asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement about the long-term support for Alfred Herbert.

I have completed my examination of the report and recommendations submitted to me by the consultants appointed to investigate the position of Alfred Herbert Limited and the proposals I have received on behalf of the management and employees of the company.I am proposing to make available to the company under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 long-term finance up to a maximum of £25 million on terms to be negotiated. Subject to the enactment of the Industry Bill, which recently received its Third Reading in the House, a major proportion of this finance would be in equity which would be vested in the proposed National Enterprise Board. These funds would enable the company to reduce its overdraft, and consequently its heavy burden of interest, and would provide working capital and capital for expenditure on new plant and equipment.The provision of this money will be made in the context of a scheme of arrangement subject to the agreement of the shareholders which would provide for a reconstruction of the company's capital, including a reduction in the nominal value of the equity, and which will be put before the court under Section 206 of the Companies Act 1948. I am setting in hand preparations for the necessary negotiations with the parties concerned.The Government will look to the company under its new acting chairman, Mr. J. W. Buckley, to take the necessary measures to strengthen further its management and to concentrate its resources in profitable directions. It will be for the company to determine the strategy and the consequent pattern of production to give effect to this purpose. The aim will be to ensure that Alfred Herbert Limited will achieve a profitable future in the coming years.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications for assistance under the provisions of the Industry Act have been received by his Department in respect of the county of Cornwall from 1st March 1974 to the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will indicate the number of approvals given, including the number of projects assisted and the number of jobs either created or saved.

From 1st March 1974 to 31st May 1975, 39 applications for regional selective assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act were received for projects in the South-West development area. Twenty-four offers were made in the same period in respect of 22 projects expected to lead to the creation of 1,255 new jobs and the safeguarding of a further 374. I regret that separate information for the county of Cornwall is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, when submitting applications for financial assistance to the EEC Regional Fund, it is his intention to pursue the same policy as that which currently applies in respect of the Government's submission of applications to the EEC Social Fund; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are considering the procedure to be adopted for submitting applications to the European Regional Development Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many copies of the seven publications on terotechnology produced by his Department were distributed to applicants in 1974; and what was the cost to public funds of producing and distributing this literature.

A total of 8,270 copies of the seven terotechnology publications were distributed in 1974 at a cost of £850.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the specific nature of his Department's relationship with the National Terotechnology Centre; and when it was set up by his Department.

The National Terotechnology Centre is operated by the Electrical Research Association under contract with my Department. The contract came into force on 1st April 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why he has set up the National Terotechnology Centre under contract to his Department; what level of Government subsidy or financing is envisaged for the first year of its operation; and under what class of his Department's Vote that expenditure is intended to be borne.

The National Terotechnology Centre has been set up to promote in industry and commerce an appreciation of the benefits to be secured from the practice of terotechnology. The contract for the centre provides for a maximum payment in its first year of operation of £50,000. The expenditure falls under Class IV, Vote 4, Industrial Innovation, Technological and Industrial Sponsorship.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what work was previously undertaken by his Department's Committee for Terotechnology; what were the terms of reference of that committee; when it was set up; how often it met during 1974; and who were its members.

The Committee for Terotechnology is one of the subsidiary committees set up under the Committee for Industrial Technologies. It is charged with advising on the best methods of establishing the practice of terotechnology in industry and commerce. The committee was set up in 1970. It met four times during 1974. I have placed in the Libary a pamphlet giving its terms of reference and membership.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will arrange to publish a statement on the findings of the tripartite working group set up to examine the future of the HS146.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State has issued an invitation to the CSEU to discuss the report with its Aerospace Committee. It would be preferable to await the outcome of this meeting before considering the question of a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his latest estimate of the profit or loss of the Post Office for the current year.

pursuant to the reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 1st May 1975; Vol. 891, c. 222], gave the following information:I have been in close touch with the Chairman of the Post Office on this and he informs me that on present indications the total likely deficit is estimated as being of the order of £300 million. I understand from the Chairman that he is about to put new tariff proposals to the Price Commission and to the Post Office Users' National Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office Corporation requiring it to cease spending money on consumer surveys for the time being.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the provision of the social infrastructure in housing, education, health and transport services to meet the needs of the North Sea oil industry.

Substantial progress has been made by public authorities in providing the necessary infrastructure in the areas directly affected by North Sea oil. The Government are giving priority to proposals for investment of this kind as well as significant additional financial assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the operation of the current system whereby agricultural colleges are required to charge farmers for the analysis of soils, crops and other agricultural samples.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the provision of local government housing in Mid-Argyll.

I have received six letters of representation, all from members of the public, about housing proposals for Lochgilphead.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the effects for Scotland of the proposal to move the Directorate of Overseas Surveys to Glasgow from London.

The move will provide valuable employment opportunities of a professional nature in the Glasgow area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether full production of blood products, including Factor VIII concentrate, has now been achieved by the protein fractionation centre at Liberton, Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement.

The centre is at present processing half of the plasma required and is expected to be in full production by the end of the year. A small supply of Factor VIII concentrate will become available at the end of August and production will be increased as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the value and volume of white fish and herring landed at Scottish ports in 1975 to the nearest convenient date; and how this compares with the same period last year.

British vessels landed 109,000 tons of white fish worth £17·4 million and 39,000 tons of herring worth £3·4 million in Scotland in the period 1st January to 7th June 1975. In the comparable period for 1974 there were landings of 130,000 tons of white fish worth £21·9 million and 54,000 tons of herring worth £5·9 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with present levels of Scottish housing activity; and if he will make a statement.

While there is still much to be done, I am glad to see the improvement over the last year in the number of houses approved, started and under construction which should result in more completions in the public sector. Also, there are signs that the private sector is recovering in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further steps are being taken to obtain better herring quotas for Scottish fishermen and to restrict industrial fishing; and if he will make a statement.

Quotas from North Sea herring and herring to the west of Scotland to the end of 1976 were agreed by majority votes at the recent meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission. The former represents an increase from 3·6 per cent. to 6·3 per cent. of the total international catch, and the latter quota remains at 53 per cent. We shall seek to negotiate further improvements next summer, consistent with the need to allow fish stocks to recover.United Kingdom proposals for measures to control industrial fishing will be discussed at a special meeting of the commission in November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what benefits he estimates will accrue for Scottish farmers or industries due to the recent decisions taken concerning expansion of United Kingdom sugar beet production.

There is no sugar beet industry in Scotland at present. Whether it would be feasible and advantageous to re-establish one, in the light of the projections in the White Paper "Food From Our Own Resources" and of all the factors affecting the profitability of sugar beet growing and processing in Scotland, is a matter for the judgment of farmers and processors themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will encourage the building of a Scottish sugar beet factory or factories, to replace the Cupar factory closed down in 1971, and to ensure that Scotland claims a share of the sugar beet expansion schemes now taking place.

Whether it would make good sense to resume sugar beet processing in Scotland is a matter for the commercial judgment of the British Sugar Corporation or any other interested organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will review the workings of the Dunning Committee on O grade examination structure and the Munn Committee on S3 and S4 Examination Curricula in order to avoid duplication of functions;(2) if he is satisfied with the relationship between the Dunning Committee on O grade examination structure, and the Munn Committee on S3 and S4 Examination Curricula.

I am satisfied that the Dunning Committee, which I have appointed to inquire into the forms of assessment or examination most suitable for the needs of pupils in their fourth year of secondary education, and the Munn Committee, which the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum has established to consider the structure of the curriculum in the third and fourth years of secondary education, have distinct and complementary functions. I do not consider any review of the functions of these respective committees to be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the revised version of the Schools (Scotland) Code 1956 to be made available.

I intend to replace the Schools (Scotland) Code 1956 by two new sets of regulations. The first, replacing those provisions concerned with the general conduct of schools, I hope to make in time to come into force in early August; the second, to replace provisions concerned with the staffing of schools, will follow later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the percentage of gross national product spent on housing in Scotland.

The information requested is not available for Scotland. Housing investment comprised approximately 4·7 per cent. of GNP in the United Kingdom in 1973–74. It is estimated that housing investment in Scotland in 1973 was £295 million, or approximately 5·5 per cent. of the Scottish gross domestic product. Total expenditure on housing in Scotland, including house improvements, and repair and maintenance, in 1973 amounted to about 8 per cent. of Scottish GDP.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were employed by the Forestry Commission in Scotland 10 years ago; and how many were employed at the last date for which figures are available.

At 30th June 1965 the Forestry Commission employed 4,651 persons in Scotland. At 30th June 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, the number was 3,478.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now state when he will introduce legislation for crofter ownership of land.

I am not yet in a position to add to the reply given on 12th March to the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what former local government authorities and present district councils gave, or give, rent rebates or reduced rents for either severe dampness or condensation.

Local authorities have discretion on fixing the rents of individual houses in their stock, but information is not available centrally on reductions in rent for the reasons mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost to the local authorities of salaries and wages, &c., of officials, excluding revenue producing undertakings, for 1974–75.

A reliable estimate cannot be made on the information presently available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fishery cruisers he has under his control; how many more it is intended shall be built; and what responsibilities these vessels have for oil platform protection.

My Department's fishery protection fleet comprises six vessels. Of these one is on temporary loan to the Royal Navy and five are under my control. Except in cases of emergency these five vessels have fishery protection as their prime function. I do not at present envisage any expansion of the fleet.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much has been spent on harbours and jetties in the Western Isles in the last 10 years.

Comprehensive information of expenditure by all owners of harbours and piers is not available centrally. Government expenditure on piers and harbours for transport and fishery, by way of grant and loan, has been as follows:

				(i) Within the parliamentary constituency of the Western Isles
				£
1965–66	…	…	…	50,284
1966–67	…	…	…	54,002
1967–68	…	…	…	56,490
1968–69	…	…	…	10,697
1969–70	…	…	…	21,796
1970–71	…	…	…	86,271
1971–72	…	…	…	88,199
1972–73	…	…	…	83,551
1973–74	…	…	…	48,914
1974–75	…	…	…	176,625
Total	…	…	…	676,829

				(ii) In the Inner and Outer Hebrides as a whole, and including expenditure on mainland terminals for the transport services to the islands
1965–66	…	…	…	104,084
1966–67	…	…	…	96,628
1967–68	…	…	…	89,331
1968–69	…	…	…	30,947
1969–70	…	…	…	186,727
1970–71	…	…	…	86,271
1971–72	…	…	…	88,199
1972–73	…	…	…	184,071
1973–74	…	…	…	263,280
1974–75	…	…	…	398,030
Total	…	…	…	1,527,568

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will institute an independent inquiry into the salaries and responsibilities of chief officials in local government.

No. Local authorities determine the salaries and responsibilities of their chief officers. These authorities, together with the other employing bodies concerned, are now engaged on a joint review of the pay structures and relativities of top administrative posts in local government, the National Health Service, the water industry and the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to protect householders whose houses suffer damage or cease to be weatherproof as a consequence of the carrying out of local authority demolition orders on adjacent properties.

Local authorities already have powers under Section 29 of the Public Health Act 1961 to serve a notice on any owner undertaking demolition requiring him to carry out specified safeguarding work, including the weatherproofing of any surface of an adjoining building exposed by the demolition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the appointments to boards, committees and organisations which he has power to make in Scotland.

The list is as follows:

• Clyde Port Authority: Chairman and not less than six, not more than eight members.
• Cromarty Firth Port Authority: Not less than six, not more than seven, members.
• Forth Ports Authority: Chairman and five members.
• Scottish Traffic Commissioners: Two commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has now given approval to the ordering of a computer by British Railways to provide the seat reservation system.

No. British Rail has only recently put revised proposals to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give his latest estimate, section by section, of when the various sections of the M27 motorway will be opened to the public.

The Department is at present in negotiation with certain of the contractors concerned over extensions of the period for the completion of those sections of the M27 which are under construction beyond the completion dates provided for in the contracts. The contractors' estimates of the dates on which the sections of motorway are likely to be opened to traffic are as follows:

• Cadnam-Ower: August 1975.
• Ower-Chilworth: September 1975.
• Windhover-Park Gate: August 1975.
• Park Gate-Portsbridge: November-December 1975.

It is too early yet to say when the sections between Chilworth and Windhover and between Havant and Chichester are likely to be built.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost to public funds of the State visit to Edinburgh of His Majesty the King of Sweden.

The estimated cost to my Department is £85,000, of which £27,500 will be met jointly by the Lothian Region and the Edinburgh District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the economic situation, he will urge economies in the expenditure of regional water authorities, such as the Severn-Trent and Anglia proposed expenditure on non-urgent schemes of brook improvements, etc.

I have been asked to reply.Water authorities are already aware of the need for economy in carrying out their functions. It is for them to decide which land drainage improvement schemes they will carry out within their overall capital allocations. When schemes are submitted to my Department for grant aid we need to be satisfied that the cost of the work is justified in relation to the expected benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a careful study of both proposed routes for the Dungeness-Weybridge power line in order to see if more suitable land could be chosen for this route, in view of the effect on the environment of Sussex and Kent.

I have been asked to reply:My right hon. Friend has received no application from the Central Electricity Generating Board for consent to place an overhead line on routes between Dungeness and Weybridge. If such an application is submitted it will be advertised and an opportunity given for any objection to be stated. Any representations would be carefully considered, and a public inquiry would, if necessary, be held before a decision was reached.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will detail the loans granted to Mozambique during the past 12 months; and if he will list the uses to which these funds are to be put and in particular whether they may be used to provide arms, equipment or assistance which could further terrorist activity in Southern Africa.

Although some preliminary discussions were held with the Provisional Government of Mozambique before independence it was not appropriate to negotiate financial assistance before the formal transfer of power, and no aid agreement has yet been made. I hope that when an agreement is concluded the aid will be used initially for the purchase of goods and services from this country and for rural development projects in Mozambique. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister informed the House on 13th May, we are not prepared in any circumstances to provide either arms or money for guerrilla activities.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the nature of the grant to the English Language Book Society for assistance in publishing and for the Hong Kong reprints.

My Department subsidises the production, by the original publishers, of selected British textbooks under the Low Priced Books Scheme for use in educational institutions in some 80 devel- oping countries including Hong Kong. This support, amounting to £775,000 in 1975–76, enables the books to be sold to students at one-third to one-half of the price of the standard editions. Over 470 titles are currently available in a wide range of developmental subjects, and total sales to date are around 11½ million.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement about scholarships to enable Zairians to study in the United Kingdom.

We have in recent years provided a number of scholarships in this country for eligible Zairians, varying from nine in 1972–73 to up to 20 this year which are for students in the educational and agricultural sectors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions of the Treaty of Rome affect or limit in any way the powers of member States to legislate on the subject of tied cottages in agriculture.

I am advised that there are no such provisions in the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence that speculative stockpiling of hay for resale is currently taking place.

No. In so far as hay is grown for resale, the grower is fully entitled to judge when and at what price he will sell.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the current market price of barley used in the brewing industry; and what was the price at the same date last year and for 1973;(2) what is the current market price of malt used in the brewing industry; and what was the price at the same date last year and for 1973.

Following are average ex-farm prices per long ton of malting barley reported by the Home-Grown Cereals Authority at comparable dates over the last three years.

Week ending				£
28th June 1973	…	…	…	34·55
27th June 1974	…	…	…	57·85
26th June 1975	…	…	…	52·80

I regret that figures for malt are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current market price of sugar or sugar products used in the brewing industry; and what was the price at the same date last year and for 1973.

Following are average prices per ton of dry sugar equivalent and relate to sugars purchased from United Kingdom refiners:

	1st July 1975 £ per ton	1st July 1974 £ per ton	1st July 1973 £ per ton
Liquid refined sugar	247	115	95
Liquid invert sugar	264	130	107

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an estimate of the net income derived from a flock of 100 breeding ewes in each of the countries of the EEC and in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, amounts to be given in sterling.

I regret that the information requested is not available. Although for the United Kingdom some farm net income calculations are made for annual review purposes, these do not distinguish between the contributions made by the different farm enterprises.

asked the Minister of Agriculture and Food what further measures he now proposes to take to mitigate the effects of the green pound on Northern Ireland agriculture.

In keeping the level of the United Kingdom representative rate under review I have in mind its effect in all parts of the United Kingdom. The hon. Member will be aware of the action taken earlier this year in Northern Ireland which has mitigated the effects of the present differential between the representative rates applied in the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will arrange for the interdepartmental group report on the effect of capital taxation on agricultural production to be published in due course;(2) when he expects to receive the interdepartmental group report on the effect of capital taxation on agricultural production.

It is too soon to say when the study will be completed or in what form its results will be made known.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for increasing the contribution to the country's exports of the agricultural and horticultural industries.

I have invited my advisory council to examine this question. Its remit is to consider the agricultural and horticultural industries' contribution to exports and to advise how these can be increased, including the means by which the industries could best contribute to the financing of export promotion. In carrying out its inquiry the council will consult the major interests in this field and will work in close liaison with both the British Overseas Trade Board, with its general responsibilities for export promotion, and the British Agricultural Export Council, with its special responsibility for promoting agricultural and horticultural exports.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total cost incurred by the Government Hospitality Fund during the course of the last three financial years; and if he will give full particulars of the costs incurred by each Government Department during this period.

The expenditure from the Government Hospitality Fund for all Departments for the last three financial years has been:

				£
1972–73	…	…	…	252,478
1973–74	…	…	…	262,061
1974–75	…	…	…	243,537

Individual Departments have delegated authority to incur expenditure on official entertainment within agreed provisions, but detailed records of actual expenditure incurred by Departments are not held centrally.The total provision for all Departments for the last three financial years was:

				£
1972–73	…	…	…	304,600
1973–74	…	…	…	370,000
1974–75	…	…	…	434,000

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will arrange for all Government Departments, including the Cabinet Office, to pay direct to the Post Office for all postal and telecommunication services that they use.

Arrangements already exist for direct repayment by all Departments to the Post Office for their use of postal and telecommunications services.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in the present economic situation, he will make it Her Majesty's Government's policy to refrain from paying more than £3,000 per annum to members of Government boards who serve on a part-time basis.

No. Part-time members of Government boards will continue to be paid according to the responsibilities they carry and the amount of part-time work they do. It would be inappropriate to lay down a flat rate limitation when the contribution made by part-time members varies from two or three days a month to four days a week.

asked the Prime Minister what safeguards exist against former civil servants taking up employment in industries where their previous knowledge may be used to give unfair advantages.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 3rd July.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that facilities owned or controlled by the Ministry of Defence are being made available, as far as reasonably practicable, for the purpose of assisting the commercial development of underwater technology.

The Ministry of Defence facilities are available, if required, to assist commercial development of underwater technology, within the practical limits of resources and the defence programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the United States Government about the removal of Polaris submarine bases from the Clyde.

None. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 13th May.—[Vol. 892, c. 240–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances instructions were issued by the Post Office to a private television relay contractor in Rothbury, Northumberland, to discontinue the relay provided on channel 5; and whether, in view of the fact that as a result of his decision BBC1 is no longer available to users of old single-standard 405-line sets in the Rothbury area, he will review it.

Interference affecting the reception of BBCI by viewers who rely on off-air reception in the Armstrong Cottages area of Rothbury has been caused by radiation from the distribution of this channel over a local broadcast relay operator's network. As the operator could not at once completely eliminate this radiation he was asked to stop distribution on channel 5 until he could. I am told that out of 450 subscribers to the system only three are affected by the action taken. If the hon. Member would like to let me know the names and addresses of any subscribers who have complained to him we will look into their problems further so as to see whether anything can be done to help them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many man days were served in prison in 1974 for offences connected with drunkenness.

Drunkenness is a factor in a significant number of criminal offences but precise records are kept only of substantive offences of drunkenness. In 1974 some 34,511 days were served by fine defaulters and some 17,593 days were served without the option of a fine by persons sentenced in England and Wales for an offence of drunkenness.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for refuge have been received since the coup in Chile; how many have been granted; how many refugees have arrived in the United Kingdom; and whether he proposes to review the policy on admissions.

So far 6,830 applications have been received—including dependants—of which 1,971 have been granted. Many of those concerned have not exercised their option to come here and apparently do not intend to do so. Only 893 have arrived in the United Kingdom.I have reviewed our policy in the light of these figures and of the grounds on which applications are currently being made, and have decided on some change of emphasis.For the future, the United Kingdom will continue to play its part in taking a share of refugees under any international arrangements covering those detained in Chile on political grounds. For the rest, in general, we shall confine admissions to those under political pressure in the following categories: (

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will take immediate steps to have all noisy drilling operations in the Norman Shaw building suspended until the House rises so that Members may work in peace.

I understand that the heavy drilling operations should be completed at the end of this week and thereafter there will only be short periods of light drilling which will cause minimal inconvenience. I have already arranged for the drilling operations to be confined to afternoons when there is less inconvenience to hon. Members. Further interruption or delay in the work at this stage would extend the contract completion date and increase costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Northern Ireland civil servants and how many transferred civil servants were employed on 1st July 1974 and 1st July 1975, respectively.

There were 30,154 Northern Ireland civil servants, including industrials, at 1st July 1974. Precise figures are not yet available for 1st July 1975 but the present total is about 33,700, including industrials. The term "transferred

		Granted			Refused
Type of Application		1973	1974	1975	1973	1974	1975
Initial Grant	…	3,892	3,946	3,017	132	160	170
Renewal	…	7,723	4,309	13,396	129	315	157
Variation of existing certificate	…	4,472	5,452	5,795	414	39	190
TOTAL	…	16,087	13,707	22,208	675	514	517

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to discuss with Scottish industrial interests the problem of school leavers seeking work in the present depressed labour market.

It is the standard procedure for officers of the careers service provided by education authorities to canvass employers at this time of the year to identify jobs for school leavers and to give these young people all possible help in finding employment. The Manpower Services Commission is also giving urgent consideration to possible ways of improving employment and training opportunities for young people, and on 2nd July announced a scheme to assist

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for firearms certificates in Northern Ireland have been refused since 1st January 1975; how many have been granted; and what were the figures in 1974 and 1973 for the same period.

The figures for the period 1st January to 30th June are as follows:school leavers, sandwich course students, and redundant apprentices. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has allocated £50 million to the commission for use over the next two years in developing employment and training programmes, including those designed to help young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers in Scotland, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, in number and as a percentage of the insured work force, are as yet unplaced in their first jobs; and what effect the July leaving date is expected to have on the relevant figures.

The following table shows the number of unemployed school leavers aged under 18. Corresponding rates of unemployment are not shown as the numbers of unemployed school leavers for each area form only about a tenth of 1 per cent. of the estimated total number of employees, employed and unemployed. It is expected that just tinder 50,000 young people in Scotland will leave school for employment at the end of the summer term but it is not possible to assess what effect these will have on levels of unemployment since it is not known how many of them have already obtained offers of employment.

SCHOOL-LEAVERS, AGED UNDER 18 UNEMPLOYED ON 9TH JUNE 1975
			Number of unemployed school-leavers aged under 18
Employment office or travel-to-work area
Aberdeen*	…	…	4
Dundee	…	…	80
Edinburgh*	…	…	102
Glasgow*	…	…	625
Scotland	…	…	2,700
* Travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people who left school at Christmas 1974 and Easter 1975 are still unemployed in the Hamilton and Lark-hall area.

The precise information is not readily available as statistics

NUMBER OF WORKING DAYS LOST IN SCOTLAND DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES
(000's)
		1970	1971	1972	1973	1974
Mining and quarrying		147	10	1,070	8	546
Metal manufacture		70	24	91	37	31
Engineering		317	317	768	287	614
Shipbuilding and marine engineering		152	238	388	37	23
Motor vehicles		120	21	299	114	204
Aerospace equipment		13	117	36	69	146
All other vehicles		1	—*	3	1	—*
Metal goods not elsewhere specified		49	8	21	19	23
Textiles, clothing and footwear		57	14	156	11	23
All other manufacturing industries		236	43	164	68	210
Construction		50	33	963	29	67
Transport and communication		232	573	81	31	319
Local Government Service		12	1	5	15	20
All other non-manufacturing industries and services		79	3	35	72	197
	Total including local government service	1,534	1,402	4,080	797	2,423
	Total excluding local government service	1,522	1,401	4,075	782	2,403
Number of working days lost per 1,000 employees in employment (including local government service)		750	700	2,050	400	1,150
* Less than 50 workers or 500 working days.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of days lost in production through labour disputes in Scotland, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow in the last five years, inclusive and exclusive of local government and expressed in respect of principal branches of industrial activity; and what are the figures of days lost as percentages of the insured population in each relevant area.

Statistics about stoppages are not compiled for individual local areas. A broad industrial analysis for Scotland as a whole, however, is published each year in the Department of Employment Gazette. The following table shows, for the years 1970–74, the number of working days lost in broad industry groups, including and excluding local government service (Minimum List Heading 906 of the Standard Industrial Classification). The total number of working days lost in each year is also expressed as the number of working days lost per 1,000 employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days have been lost due to strikes from 1st March 1974; and how this compares with the similar preceding period.

The latest month for which information is available is May 1975. During the 15 months 1st March 1974 to 31st May 1975, 13,396,000 working days were lost due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom. In the previous 15-month period, that is, 1st December 1972 to 28th February 1974, the figure was 11,726,000 working days lost. The number of working days lost relates to all stoppages in progress in each period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many adult men and women are now registered as unemployed in the city of Birmingham; and how many were unemployed

Unemployed in the area covered by the Aston, Birmingham, Handsworth, Selly Oak, Small Heath, Sutton Coldfield and Washwood Heath Employment Offices
							Males		Females
June 1970	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	10,076	1,583
June 1971	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	17,079	2,366
June 1972	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	20,526	3,070
June 1973	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	13,107	2,025
June 1974	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	12,286	1,756
June 1975	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	22,400	4,767

				Males		Females
				Aged under 18	Aged 18 and over	Aged under 18	Aged 18 and over
July 1970	…	…	…	317	10,652	126	1,796
July 1971	…	…	…	622	17,902	196	2,459
July 1972	…	…	…	837	20,036	394	2,981
July 1973	…	…	…	326	13,066	162	2,043
July 1974	…	…	…	358	12,801	183	2,001

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skilled engineers are now registered as unemployed in the city of Birmingham; and how this figure compares with the corresponding month for 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971 and 1970.

Figures are available for a group of craft occupations which form part of Processing, Making, Repairing and Related (Metal and Electrical) Group XIV of the List of Key Occupations for Statistical Purposes. At June 1975, in the area covered by the Aston, Birmingham, Handsworth, Selly Oak,

The following table shows the total numbers of males and females unemployed at June each year and the numbers of adults and young people unemployed at each July from 1970 to 1974. Separate information about adults and young people is available only from the detailed analysis by age which is normally made half yearly, in January and July. Owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency an age analysis for January 1975 is not available and the most recent published statistics relate to June 1974. The analysis for July 1975 will become available shortly and I will circulate a table in the Official Report when these figures are ready.Small Heath, Sutton Coldfield and Wash-wood Heath employment offices 1,778 unemployed males were registered for employment in this group of occupations. The corresponding figures for June 1974 and June 1973 were 745 and 844, respectively. Figures for June 1972, June 1971 and June 1970 are not available on the same basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people were unemployed in the area covered by the Leek employment office at the most recent count; and how this figure compares with those obtaining in the same months of 1973 and 1974;(2) how many people were unemployed in the area covered by the Biddulph employment office at the most recent count; and how this figure compares with those obtaining in the same month of 1973 and 1974;(3) how many people were unemployed in the area covered by the Cheadle, Staffordshire employment office at the

NUMBER UNEMPLOYED
					Leek	Biddulph	Cheadle	Kidsgrove
June 1975	…	…	…	…	537	182	178	308
June 1974	…	…	…	…	136	131	105	221
June 1973	…	…	…	…	163	121	138	293

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were unemployed in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency to the latest convenient date; and how this figure compares with the regional percentage figure and the national percentage figure.

On 9th June 1975, 1,101 people were unemployed in the area covered by the Macclesfield and Congleton employment offices and the rate of unemployment was 3·1 per cent. The corresponding rate for the North-West Region was 4·9 per cent. and for Great Britain 3·7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were the total numbers of males and females in part-time shore employment ancillary to the fishing industry during the years 1973 and 1974 in the ports of Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Macduff, Buckie and Lossiemouth, respectively;(2) what were the total numbers of males and females in full-time shore employment ancillary to the fishing industry during the years 1973 and 1974 in the ports of Aberdeen, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Macduff, Buckie and Lossiemouth, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available. My Department's employment statistics are analysed according to the Minimum List Headings most recent count; and how this figure compares with those obtaining in the same month of 1973 and 1974;(4) how many people were unemployed in the area covered by the Kidsgrove employment office at the most recent count; and how the figure compares with those obtaining in the same month of 1973 and 1974.

Following is the information:of the Standard Industrial Classification which does not separately identify shore employment ancillary to the fishing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many youths under the age of 18 years are at present unemployed in the Hull area; and what was the figure for the month of October in each of the years since 1970.

Information about unemployed young people aged under 18 is available only from the detailed age analysis of the unemployed which is normally made half-yearly, in January and July. Owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency, figures for January 1975 are not available, and the most recent published statistics relate to July 1974. The analysis for July 1975 will become available in two to three weeks' time and I will circulate a table in the Official Report when these figures are ready.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the current rates, respectively, of male and female unemployment in West Cornwall expressed in numbers and as a percentage.

On 9th June 1975, 5,136 males and 899 females were unemployed in employment office areas in West Cornwall; the rates of unemployment were 8·7 per cent. for males and 2·6 per cent. for females.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will convene and chair a meeting of employers, trades unionists and local authorities in West Cornwall to discuss unemployment problems and to seek to find a solution.

I do not think this is necessary. The Manpower Services Commission is setting up a national network of district manpower committees to advise on local employment and training questions. The membership of these committees will include representatives of employers, trade unions and local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) in view of his recent assurances to Cornish trade unionists that Cornish unemployment was a special case, if he will now indicate what special solution he envisages;(2) what plans he has to resolve the high level of unemployment in West Cornwall.

Almost the whole of Cornwall is a development area and already benefits from assistance under the 1972 Industry Act. It is the policy of the Government to improve employment opportunities in areas of high unemployment such as Cornwall through an active

AVERAGE GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS—APRIL OF EACH YEAR
	Men
Percentage increase
	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1970–74
	£	£	£	£	£
Collective agreements
Nurses and midwives Whitley Council*	23·50	26·10	28·50	29·70	32·80	39·6
Teachers in primary and secondary schools—England and Wales*	35·90	36·20	41·80	46 10	52·30	45·7
Civil Service—executive grades*	42·70	45·50	52·50	52·50	68·30	60·0
National Health Service ancillary staff Whitley Council†*	22·00	25·70	27·80	29·20	37·30	69·5
Post Office manipulative grades†	27·50	28·50	33·30	36·00	44·00	60·0
Local authorities manual workers NJC—England and Wales†	21·20	24·30	26·60	31·20	35·50	67·5
Engineering—manual workers (United Kingdom)†	29·00	31·50	34·80	40·20	45·40	56·6
Industries
Agriculture and horticulture†	18·90	21·20	24·30	27·80	35·40	87·3
Catering services†	18·60	20·20	22·40	26·20	30·50	64·0
Textiles†	24·80	27·40	30·80	35·20	40·90	64·9
Occupation
Bus and coach drivers†	27·10	31·00	33·90	39·90	46·70	72·3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing weekly earnings in each of the past five years of nurses, teachers, Civil Service executive officers, personnel managers, doctors, managing directors of the first five category one companies, Civil Service assistant secretaries, chairmen of nationalised industries, chief officials in local government, Scottish advocates, solicitors, farmworkers, hospital ancillary workers, postmen, railway signalmen, catering staff, dustmen, semi-skilled engineering workers, bus drivers, journalists, and textile workers; and what has been the percentage increase between the wage of 1970 and that of today.

Most of these groups are not separately distinguished in my Department's surveys of earnings. The 1970 to 1974 results of the New Earnings Surveys include the following estimates of average gross weekly earnings of full-time men aced 21 and over and women aged 18 and over in Great Britain whose pay for the survey reference pay-period was not affected by absence.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people in the Essex area, with particular reference to Basildon, are currently registered as unemployed.

1,431 registered disabled people are currently unemployed

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the unemployment figures for exchanges in Moray and Nairn for each month from October 1974 to the nearest available date in all categories.

Following is the information:in the Essex area, including 197 in Basildon.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the facilities that exist in Devon and Cornwall for retraining, their location, size and the nature of the courses available.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there is a skillcentre at Plymouth with 277 training places in construction, engineering, electrical/electronics and automotive trades. Another skillcentre at Redruth has 106 training places in construction, engineering and automotive trades. There are also educational establishments in most towns in Devon and Cornwall offering training in a much wider variety of occupations. For these establishments a precise number of training places cannot be given as, in addition to exclusive TOPS courses in shorthand-typing, typing and clerical occupations, TOPS trainees can be accommodated on an "in-fill" basis on existing college courses. Some engineering training is provided in employers' establishments as arrangements can be made.

Year/Month					Net cost to dismissing employers (after receiving rebate)	Cost to Redundancy Fund	Total received by employees
					£	£	£
1971	…	…	…	…	57,166,000	57,107,000	108,273,000
1972	…	…	…	…	46,738,000	50,775,000	97,513,000
1973	…	…	…	…	32,054,000	34,519,000	66,573,000
1974	…	…	…	…	35,005,000	38,555,000	73,560,000
January 1975	…	…	…	…	5,511,000	6,424,000	11,935,000
February 1975	…	…	…	…	5,297,000	5,757,000	11,054,000
March 1975	…	…	…	…	4,886,000	5,241,000	10,127,000
April 1975	…	…	…	…	5,493,000	6,227,000	11,720,000