asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, as part of his policy of achieving greater industrial democracy, as outlined in the Industry Bill, he will take steps designed to ensure a similar degree of participation by management in the affairs of trades unions.

No. I do not accept the analogy implied by the Question. However, it is open to managers to join the appropriate trade unions and participate

UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON SUPPORT FOR THE COMPUTER INDUSTRY (excluding assistance for regional industrial development)
£ million
					1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–71	1973–74	1974–75 estimated
International Computers (Holdings) Ltd.		…	…	…	4·00	3·25	2·25	11·95*	9·45	10·20
Advanced Computer Technology Project	…	…	…	…	0·43	0·63	0·45	0·67	0·61	0·40
Software Products Scheme				…	—	—	—	0·03	0·06	0·15
Applications programmes and software development			…	…	—	—	—	1·45	0·78	0·45
Civil Service Department expenditure on development			…	…	—	0·09	0·11	0·20	0·20	0·53
Other extra-mural contracts				…	0·44	0·36	0·23	0·17	0·14	0·17
Computer Aided Design Centre				…	0·45	0·49	0·42	0·67	0·97	1·32
National Computing Centre				…	0·60	0·64	0·60	0·77	1·06	1·15
Science Research Council				…	—	0·70	0·86	0·91	Not available	Not available
Total		…	…	…	5·92	6·16	4·92	16·82	13·27	14·37
Note: These figures do not include computer-related research and development expenditure in Government research establishments which is not separately identifiable.
* Including purchase of shares: under the Industrial Expansion Act 1968 the Government paid £350,000 in 1968–69 and £3,150,000 in 1972–73 for the purchase of 3·5 million £1 shares in International Computers (Holdings) Ltd. On 26th February 1975 these £1 shares were quoted at 38p.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which of his Ministers is delegated by him with special responsibility for workers' co-operatives.

My right hon. Friend retains overall responsibility for policy in respect of workers' co-operatives. I have special overall responsibility for projects in the assisted areas, and my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher), Under-Secretary of State, has special responsibility for matters relating to the proposal to establish a Co-operative Development Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the amounts of Government aid given to the computer industry over each of the past five years, the estimated amount for the current year, and how much was spent on the purchasing of shares, along with the value of those shares at the present time.

I set out a table showing the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on his future policy as regards the provision of public funds for workers' co-operatives.

Applications from workers' co-operatives for financial assistance under the Industry Act will continue, like all other applications, to be considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he proposes to consult with management and unions before appointing the chairman and senior management of his proposed nationalised shipbuilding corporation.

In making appointments to the board my right hon. Friend will take into account the views put forward in consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in view of the creation of 300 jobs in South Wales in the manufacture of stainless steel parts for motor cars by the British Steel Corporation and Grundy Limited, if he will give an assurance that no public money will be used to subsidise this venture in view of the redundancy and over-capacity in other parts of this industry especially in Lincolnshire.

No. We are anxious to encourage sound employment-creating projects in Ebbw Vale to replace those to be lost in steel, and have said that full use will be made of all available incentives. If the company applies for assistance its application will receive sympathetic consideration in the light of this.

							End of accounting period		Average number of employees in the United Kingdom	Net assets*
£ million
Ford Motor Company			…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	67,000	276
Esso Petroleum Company				…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	10,026	434
Gallaher	…	…	…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	18,398	157
Consolidated Tin Smelters				…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	1,314	22
Philips Electronic and Associated Industries						…	31st December 1973	…	61,339	235
Rank Xerox		…	…	…	…	…	31st October 1973	…	10,762	22
Chrysler United Kingdom				…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	30,883	53
IBM United Kingdom Holdings					…	…	31st December 1973	…	12,428	133
Vauxhall Motors		…	…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	34,365	86
Massey-Ferguson Holdings				…	…	…	31st October 1973	…	18,907	57
Standard Telephones and Cables					…	…	31st December 1973	…	39,067	111
Mobil Oil Company			…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	2,405	81
International Nickel			…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	4,258	42
Mars	…	…	…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	9,127	28
Alcan Aluminium (UK)			…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	9,469	110
Conoco	…	…	…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	1,724	59
Hoover	…	…	…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	14,860	69
Michelin Tyre Company			…	…	…	…	31st December 1973	…	17,274	89
Kodak	…	…	…	…	…	…	28th October 1973	…	12,768	73
H. J. Heinz Company			…	…	…	…	27th April 1974	…	10,550	51
* Fixed and intangible assets at book values net of accumulated depreciation, plus current assets and investments less current liabilities including bank overdrafts and loans and future tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many advance

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to know of the outcome of the current discussions on the proposed increases in postal charges.

As the Post Office announced on 21st February, its proposals have been accepted by the Price Commission and the Post Office Users' National Council, and the new postal charges will come into effect on 17th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the names of the companies, number of people employed and the net assets of the top 20 United Kingdom-based foreign-owned manufacturing companies at the most recent recorded date.

The latest readily available information on the top 20 foreign-owned manufacturing companies in the "Times 1000 1974–75" is given below, in the order in which they appear in that publication:factories have been allocated to Kirkby, Knowsley and Merseyside, respectively, in the past year; and what plans there are for advance factories in each of these places.

Within the last year 12 advance factories have been allocated to the Merseyside Special Development Area. Six of these were specifically allocated to Knowsley, on the Department's industrial estate, which is within the Kirkby Local employment office area, two to Bromborough and one to St. Helens. Sites for the remaining three have yet to be acquired. There are no present plans for further advance factories within the special development area but the needs of Merseyside are kept under close review. As I announced on 14th February, the Department has acquired a 21 acre site at Gillmoss for future development.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the reply he has received from the President of the Chrysler Corporation about the future of Chrysler UK, and that the original undertakings given to Her Majesty's Government are being, and will continue to be, fulfilled, as far as they are still applicable; and if he will make a statement.

I am studying the information provided by the President of Chrysler Corporation in his letter of 18th February, taking account of the original undertakings given to Her Majesty's Government, and the reply will be discussed with the management of Chrysler very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the National Enterprise Board will be allowed to buy shares in a profitable company that is not threatened with a foreign take-over except with the knowledge or voluntary approval of the company's board, shareholders and employees.

It has been made clear that the NEB will acquire shareholdings only by agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will allow investment by individuals or institutions in the National Enterprise Board.

No, not in the NEB itself. But the Industry Bill provides that the NEB may form bodies corporate, or partnerships, and there might be opportunities for individuals or institutions to invest in these.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give an undertaking that any information given by his Department to any trade union concerning the affairs of any company will also be made available to that company's employees.

No. It might well be that such an unqualified assurance could be honoured only by breaching a confidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the information disclosed to his Department by companies on a voluntary basis will be kept confidential; and whether he will arrange for compensation arrangements to be made for companies suffering loss from any unauthorised disclosure by his Department.

Information given at any time in confidence to my Department will be kept confidential. Any unauthorised disclosure of such information would be dealt with by the means felt most appropriate at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received from large companies which fear difficulties over the proposed depositing proposals in the Industry Bill so far as international deals and especially joint ventures are concerned; and what replies he has made.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate, with a view to prosecution, the connivance of the British Steel Corporation in breaching sanctions against Rhodesia by becoming involved, through the EEC Technical Research Committee, in a pig iron research project to be undertaken by the Rhodesian Iron and Steel Corporation;

I am looking into the facts behind the recent Press report about Community assistance to this particular research project and will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what response there has been to approaches made by Her Majesty's Government to Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania on the question of the current level of cheap shoe imports into the United Kingdom.

Discussions with these three countries are still in progress. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a statement on the outcome very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the functions of his Department in Scotland.

The functions of my Department, principally in relation to general overseas trade policy, the regulation of domestic trade, patents, shipping and civil aviation, marine safety and the sponsorship of specific service industries, relate to Great Britain as a whole. In exercising these functions in Scotland my Department works in co-operation with that of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take action to stop increases in United Kingdom duty-free import quotas from Turkey in cotton yarn, other cotton woven fabrics, knotted carpets, carpeting and rugs, as proposed by the EEC under Draft Instrument S/196/75.

No. These small increases are intended to give Turkey no less favourable treatment than other developing countries under the EEC's Generalised System of Tariff Preferences for which similar 5 per cent. increases have been made in tariff quotas for 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table showing, in respect of each year from 1960 until 1974, the total value of imports of camera and optical equipment into the United Kingdom from Japan, and the total value of exports of such goods from the United Kingdom to Japan.

Following is the information:—

£ thousand
	Imports cif	Exports fob
1960	244	318
1961	755	198
1962	1,885	249
1963	3,233	274
1964	3,925	403
1965	4,529	429
1966	4,404	432
1967	4,550	328
1968	5,034	695
1969	4,577	632
1970	5,902	1,046
1971	7,716	1,420
1972	10,832	1,339
1973	14,972	2,101
1974	18,753	2,893

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what the percentage increase in the United Kingdom's crude non-oil visible trade deficit was with the EEC, the United States of America, EFTA and the rest of the world between 1972 and 1974.

On an overseas trade statistics basis the percentage increases between 1972 and 1974 in our crude trade deficits on non-oil goods with the EEC(8) and EFTA were 294 and 180 respectively. There was a surplus of £42 million in our non-oil trade with the United States of America in 1972 and a deficit of £477 million in 1974. For the rest of the world there was a surplus in both 1972 and 1974, the percentage increase between the two years being 63.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many compulsory liquidations of companies there were in the years 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973, respectively.

The numbers of compulsory winding-up orders made in the relevant periods are as follows:—

COMPULSORY WINDING UP ORDERS
	England and Wales	Scotland
1970	1,269	68
1971	1,166	40
1972	1,150	39
1973	1,080	25

These and other statistics relating to companies are contained in the Companies Annual Reports, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the fee for the change of a company's name has been increased from £10 to £40; and if he will quote the legislation which gives the authority for this change.

New fees for incorporating a company and for change of name were prescribed by the Companies (Fees) Regulations 1973, Statutory Instrument 1973 No. 2060, dated 6th December 1973, after approval by both Houses of Parliament.The report of the Company Law Committee—the Jenkins Committee—Cmnd. 1749, paragraph 28, recommended that the fee for incorporating a company should be raised to a level sufficient to

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total value of textiles imported into Great Britain during 1974, enumerating the countries of origin; and what are the comparable figures for the preceding nine years.

Following is the information:

United Kingdom imports of textiles (a)
£ million cif
1974	750
1973	555
1972	399
1971	345
1970	273
1969	257
1968	251
1967	196
1966	172
1965	167
(a) Defined as Division 64, group 266, and sub-group 262.8 of the trade classification.

The principal countries of consignment in 1974 were:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of visible trade imports is accounted for by Category I firms.

Figures are not collected or compiled on the basis required.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will provide balance of trade figures for 1974 or other recent available period in regard to exports and imports vis-à-vis the United Kingdom and South Africa, Chile, Brazil, Turkey, China, the USSR, Czechoslovakia and Poland, respectively.

Balance of trade figures are not available with individual countries on a balance of payments basis. The crude trade deficit with each of these countries in 1974 can be obtained from figures of imports cif and exports fob in Tables II and V respectively in the December 1974 issue of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics. The crude trade deficit—the difference between imports cif and exports fob—is not a good measure of the balance of trade in goods because, inter alia, of difference in valuation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage the United Kingdom's non-oil crude trade deficit with the EEC—the Six—was of its total non-oil deficit in 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.

80, 46 and 62, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what consideration has been given by the Price Commission to the Gas Corporation's proposed 32 per cent. increased tariffs for coin-in-the-slot meter users; and if she will make a statement.

The British Gas Corporation's proposal to increase tariffs was considered in the normal way by the Price Commission and found to comply with the terms of the Price Code. Questions on charges are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy, but I understand from him that only the largest prepayment consumers in the North-West area are paying a 32 per cent. increase. Most consumers are paying substantially less than this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff of the Department of Inland Revenue he expects to be redeployed from London to other parts of England during 1975 and 1976.

I cannot add anything to the statement on dispersal made by my right hon. Friend the Lord President on 30th July 1974.—[Vol. 878, c. 482.] Sir Henry Hardman's recommendation in respect of the Inland Revenue is still under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since 1st April 1973 the Commissioners of Customs and Excise have laid information before justices of the peace to enter and search premises; and on how many occasions since 1st April 1973 justices of the peace have authorised persons to enter and search premises under Section 37 of the Finance Act 1972.

Since 1st April 1973 Customs and Excise have laid 97 informations under Section 37(3) of the Finance Act 1972. A search warrant was issued in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons have since 1st April 1973 been searched by persons authorised by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise in the exercise of their powers under Section 37 of the Finance Act 1972.

The number of persons searched since 1st April 1973 is 21.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions since 1st April 1973 the Commissioners of Customs and Excise haxe used their powers under Section 36 of the Finance Act 1972 to take samples; and how the samples so taken have been disposed of and accounted for.

A central record of the aggregate number of samples taken under Section 36 of the Finance Act 1972 is not kept. The number of such samples taken since 1st April 1973 is estimated at about 50. Some of these samples are to be used as exhibits in legal proceedings. In so far as the samples are no longer required Customs and Excise normal practice is to return them to the persons from whom they were taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much indirect taxation would have to be increased in order to produce the same amount of total revenue if personal income tax were (a) abolished and (b) reduced by 50 per cent.

Receipts from indirect taxation would have to increase by 127 per cent. if personal income tax were abolished or 63 per cent. if the yield were halved. Such a radical change in the pattern of taxation would, of course, itself produce significant changes in prices and in the distribution of incomes and patterns of expenditure on which the above figures are based. They should not, therefore, be regarded as describing more than a highly theoretical situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he is satisfied with the powers to control foreign take-over bids of British companies contained in Section 9 of the Exchange Control Act 1947;(2) how many applications have been received over the last 10 years, under Section 9 of the Exchange Control Act 1947, by foreign companies to take over British companies;(3) on how many occasions during the last 10 years consent has been withheld, under Section 9 of the Exchange Control Act 1947, for foreign companies to acquire control of British companies.

The powers contained in Section 9 of the Exchange Control Act 1947 are not in themselves sufficient to control all foreign take-overs. However, I am satisfied that these, together with other powers in that Act and in other legislation, to be strengthened by the additional power in Clause 9 of the Industry Bill, provide the Government with enough powers for the purpose.Applications for exchange control consent are not necessarily related to a specific section of the Act or expressed in the form of a take-over. However, during the five years 1969 to 1974, the period for which information is readily available, there were about 700 authorisations under the Act for foreign-controlled companies, both themselves and their United Kingdom subsidiaries, to acquire or increase their holdings in British companies to over 50 per cent. Not all of these authorisations would have been put into effect.No record of the number of applications for exchange control consent that are refused is maintained, but the number would be very small because applications unlikely to meet our requirements are unlikely to be formally submitted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield of VAT, in each year since its inception, from repair and maintenance work in the construction industry.

I regret that this information is not available, but it is estimated that the yield from repairs and maintenance at the current 8 per cent. rate of VAT is probably about £100 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to reply to the letter dated 18th February from Mr. Brian Mutlow of Kettering concerning the St. Mary's Church of England (Aided) Primary School, Burton Latimer.

Within a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the total cost of education facilities made available to foreign students attending courses in British universities; how many students are currently registered; and what part of the cost is borne out of public funds;(2) what is the total cost of education facilities made available to foreign students attending courses in polytechnics; how many such students are currently registered, and what part of the cost is borne out of public funds.

Provisional figures indicate that the number of full-time overseas students at British universities in the autumn term of 1974 was 26,651. The latest corresponding figure for polytechnics is 6,104 in 1973. I am writing to the hon. Member about the other information, which is not available in the form requested.

		Primary and Secondary (1)	Further Education (including Polytechnics (2)	Colleges of Education (2)	Special Education (3)	Universities
1965–66	…	80·2	20·6	Nil	4·5	52·7 (5)
1966–67	…	75·4	22·4	8·4	4·3	37·7
1967–68	…	71·2	10·7	5·8	3·8	33·8
1968–69	…	69·2	3·7	1·1	4·4	29·6
1969–70	…	105·8	28·6	6·8	3·7	27·6
1970–71	…	134·3+	29·0	6·2	5·6	26·6
1971–72	…	163·8+	27·4	3·7	7·5	27·3
1972–73	…	193·4+	28·2	3·1	11·0	27·0
1973–74 (4)		162·9	12·2	1·6	17·0	18·6
1974–75 (4)		109·3	22·4	0·6	22·4	14·5
NOTES:
(1) England only. Includes RSLA for years marked+.
(2) England and Wales.
(3) England only.
(4) Allocations originally made for 1973–74 were affected by the moratorium and subsequent review of public expenditure. The 1973–74 building year was extended by three months to June 1974; the 1974–75 building years runs from 1st July 1974 to 30th June 1975.
(5) Relates to the 15-months period 1st January 1965 to 3rd March 1966.
(6) The first specific nursery allocation was made in 1974–75 and amounted to £21·5 million.
(7) Provision of adult education facilities is made under the schools and further education programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest assessment of the number of children in the 3 to 5 age group.

I understand from the Registrar General's Department that the following are the estimated numbers of children in England and Wales at the relevant ages at mid-1974: 3-year-olds, 772,000; 4-year-olds, 751,000; 5-year-olds, 780,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the number of children claiming free school meals under the family income supplement "passport" scheme for each year since 1971.

Returns from a sample enquiry covering about 15 per cent. of

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the figures for building allocations in each of the last 10 years for nursery, primary, secondary, college of education, polytechnic, university, adult and further education.

The values, in millions of pounds at prices then current, of annual programmes authorised to start in each of the last 10 years are as follows:the school population of England and Wales in October 1974 suggest that about 65,000 pupils were receiving free school meals under the family income supplement "passport" arrangements. This figure does not include pupils receiving free meals under supplementary benefit arrangements; the total for the two categories was given in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley (Mr. Robertson) on 25th February.—[Vol. 887, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is now in a position to indicate the amount of grant in aid for the Arts. Council 1975–76.

It is expected that, subject to the approval of Parliament, the grant in aid for the Arts Council for 1975–76 will be £26·15 million of which £25 million will be for current expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a further statement about the public acquisition of Sir Joshua Reynolds' portrait of Laurence Sterne.

I am considering this matter with my colleagues.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many inquiries of any kind his Department currently has on hand; and on which subjects.

Two: one on the education of handicapped children and young people; the other on school management and government.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress has been made in the negotiations with former dependent territories to implement the provisions of the Overseas Pensions Act 1973; and whether she will make a statement.

The arrangements whereby the British Government may, by agreement with the overseas Governments concerned, assume responsibility for the payment of some 40,000 expatriate pensions direct to the individual pensioners presented a heavy administrative task to my Department and the 36 overseas Governments involved. Since the Act was passed we have concluded agreements with and taken over the expatriate pensions of Sudan, The Gambia and Burma. Negotiations with the other overseas Governments are at various stages—I signed an agreement with the Lesotho Government on 27th February—and I expect that, with the co-operation of the overseas administrations, this agreement and a further 11 will be signed and implemented during this year and most of the rest next year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will now make the Scottish Distant Islands Allowance a right of all civil servants in the Western Isles; and if he will make a statement.

A fundamental review of the scope and basis of this allowance is being undertaken by the Civil Service Department in consultation and negotiation with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council. Pending the outcome of these negotiations it would be inappropriate to alter only one factor relating to the allowance.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he has issued instructions as to the methods to be used for the recording of meetings held in the offices of Ministers of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he has circularised other Ministers with any advice on the manner in which records are to be made of ministerial meetings with non-Government representatives.

No central instructions or guidance have been issued. Whether a formal record of such ministerial meetings is made and, if so, in what form and with what circulation, are questions best considered in relation to particular circumstances.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in view of complaints of slowness and delay in dealing with requests for recent official publications, whether he will investigate the service offered by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to members of the public.

The service and organisation of Her Majesty's Stationery Office's bookselling operation has been reviewed by a team including specialist consultants. Their report is under consideration. The present acute difficulties arise from exceptionally heavy parliamentary publishing and increased public demand.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will ensure that in the future Government publications are made available at Her Majesty's Stationery Office in Belfast at the same time as they are available in other of Her Majesty's Stationery Offices in the United Kingdom.

Most Government publications originate in London Consequently they are sometimes available there a little earlier than elsewhere, but supplies are sent to Belfast at the same time as to other of Her Majesty's Stationery Office bookshops outside London.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the estimated annual cost of transporting Scottish Members of Parliament, Ministers and civil servants between Scotland and London.

I regret that this information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list the measures which it has been the policy of his administration to introduce since March 1974, showing which have been enacted, which are in the process of enactment, which are at the Bill-drafting stage, which are the subject of White or Green Papers and which remain to be tackled.

The Government's main programme of legislation was set out in two Queen's Speeches on 12th March and 29th October 1974. Since this administration came into office a total of 53 Bills have been enacted. The Public Bill list published in the Order Paper gives progress on Bills which have been introduced. The drafting of all the other Bills is in hand, but it is not possible to say yet which of them will be supported by additional White or Green Papers over and above those already available in the Vote Office.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to consult first-generation Welshmen living outside Wales but in other parts of the United Kingdom as to their views on the Government's proposals for Welsh devolution; and if he will make a statement.

No. Consultations on devolution in Wales were held last summer. Following publication of the Government's consultative document there was a general invitation for people to express their views. I do not think a further special survey of the views of Welshmen living outside Wales would be justified, even if it were practicable.

asked the Lord President of the Council when he hopes to publish the White Paper on Devolution.

I am considering publishing a White Paper in advance of the introduction of the Bill on devolution. It would, however, be wrong to do so if preparation of the Bill would then be delayed.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will appoint the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration the National Returning Officer for the referendum on EEC membership.

The Referendum Bill will provide for the appointment of a National Returning Officer by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. We have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many functions, sponsored by Members of Parliament, have been held in the House of Commons at weekends in the past year; whether these functions have resulted in a profit; and how many staff, full-time and part-time, have been included.

I have been asked to reply.A total of 129 functions sponsored by Members was held on Fridays and Saturdays during 1974, on which a small profit was made. 1,530 full-time and 546 part-time staff were involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected tomato yield in the current season compared with the previous year's actual yield.

It is too early in the season to forecast tomato yields for 1975. The estimated gross yield for 1974 was 48·3 tons per acre compared with 46·9 tons in 1973.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of Government financial assistance to glasshouse growers in all EEC countries, including the United Kingdom in which there is a glasshouse horticultural industry, as from 1st January 1975.

It would be impracticable to list in detail all the different forms of assistance given to glasshouse growers in the EEC countries. I assume, however, that my hon. Friend is chiefly interested in temporary fuel oil subsidies and I shall be writing to him about them. Although the subsidies are being continued beyond 31st December 1974 in some EEC countries, it has not been established that the total aid given in any of these countries will be more generous than the assistance given to British growers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dairy farmers in Cornwall have taken up the EEC dairy herd conversion scheme; how many cows are involved; and what percentage this represents of the total number of dairy herds in the county.

The latest return shows that 190 applications from dairy farmers in Cornwall have been approved involving 5,341 dairy cows. This represents a little less than 5 per cent. of dairy herds and less than 2 per cent. of dairy cows in cornwall at the outset of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the estimated cost of the incentives paid to established milk producers to switch to beef production to 31st December 1974.

Under the Dairy Herd Conversion Scheme £9·1 million, representing a first instalment of grant equal to one-half of the total amount, had been paid to United Kingdom milk producers by 31st December 1974. 50 per cent. of this is recoverable from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the additional cost to public funds of the additional £10 calf subsidy to 31st December 1974.

From 1st July 1974, when the £10 increase in calf subsidy first became payable, to 31st December 1974 the additional cost to public funds was £11½ million on a United Kingdom basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to introduce headage payments for breeding sows in 1975.

No. On the basis of current estimates of supply and demand for pigmeat in our market, pig prices this year should become firmer. Feed prices are easing. The prospects for pig producers are therefore favourable and we hope that this will be reflected in a recovery in the breeding herd after the fall recorded last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has been informed of the communications sent by the EEC Commission to Commonwealth sugar suppliers concerning deliveries of sugar quotas to the United Kingdom; what was the nature of these communications; and if he will make a statement.

I am fully aware of the telegrams sent by the EEC Commission to certain ACP sugar-producing countries. Their purpose was to establish whether any further quantities of sugar could be sent to the United Kingdom during the period up to 30th June 1975, when our requirements are greatest. In the event, no supplying country was able to send any additional quantities. This outcome in no way affects the annual quotas agreed with the ACP countries.

asked the Attorney-General what was the percentage of cases in Crown courts during 1974 in which the defendant pleaded guilty; and what were the figures individually for Manchester, London, Liverpool, Surrey and Middlesex, respectively.

The percentage of defendants who pleaded guilty in the Crown courts during 1974 was as follows:

All Centres	61
Manchester	62
London	44
Liverpool	50
Surrey	55

As there is no longer a separate county of Middlesex the percentage of defendants at the Middlesex Guildhall has been included in the London figure. However, taken separately, the Middlesex Guildhall percentage was 43.

asked the Attorney-General what percentage of defendants pleading not guilty in Crown courts was convicted and what percentage acquitted during 1974; and what were the figures individually for Manchester, London, Liverpool, Surrey and Middlesex, respectively.

The information is as follows:

	Percentage convicted	Percentage acquitted
All centres	55	45
Manchester	54	46
London	55	45
Liverpool	47	53
Surrey	58	42

asked the Attorney-General what was the average period between committal and sentence for bailed defendants and defendants in custody in Manchester, London, Liverpool and Inner London Crown courts, respectively, during 1974; how this compared with the period immediately prior to the Courts Act; and whether he will give similar figures in respect of waiting times pending appeals in the Court of Appeal.

The average periods between committal for trial and the start of the hearing during 1974 were as follows:

	Weeks
	Bail	Custody
Manchester	7·3	5·5
London	22·1	11·7
Liverpool	6·6	4·8
Inner London Sessions House (included in the London figures)	25·0	10·4

No comparable figures are available for the period immediately prior to the Courts Act. The average period between the registration of an appeal or an application for leave to appeal and disposal, whether by abandonment or hearing, during 1974 was 14·4 weeks.

asked the Attorney-General how many appointments were made to industrial tribunals during 1974; and what were the former employments of the chairmen and assessors appointed.

During 1974 my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor appointed two full-time chairmen and nine part-time chairmen and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment appointed 451 part-time lay members. One of the full-time chairmen was formerly a practising solicitor; the other was a barrister and an Assistant Judge Advocate. Three of the part-time chairmen were practising barristers and one was a practising solicitor; one, a barrister, was a professor of social sciences; the remaining four—two barristers and two solicitors—were chairmen of Value Added Tax Tribunals. No assessors were appointed.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Director of public Prosecutions referred to him the question whether Robert Alfred Clark should be prosecuted in connection with contracts placed by Stevenage Council with Gibbons Contractors; what decision he reached; and what were the reasons for reaching it.

In my unavoidable absence the Director of Public Prosecutions placed the papers in this case before my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General with a strong recommendation that the evidence was insufficient to warrant proceedings. My hon. and learned Friend studied the papers and agreed. Since the hon. Member put down his Question I have studied the papers and I entirely agree with the Director and my hon. and learned Friend.

			RAF Casualties
Accidents	Aircraft Destroyed/Lost	Cost	Killed	Seriously injured
		(£ million)
17	12	12·5	4	2

One aircraft originally categorised as destroyed has now been assessed as repairable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the name, rank, date and cause of death of members of Her Majesty's Forces who have lost their lives as a result of service in Northern Ireland since July 1969 to the latest available date, together with the amount of compensation paid in each case to dependants of such Service personnel.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence gave him on 21st June 1974—[Vol. 875, c. 269–276]. Since that date up to 2nd March 1975 a further 21 members of Her Majesty's Forces including

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to replace the 120-mm recoilless rifle and the Carl Gustav in the infantry anti-tank role.

Replacements for both weapons are under consideration. A decision on a medium-range equipment to replace the 120-mm recoilless rifle is likely to be made fairly shortly. The Carl Gustav short-range weapon will remain in service for some time yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the final records of Royal Air Force accident statistics for 1974, part of which were given in answer to the hon. Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun) in col. 31–32 of the Official Report on 25th November 1974.

The final figures for 1974 are as follows:both full-time and part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been killed as a direct result of terrorist activity. Details are given in the following table. A further 25 members of Her Majesty's Forces have died in Northern Ireland since 19th June 1974 from all other causes.There have been 167 awards to dependants of Service men killed through terrorist activity in Northern Ireland under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 and a total of £795,050 has been paid in compensation. All widows of Service men killed as the result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland are eligible for pensions payable by the Department of Health and Social Security and by the Ministry of Defence. It is not possible without disproportionate effort to list compensation payments on an individual basis nor is it the custom of my Department without the agreement

Rank		Name			Regiment			Date of Death			Cause of Death
Gnr	…	MacCunn K.I.C.		…	4 Lt RA	…	…	22nd June 1974	…	…	GSW Abdomen
Spr	…	Walton J.	…	…	3 Fd Sqn RE		…	2nd July 1974	…	…	Explosion
Cpl	…	Smith D. A.	…	…	1 Ches	…	…	4th July 1974	…	…	GSW Abdomen
Cpl	…	Conley J.	…	…	5 UDR	…	…	23rd July 1974	…	…	Car bomb
Sgt	…	Fearns, B.	…	…	4 Lt RA	…	…	30th July 1974	…	…	GSW Abdomen
Mne	…	Southern M. J.		…	45 CDO RM		…	13th August 1974		…	Bomb Explosion
Cpl	…	Leach D. A.	…	…	45 CDO RM		…	13th August 1974		…	Bomb Explosion
Pte	…	Drake P. V.	…	…	RPC	…	…	26th August 1974		…	GSW Head
2 Lt	…	Simpson M. J.		…	1 Staffs	…	…	23rd October 1974		…	GSW Back
Lcpl	…	Coughlan A.	…	…	RWF	…	…	28th October 1974		…	Bomb Explosion
Pte	…	Sloanick M.	…	…	1 DERR		…	28th October 1974		…	Bomb Explosion
Pte	…	Allen B.	…	…	1 DERR		…	6th November 1974		…	GSW
Cpl	…	Windsor S. A.		…	1 DERR		…	6th November 1974		…	GSW
SSgt	…	Simpson J. C.		…	RH	…	…	7th November 1974		…	Bomb Blast
SSgt	…	Rose V.	…	…	321 EOD RAOC			7th November 1974		…	Bomb Blast
Fus	…	Simmons A.	…	…	1 RRF	…	…	15th November 1974		…	GSW
Pte	…	McCready T. J.		…	3 UDR	…	…	17th November 1974		…	GSW Chest
WO2	…	Maddocks J. A.		…	RAOC	…	…	2nd December 1974		…	Bomb Explosion
Rfn	…	Gibson M. E.		…	1 RGJ	…	…	29th December 1974		…	GSW Chest
Cpl	…	Lea T. F.	…	…	RMP	…	…	21st January 1975		…	Bomb Explosion
Sgt	…	Robson W.	…	…	15/19 H	…	…	8th February 1975		…	Multiple GSWs

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons have had their apprenticeships affected by the liquidation or bankruptcy of the companies by which they were employed in each of the past five years.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have lost their jobs through the liquidation or bankruptcy of the companies by which they were employed in each of the last five years.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is only available from 1st January 1974. The number of redundancies notified to the Employment Service Agency during 1974 which are known to have resulted from the liquidation or bankruptcy of the companies concerned was 8,071.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage rise in the Index of Retail Prices to the latest available date

Up to January 1975, the latest date for which the retail prices index is published, the rise from each of the relevant dates is as follows:

April 1960	145 per cent.
April 1970	65 per cent.
April 1973	30 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will intervene to assist in resolving the industrial dispute at Brain Haulage, Essex, in which the first phase of redundancies will begin to operate by 1st March.

I understand from the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service that 38 drivers are being temporarily laid off from today in consequence of the difficulties involving registered dock workers in the London area which are currently being examined by an independent panel of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has now given further consideration to declaring 1st May a public holiday.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Miss Richardson) on 18th February.—[Vol. 886, c. 1090.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether nuclear wastes from power stations is transported through Nottinghamshire; and in what form.

I have been asked to reply.Nuclear wastes from power stations are transported by road and rail to the British Nuclear Fuel's processing factory at Windscale. Routes are not specified, but generally the shortest route is chosen by the power station. The wastes, in the form of irradiated canned uranium fuel rods, are transported under water in massive 50-ton steel packages specially designed to withstand severe transport accidents, including fire, without leakage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will set out the following information about the operation of the community service scheme in inner London during 1974: (a) the number of orders completed and the number of offenders involved, (b) the number of orders revoked and the main reasons for revocation, indicating the number of offenders involved, (c) the total number of hours ordered, (d) the hours actually worked (e) the hours cancelled due to revocation of orders, and (f) the hours outstanding at 31st December 1974;(2) If he will list in the

This information is as follows:

COMMUNITY SERVICE BY OFFENDERS: INNER LONDON
(1st January 1974–31st December 1974)
Number of community service orders completed	231
Number of offenders involved	173
Number of orders revoked	85
Number of offenders involved	60
Reasons for revocation of orders and numbers of offenders involved—
Failure to attend initial interview	4
Failure to report for work	19
Commission of further offence	30
Physical/personal reasons	3
Moved from area	4
Total hours ordered (this total includes hours ordered to be worked concurrently)	46,226
Total hours worked in 1974 (under orders made during 1974 and 1973)	24,436
Hours cancelled due to revocation of orders	Information not available
Hours outstanding at 31st December 1974	Information not available

MAIN TYPES OF WORK UNDERTAKEN(1st January 1973–31st December 1974)Adventure playgrounds—

I have no plans to change the regime in the control unit. No prisoners are at present being considered for transfer to the unit, but the accommodation will continue to be available for use should the need arise.

I regret that per cent. of persons found guilty by jury in England and Wales were found guilty by majority verdict. Equivalent figures are not available for "not guilty" verdicts because, in accordance with Section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967, juries are not asked whether a verdict of "not guilty" was a majority verdict.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of committals during 1974 were under Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he now proposes to discontinue the use of this information is not available.The Criminal Statistics do not distinguish between committals under Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 and Section 7 of the Magistrates Courts Act 1952 but information relating to particular courts suggests that the proportion of Section 1 committals is very high.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he proposes to make in the administration of the prison rules as a result of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights on 21st February 1975 holding that a Home Office decision to refuse a prisoner access to his solicitor was in breach of two articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, solitary confinement in the special control unit at Wakefield Prison.

I am giving urgent consideration to the implications of the court's judgment and shall announce my conclusions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress

AGES OF OFFENDERS MADE SUBJECT TO COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS
(1st January 1974—31st December 1974)
Age	Number
Under 21	200
21–25	87
26–30	25
31–40	23
Over 40	10

OFFENCES FOR WHICH COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS WERE MADE
(1st January 1974—31st December 1974)
Offence	Numbers of cases
Theft	122
Handling stolen goods	18
Burglary	22
Robbery	2
Forgery	2
Fraud	9
Being a suspected person	10
Assault	30
Possessing offensive weapon	9
Criminal damage	4
Theft or unauthorised use of motor vehicle	46
Driving while disqualified	9
Driving while uninsured	44
Possessing dangerous drugs	5
Others	13

COURTS MAKING COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS
(1st January 1974—31st December 1974)
Court	Number of Offenders	Number of Orders
Central Criminal Court	14	15
Crown Court	60	65
Magistrates' Courts—
Clerkenwell	19	29
Hampstead	4	6
North London	19	25
Old Street	18	20
Bow Street	6	6
Marlborough Street	3	3
Marylebone	14	16
South Western	39	50
Wells Street	4	7
West London	44	68
Camberwell Green	47	53
Greenwich	12	18
Lambeth	1	1
Thames	13	23
Tower Bridge	19	21
Woolwich	9	19
	345	445

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of guilty and not guilty verdicts, respectively, were by majority in 1974.

Statistics for 1974 are not yet available. In 1973, 7 he is making in his investigation of the evidence submitted to him concerning reports of immigrant workers in the catering industry without work permits or valid entry to this country; and when he expects to complete these investigations.

We take a serious view of people from overseas being employed without the necessary work permits or overstaying. As the hon. Member knows, I recently met representatives of a catering company who are concerned about the position of their employees, and I am hopeful that the situation will be clarified during the next few weeks. I intend to keep it under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in view of the IRA cease-fire, he will order the restoration of all lighting in Belfast, especially in Duncairn Gardens and the surrounding area.

Work is in hand to restore street lighting to all areas of Belfast as rapidly as the security situation and the supply of spares permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much compensation has been paid by the Government to loyalist detainees or ex-internees; and what claims are still outstanding;(2) how much compensation has been paid by the Government to IRA detainees and ex-internees; and what claims are still outstanding.

It is not possible to identify claimants who were, or are, detainees or ex-internees from other categories of claimant without a disproportionate use of staff time. No record is maintained of the particular affiliations of individual claimants.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the categories of persons who are granted permits for unattended parking inside control zones in Northern Ireland towns.

Permits are not granted to enable particular categories of persons to park their vehicles unattended inside control zones in towns in Northern Ireland but occasionally local residents or others, in exceptional circumstances, are allowed to do so by police divisional commanders.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many holders of shotgun certificates have been able to increase their numbers of shotguns held in the past two years.

This information could not be provided without disproportionate effort, but between 1st September 1974 and 31st January 1975 firearm certificates were granted in respect of 404 additional shotguns.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what evidence he has that legally held sporting and recreational firearms are being used in terrorist attacks.

There is no conclusive evidence, but over the last two years 725 legally held weapons have been stolen, and this constitutes a continuing threat to public safety in the circumstances of Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will publish in the Official Report the name, rank, date and cause of death of members of the RUC who have lost their lives as a result of civil disturbance since July 1969, together with the amount of compensation paid in each case to dependants of such RUC personnel;(2) if he will publish in the

I am arranging for the information to be collated and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total cost per week of operating the incident centres which monitor the IRA cease-fire.

Actual cost figures are not yet available. It is estimated that the total weekly cost will be approximately £1,200, the greater part of which is for staff costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will name the areas in Belfast where the RUC are not permitted to carry out their ordinary police work.