asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any proposals to bring Service houses of members of the Armed Forces into line with Her Majesty's Government's proposals for agricultural service house tenancies.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence from what bases it is intended to deploy the strike versions of MRCA; in what theatres it is intended to operate them; and for what precise purposes.

The strike/attack/reconnaissance variant of the MRCA will operate from Royal Air Force bases in the United Kingdom and in Germany. The operational areas will be Allied Command Europe and the Eastern Atlantic; and it will carry out all-weather operations by day and by night.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is contemplating any cut back in United Kingdom participation in the MRCA project.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total current estimate of production orders for the MRCA; what orders are expected to be placed in the first, second and third years; when will the first production orders be placed; and what is the total annual cost of the estimated current programme.

The total planned requirement for the three partner nations remains at 807 aircraft. Production arrangements are under discussion and the annual cost will depend on the outcome. We expect to be ready in the first half of this year to take a decision with our partners on the launching of full production.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the final decisions about entering into production of the MRCA are to be taken.

We expect to be ready to take a decision with our partners in the first half of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will maintain a British naval presence in the South Atlantic.

At present HMS "Endurance" is deployed in South Atlantic waters, and I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 23rd January.—[Vol. 903, c. 587.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the currently increasing strength of the Soviet fleet, he will reconsider his plan to reduce the Nimrod force.

No. The reduction in the Nimrod force, which consists of the withdrawal in 1978 of one long range maritime patrol squadron, is a consequence of the reduction in our overseas commitments announced in the defence review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many industrial and technical workers are now employed in defence establishments.

There are at present, in defence establishments, including the Royal ordnance factories, some 172,000 industrial workers, and some 12,000 non-industrial staff engaged on technical work below the professional level.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether defence spending as a proportion of gross national product is moving in the opposite direction to the estimated ratio in Warsaw Pact countries.

Over the last five years total defence expenditure by NATO countries has fallen as a proportion of GNP. Over the same period it is estimated that the defence expenditure of the USSR, which accounts for the bulk of the Warsaw Pact, has been increasing, and I drew attention to the implications in my last defence White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will confirm that any future defence cuts will include no uniformed personnel.

On current plans the future uniformed strengths of the Forces will be substantially as announced in the 1975 defence White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has recently had on the costs of Great Britain's defence services; and, in particular, in relation to the British contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave earlier this afternoon to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) and to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many rescue operations have been mounted by helicopters of the Royal Navy in each of the past five years.

Our records are not complete for 1971. Subject to this, the number of operations within the United Kingdom search and rescue region was as follows: 1971, 38; 1972, 73; 1973, 192; 1974, 249; 1975, 226: making a total of 778.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the Nuclear Planning Group meeting in Hamburg.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the communique issued after the Nuclear Planning Group ministerial meeting which I attended in Hamburg on 21st and 22nd January. A copy has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has submitted Her Majesty's Government's views to the NATO study group concerning NATO's area of military responsibility.

There is no such NATO study group. As I have already explained to the hon. Member, the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic is undertaking a study of the problems of protecting NATO merchant shipping should it be attacked outside the NATO operational boundaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current assessment of the military balance between NATO and the Warsaw Pact Alliance.

I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave earlier this afternoon to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will authorise the purchase of the AEW Nimrod systems rather than their American counterpart.

No decision can yet be taken on the choice of AEW system, but when current studies have been completed the Nimrod option will be fully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the inter-governmental discussions on the defence of gas and oil installations in the North Sea.

Two conferences of representatives from North Sea countries have been held, at which a variety of problems associated with the peace-time protection of offshore installations was discusssed. The first was held in The Hague in June 1975, and the second, which I was able to open, was held in London in November 1975. The talks have been useful and wide ranging, and a further meeting is planned for later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what work is being carried out, or planned, by hydrographic ships of the Royal Navy for civil Departments; and who bears the expenditure for such work.

It is planned to continue work on surveying anticipated tow-out routes to facilitate the movement of production platforms from the coast of Scotland to the oil fields in the North Sea. These surveys will be paid for by the Department of Energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the United Kingdom's defence system in the light of the increase in Russian armaments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the United Kindom's current defence expenditure in the light of information on the extent and purpose of the USSR's current expenditure on defence.

I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave earlier this afternoon to the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) and the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he will place in the Library a copy of the statement which he issued on 25th January 1976 on East-West relations.

I have already done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy ships are currently engaged in fishing protection duties in United Kingdom waters; and what arrangements exist to make more ships available if required.

There are currently 10 Royal Navy ships in the Fishery Protection Squadron for full-time duties in United Kingdom waters. The offshore patrol ships "Jura" and "Reward" also carry out fishery protection duties as part of their wider task. In addition, my hon. Friend will be aware from previous announcements in the House that five new ships and four surveillance aircraft will be entering service in 1977 for fishery protection and a variety of other offshore tasks, including the protection of offshore installations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a statement identifying those quality assurance posts to be transferred from the Great London area to Glasgow as part of the Government's dispersal policy.

It is now unlikely that quality assurance posts will be included in our dispersal programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the programme of major exercises presently planned for the Armed Forces.

No. Details of future exercises are confidential until shortly before they take place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when it is hoped to complete the new Catterick Military Hospital; what will be the final cost; and how this compares with the original estimate.

The new Catterick Military Hospital will be completed in March 1976 and is expected to be open to patients in May. The final cost is estimated at £3·1 million. The estimate based on sketch plans in February 1972 was £2·1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he considers it necessary to alter his policy in connection with the acquisition of land in the borough of Newport, Gwent, for dispersal of personnel in the light of the fact that land concerned was acquired compulsorily by the borough council.

The site proposed by the Newport Borough Council had been compulsorily acquired by it for housing purposes and this was taken into account in reaching a decision on a dispersal site for the Ministry of Defence in South Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters in Great Britain for the families of non-commissioned officers and other ranks, and of commissioned officers, in the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, have been converted to other uses in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available.

No Service married quarters in Great Britain have been permanently converted for use other than as married accommodation in the last 12 months. However, the latest available figures show that a total of 476 married quarters are temporarily used for purposes other than for married accommodation—for example, to accommodate single personnel or to provide offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters in Great Britain for the families of non-commissioned officers and other ranks in the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force were unoccupied on the most recent count; and how these figures compare with those of 12 months previously.

The latest available figures show 6,952 non-commissioned officers' and other ranks' married quarters unoccupied in Great Britain. This compares with some 5,343 12 months earlier. Both figures included married quarters unoccupied due to change of occupant, and for repair and maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters in Great Britain for the families of commissioned officers in the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force were unoccupied on the most recent count; and how these figures compare with those of 12 months previously.

The latest available figures show 2,760 officers' married quarters unoccupied in Great Britain. This compares with some 2,136 12 months earlier. Both figures include married quarters unoccupied due to change of occupant, and for repair and maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in awarding the contracts to outside contractors, it is his policy to observe in its entirety the Fair Wages Resolution approved by this House on 14th October 1946 as set out in Form GS/Stores/1 entitled Standard Conditions of Government Contracts for Stores Purchases published in October 1970.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to announce his plans for economies in the Army's logistic base in the United Kingdom referred to in the 1975 Statement on Defence Estimates; and if he will make a statement.

We have now completed a review of Army logistic establishments in the United Kingdom. It has shown that we can close or reduce some of them in order to concentrate our logistic effort while still effectively supporting the Army in the field. This will make important economies in defence spending through a substantial reduction in staff requirements. We shall consult the Ministry of Defence Staff and Trade Union Sides through the Whitley machinery about the effects on civilian staff before final decisions regarding these measures are announced. Meanwhile our detailed proposals are described in a memorandum prepared for the purpose of consultation. Copies of this memorandum are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Admiralty contracts for shipbuilding or ship repair have been obtained by Harland & Wolff Limited, Belfast, from January 1970 to December 1975; and what was the total number of tenders submitted for Admiralty contracts.

In this period the firm has not obtained any shipbuilding contracts from the Ministry of Defence nor has it submitted any tenders. It has obtained 14 ship repair contracts and unsuccessfully tendered on 55 occasions.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Nelson and Colne.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit the Northern Region.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to visit Australia.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans for a further visit.

asked the Prime Minister when he last visited Moscow.

asked the Prime Minister when he last paid an official visit to Moscow.

I paid an official visit to the Soviet Union with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from 13th to 17th February 1975.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list the persons and organisations he plans to meet on his forthcoming visit to Scotland.

I hope to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress and other bodies concerned with the economic development of Scotland during my visit in the spring.

asked the Prime Minister when he last visited Scotland.

On 3rd November last when I attended the ceremony to make the inauguration of BP's Forties Field.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas).

asked the Prime Minister when he will next take the chair at a meeting of the NEDC.

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

I refer my hon. Friend and 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 when he next plans to meet European Heads of Government.

Last weekend I had discussions with the Federal German Chancellor on his visit to London and Chequers.I shall be meeting the Dutch Prime Minister on his visit to this country on 16th February, and the Luxembourg Prime Minister will be visiting London on 25th February.The next meeting of the European Council will be held in Luxembourg on 1st–2nd April.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his talks with the Federal German Chancellor during the latter's recent visit to this country.

I had talks with the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany at Chequers on 7th February. We discussed a wide range of international questions of mutual interest, including the economic situation. I gave Herr Schmidt an account of my talks in the previous week with the Icelandic Prime Minister and of subsequent developments in our relations with Iceland. We also discussed a number of questions affecting the European Community, many of which will be discussed further at the European Council meeting in early April.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met M. Tindemans, Prime Minister of Belgium.

At the meeting of the European Council in Rome on 1st–2nd December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his address on economic matters to the local government conference in Cardiff on Saturday 24th January 1976.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech on public expenditure at the Local Government Conference at Cardiff on 24th January.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech in Cardiff on economic matters on 24th January 1976.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on economic policy at Cardiff on 24th January.

I did so on 26th January.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech made by the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment in Anglesey on the economy on 23rd January represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Secretary of State for the Home Department's speech in Anglesey on the economic situation on 23rd January 1976 represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy).

asked the Prime Minister how many projects are now being undertaken by the CPRS.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 4th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint an industrial relations specialist to the Central Policy Review Staff.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint an industrial relations specialist to the Central Policy Review staff.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth).

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the STUC.

I shall be meeting the STUC when I visit Scotland in the spring.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to meet General Pinochet.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state his public engagements for Tuesday 10th February.

I shall be holding a number of meetings with my ministerial colleagues and others, including a meeting with leaders of the Churches in Ireland this afternoon. I shall also be attending a reception for winners of the Queen's Award to Industry at Buckingham Palace this evening.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech by the Secretary of State for Defence, on defence matters, in Barnsley on Sunday 25th January represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow).

asked the Prime Minister what representation he has made to the United States Government on the subject of money and arms from United States sources being sent to the IRA.

This is a matter on which we are in close and frequent contact with the United States authorities and the hon. Lady will be aware of the speech I made on 17th December at the annual dinner of the Association of American Correspondents in London, as well as a recent broadcast on a nationwide TV network, on these matters, broadcast throughout the United States. The United States Government are as concerned as we are about the flow of arms and money from United States sources to IRA terrorists and they cooperate very fully with us in tackling this problem.

asked the Prime Minister whether the statement issued by the Secretary of State for Defence on 25th January 1976 on East-West relations represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is satisfied with the procedure under which prosecutions are now conducted in the justice of the peace courts.

I am satisfied with the procedure under which prosecutions are now conducted in the district courts. Justice of the peace courts as such were abolished under the District Courts (Scotland) Act 1975. If, however, there is any particular part of the procedure on which the hon. Member would like comment in detail, perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received since the publication of the Government's short guide to their devolution policy; and what were the nature of the views expressed.

Since the publication of the Government's short guide to its devolution proposals I have received 772 letters about them. Fifty-six of these express broad agreement with the White Paper proposals, 42 want less than the proposals, while 663 call for more devolution. The great majority of the latter group appear to be the result of an organised campaign. Of the 772 letters, 39 asked for a referendum.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the financial allocations broken down into revenue and capital expenditure, for the years 1974–75 and 1975–76, made available to the various

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when a Housing Commission was appointed for each local authority in Wales concerned under Section 95(7) of the Housing Finance Act 1972.

Two Housing Commissioners were appointed by the then Secretary of State on 7th December 1972.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many default orders were made on local authorities in Wales under Section 95(1) of the Housing Finance Act 1972; and when they were made.

Two. Both on 13th November 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many authorities notified his Department of their intention not to implement the Housing Finance Act 1972; and if he will publish the dates of such notification.

I understand that five local authorities passed final resolutions refusing to implement the Act on the dates shown:

• Cwmbran UDC, August 1972.
• Vaynor and Penderyn RDC, September 1972.
• Ystradgynlais RDC, September 1972.
• Bedwas and Machen UDC, September 1972.
• Merthyr Tydfil CBC, November 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authorities in Wales are now being investigated, or are due to be investigated, by the district auditor on account of alleged deficits in their housing revenue account under the Housing Finance Act 1972; and if he will list them.

I understand that five local authorities are being investigated by the district auditor because of alleged deficits in their housing revenue account due to the action of certain of their predecessor authorities under the Housing Finance Act 1972. They are:

• Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council.
• Rhymney Valley District Council.
• Torfaen District Council.
• Brecknock Borough Council.
• Cynon Valley Borough Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when authorities which have alleged deficits in their housing revenue accounts under the Housing Finance Act 1972 should initiate a progression towards fair rents, taking into consideration Part IV Section 62 of the Act.

Local authorities now determine rents in accordance with the provisions of Section 113 of the Housing Act 1957 as amended by Section 1 of the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975, which repealed Part VI, Section 62 of the Housing Finance Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many miles of trunk dual carriageway roads there are in Wales; and what this is expressed as a proportion of the total mileage of roads in Wales.

111·8 miles or 0·57 per cent. are in use. A further 128·3 miles or 0·65 per cent. are in various stages of preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for the latest available date the proportion of residents of each county in Wales who were born outside Wales.

At the time of the 1971 Census the proportion of residents of each county of Wales who were enumerated at their usual place of residence and who were born outside Wales was as in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects work to commence on the approach roads to the Britannia Bridge and upon the road span on the bridge.

In the financial year 1977–78, subject to the availability of funds and the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total sum of money which he has so far approved for loan sanction for the purchase of second-hand and new dwellings, respectively, by local authorities under Circular 111/74; and what is the total number of dwellings in each case.

Returns so far received from authorities in Wales indicate a total committed expenditure of £4,033,304 under the general consent contained in Circular 111/74 for specified categories. My right hon. and learned Friend approved the issue of loan sanction in the total sum of £983,027 for the acquisition of existing dwellings falling outside the categories and £7,728,525 for new dwellings. The number of dwellings involved is 698, 164 and 853 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations have been received by his Department about the future of railway services in Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Edwards) on 19th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 899–900.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is yet in a position to announce a decision in regard to the proposed improvement on the A44 at Ponterwyd-Devils Bridge road junction; and if he will make a statement.

We intend to proceed with this scheme as soon as the necessary land and financial resources are available, but I doubt whether this will be possible in the next financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to reduce unemployment among teachers in Wales and to prevent an over-supply of teachers in the next two or three years.

I have been asked to reply.As my right hon. Friend indicated in his answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North-West (Mr. Roberts) on 3rd February—[Vol. 904, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers he estimates will be in full-time education in 1977, 1981, and 1987.

The number of qualified teachers in regular service in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England and Wales in March 1977 is expected to be about 455,000, full-time or full-time equivalent. This includes teachers seconded for in-service training courses. The Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers is being invited to review the prospects for the teaching force over the next decade in the light of the economic situation and the falling birthrate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in the light of the increasing difficulty of newly qualified teachers, especially at primary level, in finding employment in the maintained schools, if he will accept as qualifying for the probationary year, teaching service in non-maintained, but otherwise fully recognised, schools.

Probation as a qualified teacher is served under statutory regulations which apply only to maintained schools. Teaching service outside such schools can be taken into consideration in deciding whether a teacher's subsequent probationary period in a maintained school should be shortened or waived altogether.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of students hi higher education in 1970 and in 1974 were in colleges of education; and what is the forecast for 1980.

Students in former colleges of education in England and Wales in 1970 and 1974 formed 28 per cent. and 25 per cent, respectively of all students on higher education courses in institutions in England and Wales, or 24 per cent, and 21 per cent. respectively of those in higher education in Great Britain. As regards 1980, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28th January to the hon. Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Baker).—[Vol. 904, c. 220.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teacher training places are currently in polytechnics; and what is the forecast for this sector in 1981.

There were 2,745 places in 1973. Proposals already agreed or at an advanced stage of negotiation for mergers of polytechnics and colleges of education involve approximately 11,500 further places. It is expected that by 1981 there will be some 14,500 teacher training places in polytechnics.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table showing for 1960, 1970 and the latest year for which the information is available what percentage of students was in receipt of the full local authority grant, what percentage received less than half of the full grant and what percentage received only the minimum allowance.

A special survey for 1972–73 showed that about 20 per cent. of students receiving local education authority full value awards for study at universities and further education establishments received maximum grant. Similar information for other years is not available in my Department. The corresponding proportion of students with mini mum—£50—grant was 5 per cent. in 1961–62, 6 per cent. in 1970–71, and 7 per cent. in 1973–74. No information is available in my Department about the

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he percentage of students who receive less than half of the full grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he next plans to meet the National Union of Students to discuss student grants; and what arrangements he will make to consult the growing number of students who are not now members of the National Union of Students but who have a close interest in the level of student grants.

I expect to meet the National Union of Students before the student grant rates for the academic year 1976–77 are settled. It is open to all students to send me their views on any aspect of student grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish for the years I960, 1970 and 1975, a table showing, as a percentage of average earnings (a) the level of income at which parents became liable to contribute towards the cost of their offspring at college or university and (b) the level of income at which the local authority paid only the minimum allowance.

The following table gives the information requested for students receiving full value awards from a local education authority for degrees or comparable courses.intends to publish the results of the inquiry initiated by the Lord Crowther-Hunt into the career and educational attitudes of young people.

I am advised that the report on the survey will be completed in the early summer. Publication of a preliminary report is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those education authorities where emphasis has been laid on the multiple use of their educational facilities; and if he will indicate whether the emphasis has been for academic or sports use.

Within the general policy laid down by my Department it is for local education authorities to take detailed decisions in the light of local circumstances. I am confident of their general willingness to respond to local needs within the resources available and believe that it would be wrong to categorise them in the way suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect the outcome of the talks between Dr. Kissinger and Mr. Brezhnev will have on his policy on disarmament; and if he will make a statement.

The bilateral negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union on strategic arms limitation are continuing. It is too soon to say what the outcome will be and whether it will have an effect on the policies of other Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what links he maintains with opposition movements in Southern Africa.

Her Majesty's Government maintain links with a variety of organisations in Southern Africa which could be generally described as opposition movements. But there has never been any question of Her Majesty's Government giving aid for the promotion of violence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider the creation of a local militia for the defence of Hong Kong recruited solely in Hong Kong and paid for entirely by the Hong Kong administration.

I am satisfied that the present arrangements for the defence of Hong Kong are in the best interests of the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what countries British nationals are able to obtain legal aid to commence or defend legal proceedings on similar terms to those granted to foreign nationals in the United Kingdom.

British nationals enjoy free or assisted legal aid in Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iraq, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Yugoslavia to the same extent in civil and commercial matters as the nationals of those countries.Similar facilities are available to British nationals in the Republic of Ireland, Italy and Luxembourg under the provisions of the European Convention on Establishment which Her Majesty's Government ratified on 14th October 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Zambian Government about the detention of Mr. Lionel Cliffe, a British citizen and native of Sheffield; and whether the British High Commission in Zambia has had access to Mr. Cliffe.

The High Commissioner has been in close touch with the Zambian Ministers of Foreign and Home Affairs and access to see Mr. Cliffe, who has been detained under the Zambian Preservation of Security regulations, was granted on 3rd and 5th February. Assurances have been received about future access.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure payment of £11 million unpaid Chilean debts, outstanding on account of 1975 maturities, to the British Government or British companies.

I have been asked to reply.We have formally asked the Chilean authorities on a number of occasions for payment in full of the outstanding debts due to the United Kingdom in 1975, and we shall continue to do so as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to have discussions with all political parties at Westminster on the question of direct elections to the EEC Parliament.

My right hon. Friend has written to the parliamentary parties offering to discuss this question with them either before or after the publication of the Paper, and is holding discussions with those who have requested them. He wrote to the SNP on 16th January. Other parties have replied, but the SNP has not yet done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what reply he has made to the letter dated the 9th January 1976 from the Reverend John Bradley of Portadown, County Armagh, about unsolved murders dating from 1972.

The Reverend Bradley's questions were detailed and required research into the records of the police division concerned; his letter was, therefore, referred to the RUC. The necessary investigations have recently been completed and an answer will be sent to the Reverend Bradley shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many houses and/or flats have been built by the Housing Executive since 1970 in the constituency of Belfast, West, excluding the Lower Shankhill development and the Carlisle Circus development,(2) how many houses and/or flats have been built by the Housing Executive since 1970 in the constituencies of Belfast, South and East; and how many dwellings have been scheduled for the constituencies of Belfast, South and East, to December 1980;(3) how many dwellings have been scheduled for completion by the Housing Executive for the constituency of Belfast West; and how many dwellings will be built in the respective areas involved in the programme to December 1980.

The information in respect of the numbers of dwellings built is not readily available because the Northern Ireland Housing Executive assumed the functions of the former housing authorities over a two-year period and local authority boundaries and parliamentary constituencies have changed since 1970.The Housing Executive released its draft Northern Ireland public sector housing programme for 1976–77 to 1980–81 to district councils as a consultative document only recently, and it is not, therefore, possible to provide information on the number of dwellings scheduled for completion in specific areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish photographs of the riots in the Fountain and in Bishop Street in Londonderry on Sunday 1st February, with a view to getting the involvement and co-operation of the public in the identification of the rioters.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 30], gave the following information:This is a matter for the Chief Constable to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been identified by the police as having taken part in Republican or civil rights acts of disruption in Londonderry in 1974 and in 1975; how many such persons have been charged and how many convicted; how many such acts of disruption—that is, illegal marches, sit-downs on the roadway, riot and stone-throwing, etc.—are known to have taken place; and what is the maximum number of persons in any single act or demonstration and what is the minimum in any single demonstration or act.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 30], gave the following information:There were 42 incidents of the kind referred to by the hon. Member, involving demonstrations comprising between three and approximately 5,000 persons. As a result, two persons were charged in 1974 and seven in 1975. Convictions are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General, and identification of persons by the police an operational matter for the Chief Constable.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he has any plans for introducing into the judicial system in Northern Ireland small claims courts along the lines now operating in England in order to speed and cheapen the costs of litigation;(2) if he will take steps to extend the jurisdiction of the petty sessions courts to accommodate small claims; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 30], gave the following information:I cannot yet add anything to the answer I gave on 28th January 1976 to the hon. Member for Down, North, (Mr. Kilfedder).—Vol. 904, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what way the procedures of identification of persons who stage sit-downs on the public high way have been improved since November 1974.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 30], gave the following information:It would not be in the interest of security to give details of the procedures used by the security forces for identifying persons involved in public disorders.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he consults representatives of people with family responsibilities when formulating incomes policy.

The Government take full account of all views put to them. They are also in continuing discussion with both the CBI and the TUC, which represent many millions of people with family responsibilities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the loss to the Revenue from income tax evasion over the last five years, the number of legal proceedings brought in each year for income tax evasion and details of amounts recovered in each year by legal action.

By the nature of things, it is impossible to estimate the tax lost through evasion. Details of the under-assessments to tax uncovered by the Board of Inland Revenue and the criminal proceedings taken during the last 10 years are given at Tables 17 and 18 in the 118th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 6302).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present purchasing power of the £1 sterling of October 1934.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the pound as £1 in 1934, its value in December 1975, the latest date available, is estimated to be 11p. The basis for this estimate is given in "The Internal Purchasing Power of the Pound", a leaflet released by the Press and Information Service of the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the duty charged

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what circumstances war stock can be redeemed at a point in time prior to its normal redemption date; and what conditions would attach to any such premature redemption.