asked the Lord President of the Council if he will so frame the rules governing the use of House of Commons franked envelopes by hon. Members as specifically to exclude the sending of birthday greetings to constituents in them.

The House is responsible for its own rules of conduct. The Services Committee can only give guidance to hon. Members. In its Fourth Report for Session 1974 the Committee set out guidelines for the use of franked envelopes, emphasised that they were provided as an assistance to the parliamentary and not the political work of hon. Members, but recognised that decisions about their use must be left to the good sense of individual Members

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his proposals for increasing the valuation limit for compensation payable under the brucellosis and tuberculosis scheme.

My right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland propose, with effect from Wednesday 25th February 1976, to increase the limit from £240 to £400 where compensation is payable at the 100 per cent. rate and from £180 to £300 where it is payable at the 75 per cent. rate. The necessary orders will be laid before Parliament tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies his Department has conducted into alternatives to the present electoral system; and if he will make a statement.

In order to keep abreast with developments in this field the Department has accumulated a quantity of factual material on different electoral systems.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to undertake any study of fundamental change from the present voting system for all levels of government.

Factual material on different electoral systems and their operation has been assembled in the Home Office, but any fundamental change in the traditional voting systems used in this country would be a matter of major public policy and need to be treated accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of Asians detained at London Airport and refused entry into the United Kingdom in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975.

The information is not immediately available. I shall write to my hon. Friend as soon as it can be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of Asian people detained on arrival in the United Kingdom, and then held in detention, and subsequently allowed entry in the years, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

I regret that the information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. We should be unable, in any case, to distinguish people of Asian origin among those holding passports of countries outside Asia.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the procedures followed by immigration officers to inform people detained by them of the procedures that will be followed prior to a decision being taken as to whether entry into the United Kingdom will be granted.

When it is necessary to detain people before giving leave to enter the United Kingdom they are given a notice in writing as required by paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Asian immigration officers are working in the United Kingdom; and where is their place of employment.

No separate record is maintained of the number of immigration officers born in Asia or of Asian descent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the places of detention where immigrants refused entry into the United Kingdom are detained, and the average period of time they are held before a decision has been arrived at.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Immigration (Places of Detention) Direction 1972 which gives the information requested in the first part of the Question. The information requested in the second part is not available, but in the great majority of cases where admission is refused removal is effected on the day of arrival.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants have received public assistance in order to return to their homelands in respect of the years 1971 to 1975 inclusive.

705 persons were assisted to leave the United Kingdom during this period under the provisions of Section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971. I regret that it is not possible without disproportionate expense to say whether the destination of choice was the homeland in each case. Assistance under the scheme operated by the Supplementary Benefits Commission is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present staffing level of Holloway Prison compared with its establishment.

The number of staff—all grades—on the strength of Holloway prison on 31st January 1976 was 258 plus 22 agency nursing staff. The complement is 318.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to deal with the low staffing levels and high incident rate in Holloway gaol.

Action on applications from women is being speeded up and should provide further women prison officer recruits. We do not consider that the incident rate at Holloway prison is disproportionately high.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grants have been allocated to the National Marriage Guidance Council for the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975; and what increase in grants is planned for the next two years.

The grant to the National Marriage Guidance Council is fixed in advance for a three-year period. For the period ending in March 1972 the grant was at the rate of £70,000 a year; for the period 1972–1975 the grant was £130,000 a year; and for the triennium 1975–1978 the grant has been increased to £265,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many experiments licensed under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 were programmed in 1974 for commercial undertakings.

3,651,744.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether people accepted for settlement by revocation of conditions (i) from the New Commonwealth (ii) Pakistan and (iii) East Africa—holding United Kingdom passports—were included in the White Paper on immigration statistics published annually since 1966;

PERSONS ALLOWED TO SETTLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ON REMOVAL OF TIME LIMIT—BY COUNTRY ISSUING PASSPORT
	New Commonwealth	Pakistan	United Kingdom Passport Holders from East Africa (included in column 1)
	(1)	(2)	(3)
1968	4,417*‡	128	Not separately recorded
1969	4,312*‡	164
1970	4,492*‡	230
1971	9,086*‡	431
1972	8,669*‡	447
1973	6,681*†‡	252	1,377
1974	16.385‡	840	574
*Including Pakistan.
†Including Pakistan until 31st August 1973.
‡Including all UKPH.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases, over any period and in respect of any area for which the Home Office has information, disciplinary charges have been brought against police officers for breaches of the Judges' Rules.

Disciplinary charges are brought in accordance with the provisions of the Police (Discipline) Regulations for alleged offences set out in the discipline code, and the regulations apply whether or not in particular instance an alleged action by a police officer could be regarded as a breach of the Judges' Rules. The information requested could not, therefore, be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether responsibility for the drafting of the Administration Directions appended to the Judges' Rules lies with (2) what were the numbers of people accepted for settlement by revocation of conditions from (i) the New Commonwealth (ii) Pakistan and (iii) East Africa—holding United Kingdom passports—during 1966 and each subsequent year.

Statistics of acceptances for settlement by revocation of conditions were first included in the White Paper "Immigration Statistics 1973" (Cmnd. 5603). Figures relating to United Kingdom passport holders from East Africa have not been shown separately.The following table shows the information that is readily available:his Department or the judges of the Queen's Bench.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to his Question on 16th February.—[Vol. 905, c. 524.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were in solitary confinement for disciplinary reasons at the latest available date.

I regret that this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department where Maurice O'Mahoney was detained when he was remanded in custody in 1974.

Mr. O'Mahoney was held at Brixton Prison from 14th June 1974 to 21st June 1974. From that date until his conviction on 20th September 1974 he was in police custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the circumstances in which Maurice O'Mahoney, sentenced to five years' imprisonment, is serving his sentence in a police station and about the allegation published in a newspaper that he is allowed to attend football matches.

Mr. O'Mahoney has been and still is a prosecution witness at the trials of a number of persons accused of serious criminal offences. For his own own safety and in the interests of justice my right hon. Friend has authorised his temporary release into police custody for the duration of these proceedings. He has not been allowed to attend any football match whilst he has been in police custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the removal of the collared dove from the list of protected birds since this reclassification was recommended by his Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds; and what steps he has taken to advertise his proposals.

We have arranged for suitable notices to appear in national newspapers and in appropriate magazines. Objections to the proposal should be sent to the Home Office by 30th April 1976.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with the working of the arrangements for the selection of HEOs(A) from administration trainees.

Yes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is satisfied with the number of staff available to fulfil the management services function of his Department.

The staffing of management services is always a matter of judgment. I am satisfied that the present level is what we can reasonably afford at the present time.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what he now expects will be the final loss to public funds of the book, "The Nationalization of British Industry", published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

It is too early to say whether or not this book will be profitable. It was published in June of last year and, as with all official histories, it is expected to have a long selling life.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will indicate the progress of the programme for dispersing Civil Service jobs to the North-West; and if he will make a statement.

With regard to the overall situation on the dispersal of Civil Service work to the North-West I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 12th February.—[Vol. 905, c. 317.]As regards the programme of dispersal announced by the Government on 30th July 1974, over 100 posts of the Department of Health and Social Security have been dispersed to Blackpool and the balance of that Department's dispersal is expected to be completed by 1978. Detailed planning is in progress for the implementation of the remainder of the dispersals to the North-West, including nearly 3,000 posts to Merseyside. These will be carried out as soon as possible within the 10-year period the Government have set themselves for completing the programme.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a further statement on the timetable for the dispersal of Civil Service jobs to the Glasgow area.

The sites for the main Ministry of Defence and Ministry for Overseas Development dispersals were announced on 3rd February, and the related moves are planned to take place in 1982–84 and 1980 respectively.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he has yet made any decisions about the withdrawal of the inaccurate Central Office of Information reference pamphlet 133 and consequestial actions.

The pamphlet has been withdrawn. Her Majesty's Stationery Office and British information posts overseas, through which it was distributed, have been notified. A new and accurate edition will be produced as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will take steps to see that copies of governmental and parliamentary reports are available on the day of issue at Her Majesty's Stationery Office in Manchester.

Non-Parliamentary papers are normally available at all Her Majesty's Stationery Office bookshops on publication day. With regard to parliamentary papers, the first duty of Her Majesty's Stationery Office is to supply Parliament, with general distribution following as soon as possible after that. Simultaneous distribution throughout the country could delay the supply of such papers to Parliament, but this is arranged by Her Majesty's Stationery Office where the responsible Minister considers that it would be in the public interest to do so.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether it is still the custom that civil servants do not raise legal actions arising out of their conduct as officials.

A civil servant who claims to have been injured in the course of his employment by the wrongful act of a third party has always been able to institute proceedings against that party.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether bearing in mind the high rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom, he proposes to issue work permits for the additional social workers to be recruited from the United States of America beyond the 26 reported as having been recruited already.

My Department will issue work permits for social workers from the United States, or elsewhere, only if they are well qualified and required for jobs which cannot be filled from the resident labour force.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people granted entry to the United Kingdom in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975 to work in specific industries; and what check is kept to see that such people continue to work in the industry for which entry was granted.

Statistics of work permit holders arriving in Great Britain are kept by the Home Office but are not analysed by industry. The number of work permits issued by my Department in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975 to enable people to enter the country and take jobs in specific industries is as follows. My Department does not carry out specific checks on the work being done by work permit holders. However, if a work permit holder wishes to change his job he must first obtain the permission of my Department, and if he wishes to remain in employment beyond the period of 12 months for which permits are initially issued he must first apply to the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are employed in Wales in sawmills and in stone and slate quarries, respectively.

At June 1974, the latest date for which detailed figures are available, there were 2,900 employees in employment in timber (Minimum List Heading 471 of the Standard Industrial Classification), which includes the manufacture of woodwork for buildings as well as sawmills, and 2,900 in stone and slate quarrying and mining (MLH 102).

					Numbers employees	Total received by the employees	Cost to the Redundancy Fund
						£	£
1971	…	…	…	…	370,306	108,273,000	57,107,000
1972	…	…	…	…	297,120	97,513,000	50,775,000
1973	…	…	…	…	176,919	66,573,000	34,519,000
1974	…	…	…	…	182,161	73,560,000	38,555,000
1975	…	…	…	…	340,215	178,284,000	94,131,000

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage level of unemployment in the Birmingham travel-to-work area; and if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown of the various categories.

At January 1976 the rate of unemployment in the Birmingham travel-to-work area was 7·6 per cent. for males and females collectively. The separate rates for males and females were 9·7 per cent. and 4·2 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people had been unemployed for more than three months at the latest date for which quarterly statistics are available.

At January 1976, 670,514 unemployed people in Great Britain had been registered for over 13 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the methods of receiving and recording information on bonuses given by stockbrokers to their staff up to the level of 100 per cent of salary in view of the £6 limit on pay increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount of payments made from the Redundancy Payments Fund in each of the last five years; and what was the number of recipients of such payments in each year.

The following table shows, in addition to the information sought, the total amounts received by the employees concerned under the Redundancy Payments Act 1965; the difference between these and the cost to the Redundancy Fund being met by the dismissing employers:

Employers are required to notify any improvement in terms and conditions which is subject to the £6 pay limit, in connection with an application to the Price Commission for a price increase or when seeking assistance under the Industry Act, etc., or a Government contract. The £6 limit applies, however, to improvements in terms and conditions compared with the previous position, and therefore would not apply to bonuses calculated on the same basis as last year. I am contacting my hon. Friend about the cases to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the number of jobs (a) which have been saved and (b) which have been created in Kirkby since the Government came into office.

I regret that it is not possible on the basis of the statistics maintained by my Department to estimate the total number of jobs which have been created or safeguarded in Kirkby since October 1974. The following information relates to the jobs created or saved as a result of the various schemes which are administered or largely financed either directly by my Department or by the Manpower Services Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the figure of average industrial earnings at each year from 1964 to 1976.

The latest information available comes from the Department's October 1975 inquiry into the earnings and hours of manual workers. Following is the information:

AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS OF FULL-TIME MANUAL WORKERS IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
Date October in each year	Men 21 years and over	Women 18 years and over
	£	£
1964	18·67	8·95
1965	20·16	9·60
1966	20·78	10·06
1967	21·89	10·54
1968	23·62	11·31
1969	25·54	12·11
1970	28·91	13·98
1971	31·37	15·80
1972	36·20	18·34
1973	41·52	21·15
1974	49·12	27·05
1975	59·74	34·23

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what multiplier he uses in assessing the total number of jobs lost as a result of primary job loss arising from specific redundancies.

Studies of past redundancies suggest that, in view of differences in local or economic circumstances, it would not be practicable to devise a general formula for estimating secondary job losses resulting from them.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current strength, in each rank, of the police force of the Atomic Energy Authority.

It would not be in the national interest to give this information in detail. In general the current strength of the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary at all AEA and British Nuclear Fuels Limited establishments is approximately 400.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the procedure for the handling of complaints by members of the public against the police force of the Atomic Energy Authority.

In addition to the constabulary's own internal procedures for handling complaints from the public for Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary is subject to the juridiction of the Authority's management and to the civil police if any offence is suspected.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will list his present responsibilities in respect of the police force of the Atomic Energy Authority.

The Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary is a force of civil police attested under the Special Constables Act 1923 as extended by the Emergency Laws (Miscellaneous Functions) Act 1947 and the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954 and is under the exclusive control of the Atomic Energy Authority. My right hon. Friend has no specific responsibilities but the Government take steps to satisfy themselves that the arrangements for safeguarding nuclear installations are adequate in the light of the circumstances prevailing.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what instructions are at present given to members of the police force of the Atomic Energy Authority about the use of firearms.

Individual instructions are issued to members of the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary about the use of firearms. It would not be in the public interest to disclose them.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a table showing the research being undertaken by his Department on fixed concrete and steel offshore structures, separately listed, together with the moneys

£1,000s
		Costs
Programme	Principal Contractors	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78
Steel Structures
United Kingdom Offshore Steels Research Programme.	The Welding Institute, National Engineering Laboratory.	560	992	474
Studies of Buckling of Steel	Glasgow University, Cambridge University.	10	18	—
Fullscale measurements on Forties FB Platform.	British Petroleum	120	130	—
Concrete Structures
Offshore Concrete Research Programme (based on "Concrete in the Oceans" report).	Underwater Engineering Group of Construction Industry Research and Information Association (as joint managers), Cement and Concrete Association, and others to be appointed.	25	125	50
Corrosion of Steel Reinforcement in Concrete.	Atomic Energy Research Establishment.	15	—	—
Guide to temperature effects in offshore oil-containing concrete structures.	Underwater Engineering Group of Construction Industry Research and Information Association.	5	5	—
Fullscale measurements on Brent B Platform.	Shell	75	75	—

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the proportion of installed electrical generating capacity

INSTALLED STEAM DRIVEN GENERATING CAPACITY: AGE AT 31ST MARCH 1975
	England		Wales
Age of Plant	MW	Per cent.	MW	Per cent.
Under 5 years old	12,433	22·8	3,290	54·7
Between 5 and 10 years old	14,498	26·5	580	9·6
Over 10 years old	27,677	50·7	2,148	35·7
TOTAL	54,608	100·0	6,018	100·0

This table includes nuclear and conventional plant, but excludes diesel and hydro plant and gas turbines.

Much of the research work supported by my Department is applicable to offshore installations of any form of construction, and includes programmes on environmental data collection; wind wave and current forces; foundations; and inspection and repair. Programmes in hand or recently approved that are of direct relevance to construction in steel and in concrete, are shown in the table. The estimated costs, shown by financial year, are those falling to the Department; the total costs will include a contribution from industry to many of the programmes. The principal contractors associated with the programmes are listed. No programme at present approved is expected to proceed beyond 1978.city less than five years old, between five and 10 years old, and greater than 10 years old, in England and in Wales, respectively.

The information requested by the hon. Member is tabulated below:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made towards setting up a tripartite committee for the offshore oil industry; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has set up a committee which will meet for the first time tomorrow to consider the problems of the United Kingdom offshore industry having regard particularly to the desirability of securing continuity of employment within the industry. The terms of reference are sufficiently broad as to allow the committee to examine in depth such problems as might be raised by any member of the committee, or outside source, and to monitor any action recommended. The committee is expected to give its early attention to the problems arising as a result of the hiatus in oil platform ordering.The membership of the committee is as follows:

@

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many CEGB power stations now under construction or design are being planned to burn oil exclusively; what is their projected fuel input and electricity output; and what is the estimated additional cost of modification at this stage to coal burn or dual oil and coal burn.

Excluding gas turbine plant, three oil-fired power stations are currently under construction by the CEGB. These, with their expected total installed capacity, are:

Grain	3,300MW
Ince B	l,000MW
Littlebrook D	2,000MW

I am asking the Chairman of the CEGB to write to the hon. Member about the other points he has raised. They are important issues which will arise out of the recent discussions between the coal and electricity industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much North Sea gas was burned in CEGB power stations last year; what is the expected burn this year; in how many power stations gas is now being burned; and what is the estimmated cost of conversion to dual-firing.

This information is being collected and I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the thermal efficiency of CEGB power stations on North Sea gas burn.

The information is as follows:

Hams Hall C	27·47 per cent.
West Thurrock	32·96 per cent.

The figures relate to 1974–75 and, as the stations are dual-fired, are based on gas and coal firing.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the CEGB on the burning of North Sea gas at power stations; and if he proposes to give any directions.

I am discussing fossil fuel burn at power stations with the Chairman of the CEGB. The question is also under consideration following the joint consultations between Government and the coal and electricity industries which I have set up. I intend to widen these discussions to bring in representatives of other energy industries, including the gas industry. By this process of consultation, we can hope to arrive at decisions that meet our widest national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in view of the high unemployment in the construction industry, he will consider taking action to increase the rate of slum clearance;(2) if, in view of the unemployment in the construction industry, he will announce an improvement in the level of improvement grants for improvements carried out and completed during the financial year 1976–77.

The additional provision of £40 million for the improvement of public sector housing in England, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12th February, will have a more immediate effect on unemployment in the construction industry than either an increase in the rate of improvement grants or an increase in the rate of slum clearance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount he anticipates will be spent in the year 1975–76 upon slum clearance programmes.

£35 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of money is to be made available for local authority mortgages as from 1st April 1976; and what restrictions will be imposed upon local authorities in granting mortgages with this money.

As announced by my hon. Friend on 7th January, the public expenditure provision for local authority mortgages in 1976–77 is £220 million at 1975 survey prices—approximately £276 million at expected out-turn prices. My Department's circular letter to local authorities of 20th January, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member, set out the Government's intention to direct the use of these resources towards those most in need, and in particular to those who are unable to obtain a loan from a building society.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the current rate of house building in the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 4th February. My hon. Friend will no doubt have noted the final house building figures for 1975 published on 17th February which show that both starts and completions in the public sector were somewhat higher than the estimates previously given.—[Vol. 904, c. 1193–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to encourage the establishment of voluntary garden-sharing schemes in areas where the demand for allotments exceeds present supply.

Garden-sharing schemes must be based on voluntary agreement between the parties concerned for their mutual benefit, and I think they are essentially a matter for local initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many new units of housing accommodation he anticipates it will be possible to provide over the next five years in each of the London satellite new towns including Milton Keynes; and if he will make a statement.

The house building programme is kept under continuous review in the light of the various factors which influence demand in each of the London new towns, but it is not our practice to publish estimates of future house building performance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment 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.

	Advertising	Exhibitions	Films and Television	Radio	Photographs	Publications
	£	£	£	£	£	£
1973–74	3,026,100	218,600	153,700	—	2,900	165,200
1974–75	2,608,200	180,400	274,900	400	10,000	336,800
1975–76 (forecast)	2,208,700	240,000	219,000	1,700	1,300	346,900+4,000
despatch
In addition, publicity expenditure on the DOE Vote was £166,714 in 1973–74, £287,925 in 1974–75 and approximately £370,000 is forecast for 1975–76.

Publicity estimates for the year 1976–77 have not yet been approved but are expected to be of the order of £3,128,300—through COI—and £450,000 on the DOE Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide a list of all the listed buildings which have been demolished in the Greater London area during the course of the last three years.

The information is not available in the form requested. Applications for listed building consent for the total demolition of the following buildings in the Greater London area—all of them in Grade II of the statutory list—were granted during the years 1973–75:

Publicity expenditure incurred by the Department of the Environment on the Central Office of Information Vote broken down by media is as follows:

51 Penton Street, N.1.—Islington.

60 Buckingham Gate, S.W. 1.—Westminster.

Wall along North side of Churchbury Lane, Enfield—Enfield.

444 Commercial Road, E.1.—Tower Hamlets.

13–25 (odd) Staffordshire Street, S.E.15. Southwark.

495–501 (odd) Liverpool Road, N.7.— Islington.

Monastery of the Poor Clares, High Road, Woodford Green—Redbridge.

Kingston Grammar School—Kingston upon Thames.

1975

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the purpose of the work recently carried out along the eastbound carriageway of the A12 trunk road between Ingatestone and Chelmsford; and what was the cost.

The work is to develop a more effective and economic road edge that will reduce the total costs of construction and maintenance whilst retaining good drainage, safety and traffic characteristics. The total cost to date is £1,200 out of an estimated expenditure of £3,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to transfer the responsibility for prosecutions for unlicensed vehicles from local authorities to the police.

No. The police have enough to do without taking on the further burden that this would entail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy with regard to the building of new accommodation in Central London within a three-mile radius from Charing Cross for use by the Civil Service.

It is the Government's policy to disperse Government work from London and thus reduce the need for office accommodation there. As part of this process we also aim to rationalise and concentrate HQ Government office accommodation currently spread over several hundred buildings. Subject to public expenditure policies, this may include some new building and reconstruction of offices in the central area for staff tied to that area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the exemption from rates of disabled persons' garages given under Section 45 of the General Rate Act 1967 has been affected by the recent legal decision concerning Mr. Vandyk.

The effect of the House of Lords decision is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now received the report from local authorities regarding land acquisition and management schemes that he indicated he was seeking in his answer to the hon. Member for Melton on 6th February; and whether he will now give the information requested in the hon. Member's two Written Questions on that date.

So far, the following 17 county areas have submitted agreed land acquisition and management schemes:

• W. Midlands
• Derbyshire
• Cumbria
• Durham
• Warwickshire
• Lincolnshire
• Dorset
• Wiltshire
• Somerset
• Gloucestershire
• Salop
• Hereford and Worcester
• Northamptonshire
• Devon
• Hertfordshire
• Leicestershire
• Isle of Wight.

In some of these areas the agreed scheme has been submitted subject to formal council ratification during February. My regional directors have been in touch with the rest and most of the remaining LAMS are expected within a month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of the proposed duties of the Director of the Estates Service; what is the intended salary for this appointment; and what staffing establishment he has so far authorised for the Directorate.

The Director of Estates Service—excluding that serving the Property Services Agency—will advise the Department at the highest levels on estates matters relating to policy. He/she will be responsible for reorganising the existing Estates Division to meet the new demands on it. He/she will work closely with the architect-planner to be appointed to lead a multi-disciplinary team engaged on the implementation of the Community Land Act 1975.The salary of the post will be £12,000 per annum plus inner London allowance of £465 per annum.The initial complement of the new directorate will be that of the existing headquarters Estates Division.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many lorry routes will be designated through national parks; and which roads will be affected.

It is too soon to say. Decisions on which roads will be included in the proposed national system of lorry routes will be taken only after consultations with local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the incidence of elm disease, he will reconsider his policy on tree planting along motorways.

No. The planting of trees along motorways is an essential part of our policy of landscaping new roads, using those species of trees already growing in the area in order to reflect local landscape character. Small numbers of elms are being interspersed among other species in an effort to maintain—or in some cases to re-establish—this variety of tree, which has been a feature of certain areas of the English countryside for many years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost in the current financial year of the programme of tree planting along motorways.

£400,000 for trees and shrubs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the rate support grant at such levels as will enable district councils, such as Luton, to achieve a reasonable rate of growth in services and a nil rate increase.

No, I cannot promise grant levels which would mean no rate increases for everyone.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average price per unit mile of an ordinary second-class return rail tickets in each year 1964 to 1976.

The information is not available in the form requested but estimates are published by the British Railways Board in its annual reports and accounts of the average fare per passenger mile for all ordinary full fare tickets—first and second class, both single and return—from 1964 up to and including 1974. The figures are:

	New Pence
1964	1·27
1965	1·37
1966	1·41
1967	1·43
1968	1·45
1969	1·55
1970	1·64
1971	1·92
1972	2·12
1973	2·29
1974	2·42

1975: This information will not be available until March this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the percentage of motor cyclists wearing crash helmets before and after it became compulsory.

In 1971 about 80 per cent. of motor cycle and scooter riders, and 50 per cent. of moped riders—about 75 per cent. of all motor cyclists—were estimated to be wearing safety helmets. Since the regulations were introduced there has been virtually complete compliance with them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the use of crash helmets for motor cyclists became compulsory; and if he will provide comparative figures, before and afterwards, to show the number of deaths and serious injuries, with separate figures for head injuries.

Helmet wearing for all riders of motorised two-wheelers became compulsory on 1st June 1973. Between 1st July that year and 31st October, when the onset of the energy crisis significantly affected driving habits, there were 253 deaths and 5,007 serious injuries to motor cyclists. The figures for the same period in 1972 were 299 and 5,033 respectively. Over a 12-month period this implies a saving of 200 fatal and serious injuries. Separate information on head injuries is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the number of motor cycle licences in issue in each of the last five years.

The number of vehicle licences issued in respect of motor cycles—including mopeds and three-wheelers—was as follows:

Year ending 31st March 1971	1,158,388
Year ending 31st March 1972	1,130,070
Year ending 31st March 1973	1,110,561
Year ending 31st March 1974	1,130,932
Year ending 31st March 1975	1,173,672

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the total saving to the national economy of reducing the figures for road accident deaths by 1,000 and of serious injuries by 11,000 annually; if he will identify approximate sums relating to the main components in these figures; and if he will make a statement.

At least £61 million a year. Of this the saving to public services—medical, ambulance etc.—accounts for at least £3 million; lost output for £33 million; and pain, grief and deprivation for the remainder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has considered the Port of London Authority's application for an increase in its temporary borrowing powers under Section 49 of its 1968 Act; and whether he will make a statement.

The Authority has asked me both for an extension of its temporary borrowing powers and for longer- term assistance. The scale and nature of any such assistance, and the conditions attached to it, must be given close and detailed consideration. To enable this to be done, I am, with the Authority's agreement, appointing Mesrs. Price Waterhouse and Co. to examine the Authority's present financial position and its forecasts for future years.The Authority has for some months been taking action to strengthen its financial position, which has been affected a number of factors, including adverse trading conditions. Progress has been kept under review since August 1975 by a joint working group on which this Department and the National Ports Council are represented, as is the Authority. The Authority has in addition informed me of its intention to appoint consultants to carry out a review of management organisation with special reference to the needs and problems of the next few years.Meanwhile, I have sanctioned an increase from £12 million to £13 million in the Authority's temporary borrowing limit to enable it to take up agreed additional overdraft facilities. I have also told the Authority that I am prepared to consider sanctioning further temporary borrowing up to a new maximum limit of £18 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now reached a decision on the London rate equalisation scheme for 1976–77.

Following consultations with the interested parties, a scheme for 1976–77 on lines proposed by the London Boroughs Association will be made. Under the scheme, each inner London borough and the City of London will pay the product of a 5p rate into an equalisation pool, which will then be distributed amongst the outer boroughs in proportion to each borough's deficiency in rateable value, measured by reference to the average rateable value per head for Greater London as a whole. However, in this calculation the deficiency of four boroughs—Barking, Brent, Haringey and Newham—will be multiplied by 1·66. I am arranging for the Scheme to be printed and copies will be placed in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the report of the Committee on Minerals Planning Control.

The report is being published today.I should like to take this opportunity, on behalf of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, of thanking Sir Roger Stevens and the members of the Committee for their very thorough study of the problems of planning control over mineral working. The Government welcome the report, but before coming to any conclusion on its many recommendations they will wish to hear the views of the local authority associations, the minerals industry, amenities bodies and others with an interest in the extraction of minerals.Copies of the report are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the issue of counterfeit Press passes to members of the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland; and whether, in view of the potential danger to bona fide journalists, he will withdraw all such imitation passes forthwith and ensure that none is issued in future.

Inquiries instituted as a result of recent newspaper stories have revealed that at one time imitation Press cards were issued to plain clothes Army information staff in an attempt to provide them with a degree of protection when reporting on public incidents which might have placed them in danger. Higher authorities in Headquarters Northern Ireland discontinued this practice some two years ago when it came to their attention. I have now issued instructions that under no circumstances is the practice to be resorted to again.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make an announcement on any reorganisation of reserve forces.

There are no plans for any extensive reorganisations of our reserve forces. As a consequence of the restructuring of the Army described in last year's defence White Paper (Chapter I, paragraphs 47–53) there will be some changes in the TAVR, including changes of rôle for some units, but they are not expected to be far-reaching. Details will be announced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of warships currently under construction.

The warships ordered by the Royal Navy but not yet accepted into service are as follows: one anti-submarine cruiser, three nuclear-powered Fleet submarines, six Type 42 guided missile destroyers, five Type 21 general purpose frigates, two Type 22 anti-submarine frigates, the first of a new class of mine countermeasures vessels, five offshore patrol vessels, and three patrol craft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Special Air Service have been killed on active service for each of the last five years; and if he will give the countries in which deaths occurred.

I regret that 11 members of the SAS Regiment have been killed in Oman during the last five years; two in 1971, four in 1972, two in 1974 and three in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list all the foreign armed forces in which members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces are known to be currently serving; and if he will give the number in each case;(2) if he will list all the foreign armed forces to which members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces have been assigned or seconded over the course of the last five years; and if he will give the number involved in each case.

Over the past five years members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces have served abroad on loan, in exchange posts, or as members of British Service training and advisory teams with the armed forces of a number of foreign and Commonwealth countries. The following

	Numbers at year ended 31st December
	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	Currently Serving
Australia	159	120	136	107	89	86
Bermuda	4	4	4	4	4	4
Brunei	52	49	58	64	90	90
Canada	96	88	90	87	81	76
Fiji	—	—	1	—	—	—
France	7	7	7	7	8	8
Germany (FR)	4	4	6	11	14	14
Ghana	1	—	—	—	—	—
India	1	—	—	—	—	—
Italy	—	1	1	3	1	1
Iran	21	48	36	62	71	74
Jamaica	1	—	—	—	—	—
Kenya	104	28	14	31	18	18
Kuwait	106	112	112	118	118	118
Libya	71	14	—	—	—	—
Malawi	29	22	19	4	—	—
Malaysia	209	165	87	51	19	16
Nepal	1	1	1	1	1	1
Netherlands	7	9	9	10	10	10
New Zealand	4	5	7	9	7	7
Nigeria	12	9	7	3	—	7
Norway	2	2	2	2	2	2
Oman	92	121	154	170	235	216
Pakistan	1	1	1	1	1	1
Peru	—	8	—	—	2	2
Qatar	—	—	—	1	8	8
Saudi Arabia	6	5	6	6	6	6
Singapore	79	91	89	42	13	13
South Africa	1	1	1	1	1	1
Sudan	—	5	6	9	8	8
Union of Arab Emirates	121	105	77	53	43	44
United States of America	137	154	186	191	191	195
Zaire	—	9	9	—	—	—

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the States which have serving members of their armed forces currently undergoing training in Great Britain; and if he will list the numbers in each case.

At the end of January 1976 serving members of the armed forces of the following countries were undergoine: training in Great Britain:

Algeria	France
Argentine	Gambia
Australia	West Germany
Bangladesh	Ghana
Barbados	Greece
Belgium	Guyana
Brazil	Hong Kong
Brunei	India
Burma	Indonesia
Canada	Iran
Chile	Iraq
Denmark	Israel
Ecuador	Italy
Eire	Jamaica
Egypt	Japan