asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost to British taxpayers of the use of British Service men and civilians at the display in honour of the Sultan of Oman on 23rd November; and if he will reconsider their participation.

Two military bands and the Royal Signals motor cycle display team will take part in the Oman Tattoo provided that this is on a normal commercial basis, with all costs being met by the Oman Government. Military bands and display teams undertake a wide variety of such engagements in many different countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what military works were scheduled to be carried out on Diego Garcia to convert it from a communications centre into a naval and air base under agreements made between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the United States of America in December 1970; and what further works have been agreed since that date.

In December 1970 Her Majesty's Government announced their agreement to the construction by the United States Government of a limited naval communications facility on Diego Garcia. I have described the existing facilities and the proposed expansion in the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 6th August.—[Vol. 897, c. 204–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Army units have been or are to be disbanded as the result of the cuts announced in the Defence White Paper; and what other units are likely to be disbanded following the further cuts announced in the Budget.

So far as the defence review is concerned, as I explained on 17th June—[Vol. 893, c. 1210]—all cap-badged regiments in the Royal Armoured Corps and the infantry, including the Parachute Regiment, will be retained. However, as a result of the reorganisation of the Army, and in accordance with the principles of increasing the span of command and concentrating certain functions as announced in the White Paper, there will be fewer units in other Arms although generally speaking, they will have more sub-units than at present. For example, the Royal Engineers will be reduced from 13 to 11 regiments and the Logistic Services from 39 to 31 regiments. In the interests of security I am afraid that I am unable to release full details of our future order of battle at this stage.The further reduction in defence expenditure for 1976–77 announced at the time of the last Budget will not lead to any disbandments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to publish the next defence White Paper.

I expect to publish the next defence White Paper in February 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Exercise Inside Right.

Exercise Inside Right began on 6th October and is to go on until 26th October 1975. It is the most recent in a series of exercises which have been conducted since the Home Commands were reorganised in 1972. Its object is to test the plans and procedures of the Armed Forces for mobilising the reserves, for reinforcing our NATO allies in Europe and for deploying troops within the United Kingdom for home defence tasks. The reinforcement plans are the cornerstone of our commitment to NATO, and it is vital that they are tested and demonstrated to be workable.About 10,000 members of the TAVR are taking part in Inside Right and for them the exercise is taking the place of their annual summer camp.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is now the number of all full-time civil servants who remain fully employed in the Civil Service after their 65th birthday.

About 5,500 non-industrial civil servants aged over 65 are still working full-time in the Civil Service. The corresponding figure for industrial civil servants is not available centrally but is believed to be somewhat higher.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants have been seconded to industry during each year since 1960; from which Departments they were seconded; at what rank they were at the time of secondment; what broad range of posts they were seconded to; and how they were selected.

Figures are not available for the period before 1968. The total numbers of secondments to industry/commerce starting in each year since 1968 are:

1968	11
1969	20
1970	10
1971	11
1972	8
1973	9
1974	8
1975	6
to date

I will write separately to my hon. Friend to give her the details she requires on the rank and Department of each of those concerned.Because there is no standard nomenclature for posts in the private sector the range of jobs undertaken by seconded civil servants can only be described by general fields of activity. These include research, planning, production management, marketing, personnel management, industrial relations and finance. Those seconded were carefully selected for their ability to make a useful contribution to the work of the organisation to which they were seconded and to benefit themselves and their Departments by enlargement of their experience.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many copies of the document, "United Kingdom in Figures," 1975 edition, have been printed; at what cost both in preparation and publication; and how and to whom it has been distributed.

350,000 copies of the 1975 edition of "United Kingdom in Figures" were produced by the Central Office of Information on behalf of the Central Statistical Office at a total cost of £7,100."United Kingdom in Figures" is distributed to many sectors of the community with a potential interest or involvement in Government statistics including business firms, trade unions, chambers of commerce, professional organisations, libraries, education establishments, etcetera. Initial distribution of the card is carried out by using Government mailing lists, including a CSO list of people who have specifically asked to receive this publication, and to major respondents to Government statistical surveys, as well as by making it available to appropriate inquirers through Government offices. Other copies are made available to suitable inquirers who respond to free publicity in the Press and in Government publications.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants live in accommodation provided by the London Hostels Association; and what arrangements exist between the Government and the association for this accommodation.

There were 1,385 Civil Service and Post Office staff living in accommodation provided by the London Hostels Association at 30th September 1975.The Civil Service and the Post Office have first call on 85 per cent. of the total accommodation offered by the association. In return the Civil Service Department makes grants and interest-free loans to help the association to acquire, adapt and improve its premises and equipment. The grants are fixed at 85 per cent. of the association's expenditure on modernisation and refurnishing. The Post Office makes a contribution towards both grants and loans in proportion to the number of places filled by its staff.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service in what way the intake into the administrative class of the Civil Service has changed since 1963 in terms of social background as defined by the Registrar General's five classes; and what are the sources for this information.

Parent's Occupational Group						Assistant Principals					Administration Trainees
							1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970	1971	1975
							Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
I	…	…	…	41	50	40	31	27	27	30	19	25
II	…	…	…	38	34	33	46	56	56	43	49	54
III	…	…	…	19	14	21	16	12	13	20	25	17
IV	…	…	…	2	1	4	6	2·5	1	4	3	2
V	…	…	…	—	—	1	1	—	—	—	1	1
Not known			…	—	1	1	—	2·5	3	3	3	1
				100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100

asked the Minister for the Civil Service which Ministers in Her Majesty's Government have political advisers paid for out of public funds; what is the total number of such political advisers; and what is the total annual cost of their salaries at the latest date for which figures are available.

The estimated annual cost of the salaries of the 29 special advisers to Ministers at present being paid for out of public funds is £205,000. The Ministers concerned are:

• The Prime Minister.
• The Lord President of the Council.
• The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
• The Secretary of State for the Home Department.
• Chancellor of the Exchequer.
• Secretary of State for Education and Science.
• Secretary of State for the Environment.
• Secretary of State for Energy.
• Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Affairs.
• Secretary of State for Social Services.
• Secretary of State for Trade.
• Secretary of State for Wales.
• Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

The administrative class of the Home Civil Service no longer exists, having been amalgamated at the start of 1971 with the former executive and clerical classes to form the Administration Group; at the same time the present wider based intake of administration trainees took the place of the former intake of assistant principals. It is difficult, therefore, to make proper comparison for the past 12 years. However the table below sets out the available information which is based on data collected from candidates' applications. I regret that comparable information is not available for the years 1972–74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the Lotteries Act 1975 is now operative; and when he will publish the regulations authorised under Section 10 of this Act.

Several sections of the Act, and in particular Section 13, which increased the permitted financial limits for certain lotteries conducted for charitable, sporting or other purposes, came into operation on 5th September. Regulations under Section 10, opening the way to the promotion of such lotteries on a larger scale, and to promotion by local authorities, will be laid after the consultations required by the Act have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were killed and injured as a result of terrorist acts in England since 1972.

Between 1st January 1972 and 10th October 1975, 56 people were killed and about 970 injured in England as a result of crimes in which bombs or other explosive devices were used.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of cases, in the most recently available period, in the Crown court and in the magistrates' court, respectively, was stopped by the judge before the jury had to consider the position; what percentage of the total cases this represented; and how many and what percentage of such cases did not reach the stage of the accused pleading to the charges.

The following figures relate to the first six months of 1975. Of 6,074 persons tried and acquitted at the Crown Court, 1,987–32·7 per cent.—were acquitted on the initiative of the judge. This represents 5·73 per cent. of a total of 34,654 persons who came before the Crown Court and includes the cases of 969 persons—16 per cent. of those acquitted—which were stopped by the judge before a jury was sworn in. These are provisional figures subject to revision. Analogous figures are not available for magistrates' courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the numbers of coloured immigrants accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom, showing countries of origin for 1975 up to the latest date for which figures are available.

Information on immigrants is not recorded by reference to their colour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the future of religious activities in prisons.

Facilities available for prisoners to practise their religion are kept under review; but my right hon. Friend sees no reason at present for any radical change affecting the future of religious practice in prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he considers the space occupied by the chapel in Holloway Prison and the use made of it to be an efficient way of using accommodation resources in this prison.

Yes. The chapel is used not only for services by all denominations and as a chaplaincy centre, but also for concerts and other performances, and for certain educational purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons sentenced to borstal training were located in local prisons at the latest date for which figures are available.

104 on 30th September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will obtain and publish the total prison population in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, at the latest available date;(2) if he will obtain and publish the total number of prisoners serving sentences in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland at the latest available date;(3) if he will obtain and publish the total number of persons on remand awaiting trial in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, at the latest available date;(4) if he will obtain and publish the total number of persons on remand awaiting sentence in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively, at the latest available date;(5) if he will obtain and publish the total numbers of prisoners on remand awaiting sentence in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, at the latest available date.

On 30th September the total prison population in England and Wales was 40,201, of whom 25,918 were serving prison sentences, 7,815 had been sentenced to borstal training or to detention in a detention centre, 3,760 were on remand awaiting trial and 2,180 were on remand, convicted and awaiting sentence. Responsibility for offenders elsewhere in the United Kingdom rests with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prisoners in Pentonville Prison; how many are on remand awaiting trial; and how many are on remand awaiting sentence.

On 30th September, 1,051 persons were held at Her Majesty's Prison, Pentonville; 102 were on remand to await trial, and 87 had been convicted and remanded to await sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted murderers have been released since September 1965 having served (a) less than five years in prison and (b) less than 10 years in prison.

Of the 255 murderers who were released on licence from prisons in England and Wales between 1st October 1965 and 30th September 1975, 168 were detained for less than 10 years and of these six were detained for less than five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently serving a prison sentence for manslaughter; and how many there were in 1970 and 1965.

I regret that this information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member when my inquiries are complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been drowned in the last year while swimming from beaches in the United Kingdom; how many people were drowned while trying to rescue swimmers in trouble; and how many of those drowned had ignored danger warnings such as red flags.

The only relevant information we have from the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys is that in coastal waters off England and Wales in 1973 there were 80 accidental drownings not involving boats.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit the organisation of offshore swimming events without the approval of the safety arrangements by the coastguards.

No. But we will consider what can be done to encourage the organisers of such events to seek advice from appropriate sources such as Her Majesty's Coastguard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to improve safety on beaches; and whether he will introduce legislation to make it an offence to ignore official warnings of danger to swimmers and authorise official beach patrols to prevent people going into the sea in dangerous conditions.

Safety on beaches is primarily the responsibility of the local authorities, which have powers under the Public Health Acts to make appropriate byelaws. In a few areas the conduct in question is already an offence under local Acts. Whether general legislation is required will be one of the matters for consideration when the Working Party on Water Safety reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects to implement Section 4 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969;(2) when he intends to implement Section 5 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969;(3) on what date he proposes to introduce Section 7 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969; and if he has not yet a date in mind if he will make a statement on this matter;(4) what consultations he has had, and with whom, and what stage they have reached in respect of the phasing out of the unruly certificate for juveniles.

I ask my hon. Friend to await the Government's consideration of the report of the Social Services and Employment Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee on the working of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969, which was published on 25th September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report and final recommendations of the Working Party on Vagrancy and Street Offences; and when the report will be published.

My right. hon. Friend hopes to receive the final views and recommendations of the working party by the end of the year and he will consider how best they can be made public when he has received and studied them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation prohibiting the use of the Union Jack by political parties.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Alsatian guard dogs at Brixton are encouraged by the jailers handling them at Brixton to defecate all over the prisoners' exercise yards.

They are not. Special sanitary areas are set aside for the use of dogs and dog handlers encourage their use to avoid unnecessary fouling of prison grounds. At Brixton one of these areas is adjacent to, but does not form part of, one of the exercise yards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department at what date Mr. Nathan Greenberg, a United States citizen held in Wormwood Scrubs Prison, commenced hunger strike; when forced feeding was adopted for this prisoner; and on what authority.

He has refused the food offered to him since 26th June. Arti- ficial feeding began on 10th September on the authority of a prison medical officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Mr. Nathan Greenberg last had a solicitor's visit at Wormwood Scrubs Prison; and what recent requests he made for visits.

1st October. He has asked to be visited by a number of other solicitors, a consultant psychiatrist and a free-lance journalist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he gave instructions to the Governor of Brixton Prison that the letter from the Birmingham Mail newspaper requesting the right hon. Member for Walsall, North, then held in Brixton as bail had been refused, to write a message for his constituents should be returned to the Birmingham Mail with the message that it would not be passed on to the addressee; and why the right hon. Member was not advised that such a letter had been received at Brixton.

The letter was not issued because it invited my right hon. Friend to submit material for publication, something which is expressly forbidden by prison standing orders, which apply to all prisoners. A reply explaining why the letter had not been issued was sent to the newspaper. Prisoners are not normally informed when letters are not issued to them because they invite a breach of prison standing orders and the governor saw no reason to make an exception in this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that adequate police security arrangements are in hand to protect property and possessions owned by present and former Prime Ministers, the theft of which would be a threat to national security; and if he will make a statement.

Appropriate arrangements are made for the personal security of the Prime Minister at home and when travelling.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the figures for the number of muggings in Liverpool for each year 1970 to 1974.

The most relevant available information is the number of offences of robbery, or assault with intent to rob, known to the police in the area of the Liverpool and Bootle Constabulary up to 31st March 1974, and in the area of the Merseyside Police since that date. The figures are as follows:

Liverpool and Bootle
1970	465
1971	567
1972	976
1973	573
1974 (to 31st March)	163
Merseyside
1974 (from 1st April)	633

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to setting up provision of transport subsidies for areas distant from industrial centres and served by inadequate road communications.

Transport supplementary grants subsidies for unremunerative passenger rail services and other forms of assistance are already made available. I have no present plans for additional subsidies.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the levels of milk production in Ceredigion in the years 1972–73, 1973–74, and 1974–75, respectively; and what is the estimated level for 1975–76.

Total sales through the Milk Marketing Board scheme were as follows:

CEREDIGION
April/March years
Million gallons
1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75
29·1	30·1	31·9	31·6	29·9

Estimates for 1975–76 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now announce a firm starting date for building the new health centre at Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Not yet. But plans are going ahead now to provide general practitioners practising in Blaenau Ffestiniog with improved facilities before the end of the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many circulars and joint circulars to local authorities were issued by his office during the period 1st April 1973 to 31st March 1974 and during the period 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975, respectively.

225 circulars and 148 joint circulars in the period 1st April 1973 to 31st March 1974 and 84 circulars and 180 joint circulars in the period 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many employees were in employment in Wales, at the last available quarter, for the coal and steel industries, respectively; and what were the corresponding figures for the same quarter since 1970;(2) how many unemployed persons there were in Wales, at the latest available date, whose last job was in the coal industry and the steel industry, respectively; and how this compares with corresponding figures over the past five years.

Following is the available information. Employment data for coal mining and steel are available from the census of employment, the latest figures being for June 1974. Later information relating to June 1975, but for the somewhat broader group of activity represented by orders of the Standard Industrial Classification, is available from the new quarterly employment series, and comparable figures for this broader coverage are also shown for earlier years.with the chief officers of both the Cumbria County Council and the Carlisle District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total cost, in the last year for which figures are available, of servicing and meeting the expenses of disablement resettlement committees.

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to disablement advisory committees, which were set up under Section 17 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 and whose function is to advise and assist in matters relating to the employment of disabled people in their districts and to make recommendations and reports to my right hon. Friend on matters referred to them under the Act.I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that precise figures as to the total cost of servicing committees are not kept since their administration is part of the wider duties of Employment Service Agency Officers concerned with resettlement.The best available estimate of the cost of servicing the committees is £150,000 in staff and administrative expenses for the current year, plus £9,000, for direct meeting expenses. The actual figure for direct meeting expenses for the 10 months from 1st October 1974, when the Agency was set up, to 31st July 1975, was £6,558.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent disablement resettlement committees contribute to the work of resettlement; and in what respects.

Disablement Advisory Committees, DACs, are local bodies set up under the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 to advise the Secretary of State on the working of the Act in their areas and on general and particular problems. The DACs set up special panels of five members each, with prescribed executive functions, to make recommendations and reports on specific matters referred to them under the Act in connection with applications of individual people for admission to and removal from the Disabled Persons Register, obligations of employers and applications from them for permits to employ people not registered as disabled. Additionally, panels give advice about employment in individual cases where doubt exists as to the most satisfactory form of employment for a disabled person who has been unemployed over a considerable period.There are at present over 200 DACs in existence. Each DAC consists of an independent chairman and an equal number of employers' and workers' representatives, together with a number of other people with experience of resettlement problems, including medical practitioners. Members are unpaid, except for medical practitioners attending in order to give professional advice to panels in individual cases, when they are paid a sessional fee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many textile workers have been made redundant in the wool textile industry as a result of the Wool Modernisation Scheme to date; what is the anticipated level of further redundancy from future reorganisation under this scheme; and if he will give details on a regional basis of overall redundancy in the textile industry as a result of modernisation schemes in all sectors.

I am informed that up to 2nd September 1975 2,795 workers have become redundant under the realisation part of the scheme of assistance for the wool textile industry and that there has been a net decline of 847 jobs as a result of projects involving re-equipment and rebuilding. A further 768 workers are expected to become redundant in firms which have already made applications under the realisation part of the scheme, and 28 workers under the re-equipment and rebuilding projects. There are no comparable schemes covering the remaining sectors of the textile industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many visits the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission has made to furniture factories in the United Kingdom; what length of time he spent in factory areas containing woodworking machines; and what effect the experience had on his hearing.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that since his appointment in October 1974 he has not visited any furniture factories in the United Kingdom. Since November 1974 noise levels from woodworking machinery have been controlled by the Woodworking Machines Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which sites were investigated as suitable for the National Drill Training Centre.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in seeking a long term site for the establishment of a Drilling Technology Training Centre the suitability of 32 sites has been investigated. The location of these are given in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the employment activity rate in Wales and England, respectively.

The following information based on the results of the 1971 Census of Population shows the economically active as a percentage of the relevant total population aged 15 and over:

Wales
Males	78·5
Females	35·7
Total	56·2
England
Males	81·6
Females	43·2
Total	61·5

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from companies or employers' organisations on their inability to comply with the requirements of the Equal Pay Act 1970 by the end of 1975.

I have received no formal representations to this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures have been taken to investigate the conditions at Messrs. Wheeler and Pearsall Ltd., Bloxwich, following the incident in which workmen were overcome by fumes from zinc waste at this factory.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the factory of Wheeler and Pearsall Ltd. at which a number of employees were recently overcome by arsine gas is at Market Drayton, Shropshire and not Bloxwich.The material from which the arsine was evolved was sent to Market Drayton from the premises of ISC Alloys Ltd. at Bloxwich.At Bloxwich the staff of the Health and Safety Executive, using a mobile laboratory, carried out exhaustive tests and found evidence of contaminated materials. Following advice from Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate the company has taken precautions to remove any risk from arsine to both its own employees and people living in the neighbourhood.Medical tests have been carried out on all employees at the factory. Evaluation of the results of these tests has not yet been completed but the present indications are that no employee has suffered any ill effects from arsine gas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish the Bragg Report on Falsework; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that it is hoped the report will be published early in the New Year. The hon. Member will appreciate that this is a substantial document containing many illustrations and requires considerable time both for preparation and printing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are any proposals to regulate the amount of nets used by part-time fishermen whose fish catch reduce the quota available to full-time fishermen.

We have no plans at present to restrict the numbers of nets which may be used by part-time fishermen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what statistics are available on the landings of sole by the fleets of each of the EEC countries permitted to fish within the United Kingdom 12-mile limit in the English Channel compared with their allocated quotas.

The latest information from other EEC countries shows that up to 31st August the Belgian catch of soles in the English Channel was 97 tons out of a quota for 1975 of 100 tons. No information is available on the catches of French vessels, for which the national quota is 870 tons in this area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on Government measures over the past 12 months to assist the dairy sector of the farming industry; and what further proposals he is preparing.

On 1st October last year the effective guaranteed price was increased by 7·7p per gallon. Since then there have been three further increases and another increase is due on 1st November when the effective guaranteed price will be 40·02p per gallon, over 50 per cent. higher than the guaranteed price originally fixed for 1974–75. My right hon. Friend said in his statement last Wednesday that there will be scope for a further increase at the beginning of the next milk year, and this will be for the Government to decide after the annual review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the state of the hill and marginal farmers who during the last few years have increased their breeding cow herd; and if he will make a statement.

The situation of hill and upland cattle breeders is being closely watched in the light of the autumn calf and store sales. The increased assurance provided by the beef premium arrangements should encourage fatteners to pay remunerative prices at this year's sales. The state of the whole industry will be considered at the annual farm price review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the EEC's proposal to prevent the manufacture and sale of food products using milk and non-milk fats and proteins, if he will give an assurance that the Government will oppose such regulations.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend during the debate on Friday, 17th October.—[Vol. 897, c. 1725–1727.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current rate of levy per ton expressed in sterling on wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, sorghum, rice and sugar entering the EEC.

The rates of levy as at 16th October 1975 are:

£/ton*
Common wheat	10·66
Rye	14·33
Barley	3·11
Oats	11·08
Maize	11·13
Sorghum	11·35
Rice:
Long grain husked	19·59
Round grain husked	7·87
Long grain milled	67·43
Round grain milled	27·73
White Sugar	40·39
Raw Sugar	28·02
* Converted from units of account to sterling using the representative rate of £1 to 1·86369 uas.

AVERAGE UNIT VALUES OF UNITED KINGDOM IMPORTS OF CERTAIN COMMODITIES AUGUST 1975
Commodity		EEC Countries		Non-EEC Countries
			£p ton		£p ton
Husked rice, long grained	…	Netherlands†	164·45	United States of America	172·58
				Argentina	174·88
Barley	…	Denmark	54·96	Negligible imports from non-EEC sources.
		West Germany	56·41
Maize	…	France	60·99	United States of America	66·10
				South Africa	52·98
White Sugar	…	Irish Republic	223·31	Cuba	205·81
		West Germany	225·89
Beef	…	No reliable comparisons possible due to restrictions on imports from most non-EEC countries.
Pigmeat—Bacon sides	…	Denmark	741·25	Sweden	817·77
		Irish Republic	810·88	Poland	745·55
Eggs	…	France	364·41	None from non-EEC sources.
Butter	…	Netherlands	886·68	New Zealand*	495·00
		Denmark	831·63
Skimmed milk powder	…	Irish Republic	480·23	None from non-EEC sources
Olive oil	…	Not distinguishable separately in the trade statistics.
Common wheat	…	France (soft)	57·10	USA (hard)	92·76
				Canada (hard)	111·34
Durum wheat	…	Netherlands†	109·79
* Special minimum import price.
† Not Dutch production—probably transhipments.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the EEC price and the world price in September 1975 of husked rice, barley, maize, white sugar, beef, pigmeat, eggs, butter, skimmed milk powder, olive oil, common wheat and durum wheat expressed in sterling at the exchange rate value of 30th September 1975.

There is no easily identifiable basis for measuring world prices, and comparisons of prices of foodstuffs from different sources are made difficult by differences in quality, grading, presentation of products and stage of marketing. Subject to these reservations, the latest available comparison of prices of the products listed, imported into the United Kingdom from EEC and non-EEC sources, is given below. The prices represent average unit values for August 1975. Values were recorded in sterling terms at the rate of exchange appropriate at the time of lodgement of the Customs entry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the current levels of intervention stocks of food commodities within the EEC.

The following are the quantities, based on Commission figures, of food commodities held in Community intervention stores at the beginning of October:

Commodity	Tonnes
Beef	254,000
Wheat (1)	2,229,200
Barley	522,600
Rye	285,200
Skimmed Milk Powder	1,038,000
Butter	61,500
Cheese (2)	19,100

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has reached about the use of a site in the Goodge Street-Charlotte Street area for the proposed expansion of the Middlesex Hospital; when he expects work to start; and whether he has any proposals to assist any residents or shopkeepers displaced by the hospital expansion.

There are no planning proposals for the expansion of this hospital before my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach a decision in respect of the application of Humberside County Council for planning permission to construct the Goole southern bypass.

Whilst it is too early for me to make a realistic forecast of just how long it will take, this application will be dealt with as soon as is possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many housing action areas and general improvement areas have been established; what are the districts in which they are situated; in how many of these schemes activity has started; how many dwellings are being built or improved in each scheme; and whether any steps are intended to achieve greater results.

At the end of September 1975 there were 61 housing action areas and 967 general improvement areas in England and Wales. The rate at which housing action areas are being declared has exceeded the Government's expectations while general improvement areas are being declared in 1975 in greater numbers than last year. Details of the districts in which these areas are situated will be published later in the Official Report. Information about the number of houses built or improved in individual housing action areas or general improvement areas is available only from the local authorities concerned. Consideration is being given to the possibility of stimulating further progress by directing an increased share of available resources for house renovation to such special housing areas within which local authorities are encouraged, under DOE Circular 64/75, to acquire tenanted properties in order to deal with housing stress.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place within the EEC concerning the standardisation of windscreen qualities for motor vehicles; what has been the view of Her Majesty's Government; and by whom they have been represented at these discussions.

A draft directive on motor vehicle safety glass, which would require laminated glass to be compulsory for vehicles type-approved to EEC rules, has been discussed on several occasions in working groups of the Council of Ministers. Her Majesty's Government have been represented at these discussions by the appropriate officials.The view of the United Kingdom has always been that both laminated and toughened glass should be accepted unless the evidence were to point conclusively in favour of one type as against the other.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether field surveyors connected with Ordnance Survey will be allowed or encouraged to take part in simultaneous archaeological work.

No. Special expertise is necessary to recognise certain archaeological features. However, topographical and archaeological surveyors work closely together in each area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what funds have been made available for archaeological work in Scotland, and, in particular in the county of Angus, in the past five years.

Expenditure in Scotland over the past five years on archaeological excavations has been as follows:

	£
1970–71	7,056
1971–72	12,442
1972–73	16,616
1973–74	29,929
1974–75	26,084
Total	92,127

No such excavations have been carried out in Angus during the period in question.In addition a certain amount of archaeological study has been carried out as part of the general programme of conservation and preservation of ancient monuments but it is not possible without over-proportionate effort to segregate expenditure on this from that on the overall programme. Field work in Angus leading to the scheduling of 10 ancient monuments has also been carried out over the period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make allowances for increased staff required by local authority housing departments, which are undertaking substantial housing programmes, to manage additional estates as they come into use, notwithstanding the ceilings he has placed on local authority staff recruitment.

Authorities have been advised that there is no scope for increased expenditure in real terms in 1976–77. Within this overall restraint on expenditure it must be for each authority to make its own arrangements regarding staff numbers and deployment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number and the percentage of appeals under the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 where the Minister has overruled the inspector since the publication of the White Paper on the Community Land Bill and the equivalent figure and percentages for the same period prior to publication of the White Paper.

Between 1st October 1974 and 30th September 1975 the Secretary of State overruled the inspector's recommendation in 48 cases. This represents 3·4 per cent. of the total number of appeals decided by the Secretary of State during that period following a local inquiry. Corresponding figures for the preceding 12-month period are 68 and 6·03 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is his intention to introduce legislation in the next Session to exempt charity shops from the need to pay rates.

My right hon. Friend hopes to introduce legislation to bring charity shops within the scope of the relief for charitable organisations under Section 40 of the General Rate Act 1967 at the next suitable legislative opportunity. I cannot promise when that will be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will authorise the expenditure of £3 million sought by British Rail for the upgrading of the Perth-Inverness railway line.

The Railways Board has provided an appraisal of various ways of increasing rail capacity to the North-East of Scotland. Its preferred scheme would not satisfy the normal financial criteria applying to investment by nationalised industries and the Government are considering whether special arrangements should be made to enable the scheme to go ahead.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any steps have been taken to instal a single boiler system for central heating in the Palace of Westminster instead of the several separate boiler systems formerly in operation.

The Palace of West-minister central heating installation has been operating on a single boiler plant for many years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the yield of sulphur-dioxide produced into the atmosphere from the particular oil product used in the boilers in the Palace of Westminster; and how this compares with the emissions authorised by the Westminster City Council.

The fuel oil currently in use produces a sulphur dioxide emission of 60 lbs. for every 1,000 lbs. of fuel burned. This level complies with the Clean Air Act 1968 and is acceptable to the Westminster City Council, which has no authorised emission limits.It is proposed, however to install new burners in the boiler next year. These would permit the use of a lighter fuel oil, which would reduce the sulphur dioxide emission of less than 10 lbs. for every 1,000 lbs. of fuel burned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the cost, and the manufacturer, of new carpet laid in the House of Commons during the Summer Recess; and if he will give an assurance that further orders for carpeting will be placed with British manufacturers.

The cost was £3,936. All the carpets were manufactured in Britain and my Department will continue the established policy of ordering from British firms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what internal redecoration and furnishings were done to Parliament House, Edinburgh, during the summer vacation; and at what cost, item by item.

The following items of redecoration were carried out during the vacation:

		£
1.	Corridors around first and second division courts	1,000
2.	Main hall No. 11 messengers room, post office, crown office and staircase No. 9	1,050
3.	Corridor and stairway to canteen on first floor, canteen and kitchen	1,400
4.	First floor canteen area, dining area and kitchen, 3 witness rooms and corridor	1,100
5.	First division court	2,500
Total		£7,050

There was supplied one second-hand suite of office furniture valued at £300: one new cupboard at £50: one new correspondence tray carrier at £4: two new stationery cabinets at £60: four new bookcases at £110: and two new bookcase stands at £25; total, £549.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of replacing the trees planted in New Palace Yard; and who is to bear it.

About £4,500. The cost will be borne by the Department of the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what economies are at present being effected in ordnance survey work; and what financial benefit is expected to accrue from such economies.

Economies are constantly being sought by improved planning and more efficient use of resources and manpower. Savings achieved will assist in keeping down unit costs of Ordnance Survey products with a consequent beneficial effect on prices charged to users.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current cost per mile for the construction of a dual carriage three-lane motorway at ground level, on simple embankment, on retained fill embankment, on elevated sections of 100 ft. span, in depressed simple embankment, in depressed retained-side embankment, and in cut-and-cover, respectively; and what is the cost of such motorway in the open country, excluding land and property compensation, in open country, including land and property compensation, in a central urban situation, excluding land and property compensation, and in a central urban situation, including land and property compensation.

The information is not readily available since works are normally constructed in a combination of the stated criteria. The best information available is contained in Chapter 3 of the "Report of the Urban Motorways Project Team to the Urban Motorway Committee" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1973. Since the publication of the report construction costs have moved approximately 64 per cent. upwards. There is no comparable information available for rural motorways but for contracts let in 1972–1974 costs—at January 1975 prices—were in the range of £0·76 million to £3·85 million per mile for dual three-lane motorways with an average of £1·70 million. Land costs and rehousing are excluded from these figures. These costs also vary widely and can account for 10 per cent. or more of the overall cost of rural schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on football hooliganism; and what plans he proposes to improve the situation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Mitchell) on 17th October.—[Vol. 897, c. 827–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will pay an official visit to Preston to discuss with elected members and chief officers of the council housing and slum clearance problems in the Preston town area.

I have no plans to do so but my Department's regional officers are always available to discuss any matters that Preston Borough Council might wish to raise on its housing and slum clearance problems.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why his Department has refused help to British Leyland, Ford and Chrysler in tracing 100,000 car owners who are driving on United Kingdom roads unknowingly with suspect brakes.

The Department has no record of having been asked for help. Had it been approached, the Department would have co-operated to the full, though without breaching confidence over the detailed vehicle keeper records for which it is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of rent rebates and rent allowances, respectively, in England and Wales in the latest year for which figures are available; what were the numbers of tenants in receipt of each; and how the cost of each was shared between national funds, rates and council rents.

The value of rent rebates and rent allowances granted to tenants in England and Wales in the financial year 1974–75 is estimated to have been £277·4 million at 1975 Public Expenditure Survey prices. The breakdown of this figure between Government subsidies and rate fund contributions is as follows:

	£ million
	Central Government Subsidies	Rate Fund contributions
Rent Rebates:
(a) Local authorities	176·8	46·4
(b) New Towns	5·0	—
Rent Allowances	49·2	—

No part of either rent rebates or rent allowances comes from council rents.The number of tenants in receipt of rent rebates and rent allowances at 31st March 1975 is estimated to have been 1,700,000 and 390,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what revisions are planned to the formula for the allocation of grants to local authorities in Wales for 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes in the distribution formulæ for the needs element of rate support grant are under consideration by the Government, and if he will make a statement.

The basis of the rate support grant settlement for 1976–77 is the subject of continuing consultations with the local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how his decision to drive the M5 motorway through the Culm Valley railway line was affected by the admission by the Department of Employment that it had supplied him with wrong figures on the unemployment to be caused by the closure of the Unigate factory at Hemyock.

I can add nothing to the letter that the Under-Secretary of State for Transport sent to the hon. Member on 16th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has issued to local authorities on the felling of dead or diseased elm trees.

General guidance on the felling of trees affected by the aggressive strain of Dutch elm disease and on measures to prevent its spread to the lightly affected areas has been issued to local authorities by the Forestry Commission. I have also arranged for guidance to be issued on the inspection of highway trees. In relation to land that they own, local authorities will no doubt give priority to the felling of dangerous trees. Felling on private land is the responsibility of the owner, with such assistance as authorities are empowered and prepared to give within existing financial constraints.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total cost of all subsidies, including subsidies from rates, to public housing in England and Wales for the financial year 1974–75.

The estimated total cost of all subsidies, excluding rebates and allowances, to public housing in England and Wales for the financial year 1974–75—at 1975 Public Expenditure Survey prices—was as follows:—

	£ million
Central Government subsidies	6130
Rate fund contributions	157·7

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current total annual payment made by local authorities in the United Kingdom in respect of council housing in capital repayments and interest, respectively.

On the latest estimate for the current year the amounts are as follows:

Capital Repayments	£137 million
Interest	£1,425 million

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has of the total number of council houses, existing or now being built, in the United Kingdom.

The estimated number of local authority and new town owned dwellings in the United Kingdom at December 1974 was 6,228,000 and the number under construction at the end of June this year was 210,279.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has completed studies of the views of local authority associations and of professional and other bodies; and whether he is now in a position to take action on the report made to him by Mr. George Dobry QC entitled "Control of Demolition".

I hope to be able to make a statement on control of demolition and also on Mr. Dobry's final report very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many circulars and joint circulars to local authorities were issued by his Department during the period 1st April 1973 to 31st March 1974 and during the period 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975, respectively.

The information is as follows:

	1st April 1973 to 31st March 1974	1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975
DOE Circulars	29	22
Joint DOE Circulars	139	135
Roads Circulars	44	46
	212	203

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many questionnaires were received by his Department at the close of the public consultation exercise on the proposed Kirkhamgate-Dishforth motorway.

About 7,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the final cost of the public consultation exercise on the proposed Kirkhamgate-Dishforth motorway.

The results have not yet been analysed, but the cost so far is about £40,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if arrangements can be made for the exhibition dealing with the conservation and restoration of historic buildings, mounted under the auspices of the Greater London Council's Historic Buildings Board, to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I have arranged with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 27th to 31st October. I am grateful to the hon. Member for his efforts in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further action he will initiate to help prospective purchasers of nineteenth-century and pre-1914 houses who are unable to obtain a local authority mortgage as a result of his Department's circular 64/75 and who are seeking a type of house which does not fall within the lending policy of most building societies.

The first priority must be to press ahead with the current £100 million scheme. Meanwhile, as my right hon. Friend indicated in reply to a supplementary question last Wednesday, the building societies are considering the request for a possible extension of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional payments she has authorised to gynaecologists in respect of sterilisation of women; and if she will make a statement.

The new scheme was introduced after lengthy negotiations with the medical profession throughout which it refused to participate in the expansion of hospital-based family planning unless it received separate payment for it. As a result, and to avoid further delay in the operation of a comprehensive service including specialist provision at hospitals, the Health Departments reluctantly agreed to a scheme, introduced on 31st July this year. Under this scheme area health authorities will, as funds permit, arrange with gynaecologists or other consultants for the sterilisation of women at a fee per case of female sterilisation performed (i) as a separate procedure—£22; or (ii) during the course of another procedure—£14·70. A fee is not payable where sterilisation is consequential upon a procedure not performed for the purposes of family planning.A number of other hospital family planning procedures will attract fees under the new arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances payments of hire-purchase and other commitments are paid out of public moneys on behalf of people in receipt of social security; and what has been the total expenditure involved in each year since these payments started to be made.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission will assist those beneficiaries who came on to benefit with hire-purchase commitments for essential furniture and household equipment incurred previously, unless the beneficiary has sufficient capital to meet the outstanding debt and leave a margin of not less than £150. Help may be given by way of a weekly addition to benefit or by a single lump-sum payment. The commission's policy is set out in detail in paragraphs

				1971	1972	1973			1974
Benefit costs	…	…	…	£2·3m. *	£9·2m.		£12·0m.	£12·2m.
Administration costs	…	…	…	£0·5m.	£0·6m.		£0·6m.†	£0·9m.‡
Number of staff employed	…	…	…	§	140		135	130
Number of claims made	…	…	…	158,733	304,131		167,966	148,021
Number of awards made	…	…	…	80,931	184,021		94,221	72,349
* The FIS Scheme ran for less than half of this year.
† Revised estimate.
‡ Provisional.
§ During the initial take-on period in 1971 approximately 200 staff were employed in the FIS Branch at Blackpool Central Office augmented by the use of casual staff in local offices. The work is now entirely centralised at Blackpool.

Estimates of the numbers of families entitled to receive FIS are based on limited information and are subject to wide margins of error. It is estimated that during 1972 FIS was claimed by about half the families entitled to the supplement. It is provisionally estimated that during 1973 and 1974 take up had increased to about two-thirds and three-quarters, respectively. Prior to October 1972 the normal period of a FIS award was 26 weeks; since then it has been 52 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to improve the supply of both short- and long-term hostel accommodation for mentally handicapped children and young adults in Leicestershire, in view of the report of the survey conducted by the Leicestershire Social Services Department

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will show for each year since implementation the total annual cost of family income supplement, distinguishing between cost of benefits and administrative costs and showing numbers employed in administration; the numbers of claims made; the number of payments made; the estimated percentage take-up in relation to eligibility; and the period for which payments were made in each case before re-assessment.

Following is the information:and the Leicestershire Ad Hoc Consultative Committee, a copy of which has been sent to her.

I have not yet seen the report to which the hon. Member refers but I have arranged to obtain a copy. For this year's social services capital programme we indicated to local authorities the balance between client groups, including the mentally handicapped, that might be appropriate nationally, but local prorities are a matter for the local authority concerned. In drawing up the list of selected schemes my right hon. Friend has, therefore, had regard first and foremost to local authorities' own priorities for individual schemes and it is her intention to continue to do so in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present statutory ceiling for unemployment benefit, including earnings related benefit, as a percentage of reference earnings.

The statutory ceiling precludes the earnings-related supplement to unemployment benefit from bringing the claimant's benefit to more than 85 per cent. of his reckonable earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost to the health service of expenditure on employees' car travel in the latest period since reorganisation for which figures are available; and what was the equivalent figure for a comparable period before reorgansiation, corrected to remove the effect of increases in the mileage rate between the two periods.