asked the Secretary or State for Defence what manpower cuts he plans to make in order to achieve savings on the defence budget of £177 million in 1977–78, £193 million in 1978–79 and £164 million in 1979–80.

Service strengths will remain substantially as announced after the defence review, but there will be a reduction of some 7,500 to 10,000 civilian jobs. We shall do what we can to avoid civilian redundancies but there will undoubtedly be some; these staff reductions are in addition to those found from the defence review and should largely be completed by 1st April 1978. There are likely to be more non-industrial than industrial reductions.There will be a reduction in staff of Ministry of Defence Headquarters in London and in related establishments, and in the MOD Police. In some cases we shall be able to give up tasks and in others we will have to accept that work will be done more slowly. There will be a reduction in the standard of civilian administration and a lowering of the standard of service generally. Staff savings will be about 1,300–1,400.We shall be making economies in the naval support area and will be closing the armament depot at Bandeath, the oil fuel facilities at Llanion, Llanreath and Lyness and the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard at Wroughton. There will be a reduction in local stores support at Chatham and in the Marine Services organisation. There will be some rephasing of plans for management improvements in the dockyards. Staff savings will be about 1,500, but the timings have yet to be decided.There have been substantial civilian staff savings already identified in the Army area under the defence review. Together with the latest exercise, which accounts for about an additional 2,000 posts, the total savings will be around 11,000. Economies are being made by reorganisation—for example, in B vehicle driver training, pay and records offices, and in the rationalisation of logistic support; proposals for the closure of a number of installations are now under discussions with the Staff Side and trade unions concerned.The merger of the RAF Support and Training Commands has already been announced and additional savings are being sought in other support areas; about 1,500 staff will be affected.Some 3,000–3,500 savings will be found by reductions in the HQ and R and D and other establishments of the Procurement Executive—an additional cut of 5 per cent. on defence review levels. We shall also be reducing our expenditure on capital facilities and on extra-mural research contracts, with particular emphasis on longer-term work. We are reviewing the future levels of R and D on defence against chemical and biological warfare carried out in the Porton establishments—CDE and MRE—with the object of making significant economies.Various proposals for the second stage of rationalising the R and D establishments are now in the final stages of consultations with Staff and trade union representatives. In order to bring forward savings in manpower and running costs while improving the effectiveness of scientific and technical teams, decisions will now be taken during the next two weeks leading to the closure in due course of a number of sites.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for defence of the Public Expenditure White Paper (Command Paper No. 6393).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the effects of the proposed cuts set out in Command Paper No. 6393 on United Kingdom forces commitments to NATO.

Public expenditure to 1979–80, as set out in Command 6393, involves reductions at 1975 survey prices of £177 million in 1977–78, £193 million in 1978–79 and £164 million in 1979–80 below the defence budget programme reflected last year in Command 5976. They are, therefore, in addition to the reductions identified by the defence review, and to the reduction of £136 million for 1976–77 announced by the Chancellor in his 1975 Budget Statement.The defence review identified the level of forces needed to meet Britain's essential defence commitments. Since then there have been no changes in the political and military relationships between NATO and the Warsaw Pact which would justify a reduction of these commitments. We shall, therefore, maintain the same level of front line forces and their direct support, and these will have the first call on the available resources. As a result, the further economies in the defence budget have been sought almost wholly from the administrative and support structure not directly associated with front line units. The defence review left scope for further detailed studies in this area.The Government of Hong Kong will be paying more of the share of the cost of the garrison, rising to 75 per cent. in 1978–79.Apart from manpower savings, on which I am answering a separate Question today, the following are examples of the measures I shall be taking.The Navy will be cutting back its level of fuel consumption and there will be reductions in naval support and stock levels.The Army will be making domestic fuel economies and will be cutting down the provision of Service clothing; and there will be minor reductions in the equipment programme.The Air Forces will be making minor equipment reductions and cutting back on spares and other support.These reductions have been concentrated on Ministry of Defence support services but, in the industries serving defence, they will nevertheless result in the loss of some 3,000 job opportunities.There will be reductions in works expenditure for all three Services and for the Procurement Executive. Improvements in living and working conditions for both Service and civilian personnel, and in support facilities, will be deferred and there will be some reduction in maintenance and a quicker release for sale of surplus married quarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) officers and (b) other ranks have so far been made redundant from each of the three Services as a result of the 1975 Defence White Paper; and how many of these have not yet found permanent employment.

At the latest late for which figures are available, 31st December 1975, 201 officers and 357 Service men had left the Armed Forces on redundancy. All were members of the Royal Air Force. I regret that the information sought in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the weapons systems and equipments which have come into service since March 1975.

Weapons systems and equipments which have come into service since March 1975 include:

Royal Navy

(i) HMS "Antelope" and "Ambuscade", second and third Type 21 frigates.

(ii) HMS "Kingfisher", a Bird class patrol craft.

Army

(i) 105 mm light gun and one tonne land-rover towing vehicle.

(ii) Blowpipe man-portable missile system.

(iii) Scimitar armoured reconnaissance vehicle.

(iv) Chieftain tank laser sights.

(v) a number of new smaller equipments which form a significant part of the Army's overall programme; e.g., night vision aids. radio and refuelling equipment.

Royal Air Force

(i) First Squadron of Victor K2 tankers.

(ii) Second Squadron of United Kingdom based Buccaneers and two more Jaguar squadrons.

(iii) Laser ranger equipment for Jaguar aircraft.

(iv) New radio and telecommunications equipment for the Nimrod and radar warning receivers for combat aircraft.

In addition, there have been further delveries of a wide range of weapons systems introduced into service before March 1975, including Exocet, Ikara, Rapier and Martel missiles, Mark 24 and Mark 46 torpedoes, the Anglo-French Gazelle helicopter and tracked vehicles including Scorpion.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the expenditure of £100,000 on a new flat for the Chief of Air Staff in Whitehall.

It has been the practice for many years to provide official flats for holders of the Chief of Staff appointments within reasonable distance of Whitehall, for reasons of operational necessity.The opportunity is being taken to acquire a flat in the same building as those occupied by two other Chiefs of Staff. The net cost of acquisition of the flat is expected to be of the order of £75,000 after taking account of the probable proceeds from the disposal of the flat formerly provided for the Chief of the Air Staff. The lease of the new flat will run for some 60 years by comparison with the outstanding period of 15 years for the existing flat. I am satisfied that the standard of accommodation which the next flat will provide is no greater than is appropriate to the need, taking account of the representational responsibilities of the Chief of the Air Staff as professional head of the Royal Air Force.Our general policy in the provision of properties for the accommodation of senior RAF officers has been one of reduction. In the past few years more than 20 such houses have been declared surplus with an estimated benefit to the Exchequer of over £1,000,000, of which property to the value of over £500,000 has been released for disposal in the past six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report those firms currently engaged on defence contract work in Wales.

The information is not readily available and could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if any assistance is given through his Department in the circulation of present or former members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces with invitations to accept engagements as mercenaries in the armed forces of foreign countries or in other forces.

In certain cases assistance is given to friendly foreign Governments in the recruitment of retired Service personnel on a contract basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Special Air Service are currently serving in Africa.

It is not our normal practice to say in which countries the SAS may happen to be at any given time, but, as the House was informed on 24th November—[Vol. 901, c. 22.]—no British Servicemen are serving in Angola.

asked the Attorney-General whether a decision has been made on the question of a prosecution of Mr. Kevin Agnew in respect of his speech at Londonderry on 1st February 1976.

Yes. The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland has considered the evidence concerning Mr. Agnew's speech and he has consulted fully with me upon the application of the criminal law to the words used by Mr. Agnew. Whilst I most strongly deplore some of the extracts from Mr. Agnew's speech and the extravagant language used by him, the Director does not propose to initiate any criminal proceedings and I entirely agree with this decision.

asked the Attorney-General in how many cases in each of the last five years a defendant has been represented under a dock brief.

I regret that this information is not available. Since the introduction of legal aid dock briefs have become extremely rare.

asked the Attorney-General on how many occasions in each of the last five years the High Court has (a) heard an application for a writ for habeas corpus and (b) granted such application; and in how many of those cases the respondent was (a) the Metropolitan Police, (b) other police forces, (c) hospital authorities and (d) prison authorities.

Statistics relating to prerogative proceedings, including writs of habeas corpus, are contained in the Civil Judicial Statistics which are published annually and presented to Parliament.Information relating to the respondent in these cases is not available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of the time of the staff of the Crown Office of the Royal Courts of Justice.

asked the Attorney-General in how many cases in each of the last five years heard by the Divisional Court of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court legal aid was granted to (a) the appellant or applicant and (b) the respondent; and in how many cases legal aid was refused.

The numbers of legal aid certificates issued for these proceedings were:

	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75
(a) Appellants and applicants	91	78	82
(b) Respondents	30	17	21

Information is not available as to the grant of legal aid for these proceedings in earlier years, nor as to the number of cases in which legal aid was refused.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he has estimated what proportion of the reduced consumption of primary energy, since the launching of the conservation campaign, is attributable to the "Save It" publicity effort and supporting measures; and what proportion is attributable to other factors;(2) if he has estimated what proportion of the reduced consumption of primary energy since the launching of the conservation campaign is attributable to lower industrial production;(3) if he has estimated what proportion of the reduced consumption of primary energy since the launching of the conservation campaign is attributable to above average temperatures.

Energy consumption is affected by a large number of influences, some of which are extremely difficult to measure and others which change their relationship with energy consumption over time. After making allowances for industrial and other reductions and a small temperature allowance, conservation measures, including the "Save It" campaign, seem to have accounted for a reduction in primary energy consumption of about 2 per cent.Calculation of the short-term effect of a drop in industrial production is made difficult by the fluctuating relationship with energy consumption. Moreover the current decline in output lies outside the range of recent experience so that there is no close standard for comparison. However, a reasonable estimate of the effect in the first three-quarters of 1975 is 3–4 per cent. of total primary energy consumption.Average temperatures vary very little from one year to another and the impact of temperature is greatly complicated by other factors such as wind and rain. However, a reasonable estimate for the effect of average 1975 temperatures on primary energy consumption related to 1973 is a reduction of about 0·3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will consult the gas and electricity authorities on the possibility of payment of accounts being made through the purchase of savings tokens at Post Offices;(2) if he will discuss with the postal authorities the possibility of savings stamps or tokens being made available at post offices for the purpose of paying gas and electricity bills;(3) if he will consult the postal authorities and the gas and electricity boards to ascertain the feasibility of using the stamps sold to enable television licences to be purchased to be extended to the payment of gas and electricity accounts; and if he will make a statement.

I have asked my noble Friend Lord Lovell-Davis to study these suggestions in the review, which he is making at my right hon. Friend's request, of the payment and collection arrangements in the two industries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the Siberry Report on a fourth television service in Wales, he has any further proposals to make to alleviate the problem of the reception of Welsh programmes by Somerset viewers on UHF.

Not at present, I am afraid. I am well aware of the problem; but, as I indicated in the reply I gave to a Question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey (Mr. Hughes) on 19th February—[Vol. 905, c. 788]—the Government attach higher priority for available resources to the extension of UHF—625-line and colour —coverage to those who do not have it, and to those areas throughout the country which still have to depend on VHF—405-line and monochrome—services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will have discussions with chief constables regarding methods of providing protection and help in obtaining a new identity for any person providing inside information leading to the detection or conviction of other persons responsible for acts of terrorism in Great Britain, or of persons manufacturing explosive devices intended for such use.

These are matters within the operational responsibility of chief officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in 1974 and 1975 legal aid was granted in the Crown Court for counsel only pursuant to Section 74(3) of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 and Section 30(3) of the Legal Aid Act 1974; and why this information was not given in the criminal statistics for 1974 contrary to previous practice.

In 1974, 996 legal aid orders for counsel only were granted for representation at proceedings in the Crown Court and a further 114 such orders for representation at appeals to the Crown Court against a decision of a magistrates' court. The figures for 1975 are not yet available.The change, in 1974, in the content and presentation of legal aid information given in the Criminal Statistics Command Paper, was made in response to various requests for other information. However, consideration is being given to including in the 1975 volume some data of the type given in earlier volumes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has estimated the approximate size of the public sector deficit, the general Government deficit and the public sector borrowing requirement implied by the projections of the growth and use of resources in the 1976 White Paper on Public Expenditure; and if he will publish his estimates for the terminal year of the projections in constant 1970 prices or as a percentage of GDP or GNP.

The public sector deficit and the public sector borrowing requirement are hard to forecast since they reflect the way in which Government respond to the economic circumstances of the day, including the consequences of their public expenditure policies and fiscal policies, and the behaviour of savings ratios. The new Public Expenditure White Paper makes plain that

"As the world economy recovers the Government intend that public sector borrowing should be reduced steadily to a normal level in relation to national income."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has estimated the approximate size of the national debt for the years covered by the Public Expenditure White Paper; and if he will publish an estimate of the size of the nominal debt held outside the public sector in the terminal year as implied by the White Paper's economic projections, in constant prices or as a proportion of national output.

The preparation of the figures for debt interest in the years covered by the Public Expenditure White Paper requires among other things an assumption about the development of total public sector debt outstanding. But this is only one of the assumptions required, all of which are uncertain, and I do not see any advantage in giving status to the particular combination used by specifying it. The new Public Expenditure White Paper makes plain that

"As the world economy recovers the Government intend that public sector borrowing should be reduced steadily to a normal level in relation to national income."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider ordering an investigation into the circumstances of the sale of Burmah Oil's British Petroleum stock to the Bank of England; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give consideration to the establishment of a committee of the National Economic Development Organisation for the paper industry.

Discussions are proceeding at present about a suitable tripartite body to work on the industrial strategy under the auspices of the National Economic Development Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of traders collecting VAT whose turnover in 1975 was between £5,000 and £10,000, and also between £5,000 and £8,520.

Information is only available in respect of broad bands of turnover and I regret, therefore, that I cannot add to the reply given to the hon. Member on 6th February.—[Vol. 904, c. 777–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the coinage will cease to bear the word "new".

Plans have now been made to omit the word "new" from all coins which are minted from 1977 onwards. To balance the designs the denominational values will be expressed in words as well as in figures, but no other significant changes will be made. A Royal proclamation under the Coinage Act 1971 will be made in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make the 2½p a permanent feature of the currency, in view of its importance in both price shading and as a counter to inflation.

No early decision on the 2½p coin is likely. The position is being kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of persons held in prisons in Northern Ireland at present; and what estimates have been made of the numbers expected to be held in prison in 1976–77 and 1977–78.

The total number of persons held in Northern Ireland prisons and borstal institutions on 15th February 1976 was 2,792. Estimates for planning purposes of future prison population figures depend upon many factors, including the future level of violence, and are too speculative for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the cost of rebuilding and repairs to the Maze and Magilligan prisons, following riots of 1974, was met from the contingency reserve, or from reductions made in allocations to Northern Ireland Departments; and what were the contributions made by each Department.

No specific cuts had to be made for the costs, which will amount to about £1·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many general dental practitioners are currently practising in Lurgan and Portadown, County Armagh.

Following is the information:

Town	No. of practitioners
Lurgan	6 principals and 1 assistant
Portadown	5 principals and 1 assistant

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total amount in salaries from 1st January 1974 to 31st December 1975 to the full-time RUC engaged in police community work;(2) how many members of the RUC were in full-time community police work from 1st January 1974 to 31st December 1975; and what are ranks of the officers holding these positions.

The accounts of the Northern Ireland Office, in common with other Government Departments, are based upon financial years rather than calendar years. In the financial year 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975 the pay and allowances of the RUC Community Relations Branch amounted to £100,970. During this period the average strength of the branch was 18, made up as follows: one chief inspector, six inspectors, seven sergeants, four constables.In the current financial year it is estimated that the pay and allowances of the branch will be £265,750. During this period the average strength of the branch has been 43, made up as follows: one superintendent, one chief inspector, eight inspectors, 14 sergeants, 19 constables.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of expenditure by the RUC Community Relations Branch in North Belfast from 1st January 1973 to 31st December 1975.

,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 801], gave the following information:All members of the RUC and the RUC Reserve are encouraged to devote some of their time to community relations work. I gave in reply today to other Questions from the hon. Member the number of RUC officers engaged full-time in this work and the total finance directly available to them. It would not, however, be appropriate or practical to relate the expenditure to any particular geographical area.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of finance available to the RUC Community Relations Branch from 1st January 1974 to 31st December 1975.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 801], gave the following information:The accounts of the Northern Ireland Office, in common with other Government Departments, are based upon financial years rather than calendar years. £20,000 was available, within the grant to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, to the RUC Community Relations Branch in the financial year 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975 and £25,000 in the current financial year. This is used to purchase, for example, sporting and camping equipment, record players and records, grants to youth clubs, provision of refreshments, and the hire of local halls for community meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date Section 1 of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 expired.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 801], gave the following information:1st January 1974. Under the terms of Section 2(4) of the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973, Section 1 of the Northern Ireland (Temporary Provisions) Act 1972 expired on the appointed day provided for in Section 2(1) of the 1973 Act. The Northern Ireland Constitution (Devolution) Order 1973 provided that this appointed day should be 1st January 1974.

Annual Allied Service Programme expenditure via COI
	£
1973–74
Exhibitions	8,600
Films and TV	11,100
Photographs	4,000
Publications	11,100
	£34,800
	£
1974–75
Exhibitions	10,100
Films and TV	2,800
Photographs	7,000
Publications	13,300
	£33,200
	£
1975–76 (forecasted outturn)
Exhibitions	11,000
Photographs	3,000
Publications	31,500
Miscellaneous	200
	£45,700
	£
1976–77 (projected expenditure)
Exhibitions	19,800
Films	3,600
Photographs	6,400
Publications	27,500
	£57,300

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list his responsibilities for the construction industry in Scotland.

Ministerial responsibility for the construction industry throughout Great Britain rests with my

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what has been the total cost of publicity incurred by his Department in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975; and what is the estimate for 1976, broken down into relevant headings.

The information is as follows:

Expenditure on non-priced HMSO material and distributions
	£
1973–74	450
Total	£35,250
	£
1974–75	700
Total	£33,900
	£
1975–76	2,022
Total	£47,722
	£
1976–77	8,800
Total	£66,100

right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. My Department is represented on the National Consultative Council of the Building and Civil Engineering Industries and on the Joint Advisory Panel for these industries in Scotland; and the state of the construction industry is regularly reviewed by the Economic Planning Board for Scotland on which the Department of the Environment is represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the financial advantage which farmers in the crofting area have over those not in the crofting counties.

Apart from minor differences relating to compensatory allowances and the special grant to the Scottish islands there are no variations between the assistance available to farmers in the crofting counties and those elsewhere. There are, however, special grant schemes available to crofters and others of similar status. Details of these are given in my Department's and the Crofters Commission's Annual Reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers or duties Scottish local authorities have to assist needy schoolchildren to buy school uniforms; and whether such regulations are the same as for pupils in England and Wales.

There is no statutory provision relating specifically to the provision of school uniform. Education authorities are required by Section 54 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1962 to make any provision they deem necessary to ensure that a pupil is sufficiently and suitably clad, if otherwise he would be unable to take full advantage of the education provided.I understand that the position in England and Wales differs in some respects from the position in Scotland. It is, however, for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science to answer Questions about the position in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take about the denial of education to pupils in Scottish local authority schools because they do not wear school uniforms.

This is a matter which falls within the responsibility of education authorities. It would not be proper for me to intervene in a particular case or to advise authorities on what would or would not be appropriate dress for school pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements have been made concerning the acquisition of the Temple of Peace in Cardiff for the Welsh Assembly; and at what date modifications will be undertaken to make the building suitable for its new purpose.

Negotiations for the acquisition of the Temple are proceeding. A feasibility study of the cost and scale of work needed to adapt the building for its proposed new purpose has already been undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what specific grounds he made the order to protect the Weaver Flour Mill building at Swansea.

Under Section 54 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 I am obliged to compile lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest in Wales. I do so on the recommendation from the Chief Investigator of Historic Buildings, who recommended the listing of the Weaver's Mill building. I am advised that the effect of the Act is that I must accept the Chief Investigator's recommendation unless I am not satisfied that a building exhibits sufficient architectural or historic merit. I do not consider that I would have proper grounds for coming to such a conclusion in this case. The fact that the building is listed does not mean that it will necessarily be preserved in all circumstances. Demolition or alteration would require "listed building consent".

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the reductions of staff, including details of grades, he anticipates within his Department in view of the reduction in the tests of monitoring the performance of the aerospace and shipbuilding industries after the vesting days for those industries.

Compared with the 100 staff at present in the two Sponsoring Divisions of my Department I expect a progressive reduction amounting to some 20 per cent. by the time the negotiation of compensation to the nationalised companies has been completed. I am not able at this stage to specify the grades concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of the extra £1 million allocated for the building of small factories in rural areas is to be allocated to the Ormskirk area.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him today.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what was the cost of producing red price check triangles for display in shops.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 30th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what grants have been made to the Civil Aviation Authority and the British Airports Authority since their establishment.

The Government have paid grants to the Civil Aviation Authority of £149·2 million to meet deficits on revenue accounts and £1·7 million and £6·6 million for the development of Inverness and Sumburgh Airports respectively; and to the British Airports Authority of £0·35 million and £8·6 million for the development of Aberdeen and Edinburgh Airports respectively. These figures do not include the reimbursement of airport security costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many anti-dumping orders have been issued on imported paper products in the last year.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report the letter sent to him by the Civil Aviation Authority expressing the view that wider discretion should be left to the licensing system in the control of long-haul scheduled services.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what sections of the report or evidence were provided to the police in respect of the investigation under Section 165–6 of the Companies Act 1948 into Blanes Limited in advance of publication.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in cases when information or evidence is given to the police from inspectors' reports in connection with investigations under Sections 165–6 of the Companies Act 1948, this action is taken on the initiative of his Department.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she has powers to earmark funds given to area health authorities for specific purposes.

At present the Department allocates funds to regional health authorities, who are generally responsible for allocating them to area health authorities, in the light of local needs and national priorities. The Resource Allocation Working Party is currently examining the whole question of allocating funds to areas and to districts. We have powers to earmark funds. We are developing a detailed planning system which will then give a far greater capacity hitherto for monitoring expenditure patterns.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her current estimate of the average weekly level of occupational pension.

The latest estimate for Great Britain, based on the Family Expenditure Survey for 1974, is that the average weekly amount of occupational pension received by occupational pensioners was £8·80. This survey did not include people living in institutions, and the estimate is also subject to sampling errors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her current estimate of the proportion of occupational pensions at the following weekly levels: less than £1, £1–£2, £2–£3, £3–£4, £4–£5, £5–£6, £6–£7, £7–£8, £8–£9 and £10 or over.

		1975–76
		Total NHS Allocated	Total NHS Estimated	Estimated Capital Expenditure on Services for the
Regional Health Authority		Revenue Expenditure	Capital Expenditure	Mentally Handicapped	Mentally Ill
		£000	£000	£000	£000
Northern	…	159,389	19,436	125	604
Yorkshire	…	180,227	26,778	200	550
Trent	…	203,027	38,945	2,833	1,120
East Anglia	…	85,420	14,715	1,262	376
North-West Thames	…	227,575	20,151	737	1,482
North-East Thames	…	249,212	21,871	1,791	2,537
South-East Thames	…	228,741	26,241	941	722
South-West Thames	…	187,276	23,075	1,526	1,343
Wessex	…	127,983	19,113	627	1,695
Oxford	…	106,372	16,730	392	256
South-Western	…	154,968	17,366	716	432
West Midlands	…	245,163	33,476	1,459	2,486
Mersey	…	141,617	21,875	170	1,463
North-Western	…	211,375	26,572	761	1,201

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is her policy that citizens of the Republic of Ireland should retain the right to enter National Health Service hospitals as fee-paying patients.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend

Information in the form requested is not available but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners in Great Britain, England, Scotland, Wales and the English regions received an occupational pension in each year since 1970; and what proportion this represented of all pensioners.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are her estimates for total National Health Service capital and revenue expenditure, separately, and for capital and revenue expenditure on services for (a) the mentally handicapped and (b) the mentally ill for each regional health authority for 1975–76.

I regret that the estimated revenue expenditure by regional health authorities on services for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped is not available. The remainder of the information is as follows:gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Stonehouse) and the hon. Member for Reading, South (Dr. Vaughan) on 27th January.—[Vol. 904, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services is she is yet able to announce the date of the introduction of the non-contributory invalidity pension for married women; and if she will publish the results of the work of her working party.

While considerable progress has been made since I outlined in my reply to the hon. Lady of 28th October—[Vol. 898, c. 427]—the steps we are taking to devise the scheme, it is not yet possible to give an exact date for payment of the housewives' non-contributory invalidity pension to begin. The outcome of the discussions referred to in that reply, and the other work now in progress to devise a fair and workable scheme, will be published in the sense that it will be embodied in draft regulations to be submitted to the National Insurance Advisory Committee whose report will subsequently be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to limit the number of free drug samples to a maximum of six per doctor to harmonise with the voluntary agreement prevailing in one other Common Market country.

Samples are among the matters at present being discussed with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the present death grant was determined; what was the estimated cost of a funeral at that time; and what percentage the death grant represented of the total.

Death grant was raised to £30 in 1967, when the estimated cost of a simple funeral, excluding church and cemetery fees, was £48; it therefore then represented rather over 60 per cent. of that cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will tabulate in the Official Report the estimated costs for the various items involved in arranging a funeral; and what proportion of the total cost the £30 death grant represents.

Figures showing the average costs of the various items involved in arranging a funeral are not available. However, it is estimated that the average cost of a basic funeral, excluding church and cemetery fees, is about £125. The £30 death grant represents 24 per cent. of that figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will list in the Official Report those elements in the cost of a funeral for a male person of 84 years of age that are significantly less than the costs of a funeral of a male person of 82 years of age and account for the reduction in the death grant of 50 per cent. in the former case;(2) if she will list in the

Payment of death grant at 50 per cent. of the standard rate depends on the date of birth of the deceased, not on the level of funeral costs. Those within 10 years of pension age on 5th July 1948 when death grant was first introduced—that is, men over 55 and women over 50—could have paid contributions for death grant for a maximum period of 10 years only, and for that reason the grant paid in respect of them is at the half rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will revise NHS reorganisation circular HRC(73)11 which dealt with joint staff consultative committees so as to discourage the practice whereby representatives of some TUC-affiliated trade unions are refusing to sit on JSCCs with unaffiliated unions and professional bodies but instead insist on there being a separate JSCC for TUC-affiliated bodies.

No. The circular referred to was intended to have only transitional significance during the period of National Health Service reorganisation and its aftermath. A new procedural agreement on joint staff consultation is currently being negotiated by the General Whitley Council, the Staff Side of which includes representatives of various organisations, some of which are affiliated to the TUC and some of which are not. I have no doubt that, in the course of these negotiations, due regard will be paid to the importance of ensuring that the Staff Side of a Joint Staff Consultative Committee will adequately represent the interests of all participating staff in the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list in the Official Report the latest available estimate of the amount fraudulently claimed in social security benefits, before taking account of repayments, and break down this total between supplementary benefit and each of the national insurance benefits.

I regret that figures are not recorded of the amount detected as fraudulently claimed, but only of the amount lost after taking account of repayments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will list the State entitlement, including tax allowances and benefits, for the deaf and the blind separately.

Blind people and deaf people are entitled to the full range of financial benefits for which their personal circumstances qualify them; including benefits where blindness or deafness may play some part in their entitlement, such as the incapacity benefits, attendance allowance or mobility allowance. In addition, they are entitled to services and to benefits in kind, including help specific to their particular impairments such as special training for and aids to employment, special welfare services, and special medical treatment and equipment. Blind people are entitled to a special income tax allowance of £180 a year, a television licence at reduced cost, free postage on items specifically for blind people, parking concessions under the "orange badge" scheme, certain travel concessions, higher supplementary benefit scale rates—e.g., by £1·25 for a single person—and exemption from dog licence requirements in the case of a guide dog. Fuller information is given in the Department's leaflet HB 1 "Help for Handicapped People".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has had about her proposals to increase the licence fees under the Medicines Act by 500 per cent.; what replies she has sent; and if she will undertake to phase the increase over not less than three years.

I have received representations from the main associations representing the pharmaceutical industry to the effect that the whole or at least a major part of the cost of operating the licensing system should fall on general taxation and not on the industry. They also commented on the size of the increase and raised objections to certain features of the proposed scale. I have explained to them that the increase now proposed is consistent with the statement made in this House on 1st July 1971—[Vol. 820, c. 193]—by the then Secretary of State for Social Services, the right hon. Member for Leeds, North-East (Sir K. Joseph) that at future reviews the scale of fees should be brought into line with the full costs of the licensing system, which are now £1·4 million. The size of the increase is due to the fact that, in the period of nearly five years since the announcement, the fees have remained unaltered, while costs have increased. In the circumstances I do not consider that any further deferment would be justified.Certain modifications to the scales have been made in the light of the comments received. Fees will in future fall to be reviewed annually, and any further proposals the industry may have for further modifications can be considered in the course of consultation about the fees for 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what licensing fees are currently paid by medicine manufactured under legislation corresponding to the Medicines Act, in the United States of America, France, West Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and how these compare with the licence fees she is currently proposing for United Kingdom manufacturers.

The increases in fees now proposed do not distinguish between United Kingdom manufacturers and foreign manufacturers. They relate to the marketing of products in the United Kingdom. Comparisons with corresponding systems of control of marketing in other countries are difficult to make since in any case the patterns differ so much that specific comparisons cannot validly be made. Some countries rely wholly or mainly on a substantial initial fee, while the others annual fees are payable in respect of products on the market.The information we have readily available, which may not be fully up to date, is as follows;

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she intends to implement the Banks Committee's recommendation that Section 41 of the Patents Act 1949 should be repealed.

As stated in paragraph 32 of the White Paper on Patent Law Reform (Cmnd. 6000 of April 1975), the Government do not feel able to support the recommendation that Section 41 be repealed because they feel that the presence of the section operates as a means of stimulating price competition and restraining exorbitant prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what powers or duties her Department has to assist needy schoolchildren in Scottish local education authority schools to buy school uniforms; and whether such regulations are the same as for pupils in England and Wales.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission will consider the award of a lump-sum payment for essential items of clothing and footwear where an excepional need arises in a family receiving supplementary benefit, but does not provide for distinctive school uniforms—uwith which local education authorities have power to assist. The Commission's policy applies uniformly in this respect throughout Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will institute an inquiry into the after-care of and the facilities provided for mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons discharged from hospital;(2) if she is satisfied with the arrangements made for the community care of those mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons discharged from hospital.

While no one can be satisfied with the present arrangements for community care, and there is a clear need for more effective co-ordination and collaboration between different services for patients discharged from hospital, I do not believe an inquiry would add to good professional practice. The facts and the deficiencies are well enough known. What is needed is more resources, high standards and changed attitudes. I would refer my hon. Friend to the analysis contained in the text of the relevant White Papers "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" and "Better Services for Mentally Ill".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons have been discharged from hospital in the last year for which figures are available.

In 1973, the last year for which figures are available, 174,463 mentally ill patients and 12,047 mentally handicapped patients were discharged from or transferred between psychiatric hospitals and units in England and Wales

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will consider introducing legislation compelling guest houses catering for formerly mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons to be registered.

I am reviewing the current arrangements for registration of voluntary and private accommodation, including provisions for the mentally ill or mentally handicapped, and those who have been mentally ill and are still in need of some measure of care or support.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons discharged from hospitals for the mentally ill and handicapped on Merseyside and in the North-West in the last year are currently in (a) registered homes, (b) guest houses and (c) other accommodation.

This information is not readily available for local authorities or registered homes. We have no information for those in guest houses or other accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) mentally ill and (b) mentally handicapped people have been discharged from hospital (c) on Merseyside and (d) in the North-West for each of the last two years.

The number of discharges and deaths of mentally ill and mentally handicapped hospital patients in the Mersey and North-Western Health Authority Regions for the latest two years for which figures are available are as follows:

	Mersey		North-Western
	1973	1974	1973	1974
Mentally ill	10,757	10,886	14,864	14,937
Mentally handicapped	521	707	584	690

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list in the Official Report the volume of phenothiazine based drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia prescribed in the National Health Service in each of the last five years.

I regret that statistical information in this form is not available. No statistics are maintained about prescribing for particular conditions because this is not given on the prescription form. Such information as is available relates only to the average quantities of tablets, capsules, syrups, per prescription and the total number of prescriptions for particular drugs issued by general practitioners and dispensed in the pharmaceutical services. No statistics about prescribing in hospitals are maintained centrally at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will set out the basis of her calculation that the administrative and clerical staff of the National Health Service increased by 23 per cent. between 1970 and 1974.

The number of staff—by whole-time equivalents—employed in the National Health Service in England and falling within the purview of the Administrative and Clerical Staff Whitley Council as at 30th September 1970 was 69,248. On 30th September 1974 the total was 85,172, an increase of 23 per cent.Administrative and clerical staff in the NHS have a variety of functions including the maintenance of medical records and provision of secretarial and clerical services for professional staff, the management of catering, domestic and laundry services, and the payment of doctors, dentists and other professional staff in both the hospital and the family practitioner services. Since April 1974 they have also been responsible for administering the community health services which were transferred at that time to the National Health Service from local authorities, though without any corresponding transfer of staff.Some 25 per cent, of administrative and clerical staff work part-time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with Asian Governments to deter people from travelling to the United Kingdom without the possession of entry certificate papers.

None. This is normally a matter for individual applicants rather than Governments. We take every opportunity to draw the entry certificate requirements to the attention of potential travelers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many teachers have been recruited by foreign Governments each year for the last 10 years; and how many requests for trained teachers there have been from foreign Governments each year for the last 10 years.

The numbers of teachers recruited on behalf of foreign and Commonwealth Governments or institutions through, or assisted by, Government Departments or official agencies over the last 10 years is as follows:

1965	1,268
1966	1,368
1967	1,637
1968	1,475
1969	1,624
1970	1,359
1971	1,275
1972	1,337
1973	1,430
1974	1,471

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communications he received from the Governments of Zaire, Zambia and Malawi immediately before the South African intervention in Angola.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the damage to British interests arising from the expropriation of the Cabora Bassa dam and other industrial, commercial and private property in Mozambique.

The agreement over the future of the Cabora Bassa dam is a matter for the Governments of Mozambique and Portugal. I understand that the question of expropriation has not arisen. We are looking into the possible effects on British interests of the Mozambique Government's recent announcement about privately owned houses in Mozambique.As for British investments generally, we would be prepared to take up with the Government of Mozambique any case where it seemed appropriate to remind them of the importance which we attach to equitable treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the increase in the total of teacher salaries in each local education authority over the last three years on a yearly basis.

Information relating to the financial years 1971–72, 1972–73 and 1973–74 is set out in the table below. With few exceptions, valid comparisons cannot be made between 1973–74 and 1974–75 because of the reorganisation of local government on 1st April 1974.

INCREASE IN TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON TEACHERS SALARIES
£000's
	Between
	1971–72 and 1972–73	1972–73 and 1973–74
English Counties
Bedfordshire	1,151	1,567
Berkshire	1,891	1,900
Buckinghamshire	2,557	2,345
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely	1,124	1,013
Cheshire	5,004	3,596
Cornwall	1,462	1,248
Cumberland	873	743
Derbyshire	2,360	2,094
Devon	1,483	1,335
Dorset	1,269	1,208
Durham	3,199	2,814
Essex	4,449	3,697
Gloucestershire	2,307	1,811
Hampshire	3,363	3,222
Herefordshire	573	478
Hertfordshire	4,626	3,839
Huntingdon and Peterborough	912	905
Isle of Wight	397	325
Isles of Scilly	8	5
Kent	4,695	4,202
Lancashire	9,158	9,328
Leicestershire	2,100	1,823
Lincolnshire—
Holland	403	248*
Kesteven	690	411*
Lindsey	1,514	896*
Norfolk	1,549	1,528
Northamptonshire	1,335	1,258
Northumberland	1,991	1,359
Nottinghamshire	3,213	2,626
Oxfordshire	1,149	900
Rytland	151	67*
Shropshire (Salop)	1,351	1,317
Somerset	2,078	1,842
Staffordshire	3,100	2,846
Suffolk—
East	796	700
West	693	724
Surrey	3,631	3,048
Sussex—
East	1,384	1,153
West	1,720	1,384
Warwickshire	2,487	2,315
Westmorland	264	254
Wiltshire	1,801	1,881
Worcestershire	1,996	1,942
Yorkshire—
East Riding	1,037	877
North Riding	1,204	1,173
West Riding	7,146	4,408
English Country Boroughs
Barnsley	368	425
Barrow-in-Furness	243	286*
Bath	343	269
Birkenhead	575	440
Birmingham	4,186	3,564
Blackburn	497	380
Blackpool	452	405
Bolton	822	761

£000's
	Between
	1971–72 and 1972–73	1972–73 and 1973–74
Bootle	234	414
Bournemouth	506	520
Bradford	1,425	1,314
Brighton	730	350
Bristol	1,764	1,377
Burnely	326	274
Burton-on-Trent	246	328*
Bury	282	267
Canterbury	237	222
Carlisle	344	428*
Chester	287	281
Coventry	1,754	1,587
Darlington	422	320
Derby	1,005	703
Dewsbury	232	288*
Doncaster	498	452
Dudley	687	884*
Eastbourne	228	352*
Exeter	372	308
Gateshead	400	349
Gloucester	369	352
Great Yarmouth	228	167
Grimsby	480	427
Halifax	384	389
Hartlepool	346	545
Hastings	267	241
Huddersfield	1,031	850
Ipswich	517	492
Kingston-upon-Hull	1,301	1,218
Leeds	2,465	2,011
Leicester	1,584	1,431
Lincoln	371	437*
Liverpool	2,457	2,109
Luton	811	939*
Manchester	2,823	2,293
Newcastle upon Tyne	1,092	871
Northampton	809	699*
Norwich	516	498
Nottingham	1,235	1,172
Oldham	412	344
Oxford	636	556
Plymouth	1,119	686
Portsmouth	1,173	907
Preston	501	511
Reading	549	503
Rochdale	492	384
Rotherham	382	455*
St. Helens	456	374
Salford	634	517
Sheffield	2,386	2,088
Solihull	457	466
Southampton	1,195	884
Southend-on-Sea	487	375
Southport	315	283
South Shields	468	411
Stockport	586	475
Stoke-on-Trent	1,086	933
Sunderland	1,031	1,133
Teesside	1,972	1,924
Torbay	284	257
Tynemouth	268	254
Wakefield	262	213
Wallasey	359	306
Walsall	887	726
Warley	619	502
Warrington	284	341*
West Bromwich	660	542
Wigan	463	257
Wolverhampton	1,580	1,196
Worcester	368	355

£000's
	Between
	1971–72 and 1972–73	1972–73 and 1973–74
York	458	567*
London Boroughs
Barking	1,002	693
Barnet	1,584	2,288†
Bexley	764	452*
Brent	1,080	1,080
Bromley	947	899
Croydon	1,357	1,033
Ealing	1,266	957
Enfield	1,085	-447†
Haringey	712	461
Harrow	748	618
Havering	993	907
Hillingdon	742	743
Hounslow	981	777
Kingston-upon-Thames	761	529
Merton	628	445*
Newham	954	724
Red bridge	609	764
Richmond upon Thames	509	413
Sutton	566	400
Waltham Forest	814	837
ILEA	12,275	9,593
Welsh Counties
Anglesey	216	232
Breconshire	209	176
Caernarvonshire	421	489
Cardiganshire	287	288
Carmarthenshire	602	495
Denbighshire	817	677
Flintshire	823	805
Glamorgan	3,157	3,093
Merioneth	117	102
Monmouthshire	1,474	1,174
Montgomeryshire	204	49
Pembrokeshire	428	376
Radnorshire	74	76
Welsh County Boroughs
Cardiff	1,276	900
Merthyr Tydfil	206	184
Newport (Monmouthshire)	587	590
Swansea	615	664
* Estimated figure, as expenditure returns for 1973–74 were not submitted.
† Results from the transfer to Barnet LEA of the Enfield College of Technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on progress towards the establishment of a teachers' general council.

The proposals made in 1970 by a working party on a teaching council for England and Wales did not prove acceptable to all the teachers' associations. My right hon. Friend made it clear that he is ready to consider, in consultation with other interests, any alternative proposals the teachers' associations may put forward jointly. I understand that they are now considering whether they can formulate agreed proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure on educational priority areas in the year 1974–75; and what is the anticipated expenditure in the year 1975–76.

As there has never been a national designation of education priority areas, it is not possible to give figures for expenditure relating to them. However, successive Governments have taken into account criteria of the kind suggested in the Plowden Report; areas of special need have benefited not only from the preferential allocation of resources within major capital programmes—for example, the nursery education programme—but also from other sources such as the Urban Programme, grants under Section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966, additions to teacher quotas and salary additions for teachers in social priority schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent education authorities are obliged to implement the new salary scales recommended by the Soulbury Committee; and, if so, as from what date.

The Soulbury Committee comprises representatives of both the local authority and staff associations, and local education authorities implement its agreed recommendations. For educational advisers and psychologists the agreement dates from 18th February 1975, and for youth service officers and schools meals organisers from 1st July 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has accepted the recommendations of the Soulbury Committee as regards increased salaries for senior advisers employed by education authorities; and whether their new scales are consistent with the Government's counter-inflation policy.

It is not my rôle to accept or reject the recommendations. The new scales which, in the case of educational advisers and psychologists are operative from 18th February 1975, are consistent with the Government's counter-inflation policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what salaries are at present receivable by education advisers employed by local authorties; and how they compare with the new scales recommended by the Soulbury Committee.

		w.e.f	w.e.f
		18th February 1975*	1st April 1975†
Assistant education adviser	…	£3,984–£4,254	£4,794–£5,418
Subject adviser (areas of less than 230,000 population)	…	£4,671–£5,607	£,5583–£6,660
Subject adviser (areas of more than 230,000 population)	…	£5,067–£6,423	£6,036–£7,593
Senior subject adviser and general education adviser	…	£5,463–£6,846	£6,489–£8,079
Senior general education adviser	…	£6,306–£7,275	£7,455–£8,568
Principal adviser	…	£7,182–£8,118	£8,466–£9,534
* Threshold payments amounting to £229·68 are payable in addition.
† These scales subsume threshold payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many trained unemployed teachers there are in the United Kingdom at present.

In December 1975, 4,258 unemployed school teachers and 1,346 unemployed teachers seeking posts in higher and further education including the universities were recorded at employment offices in the United Kingdom. It is not known how many of these had taken a course of initial teacher training.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many qualified teachers of the deaf are required to cater for the education of deaf or partially hearing children; and how many qualified teachers there are at present; and what are the number of qualified teachers who have entered and left the profession per annum in the last three years.

In January 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,345 specially qualified teachers of the hearing impaired in England and Wales. It is impossible to estimate the total need because of uncertainty about the developing pattern of provision, different elements in which have different staffing requirements. The position, however, is improving. The number of newly-qualified teachers rose from

Salaries at present receivable by education advisers, including an interim award from 1st April 1975, are on scales within the following ranges:

Assistant scale	£3,630–£3,900
Main range	£4,059–£6,210
Senior range	£5,490–£7,290
Principal range	£6,930–£8,751

The new scales recommended by the Soulbury Committee for education advisers, following the recent arbitration award, are in the ranges:139 in January 1973 to 153 in January 1975; and, although numbers leaving the profession are not known, the total of specially qualified teachers in post rose from 1,179 to 1,345 in two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he now proposes to publish the report of the inquiry into the affairs of Fircroft College, Selly Oak, Birmingham.

I regret that I am not yet able to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 18th December.—[Vol. 902, c. 768.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ask local education authorities to study the feasibility of utilising hospital premises for the preparation of school meals.

We see no advantage in this except in the special circumstances when schools are attached to hospitals. Advice about arrangements in such cases has already been given to local education authorities and hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is now able to publish the list of local authorities, with amounts, taking up the special allocation of £25 million of aid to comprehensive reorganisation.

I have informed the local education authorities concerned of the projects accepted for inclusion in the list of those eligible to start within the £23 million capital authorisation for England. They have been included on the basis of the cost estimates submitted by authorities save where accepted at a reduced size. The estimate for each authority is given below. Major projects must be submitted for approval at tender stage and the total value of projects to be started contained within the national figure.

	£000
Barking	230
Barnet	55
Bexley	—
Brent	—
Bromley	—
Croydon	50
Ealing	120
Enfield	55
Haringey	—
Harrow	130
Havering	400
Hillingdon	85
Hounslow	177
Kingston	—
Merton	—
Newham	63
Redbridge	—
Richmond	—
Sutton	122
Waltham Forest	100
ILEA	2,934
Birmingham	201
Coventry	225
Dudley	150
Sandwell	225
Solihull	—
Walsall	400
Wolverhampton	430
Knowsley	70
Liverpool	55*
St. Helens	260
Sefton	340
Wirral	134
Bolton	—
Bury	50
Manchester	414
Oldham	144
Rochdale	92
Salford	74
Stockport	178
Tameside	745
Trafford	—
Wigan	370
Barnsley	—
Doncaster	390
Rotherham	—
Sheffield	200
Bradford	230
Calderdale	390
Kirklees	587
Leeds	415
Wakefield	486
Gateshead	213

Newcastle	559
North Tyneside	60
South Tyneside	200
Sunderland	20
Isles of Scilly	—
Avon	—
Bedfordshire	50
Berkshire	407
Bucks	—
Cambridgeshire	115
Cheshire	562
Cleveland	74
Cornwall	350
Cumbria	198
Derbyshire	492
Devon	342
Dorset	602
Durham	358
East Sussex	235
Essex	230
Gloucestershire	183
Hampshire	130
Hereford and Worcester	330
Hertfordshire	400
Humberside	52
Isle of Wight	—
Kent	793
Lancashire	300
Leicestershire	440
Lincolnshire	300
Norfolk	263
North Yorkshire	—
Northamptonshire	300
Northumberland	205
Nottinghamshire	519
Oxfordshire	—
Salop	160
Somerset	—
Staffordshire	669
Suffolk	382
Surrey	20
Warwickshire	275
West Sussex	207
Wiltshire	—
*An additional project or projects may be considered within a maximum total costing of approximately £200,000.