asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will list the foods by which she judges whether food is cheaper inside or outside the Common Market.

The estimate of the effect of membership of the EEC on food prices—which shows that at present there is overall no significant effect one way or the other—takes into account the effect on the prices of all principal foodstuffs including sugar, cereals, milk products, beef, pigmeat, lamb, fruit and various processed foods.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she is yet in a position to announce the names of the members of the National Consumer Council.

Yes. As already announced, Mr. Michael Young is the chairman of the council. The following have agreed to be members of the council: Mrs. Hylda Armstrong; Mr. Michael Barnes; Mrs. Ann Davis; Mrs. June Evans, OBE; Miss Sylvia Gray, MBE; Mr. Christopher Holmes; Mr. Joe Kenyon; Mrs. Beata Lipman; Mrs. Joan Macintosh; Mrs. Chrissie Maher; Mrs. Dorrette McAuslan; Mrs. Sara Morrison; The Baroness Phillips; Mrs. Maureen Richardson; Mrs. Evelyn Smith; Mrs. Cynthia Stein; Mrs. Rachel Waterhouse; Mr. Max Wood.The Scottish Consumer Council will be chaired by Mrs. Macintosh and the Welsh Consumer Council by Mrs. Lipman.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, to the latest available date, is the percentage increase in the supplementary benefit scale rate since 1966, taking 1966 as 100 per cent.; what is the average percentage increase on the ordinary domestic electricity credit tariff over the same period, including the fuel cost adjustment clauses; and what is the percentage increase over the same period in the amount normally to be met from the supplementary benefit scale rates for heating costs.

As at April 1975 the percentage increases since November 1966 are as follows:

	Single house holder	Married couple
Supplementary benefit ordinary scale rate (a.)	137	135
Supplementary benefit long-term scale rate(a.) (The percentage increase in scale rates compares with one of 103·2 percent in the Retail Prices Index (excluding housing) between November 1966 and March 1975.)	167	165
Average ordinary domestic electricity credit tariff (b.)	150

There is no fixed amount to be spent on heating from the supplementary benefit scale rate; this is a matter of individual needs and preferences. A notional figure of £1.60 a week on average throughout the year is used at present in assessing the need of certain beneficiaries for extra heating additions; e.g., where a fixed amount is paid for central heating,

but there was no comparable figure in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of claimants prosecuted under the Supplementary Benefit Act 1966 for the non-maintenance of themselves and/or their families, for each year since1948.

Following is the information:

Year	Prosecutions of claimants	Prosecutions of liable persons other than calimants
1948	—	—
1949	1	5
1950	19	40
1951	42	85
1952	56	112
1953	84	217
1954	81	285
1955	61	295
1956	63	373
1957	67	410
1958	81	385
1959	79	348
1960	88	280
1961	180	418
1962	134	406
1963	96	439
1964	131	446
1965	178	604
1966*	178	635
1967	95	716
1968	88	597
1969	106	598
1970	58	675
1971	64	614
1972	17	604
1973	8	535
1974	24	564
*Prior to 1966 these prosecutions were made under the National Assistance Act 1948

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how often she intends to increase the earnings disregard for supplementary benefit to keep pace with the cost of living, as recommended by the Finer Committee on One-Parent Families.

The earnings disregard is being doubled later this year. It will then be subject to further review in the light of subsequent economic changes, but there is no proposal to increase it at set intervals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is now in a position to give any indication of the probable level of State scheme premiums under the Social Security Pensions Bill.

I have today placed in the Library of the House, and circulated to the leading pensions organisations, a memorandum by the Government Actuary on State scheme premiums under the Bill which includes tables of illustrative premiums at specimen ages.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services who will succeed Lord Collison as Chairman of the Supplementary Benefits Commission when he retires in September this year and if she will make a statement about the role of the commission.

I am glad to announce that Professor David Donnison, at present Director of the Centre for Environmental Studies, and Deputy Chairman of the Commission, has accepted my invitation to succeed Lord Collison as chairman.I should like to pay warm tribute to Lord Collison. Under his chairmanship for over five formative years the commission has developed a positive attitude to its rôle. It has been active in research and has provided valuable advice on many policy issues, which on occasion has been published, and it has done much to promote better public understanding of its work. I congratulate Lord Collison and his colleagues on this dynamic interpretation of their responsibilities. I should like to see it yet further developed, and Professor Donnison is entirely in accord with this approach.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to specify what form the proposed cuts in housing capital expenditure of £50 million and transfer payments of £65 million in 1976–77 will take.

No. I propose to discuss these matters with the local authority associations, and have arranged to meet them on 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will relax the conditions of subsidy given by his Department to housing authorities to enable them to provide a major increase in housing accommodation for single people.

I am consulting the local authority associations and other bodies concerned about the guidance I will shortly be issuing, setting out new and more flexible design standards and a cost yardstick for self-contained accommodation for single people. If the hon. Member has a particular point in mind perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidance to local housing authorities on safeguarding the growing need of single people for housing accommodation.

The Department's Circular "Housing: Needs and Action", DOE 24/75, issued on 25th March stressed the need for an increase in the provision of housing by new construction and conversion for small households, including single people. It also encouraged local authorities to develop lodger schemes. I will shortly be issuing further advice setting out design standards and cost yardsticks for self-contained accommodation for single people of working age.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to encourage further solar heating experiments similar to the total heating of St. George's School, Wallasey.

The pioneering design of St. George's School, Wallasey, led to problems over inadequate ventilation, and to heat losses through the solar wall during sunless periods. The lighting system used for supplementary heating has also proved expensive. Current DOE work is directed towards the design and experimental development of new buildings of low energy consumption, taking advantage of such devices as solar collectors and solar heat storage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of recent explosions, he has any proposals to make which will help alleviate the fear of those living in densely built-up areas adjacent to industrial premises storing or manufacturing highly combustible substances.

Following the Flixborough explosion the Health and Safety Commission has set up an Advisory Committee on Major Hazards to study the safety and siting of major industrial premises. In the meantime the Health and Safety Executive is advising local authorities, who have powers to discontinue a use, about the risks in particular cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance is being provided by his Department to housing associations in the Thanet area.

Discussions have been held with six housing associations in the Thanet area to consider their schemes for housing association grant. None of these proposals has reached the stage of grant approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the practice in his Department concerning the granting of paid or unpaid leave for civilian employees of his Department who are elected as mayors.

Civil Servants who are elected as mayors may be granted 18 days' special paid leave in addition to their ordinary annual leave entitlement. Industrial employees who are also both local councillors and justices of the peace may be allowed an additional six days, making 24 days in all, because their ordinary annual leave entitlement is generally less than that of non-industrial staff. Those appointed lord mayors—and lord provosts in Scotland—may be allowed a maximum of 24 days in their mayoral year. Special unpaid leave may be granted to meet individual needs and circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he uses before granting licences to carry out experiments on live animals to ensure that the provisions of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 are carried out as regards the anaesthetising requirements.

For a licensee to perform an experiment without anaesthesia he must hold one or more certificates under the Act given by the president of a learned society and a professor in a medical discipline. The Secretary of State has power to disallow such a certificate and sometimes does so. Examples of grounds for disallowance are that the licensee is not sufficiently qualified or the experiment is badly designed. It is the duty of the Cruelty to Animals Inspectorate to ensure that a licensee observes the requirements of the Act and the conditions of his licence and holds whatever certificates are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the findings of the community development projects have been taken into account in determining national and local government policy.

Only two projects, Coventry and Liverpool, have completed a full programme of work; the project teams are at present writing up their experience for the information of central and local government interests, among others. Interim reports received from all projects are taken into account, wherever relevant, in the formulation of policy at central and local levels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report (a) estimates for expenditure, and (b) expenditure drawn upon, to finance the community development projects for each year since the inception of the scheme.

Expenditure at outturn prices relating to England and Wales, and excluding the cost of social action schemes, is as follows:

	£million
1970–71	0·05
1971–72	0·1
1972–73	0·2
1973–74	0·4
	(provisional)
1974–75	0·5
	(provisional)

My noble Friend will write to my hon. Friend about estimates of expenditure for these periods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost of the imprisonment of those prisoners sentenced to periods of four years or more.

In England and Wales the estimated weekly cost of maintaining an adult male prisoner in the financial year 1973–74 was £41. I regret that it is not possible to isolate the cost of maintaining prisoners sentenced to periods of four years or more.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make available to interested members of the public all previously restricted Home Office reports and documents concerning the case of James Hanratty.

No. It would not be right to go beyond what has been published in Mr. Hawser's report on the case. Police reports and other material obtained in the investigation of crime necessarily contain confidential information about individuals, and it is well recognised that they ought not to be freely disclosed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report (a) estimates for expenditure, and (b) expenditure drawn upon, to finance the urban aid programme for each year since the inception of the scheme.

Expenditure at outturn prices relating to England and Wales and including the cost of action projects under community development project, is as follows:

	£million
1968–69	0·1
1969–70	2·0
1970–71	7·1
1971–72	6·7
1972–73	10·2
1973–74	13·5
	(provisional)
1974–75	17·3
	(provisional)

My noble Friend will write to my hon. Friend about estimates of expenditure for these periods.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

I have approved an extension of the period of detention under Section 7 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act in 88 cases. 194 people have been detained under the supplemental order made under the Act pending examination at the ports; and a further 259 people have been detained for 48 hours or less under Section 7 of the Act. 23 people have been charged with offences in Great Britain, eight of them with murder, one with conspiracy to cause an explosion, six with unlawful possession of explosives, four with theft, one with robbery, one with burglary, one with assisting offenders and one with causing criminal damage. In addition, one was returned to the Irish Republic and there charged with robbery.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

Three in Great Britain, under Section 1(1)(b) of the Act. One was convicted and two were acquitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 41 people, 36 of whom have been removed, 19 to Northern Ireland and 17 to the Irish Republic. 11 of the 41 made representations objecting to the order, and I revoked the orders in five of these 11 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with present levels of recruitment into the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement.

It is the high rate of wastage rather than low recruitment that has been the main cause of recent manpower difficulties. The strength of the force has in fact remained steady over the first three months of this year; but I am certainly keen to encourage more recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the present quality of recruits offering themselves to the Metropolitan Police; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Candidates of differing standards offer themselves for

LONDON
On the basis of a five-day week
Up to 10 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	18 days
Up to 17 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	21days
Over 17 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	23 days
PARIS
On the basis of a six-day week	…	…	…	…	…	…	27 days
BONN
On the basis of a five-day week
Up to age 30	…	…	…	…	…	…	18 days
Up to age 40	…	…	…	…	…	…	22 days
Up to age 30	…	…	…	…	…	…	25 days
ROME
On the basis of a six-day week
Up to 2 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	15 days
2 to 6 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	20 days
6 to 15 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	30days
15 to 25 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	40 days
Over 25 year s' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	45 days
STOCKHOLM
On the basis of a six-day week
New entrants and up to age 29	…	…	…	…	…	…	24–27 days
From age 30 to39	…	…	…	…	…	…	27–30 days
From age 40 upwards	…	…	…	…	…	…	30–33 days
OTTAWA
On the basis of a five-day week
Ottawa City Police
Up to 14 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	21 days
Over 14 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	28 days
							Plus 1 day for each extra years' service
Ontario Provincial Police
Up to 14 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	21 days
Over 14 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	28 days
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Up to 10 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	21 days
Over 10 years' service	…	…	…	…	…	…	28 days
							plus traveling time to and from home in Canada.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the average weekly hours presently being worked by constables in the Metropolitan Police for each of the divisions in that force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the current annual leave entitlements of police constables, or their equivalents, in London, Paris, Bonn, Rome, Stockholm and Ottawa, respectively.

The information is as follows:

The information requested is not readily available. But a sample survey undertaken by the Police Council in May 1974 in the Metropolitan and City of London forces indicated that uniform constables worked on average 51·6 hours a week and detective constables 61.4 hours a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total establishment and strength of the Metropolitan Police as a whole, and in regard to each of its divisions.

On 13th April the establishment of the Metropolitan Police was 26,628, and the strength was 20,891. The position in each of the territorial divisions was as follows:

Division	Establishment	Strength
Airport	757	584
A	1,034	866
B	859	691
C	997	756
D	1,013	708
E	1,036	700
F	646	497
G	707	521
H	776	597
J	1,152	839
K	1,341	973
L	872	726
M	1,064	767
N	771	559
P	1,112	823
Q	941	700
R	957	691
S	947	623
T	996	674
V	838	616
W	796	628
X	975	691
Y	1,146	819
Z	1,072	788
Thames	209	212
Totals	23,014	17,049

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are currently employed in the Department of Inland Revenue; and how many were so employed on the same date in each of the past 10 years.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether trade union officials are charged income tax, in accordance with Part VIII of the Taxes Act 1970, on the personal benefit derived from the use of a union motor car.

Any personal benefit an employee derives from his use of a motor car owned by his employer is taxable under the provisions of Chapter II of Part VIII of the Taxes Act, and these do not apply to employees of noncommercial concerns, including trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the present postal rates and, in a comparable form, the increases in the rates which would result from the Post Office's present proposals for metrication.

Because the present Imperial scales cannot be sensibly converted at each step to their exact metric equivalents it is difficult to set out meaningful rate-by-rate comparisons without detailed explanation. I am accordingly asking the Chairman of the Post Office to write to my hon. Friend. It is, however, the case that the new scales, which have been discussed with the Post Office Users National Council, are designed to ensure that customers will on average pay no more, and are in fact likely to result for the Post Office in a slight decrease in revenue overall.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his forecast of the level of industrial investment in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

No forecast is available for the financial year. For the calendar year 1975 the results of the industrial investment intentions inquiry carried out by my Department were published by Press notice and in Trade and Industry for 30th January 1975. Further information will be available when the results of the next investment intentions inquiry are published by Press notice on 9th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies set up new operations in Wales in each year since 1965; how many new jobs for men and for women were involved in each case; and how many of these operations are still active.

Information is available only from 1966 and relates to

					Number of Establishments Still in		Latest known employment
					Opening	operation	Male	Female	Total
1966	…	…	…	…	36	30	1,140	1,640	2,780
1967	…	…	…	…	38	31	2,300	1,690	3,3990
1968	…	…	…	…	74	59	5,910	2,120	8,030
1969	…	…	…	…	101	78	6,930	3,510	10,440
1970	…	…	…	…	57	46	3,310	1,190	4,500
1971	…	…	…	…	47	45	2,980	1,870	4,850
1972	…	…	…	…	47	43	2,100	1,560	3,600
1973	…	…	…	…	75	68	2,780	2,740	5,520
1974	…	…	…	…	25	25	770	570	1,340
The figures cover (a) establishments with known origins outside Wales; (b) establishments completely new to manufacturing: and (c) branches of establishments operating in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons excluded from Great Britain under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act have been sent to Northern Ireland; and how many have subsequently been detained or charged with offences in Northern Ireland.

19 persons excluded from Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974 have been sent to Northern Ireland. Nine of these were held on arrival but all were released after questioning.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and how many have been sent to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, respectively.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been detained in Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have subsequently been charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act in Northern Ireland; and under which section of the Act.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report a list of institutions in England and Wales which provide exclusively or have a department catering for (a) the education of physically handicapped students of school age and (b) the education of students above school leaving age.

There are over 150 special schools catering for physically handicapped pupils of school age and nine establishments of further education and training for physically handicapped students over school age. In addition, some independent schools which are recognised as efficient provide for physically handicapped children. All these institutions are included in the Department's "List of Special Schools for Handicapped Pupils in England and Wales" (List 42) and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will ensure, in the assessment of the student grants, that grants do not fall behind increases in hall fees and canteen prices.

I am at present considering the appropriate level of student grant for the academic year 1975–76 in the light of increases in student costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will promote or arrange for the production of film strips, video tapes and films portraying and explaining the work and history of Parliament, suitable for showing in schools.

There is already a range of film strips and films on this subject, and I am not convinced that a further production would materially assist teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of boarding places required in secondary education in England and Wales; and what plans he has to meet this demand.

My right hon. Friend has made no estimate of the number of boarding places required. Any calculation must necessarily depend on assumptions and criteria on which different views may be held. It is for each local education authority to consider what action should be taken in response to demand arising from its area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects negotiations concerning university lecturers' salaries to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 30th April to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon (Mr. Woof).—[Vol. 891, c. 146.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many proposals for the reorganisation of secondary schools have been approved in each year from 1959 to 1974; and what proportion of maintained secondary schools they constituted in each case.

Before the Education Act 1968, proposals to reorganise a secondary school as a comprehensive school did not require the approval of the Secretary of State. It is not possible, therefore, to provide the information requested. Figures for the number of comprehensive schools in England and Wales in operation during the years in question and the proportion of maintained secondary schools they constituted are:

Year (at 1st January)	Total Number of Comprehensive Schools	Proportion of Maintained Sector Per cent.
1959	111	1·9
1960	130	2·2
1961	138	2·3
1962	152	2·6
1963	175	2·9
1964	195	3·0
1965	262	4·5
1966	387	6·7
1967	508	8·8
1968	748	13·4
1969	962	17·6
1970	1,145	21·8
1971	1,373	26·7
1972	1,591	31·8
1973	1,835	37·8
1974	2,273	48·6

asked the Prime Minister whether Ministers who make reference to the question of EEC membership on official engagements during the period of the referendum campaign have to pay the cost of any official transport used.

No. As I have already told my hon. Friend, official transport is provided for Ministers in connection with their official business.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the anticipated administration costs of the Welsh National Water Development Authority in 1975–76; and what they were in 1974–75.

I am informed that the authority will be identifying these costs in its annual accounts, which will not be available for some months. The authority may, however, be able to help the hon. Member if he will write to it direct.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff are currently employed by the Welsh National Water Development Authority in its various divisions.

I understand that on 31st March 1975 the Welsh National Water Development Authority employed 1,111 staff in its river divisions; 2,889 in its water divisions; 925 in its sewage divisions: and 120 staff at its head-quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is aware that the publication of his preferred alternative routes for the proposed bypass of Llangollen, Clwyd, has prevented the completion of the partly constructed Fronccysyllte Community Centre and the erection of a number of old people's bungalows on land adjacent to the Argoed Old People's Home; and whether he will now remove the blight on these projects by giving a firm assurance that no route affecting them will be adopted.

Some temporary uncertainty cannot be avoided if the public are to be given an early opportunity of participating in highways planning. I am currently considering public reaction to alternative routes for a bypass of Llangollen and I shall take full account of all the views expressed, including those of the hon. and learned Member. I shall announce my decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what representations he has received concerning future central Government financial aid for Glamorgan (Rhoose) Airport; and if he will make a statement;(2) for what central Government financial assistance is Glamorgan (Rhoose) airport eligible.

Glamorgan Airport can be considered for Government financial assistance under Section 12 of the Civil Aviation Act 1968. The longstanding criteria, which are strictly applied, include whether the aerodrome is one of the limited number indispensable to the national air transport system; and whether the cost of running it is greater than the local community can be reasonably expected to bear. My right hon. Friend, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Wales, is considering the case made by the Airport Joint Committee, to which the Wales TUC and the Welsh Office of the CBI have contributed. This has been supported by the Welsh Council, the Welsh Counties Committee and other Welsh interests. He will make a statement about it as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is taking to improve trade with Finland.

Last November my right hon. Friend received an important trade mission of senior Finnish industrialists and officials in London. The resulting trade opportunities continue to be followed up by the official services. In January this year he visited Helsinki. The development of trade was one of the subjects he discussed there with Finnish Ministers. The services normally provided by the British Overseas Trade Board and my Department are well used by British exporters to Finland, and our exports have expanded satisfactorily over recent years. We would expect this to continue but the scope in the immediate future is limited by Finland's balance of payments problems and by the import deposit scheme which the Finnish Government has consequently been obliged to introduce.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish the correspondence between the Institute of Fuel and the Chairman of the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation, at the time when that body was set up.

No. The Chairman of the Advisory Council, on receiving a letter from the Institute of Fuel on his appointment indicating the institute's interest in energy conservation and offering cooperation in any way that seemed useful, personally welcomed this approach. The council is now engaged in a programme of consultations with a number of interested bodies, including the institute.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether there is freedom to charge a different price for North Sea oil in the EEC from the United Kingdom price for this oil.

There are provisions in the Treaty of Rome against price discrimination. It is, in any case, the Government's intention that North Sea oil should be disposed of at market prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to encourage the use of solid fuel appliances in new housing projects.

I have been asked to reply.All new local authority housing must comply with the minimum Parker Morris standard for heating. The method individual local authorities choose to meet that standard is a matter for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of draft directives being held up by the EEC Commission until after the referendum.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what clauses of the Treaty of Accession to the EEC have been amended since the United Kingdom's entry.

None. The Government were able substantially, but not completely, to achieve their renegotiation objectives through changes in the policies and decisions of the Community as proposed in my right hon. Friend's statement in the Council of Ministers on 1st April 1974 (Cmnd. 5593).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the Commission of the EEC to prevent member States from signing the proposed United Nations Convention on a code of conduct for liner conferences; in what ways any parts of this draft convention conflict with the Treaty of Rome; and what reasons are advanced by the Commission for taking action in this matter.

The Commission considers that member States should adopt a common policy towards the convention, and that they should not sign or ratify it unilaterally. Her Majesty's Government support this view, since implementation of the convention, against which the United Kingdom voted in Geneva in 1974, would, in their opinion, invoke an unacceptable degree of interference in commercial operations. We are taking an active part in current discussions on the question of the convention's compatibility with the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the considerations that prompted him to close Her Majesty's embassy in Saigon when the recognised Government of the Republic of South Vietnam was functioning; how many British subjects remained in the country: what advice was given to them; how many Vietnamese employees of the embassy who desired evacuation were left behind; and what is the estimated cost to public funds of closing and later reopening a British mission in Saigon.

The embassy in Saigon was closed temporarily on 24th April because of the uncertain security situation. It will be reopened as soon as circumstances permit. The Ambassador repeatedly urged all members of the British community to leave Saigon and special flights were arranged on 7th April and 24th April. 36 British journalists and 18 registered members of the British community chose to remain in Saigon. Two have since left. Six Vietnamese employees of our embassy left Saigon on the RAF flight on 24th April with dependants. 30 employees remained behind. Two of these had expressed a wish to leave, but were not in possession of the necessary documentation, and would, therefore, not have been permitted by their authorities to leave.It is impossible at this stage to work out an accurate total of the expenses of closing and reopening the mission, which would partly depend on the circumstances of reopening. The total cost of the aircraft involved in the closure was £8,507.I hope to let the hon. Member have further information later.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any further progress has been made with the negotiations over the implementation of the Anglo-Czechoslovakian Money and Property Agreement.

An Agreement between the United States and the Czechoslovak Governments which would have facilitated progress on this and related questions was initialled in Prague on 5th July 1974. But in December 1974 the United States Congress instructed the United States Government to renegotiate it, and that meanwhile the United States Government should not release any gold belonging to Czechoslovakia until such a renegotiated agreement had been approved by the Congress.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what convictions by Scottish criminal courts have been held to be wrongfully arrived at in the last 10 years; and if he will list them.

The numbers of convictions in Scotland which were quashed on appeal to the High Court of Justiciary, together with the numbers of free pardons granted by the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy during each of the last 10 years, are shown in the table below.

	Number of convictions quashed by the High Court	Number of Free Pardons granted by the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy*
1974	54†	6
1973	63	5
1972	43	3
1971	24	2
1970	22	1
1969	25	2
1968	26	5
1967	21	4
1966	26	4
1965	17	6
*Some of these free pardons involved more than one person and exceptionally one of them involved 483 persons.
† The 1974 figure is provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he is going to announce the names of the persons he intends to nominate to fill the vacancies in Irvine Development Corporation from 15th May 1975.

When I have completed my consideration of these appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of unemployed juveniles in Merseyside, in the Wirral and in Wallasey respectively.

I regret that the information is not available in the precise form requested, covering all juveniles, because the age analysis due in January 1975 could not be made owing to industrial action at the local office of the Employment Service Agency. However, special counts are made each month of the numbers of school leavers aged under 18 who are unemployed, and the figures for April 1975 for the Merseyside Special Development Area, the Wirral and Wallasey were 2,675, 274 and 89 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the working population is classified as self-employed in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, respectively, at the latest date for which figures are available.

The proportions of the civilian working population classified as self-employed persons, including those with employees, in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland at June 1973 are as follows:

Scotland	6·2 per cent.
England	7·8 per cent.
Wales	9·8per cent.
Northern Ireland	11 per cent.