft for military purposes.

Yes. It has been one of the objectives of the defence review to keep changes in airlift capability in line with the revision of our commitments. In time of emergency, and if it is thought necessary, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade may direct the use of the aircraft of nationalised airlines and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has powers of requisition over aircraft of the non-nationalised airlines.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to revise the limits within which it is prepared to consider an application for the encashment of funds from a deceased estate in a Post Office savings account or in premium bonds from £500 maximum to £2,000 maximum.

The hon. Gentleman refers to the £500 limit set by the Administration of Estates (Small Payments) Act 1965. This limit is applicable to a number of bodies and is currently under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Customs and Excise personnel are engaged in Northern Ireland in the control of points of entry by land, sea and air, respectively; and, in view of the duties and powers given to them under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1974, what increases he proposes in their numbers.

The numbers are 232, 60 and 7 respectively. Customs and Excise officers carry out immigration functions only at a small number of Northern Irish seaports and no staff increases are at present contemplated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of this year's public borrowing requirement of £6,300 million he expects to raise from British sources; and how much from foreign.

In the first half of financial year 1974–75 external financing of the public borrowing requirement, which includes direct borrowing by the public sector and foreign currency borrowing through the banks, amounted to £847 million. During the second half year it will include drawing on the Eurodollar loan to Her Majesty's Government and changes in the reserves, as well as other foreign borrowing. The hon. Member will not expect me to publish forecasts for these. The remainder of the deficit will be financed from domestic sources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list, for each Department of State, the amount by which that Department has been permitted by him to restore some of the public expenditure cuts originally required in December 1973; what was the original required cut from each Department; and, assuming a constant price basis, what percentage restoration he has permitted in each case.

Only in the case of Post Office telecommunications investment has one of the cuts announced in December 1973 been restored. An announcement was made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry on 1st July 1974.—[Vol. 875, c. 18.] The original cut was £142 million^*—20 per cent.—of which £28 million^* was restored by this Government. The forthcoming Public Expenditure White Paper will contain details of the Government's expenditure plans for the period up to 1978–79.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will clarify the statement about Clause 16 of the Finance Bill which the Chief Secretary to the Treasury made during its Second Reading as recorded in column 1371 of the Official Report for 17th December.

I referred there to my right hon. Friend's assurance that

"relief will be made available next year for all companies and unincorporated businesses broadly to take account of the rise in prices of stock during this year and next."—[Official Report, 17th December 1974; Vol. 883, c. 1371.]

There may well be some misunderstanding of this. I should, therefore, make it clear that I was referring to the rise in prices during the accounting periods ending in the financial year to 31st March 1974 and the financial year to 31st March 1975.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of ministerial overseas visits made during the recent Christmas Recess, the Ministers making the visits, the countries visited, dates, objects of the visits, who accompanied the Ministers and for what purposes, the total costs to public funds in each instance, and the cost of wives' visits where publicly charged.

My right hon. Friend left for the Interim Committee meeting in Washington on Sunday 12th January. The cost of this visit will not be known until some time after he returns.There were no other ministerial visits abroad, which were a cost to public funds, undertaken by Treasury Ministers during the Christmas Recess. Visits made by other Ministers are the responsibility of the Minister in charge of the Department concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the opening of the proposed sixth-form college in Woking has now been postponed until September 1977; and what action is being taken to maintain the viability of the Woking Boys' Grammar School in the interval.

These are matters for the Surrey local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many university posts are at present unfilled; what is the distribution between different faculties; and if he will institute a review of those faculties where there is the greatest percentage shortfall.

The appointment of staff is a matter for the authorities of each university or university institution, and the information requested is not available. The answer to the final part of the Question is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the plans for reorganisation of secondary education in Buckinghamshire County Council area.

The Buckinghamshire local education authority has informed my right hon. Friend that on the basis of a consultative document it has sought the views of teachers, parents and others on the possible future organisation of secondary education in those parts of the county where selection operates, and that after analysis of these views a recommendation is expected to go before the county council on 27th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many voluntary aided schools there are in the county of Essex; and how many of these are Church schools.

In January 1974 there were 94, all but one of which were denominational schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that teachers' strikes from time to time make it impossible for education authorities to comply with the law that children of school age be provided with education, he will require local education authorities to notify him of the places, dates, duration and numbers of children affected by industrial action taken by teachers.

No. This would not serve any useful purpose, as my powers under the Education Acts do not enable me to intervene in the event of industrial action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the attempt to hijack a British Airways aircraft on 7th January.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade is making a statement after Questions today on those aspects of the incident which concern aviation security. A man has been charged, and it would not be proper for me to comment on matters which are sub judice. All the authorities concerned with handling incidents of this kind are examining the lessons to be learned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to designate Gatwick, Stansted, Prestwick and Edinburgh airports under the Policing of Airports Act.

I have as yet nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member on 17th December—[Vol. 883, c. 404.]—but I can assure him that my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland will do all they can to designate these airports at the earliest practicable date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Gaming Board on the situation which exists as a result of an industrial dispute at the Casanova Club, London, W1.

The board has already furnished me with information about the situation at the Casanova Club. The visits paid by the board's inspectors have not brought to light any facts which would justify the board in taking any action in pursuance of its statutory responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish the present membership of the Gaming Board and their qualifications for membership.

The members of the Gaming Board for Great Britain are listed below:

• Sir Stanley Raymond (Chairman).
• Sir Ranulph Bacon.
• Mr. Robert T. M. McPhail.
• The Hon. Richard Oliver Stanley.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which member of the Gaming Board has responsibility for industrial relations in the gaming industry.

The Gaming Board for Great Britain is not responsible for industrial relations in the gaming industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the criteria adopted by the Gaming Board for licensing the employees of gaming clubs.

The issue of certificates in respect of employees of gaming clubs is governed by the provisions of Section 19 of and Schedule 5 to the Gaming Act 1968. In particular, paragraph 3 of the schedule provides that, in determining whether to issue a certificate, the Gaming Board shall have regard only to the question whether, in relation to the premises specified in the application, the applicant is a fit and proper person to perform the function or act in the capacity so specified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been licensed by the Gaming Board on a yearly basis since its inception to be employed in gaming establishments; what has been the turnover in licensed employees in the industry, male and female, on a yearly basis; and what other records of employment patterns are maintained by the board.

I am informed that the number of certificates issued since 1st June 1971 under Section 19 of the Gaming Act 1968 in respect of clubs licensed for gaming other than bingo only is as follows:

1971	3,140
1972	3,272
1973	3,101
1974	3,495

A new certificate is required whenever a person leaves one employment for another or performs a different function or acts in a different capacity from that for which his certificate is in force. It is estimated that at the end of last year a total of some 3,500 staff were employed, of whom about 45 per cent. were women.Information about staff turnover is not readily available.For any further information I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the annual report of the Gaming Board for Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will obtain from the Gaming Board the average time it takes to examine the background of a person seeking to be licensed to work in gaming establishments; and what is the shortest and longest time taken.

I understand that the average time taken is approximately six weeks. Application can rarely be determined in less than four weeks. Some applications, which may involve inquiries abroad or the revocation of an existing certificate, may take several months to determine.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many cattle markets in the United Kingdom are currently licensed to trade in livestock for export to other EEC countries; and what proportion this is of the total;(2) if he will list the cattle markets currently licensed to trade in livestock for export to other EEC countries.

Four cattle markets in the United Kingdom have so far been approved under EEC Directive 64/432—as amended—for intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine for breeding, production or slaughter. These markets are at Perth; Dingwall, Ross-shire; Reading; and Chelford, Cheshire. There are 1,613 cattle markets currently operating in the United Kingdom and those approved represent 0·24 per cent. of this total.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the special policy advisers working in Government Departments and employed by the Labour Party, as distinct from those receiving Civil Service salaries, indicating the Departments in which they work.

All special advisers at present serving are paid from public funds.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the salary ranges for civil servants of Principal rank

						1st January 1972	1st January 1973	1st January 1974	1st January 1975
Grade						£	£	£	£
Administration Group:
Head of the Home Civil Service						16,750	16,750	17,350	20,175
Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
Secretary to the Cabinet				…
Permanent Secretary			…	…	…	15,750	15,750	16,350	18,675
Second Permanent Secretary				…	…	14,750	14,750	15,350	17,175
Deputy Secretary			…	…	…	10,500	10,500	11,100	14,000
Under Secretary			…	…	…	8,250	8,250	9,000	12,000
Assistant Secretary and equivalent grades in General Service Classes					…	5,350–7,276	5,350–7,276	6,300–8,338	6,700–8,850
Senior Principal and equivalent grades in General Service Classes				…	…	4,922–5,564	4,922–5,564	5,900–6,582	6,000–7,050
Principal and equivalent grades in General Service Classes				…	…	3,478–4,708	3,478–4,708	4,360–5,775	4,360–5,775
Science Group:
Chief Scientific Officer (Higher Band)						8,250	8,250	9,000	12,000
Chief Scientific Officer (Lower Band)						7,930	7,930	8,780	10,000
Deputy Chief Scientific Officer					…	6,607–7,450	6,607–7,450	7,629–8,457	8,100–9,438
Senior Principal Scientific Officer					…	5,350–6,260	5,350–6,260	6,300–7,280	6,700–7,750
Principal Scientific Officer				…	…	3,317–4,387	3,317–4,387	4,227–5,550	4,227–5,550
Professional and Technology Group:
Directing Grade "A" (Higher)					…	7,690	7,690	8,625	10,236
Directing Grade "B" (Lower)					…	7,276	7,276	8,338	8,850
Superintending Grade			…	…	…	5,350–6,260	5,350–6,260	6,300–7,280	6,700–7,750
Principal Professional and Technology Officer		…	…	…	…	4,010–4,760	4,010–4,760	4,933–5,850	4,933–5,850
London Weighting:
Inner	…	…	…	…	…	175	175	228	410
Outer	…	…	…	…	…	90	90	110	260

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in which region he estimates there have been the greatest effects on the unemployment

There are approximately 400 grades comprising 22,500 civil servants at Principal and equivalent rank and above. A full list of all the information sought could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of the salary ranges of the main grades, covering about 14,670 staff, are given below. The salaries shown exclude threshold payments and London weighting allowances.Inner or Outer London weighting allowances are payable as appropriate to staff who are employed in London in the grades included in the table, with the exception of the Deputy Secretary and Permanent Secretary grades.ployment ratio by reason of the dispersal of civil servants from London; and what is the unemployment ratio in that region, the number of unemployed, and the number of jobs dispersed.

The information is not available in the form requested. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many days have been lost as a result of industrial disputes since 1st April 1974; and what percentage this represents of the figure for the comparable period commencing 1st April 1973.

The provisional figure of working days lost in the period 1st April to 30th November 1974 is 7,391,000, representing 158 per cent. of the figure for the comparable period in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to be able to publish his Green Paper on worker participation.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 20th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk).—[Vol. 883, c. 635.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of persons employed by county and local district authorities in Cheshire for each of the last five years.

Local authority areas in England and Wales were reorganised in April 1974, and in June 1974 about 44,800 people were employed by local authorities in the new county of Cheshire. For earlier dates the figures relate to the old county. In this larger area, local authorities employed about 68,200 people in June 1973, 62,600 in June 1972 and 58,300 in June 1971. The figures do not include the police force and traffic wardens. I regret that information is not available for earlier dates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the sums of money to be allocated within the rate support grant for 1975–76 to individual local authorities in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region, together with corresponding figures for 1974–75.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 20th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Roderick)—[Vol. 883, c. 669.]—which said that the information was not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the total value of home loss payments made in 1973–74 and likely to be made in 1974–75 and 1975–76.

These figures are not readily available and would require a disproportionate amount of time and effort to collect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons in his Department are employed solely on matters relating to roads and road construction; and how many are employed on railway matters and work.

About 1,700 and 70 respectively. The figures are, however, in no way comparable, since the Department has extensive management functions to discharge in respect of roads and road construction whereas all management functions in respect of railways are matters for the British Railways Board and its staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the ratio of the average local authority house rent to the average household income for the year 1973.

It is estimated that local authority tenants in England and Wales in 1973 paid, on average, a rebated rent equal to approximately 7½ per cent. of their household income.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he advises local authorities to use in deciding whether houses can be rehabilitated.

I would refer to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Lambeth. Central (Mr. Lipton) on 17th December 1974.—[Vol. 883, c. 425.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to make a statement on his policy on the recommendations of the Matthew-Skillington Report.

Not yet, but I hope to be in a position to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any further structure plans have been submitted to him for all or part of the area of local planning authorities since his answer to the hon. Member for Melton on 8th November; and whether he will list them, together with the date of submission.

The structure plans for East Cleveland and West Cleveland were submitted on 2nd January. The East Cleveland plan covers that part of the county of Cleveland which was formerly in the administrative county of the North Riding of Yorkshire and the West Cleveland plan that part of the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in the county of Cleveland which was part of the administrative county of Durham. Both plans also cover some acres of Middlesbrough in the former Teesside county borough area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps designed to ensure that the installation of energy-saving devices in buildings does not lead to an increase in rateable value.