asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further guidance he is giving to local authorities to reduce expenditure.

I have nothing at present to add to the joint departmental circular issued on 31st December 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to send a substantive reply to the letter which he has received dated 9th January, from the President of the House Builders Federation regarding land for house building and which was acknowledged by the Prime Minister's Private Secretary on 13th January, and whether he will meet the Federation, as requested by it.

I wrote to him on 21st January and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Planning and Local Government had a meeting with them on 28th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of approved housing co-operatives currently in existence; what is the total number of units of accommodation controlled by them; and what were the corresponding figures for 1960 and 1970.

There are 1,127 cooperative—commonly known as co-ownership—housing societies, providing approximately 35,000 units of accommodation, approved by the Secretary of State for the purposes of Section 341 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970. The corresponding figure for 1960 was nil, and on 1st January 1970 there were 603 societies providing approximately 12,000 units.There are 18 other co-operative housing associations, providing approximately 1,350 units, which are registered with the Housing Corporation or manage accommodation owned by registered housing associations. All have been established since 1970.The Secretary of State has not yet received any applications for the approval of local authority co-operatives under the provisions of paragraph 9 of Schedule 1 to the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975, but several schemes are known to be in preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last met the United Kingdom Affairs Committee of the Four Sports Councils; who was present at that meeting; and when the next meeting will take place.

On 12th February 1975. The Committee comprises the Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and senior officials of the four Sports Councils; but Sir Robin Brook was not present on that occasion. I understand that the next meeting of the Committee is to be held on 23rd February 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he gives to local authorities on the design of sport and leisure centres.

None, but the Sports Council's Technical Unit for Sport is available to advise local authorities on such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all local authority sport and leisure centres which opened in (i) 1974 and (ii) 1975, and (iii), planned to open in 1976.

This information is not centrally recorded in my Department. The Sports Council is, however, aware of 48 sport and leisure centres which opened in 1974 and 55 in 1975. These include some dual provision schemes provided in schools jointly by the local education authority and the local district authority for use both by the school and also by the general community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will re-draw the declaration for television licences to enable his Department to make refunds where the estate of a deceased person holding a television licence with an unexpired period of 28 days or more may surrender the licence in order that the estate may gain the unexpired portion of the licence fee.

No. The grounds on which refunds may be given must be limited if the licensing system is not to become unmanageable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what basis the place of temporary domicile and eventual return to his home country of a foreigner who comes to this country for a temporary visit are checked; and what steps are taken to ensure that these visitors do eventually return to their own countries;(2) whether he is able to ensure that aliens, including those from the EEC who come to Great Britain by land, sea, and air, for holidays, education, visits and other reasons for temporary visits do eventually return to their home country; and if he will outline the working of the system.

It is not practicable to describe the operation of the immigration controls in the compass of a parliamentary reply, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of the Immigration Act 1971 and of the Immigration Rules for Control on, and after, Entry (HC 81 and HC 82, as amended).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has of the number of persons resident in this country after the expiry of their work permit; how he makes this estimate; and what steps he is taking to reduce these numbers.

Statistics are not maintained of people who have been subject to employment restrictions and are in breach of them, but action with a view to removal is taken when the period of stay of a work permit holder not accepted for settlement has expired and he has not left the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing legislation to amend the Shop Act 1950 so that the restriction on the sale of fish and chips for consumption off the premises on Sunday nights be removed.

We regret that we cannot see an early prospect of Government time being available for legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to ensure that, in any decisions taken in respect of electricity generation policy in Scotland, the jobs of Scottish miners are not put in jeopardy.

The approval of proposals for the construction of new generating capacity in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, who consults my right hon. Friend on each proposal.The consultations they will shortly be having with the coal and electricity industries will include the future demand for coal for electricity generation in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the implementation and financing of the public lending right.

I cannot at this stage add to the information that my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave to the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds) on 15th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 584.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is now in a position to announce the building programme for further education; and, if so, what funds are allocated to Wales.

I hope to approve very shortly the programmes for individual local education authorities and will then write to the hon. Member about resources allocated for projects at colleges in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the increase in the numbers taking GCE subjects in colleges of further education over the last five years.

The number of candidates taking GCE subjects from colleges of further education in England and Wales rose from 177,933 in 1969 to 195,720 in 1974—an increase of 17,787.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what were the average entrance and examination fees charged by examining boards for GCE examinations in each of the last five years;(2) how many local education authorities limit the number of GCE and CSE entrance and examination fees paid by them on behalf of students; and if he will list these authorities, indicating the maximum limit they have each adopted.

The fees charged by examination boards are at their discretion and my Department does not collect information about them. However, I understand that the average GCE fee in 1975 was £1·89 for entrance and £1·67 for each subject. To obtain information relating to the previous four years would entail detailed inquiry with the boards. I also understand that some local education authorities may have considered limiting the number of subject entries per candidate for which they will pay the fees, but I have no information to the effect that any authority has decided to take this action.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average cost in 1975 of each school place divided into suitable categories and of each place at polytechnics and at universities for undergraduates.

In the financial year 1974–75, net institutional recurrent unit costs were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the true cost of providing school meals at primary and secondary schools; what is the estimated cost of subsidising these meals during the current financial year; what is the estimated cost of providing these meals, assuming the current charge of 15p per meal; and what proposals he has for increasing the charge.

The estimated cost of providing a school meal in November 1975 was 41½p. This is an average figure covering all maintained schools and is the latest estimate. Separate figures are not available for primary and secondary schools.The gross cost of providing meals during the financial year 1975–76 is estimated at £476 million and income from charges at £145 million, assuming the current charge of 15p—with remission in cases of hardship—giving a total estimated subsidy of £331 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the Government replies to the Expenditure Committee Report on postgraduate education will be published.

It is intended to publish the Government's observations as soon as possible. As my hon. Friend explained to the House on 10th July, the Expenditure Committee's Report was followed up by a number of studies carried out by various bodies directly affected, and it has been necessary to take these into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional expenditure and how much additional manpower would be necessary to collect information on the number of boroughs which publish examination results and the number which do not.

Collection of the information would involve inquiry by the Department of all local education authorities. Authorities in their turn, because of variations in local arrangements, might need to consult individual schools. No precise estimate is therefore possible as to the amount of expenditure and manpower needed but, apart from the small value of the end product, the exercise would clearly be inconsistent with the policy to contain public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action is being taken following the recommendations of the Bullock Committee, and in advance of the development of any entirely new monitoring system, to make a national survey of the reading standards of primary schoolchildren.

Language and literacy is one of the broad areas which is being covered by Her Majesty's Inspectorate in the course of its current national survey of primary education. In parallel with that survey, the Department has recently asked the National Foundation for Educational Research to undertake the supply and servicing of reading tests at a cost of about £14,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the complement of staff currently attached to the United States Embassy in London.

Two hundred and fifty-five.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to propose extension of Great Britain's fishing limits to 200 miles at the next session of the Law of the Sea Conference; and what negotiations have been held with other countries currently fishing inside these limits around British shores.

As I said in a written reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 19th December, the Government have supported, at the Law of the Sea Conference, proposals for a 200-mile exclusive economic zone, as part of a generally acceptable Convention. Within this zone the coastal State would have sovereign rights concerning fisheries. The Government's support for this is subject to an acceptable régime within the zone and preservation of other high seas freedoms, in particular of navigation, overflight and communication within the zone. The Government are now engaged in discussions in Brussels with our Community partners about the modification of the common fisheries policy, which will be required on the introduction of 200-mile fishing limits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the economic outlook for the United Kingdom.

My speech to the House on 29th January set out my present view of the prospects for the United Kingdom economy and I have nothing to add at this stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exclude from value added tax the maintenance and improvement of buildings.

Alterations to a building as distinct from maintenance are already zero-rated when carried out by a builder registered for VAT. As regards repairs and maintenance, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Devon, West (Mr. Mills) on 11th November.—[Vol. 899, c. 617.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received regarding the effect of value added tax on the electronics industry.

I have received a number of representations from both sides of the consumer electronics industry. These will be taken into account, along with other relevant information, when the 25 per cent. rate of VAT is brought under review for the spring Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will zero-rate for the purposes of VAT special controls fitted to cars to enable them to be driven by disabled drivers and special seat conversions for disabled drivers and disabled passengers.

No. I am afraid that in a broadly based tax such relief could not be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the rate of VAT on bathroom equipment.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 6th November 1975.—[Vol. 899, c. 259.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will zero-rate for the purposes of VAT the costs of servicing and repairing essential aids and appliances for disabled people which are themselves zero-rated.

No. Relief is already provided for the supply of a wide range of aids and appliances for the disabled. In a broadly based tax any further reliefs could only be justified on quite exceptional grounds; otherwise the tax would become unworkable for traders and Customs alike.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to exempt the supply, installation and maintenance of burglar alarms from value-added tax.

VAT was designed as a broadly based tax on consumer expenditure and it would not be appropriate to single out burglar alarms for relief.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the latest evidence available of the disadvantageous position now suffered by the British blood-stock industry in comparison with its competitors in the Republic of Ireland and France, he will take immediate steps to remove value added tax.

I met a deputation yesterday from the bloodstock and racing industries led by the hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Sir T. Kitson). The representations made by the deputation about value added tax on bloodstock will be carefull considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the result of his consideration of the effect of the current rate of 25 per cent. VAT on television sets and yachts.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to zero-rate for the purposes of VAT the supply of group holidays to disabled persons through a charitable body.

No. In the context of a broad-based tax on consumer expenditure further reliefs by zero-rating can be justified only in quite exceptionable circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the British boat building industry with regard to the imposition of VAT at the rate of 25 per cent. on boats.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Spicer) on 8th December.—[Vol. 902, c. 67.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to remove the sex discriminatory anomalies that exist in matters concerning the collection and, where appropriate, refund of income tax.

The procedures for collecting and refunding income tax do not in general distinguish between people on the grounds of sex. They make some distinction between married and single women, but those differences flow mainly from the rule that the income of a married woman is aggregated with her husband's for tax purposes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) whether the consent of the Prime Minister, as Minister for the Civil Service, is required before a Minister appoints a special adviser;

Only Ministers in charge of Departments may appoint special advisers. The approval of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is required for each such appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what descriptions of nationality other than "British (Scots)" and "British (Irish)" are used in official documents in the Army in accordance with the normal practice; and whether he will reconsider this nomenclature.

The following descriptions of nationality are used in Army records:

• British (English)
• British (Scottish)
• British (Irish)
• British (Welsh)
• British (Channel Islander)
• Manx
• British (Overseas)
• British naturalised

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the administrative procedure for issuing D notices to the Press; and what is the appropriate ministerial authority for issuing such notices.

D Notices may be issued only on the authority of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee which is composed of representatives of Press and broadcasting organisations, who form the majority of the Committee, and officials from Government Departments concerned with defence and national security. The D Notice system is entirely voluntary.D Notices are held by the editors of newspapers or their nominees and by TV and broadcasting organisations, and the Secretary of the Defence, Press and Broadcasting Committee is available at all times to advise whether a D Notice applies in a particular case.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now able to make a statement on the future of HMS "Caledonia".

The studies into HMS "Caledonia's" future are not yet complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to complete his consultations on the correction of the anomaly whereby car mileage allowances are paid at higher rates to servants of the electricity boards, including the NIES, and members of electricity consumer councils than to civil servants.

My written reply of 5th November last—[Vol. 899, c. 161–2]—concerned only the mileage rates for members of the Northern Ireland Electricity Consumers' Council. I shall consider the position further when the findings of the National Consumers' Council, which is at present reviewing the structure of consumer representation in the nationalised industries, are known. However, I do not expect that this review will throw up any reason for making the rates for members of the Northern Ireland Council different from those for members of the Consumers' Councils in England and Wales.Mileage rates for members and staff of the Northern Ireland Electricity Service similarly follow the corresponding rates in England and Wales; the Northern Ireland Electricity Service determines them on the same basis as the Electricity Council determines the rates for the industry in England and Wales.I agree that the present differences between these rates and those of the Civil Service could be regarded as anomalous; I could not, however, change them at this stage without creating fresh anomalies.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why Her Majesty's Stationery Office and other Government publications in Northern Ireland do not bear the Royal Arms on the cover; and what is his policy in the matter.

There has been no change in policy in this matter. The Royal Arms appear on Her Majesty's Stationery Office and other Government publications in Northern Ireland whenever appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to introduce a draft order to give effect to the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, which applies to Great Britain only.

No. The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 deals with a wide range of subjects. Many of which are already covered by comparable legislation in Northern Ireland. Where this is not so, the appropriate Northern Ireland Departments seek to ensure that persons in need in the Province are not at any disadvantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what instructions are given for the supply to hon. Members and to the Vote Office of papers required for and connected with Northern Ireland proceedings and the Northern Ireland Committee of the House.

The normal arrangement is to send a list of relevant papers both to the Library and the Vote Office when Northern Ireland business is taking place in the House, so that sufficient copies can be made available for hon. Members. I regret that, due to an oversight, this arrangement was not followed for the recent debate in the Northern Ireland Committee, although copies of the Porter Report were available in the Library.The small general demand does not justify the placing of bulk quantities of all papers in the Vote Office, but arrangements have been made with the Library to ensure that copies will be available there for hon. Members attending Committee proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were arrested for alleged terrorist offences in 1975; of these how many were convicted; of these last how many were acquitted on appeal; and how these figures compare with those of previous years.

Statistics are not available for numbers of arrests made. In 1974 1,362 persons were charged with terrorist-type offences, and in 1975 1,197, though the number of charges for the most serious offences such as murder increased substantially. Convictions are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply that he gave the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 26th January.—[Vol. 904, c. 23.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the number of proposals for wheelchair housing units, mobility housing units, and sheltered housing units for people under 65 years of age, respectively, which have been submitted to his Department by local authorities in Northern Ireland in the last 12 months; if he will list the number of starts and completions, respectively, by each authority in each category; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th February 1976; Vol. 904, c. 587], gave the following information:Responsibility for the provision of housing for the disabled in the Province rests solely with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The Executive also liaises with the area boards of the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services in an ongoing programme of adaptations to existing houses.Information relating specifically to people under 65 years of age is not available, but the overall provision of units during the last 12 months is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the present stocks of potatoes held by wholesale potato merchants; and what were the similar stock levels at the same period over the last five years.

This information is not available. However, the Potato Marketing Board undertakes periodic censuses of stocks of potatoes held on farms.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average payment for each case made to advocates and solicitors, respectively, out of the legal aid funds in each of the last five he has for factory premises previously occupied by Welrex Ltd., Newry.

Department of Commerce officials are in the final stages of negotiations for the establishment of a new manufacturing operation in the factory formerly occupied by Welrex Ltd., at Newry. It is hoped that an announcement can be made in the very near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of potatoes has been bought by the Potato Marketing Board per year over the past five years; and what quantity will be, or has been, bought this year.

The following table shows the quantities of potatoes contracted for in the past five years under buying programmes operated by the Potato Marketing Board and the approximate quantities disposed of other than for human consumption. A buying programme is not operating for the 1975–76 crop year.years in respect of defendant trial in summary and solemn procedure, respectively.

The information requested, so far as it is available, is as follows:

sheriff court solemn and summary cases in which advocates appeared—which is a relatively rare occurrence particularly in summary cases. The total expenditure on advocates' fees in such cases was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average payment for each case made to advocates and solicitors, respectively, out of the legal aid funds in each of the last five years in respect of undefended divorces, defended divorces and actions for separation.

The information requested, so far as divorce cases are concerned, is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the percentage growth annually in the total wages and salaries bill of local authorities in Wales in each of the last five years.

Figures for the financial years 1969–70 to 1973–74 are given in the following table. Information for 1974–75 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the latest figures for emigration from Wales.

Estimates from the International Passenger Survey show that in 1974 the latest year for which figures are available, about 7,000 people left Wales for countries outside the British Isles. During the same period, 3,500 people entered Wales from outside the British Isles. Information on migration between Wales and the rest of Great Britain is available only from Census returns. A summary of the information from the 1971 Census appears in "Migration Regional Report, Wales Part I", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he has received with reference to the Government's White Paper on Devolution.

Since the publication of the White Paper (Cmnd. 6348) I have received 403 letters commenting on the devolution proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he will take immediate steps to improve the standard of public tranport in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

County councils in Wales already have wide powers and responsibilities for the planning and support of local transport services. National policy is being considered as part of the Government's comprehensive review of transport and a statement will be made in the fairly near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfiedwith the state of the potato industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Notwithstanding increased costs of production and the lower yield of the 1975 crop due to the dry summer, cash returns to Welsh potato growers overall have been satisfactory; the reduction in yield being countered by increased prices.There is a serious shortfall in homegrown potato supplies for the domestic market and the Government are keeping the situation under continuous review.I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 26th January.—[Vol. 904, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many terminal passengers and how much freight traffic were handled at each of the Welsh airports in each of the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average delay in carrying out repairs by her Department's authorised repair service for electrically-driven indoor wheelchairs.

As both the extent of repairs needed and the volume of work on hand at individual approved repairers are so variable, it is not possible to give a meaningful reply. In most instances, a reserve vehicle will be offered for use while the repairs are being carried out.I expect the question of unacceptable delays in carrying out repairs will be one of the subjects to be considered by a new liaison group which has recently been set up to look into possible improvements in the running of the invalid vehicle repair service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the costs, to the latest available date, of unemployment benefit paid in the North-West Region of England, in the current year; and what were the figures for each of the last five years.

The estimated expenditure on unemployment benefit in the North-Western Region of England in the first half of 1975–76 and in each of the previous five years is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is

The information is as follows:her estimate of the number of men between the ages of 60 and 65 years in possession of a non-State pension drawing unemployment pay, and the annual cost thereof.

I regret that I cannot add to the information given in my reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) on 16th December 1975.—[Vol. 902, c. 578.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will declare a moratorium on the payment of non-employed stamps by men of age 60 to 65 years who agree to forfeit the alternative of attending the employment exchange and drawing unemployment pay; and whether she will make a statement.

The position is that, under the Social Security Act 1975, the payment of Class 3 (non-employed) contributions has been made entirely voluntary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will estimate how many families having received a £6 a week pay rise find themselves worse off than before the increase due to increased income tax and the elimination or reduction of benefits such as family income supplement, free school meals, rent and rate rebates; and if she will make a statement.

I shall publish any relevant information on this subject in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many research programmes have been carried out in the last three years by paediatricians in the United Kingdom into the effects of National Dried Milk on infants.

I am not aware of any research concerned solely with the effects of National Dried Milk. Relevant studies have been of the effects of unmodified cows' milk preparations, of which National Dried Milk is one, compared with those of modified milks or of breast feeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many babies have died from hypocalcaemia or hypernatraemia in each five-year period since the war; and in how many cases the feeding to these infants of national dried milk was either a direct or contributory factor.

I regret that the information is not available. The national mortality statistics are made up from information in certificates of cause of death completed by doctors. In deaths involving hypocalcaemia or hypernatraemia the death certificate would not necessarily mention these conditions. Even where a death certificate indicated that either of these conditions was the underlying cause of death they are not separately identified in the international classification of diseases and deaths which is used in compiling the national mortality statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she is now taking to implement the Resolution of the House on 30th January 1976 concerning national insurance provision for the self-employed.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cleveland and Whitby (Mr. Brittan) on 27th January.—[Vol. 904, c. 162.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Rutland in 1976.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Eltham.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Hemel Hempstead.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Helsinki.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Gosport.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Garston.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Hong Kong.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has any immediate plans to visit Brussels.

asked the Prime Minister if he plans to pay an official visit to Brussels.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Brussels.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the City of London.

I did so last Monday when I addressed the Annual Dinner of the Overseas Bankers Club.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the United States of America.

I have no current plans for an official visit to the United States of America.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to pay an official visit to New York.

I have no current plans for an official visit to New York.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Devils Bridge in Ceredigion.

I was last at Devils Bridge in July 1974, but I have no plans at present for a further visit.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with co-ordination between Ministers who have responsibilities with regard to research into population trends.

Yes. I announced on 21st March 1974 that the Lord Privy Seal would co-ordinate work on population matters, and this includes questions of research into population trends. I am satisfied that these arrangements are working well.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to receive the report of the Royal Commission on the Press.

The Royal Commission is aiming to submit its interim report on the immediate problems facing national newspapers by the end of this month. The date of its final report is a matter for the Royal Commission, but I am sure that it fully appreciates the need for urgency on reporting on all the issues referred to it.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the leaders of the CBI.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 25th November.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to take the chair of NEDC.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Westhoughton (Mr. Stott) on 25th November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 5th February.

I chaired a meeting of the Cabinet this morning and this evening I shall be addressing the Birmingham Chamber of Industry and Commerce at the National Exhibition Centre.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint an industrial relations specialist to the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint an industrial relations specialist to the Policy Unit at No. 10 Downing Street.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a specialist on industrial relations to the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street.

No. I do not intend to appoint to the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street, which advises and assists me in the whole range of policies contained in the Government's programme members with designated responsibility for specific subjects.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the Governor of the Bank of England.

I met the Governor informally at the Annual Dinner of the Overseas Bankers Club on Monday evening. I have no immediate plans for a further meeting, but my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer maintains close contacts with him.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress has been made by the Committee of Inquiry on Industrial Democracy which he announced on 3rd December 1975.

The Committee has held five meetings so far and holds its sixth this week. On 18th December the Committee requested written evidence from all interested parties to be submitted by 1st March. It has set this early date for the receipt of written evidence because of the tight timetable to which it is working. It is still anxious to hear from anyone with evidence to offer and hopes that anyone having difficulty in submitting evidence by 1st March will get in touch with the secretariat to see if an extension of the deadline can be arranged.The Committee has also commissioned an analysis and evaluation of European experience of industrial democracy from Mr. Eric Batstone of Warwick University, and Mr. Paul Davies of Balliol College, Oxford. It hopes to receive their report by Easter.The Committee is moving into its offices at 13 Bloomsbury Square, W.C.1, this week, and in future correspondence should be sent to this address.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the total number of aircraft movements at night at Heathrow in 1975 for jets and for all other aircraft; and how these compare with the figures for the last five years.

The number of movements which took place during the night-time period of restrictions on jet movements is as follows:

asked the Secretary of state for Trade whart is the volume of trade in both directions with Zanzibar for the latest year for which figures are available.

Trade with Zanzibar has not been separately recorded in the overseas trade statistics since the formation of Tanzania in 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action he proposes to take following the report of his inspectors into the collapse of London and County Securities.

I am advised that the police inquiries are nearing completion and that the Director of Public Prosecutions will be considering their report. If there are civil claims to be pursued, these fall to be dealt with by the respective liquidators of the companies concerned. So far as the supervision of secondary banks is concerned, preparations for the amendment of the Protection of Depositors (Accounts) Regulations 1963 are already in hand. In addition I am considering the implications of the report in conjunction with my ongoing review of company law.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry in the period 1st March 1975 to 31st December 1975, how many requests have been received from companies for financial assistance; how many have been rejected; how many applications are pending; and how many have been received from Scotland.

1,143 requests for financial assistance were received under Sections 7 and 8 of the Industry Act 1972 in the period 1st March to 31st December 1975. 96 applications were rejected and 607 were still under consideration on 31st December. 174 applications came from Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the criteria used for determining assisted area boundaries.

The criteria are those prescribed in Section 1 of the Local Employment Act 1972 as amended, and in Section 1(4) of the Industry Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will estimate the cost of creating a new job in the development areas of the United Kingdom.

The average cost of new jobs in the development and special development areas of Great Britain expected to be created by projects offered assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act between 1st April 1976 and 30th November 1976 is estimated at £13,300, 43 per cent. of which will be contributed from public sector funds including regional development grants under Part 1 of the Industry Act as well as selective assistance under Section 7 and assistance from other public sector sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list those people who have so far agreed to serve on the Steering Committee of his proposed British Aerospace Corporation; and how many have rejected his invitation so to do.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on Friday 23rd January.—[Vol. 903, c. 622]—and to my reply to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) on Monday 26th January.—[Vol. 904, c. 94.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement about the possible closure by the British Aircraft Corporation of the premises and works at RAF Fairford, in connection with the Concorde flight-testing programme.

The amount of flight testing required by the Concorde programme is expected to fall during 1976 to a level at which it will no longer be economical in management and public expenditure terms to maintain the flight test centre at Fairford. The British Aircraft Corporation has, therefore, decided to close the centre in 1976. The date of closure will be settled between the company and my Department who are responsible for the funding of the centre. The company is keeping employee representatives informed of developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the dates on which he has made payments or given guarantees for credit to Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd. under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972; and on which date the next payment or increase is due.

The first payment of £12 million under the agreement, to meet losses in 1976, was made on 6th January. The next payment of £6 million is due on 15th February. The dates of subsequent payments, to meet losses up to the total of £40 million, and the other information requested, are available from the documents I placed in the Library on 19th January in response to the Question from the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Mr. Stanley).—[Vol. 903, c. 309.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in view of his responsibility for small firms, he will now have consultations with them concerning the Resolution passed by the House on 30th January 1976.

Matters affecting small firms are the subject of frequent consultation with my colleagues in other Departments and between my Department and outside bodies that represent the interests of small firms; and will continue to take place whenever the need for them arises.