asked the Secretary of State for Industry what plans he has to meet the British Paper and Board Industry Federation.

I have no plans to meet the Federation, which has not asked for a meeting. But my officials are in day-to-day contact with the Federation on a wide range of issues affecting the paper and board industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new jobs have been created by incoming firms per annum between the years 1958 and 1975 in (a) west central Scotland, (b) Tayside and (c) South-East England.

The information availabe relates to jobs remaining in existence in—generally—1972. There were some changes in the definition of the west central Scotland and Tayside areas effective from 1966. Further changes affected all three areas in 1972. Details are as follows:

EMPLOYMENT AT NEW MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS OPENED 1960–72
(000s to nearest 500)
	West Central Scotland	Tayside	South East England
Year of opening
1960	6·5	—	1·5
1961	5·0	0·0	1·5
1962	4·0	—	2·0
1963	2·0	0·5	2·0
1964	6·0	—	0·5
1965	3·5	0·0	2·0
1966	0·5	—	1·5
1967	0·5	1·0	1·5
1968	1·5	0·0	1·0
1969	1·0	0·0	2·0
1970	1·0	0·5	1·5
1971	0·5	0·0	0·5
1972	1·0	0·5	0·5

Figures for west central Scotland and Tayside relate to new establishments with attributed origins outside Scotland. The figures for South-East England relate to new establishments with attributed origins outside the region. Employment data relate to 1972 except for 1960 and 1961 openings for which the data relate to 1970 and 1971 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has so far been achieved by the Advisory Group on Waste Paper Recycling; what encouragement has been given to local authorities to maintain collections of waste paper; and if he will make a statement on Government policy in this connection.

A report by the Advisory Group on Waste Paper Recycling has been endorsed by the Waste Management Advisory Council. The Group's recommendations on Government purchasing policy for paper and board and on research are already being implemented. Its other recommendations are being considered as part of the Government's plans to assist the increased use of waste paper on which my hon. Friend the Minister of State recently indicated the Government's intentions. It is hoped to make a further announcement next month. Local authorities have been asked on several occasions to take a long-term view on their collection of waste paper, despite present difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his Department's estimate of the Exchequer subsidy to Chrysler (United Kingdom) Limited, expressed as subsidy per Chrysler employee, for the current year and for 1977.

The purpose of the assistance that Government have undertaken to provide Chrysler United Kingdom is intended to provide the company with the opportunity to achieve a profitable and competitive operation. The aims and the nature of the assistance to be provided and the available information about the timing of such assistance are contained in the documents that I have placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what further representations have been received with regard to the importing of Japanese and other foreign zip fasteners; what portion of the recent contraction of industrial activities by the Lightning Fasteners Limited Company he attributes to the influx of foreign items; what further contraction of the industry he envisages; and if he will make a statement.

Hon. Members have drawn my attention to the proposed closure of Optilon Ltd. It is not possible to say to what extent this closure is attributable to import competition or to other factors, nor is it possible to forecast future changes in the structure of the industry. In 1975 we exported slightly more zip fasteners and parts by value than we imported.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many vessels, including tankers, have been constructed in British shipyards since 1960 for eventual service in the Soviet navy; and how many contracts for the construction of such vessels are outstanding today.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the total cost of publicity incurred by her Department in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975; and what is the estimate for 1976, broken down into relevant headings.

My Department was established in 1974. Publicity expenditures are as follows:

	£
1974–5
Exhibitions	3,200
Films/Television	3,100
Radio	2,100
Publications	10,200
	£
1975–6 (Projected):
Films/Television	10,500
Photographs	100
Publications	6,500
Radio	800

Price Check publicity for 1975–6—The cost of advertising to the general public and to the trade and of printing and distributing the promotion kits for retailers is a charge on funds made available for the counter-inflation publicity campaign. Estimates of the costs of price check publicity were given in reply to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) on 16th February.—[Vol. 905, c. 503–4.]1976–7 The provision for publicity is £103,700.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the cost to date of newspaper advertising of the price check scheme.

The cost of advertising the price check scheme in newspapers up to 26th February is approximately £103,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce legislation to amend the Companies Acts to bring them into line with Section 9 of the European Communities Act 1972.

No. Such action is not necessary so far as company law is concerned, although we shall of course at an appropriate stage consolidate companies legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from hon. Members and from leaders of the United Kingdom paper industry calling attention to the continuing contraction of the industry and to the need to ensure conditions of international fair trading; if it is the policy of the Government to see the paper industry maintain at least its present productive capacity; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend saw a deputation from the British Paper and Board Industry Federation and the trade unions concerned on 27th January. A number of matters are being pursued as a result of that meeting. It is certainly our intention to maintain as strong and productive a paper and board industry as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the work of the Joint Commission which has been established between Great Britain and Saudi Arabia.

The first meeting of the Joint Commission is likely to take place in London towards the end of next month. Preparations for this meeting are being made by my Department with the help of the United Kingdom Director-General of the special Economic Co-operation Office in Riyadh who was appointed in December under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two Governments last October.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many insurance companies have gone into liquidation or ceased trading since February 1974; and if he will list them.

The following seven insurance companies have gone into liquidation since 1st February 1974:

1974	Bastion Insurance Co. Ltd.
	Cheltenham Mutual Plate Glass Insurance Society Ltd.
	Mid-Southern Hospital Contributory Association Private Patients Ltd.
	Nation Life Insurance Co. Ltd.
1975	Lincolnshire Steam Trawlers' Mutual Insurance Protection Co. Ltd,.
	Scarborough & District Plate Glass Mutual Insurance Co. Ltd.
	Stevedores Insurance Society Ltd.

In the case of the following two additional companies petitions for winding up have been presented and provisional liquidators appointed since 1st February 1974:

1974	London Indemnity & General Insurance Co. Ltd.
1975	Fidelity Life Assurance Ltd.

The following five additional companies have ceased to take on new business since 1st February 1974 as a result of a requirement made by the Secretary of State under Section 29 of the Insurance Companies Act 1974 or the corresponding provision of the Insurance Companies Amendment Act 1973:

1974	IGAL Ltd. (formerly Castle Life)
	Underwriters National Assurance Co. (USA)
1975	Argonaut Insurance Co. (USA)
	London Equity Assurance Ltd.
1976	Indemnity Guarantee Assurance Ltd.

A number of other companies are known to be no longer taking on new business.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the progress of the voluntary agreement he reached with the Japanese authorities on the voluntary reduction of car exports to the United Kingdom.

Our concern about the level of car imports has been made clear, both during my right hon. Friend's discussions with Japanese Ministers last September and on subsequent occasions. There was a significant decline in registrations of Japanese cars in the concluding months of last year. The Japanese industry has predicted that average monthly registrations of Japanese cars during the first quarter of this year will not exceed the average of the last five months of 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list in the Official Report the 10 leading countries from which the United Kingdom imports visible items in value terms.

The information can be ascertained from Table II of the published monthly Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when his Department will complete its investigation into allegations of dumping of PVC from Hungary.

At the present time I can add nothing to the reply on this subject given to my hon. Friend on 16th February 1976.—[Vol. 905, c. 504.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps are being taken by his Department to monitor imports of footwear from Eastern Europe.

Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania agreed to limit in 1975 their exports of men's leather footwear, excluding sandals, to the United Kingdom and importers were required to make monthly returns of actual and proposed imports. Discussions to continue these arrangements into 1976 and to extend the coverage to include similar footwear for women and children are in hand but have yet to be completed. Footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or artificial plastic material is subject to quota when imported from Eastern Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number of additional places in United Kingdom medical schools he proposes to make available to students from Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

I understand that discussions are taking place between university authorities and the Saudi Arabian Government about the possibility of admitting a number of Saudi Arabian students to medical schools under an arrangement which would ensure that the places available to British students were not affected. I do not know of any special arrangements being made for students from Iran and Kuwait.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the extent of the current pure research projects in Government establishments; and what criteria are used in assessing priorities.

I assume that my right hon. Friend is referring to projects carried out under the auspices of the five research councils for which I am responsible. Because of difficulties of definition it is not possible to give a precise answer to the Question, but the funds which I am making available to the councils in 1975–76 amount to over £170 million, including expenditure on administration and postgraduate training. The criteria which the councils use in selecting projects include the timeliness, promise and scientific excellence of the research and the standing of the research workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it a condition of future grants to the Tate Gallery that prospective purchases of items over £100 be referred to him for his approval; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the trustees of the Tate Gallery.

The following are Trustees of the Tate Gallery:Lord Bullock, FBA (Chairman)Sir Richard Attenborough, CBEMr. S. B. J. Z. de FerrantiProfessor Martin FroyMr. Francis Graham-Harrison, CBLord Harlech, PC, KCMGMr. Howard HodgkinMr. Paul HuxleyMr. Niall Macdermot, OBE, QCMr. C. A. St. John Wilson, FRIBA.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take action to ensure that lone parents who claim interim child benefit do not lose their entitlement to free school meals.

Child interim benefit, like family allowances, will be taken into account for the purposes of the supplementary benefits scheme on which the free school meals arrangements are based.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what contribution in 1974, 1975 and 1976 his Department made both in man-hours and money towards the BBC External Services; and what is the total hours of broadcasting time allotted to overseas countries in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

My Department's support of the BBC External Services is confined to a share of the Government contribution towards the cost of the BBC Monitoring Service which was referred to in the reply to the hon. Member's Question of 4th February—[Vol. 904, c. 587–8]—to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Annual contributions were:

Year	Amount
	£
1973–74	289,000
1974–75	342,000
1975–76	417,000 (latest forecast)

Questions about the allocation of broadcasting time should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any proposals for the construction of warships additional to the existing programme to relieve unemployment.

We are already planning a continuing shipbuilding programme to meet the Navy's operational requirements in the 1980s, but I regret that we cannot afford to place additional orders solely to relieve unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the last British Services personnel left Simonstown.

The only British Service establishment, HMS "Afrikander", closed, and its personnel dispersed, on 13th February 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which Royal naval dockyards are currently engaged in carrying out work for private industry; what type of work it involves; and what is the total value of the orders.

All the Royal dockyards are currently undertaking some orders from private industry. A wide variety of work is involved including sub-contracting work for United Kingdom warship builders. The total value of current orders is in the region of £3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, which Royal naval dockyards are currently engaged in carrying out work for foreign Governments.

Devonport Dockyard is currently refitting two frigates of the Royal Iranian Navy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy dockyards are currently engaged in doing work for private British warship yards; and which Royal naval dockyards are engaged in such work.

Three Royal dockyards, Chatham, Devonport and Portsmouth, are currently undertaking sub-contract work for United Kingdom warship builders.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many new ICBM systems were introduced by NATO in 1975; and how many by the USSR.

NATO, nil; USSR, three.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions have been taken to conserve flatfish stocks off the South Coast.

The United Kingdom gained the agreement of the NEAFC to the introduction in 1975 of quota restrictions on the catch of soles and plaice in the English Channel. In addition, the Commission has agreed restrictions on mesh sizes and the landing of undersized fish. All these measures are now in operation. In order to help ensure their observance, the number of inspections carried out at sea, of both United Kingdom and foreign vessels, has been increased. In addition, more naval patrols of the United Kingdom fishery limits have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will name the manufacturers of standard tractors with easily detachable noise attenuated cabs who will be able to supply farmers and growers from June 1976, in view of the current agricultural tractor cab regulations.

I understand, first, that tractor manufacturers are now mainly concentrating on producing standard tractors with integral noise-attenuated cabs and are primarily looking to specialist cab manufacturers to fulfil the need for removable quiet cabs, and, secondly, that these specialist manufacturers should be able to supply such cabs by June, provided that they are told of market requirements in good time. I therefore hope that farmers, growers and suppliers concerned will now promptly notify their requirements to the manufacturers.It would not be appropriate for me to list these manufacturers, especially at a time when their cab designs may be undergoing tests but any farmer or grower who is experiencing difficulty should contact his local suppliers or, if he cannot then obtain the information he needs, the Agricultural Engineers Association at 6 Buckingham Gate, London, S.W.1.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on potato supplies, in light of the decision on 16th February by the Dutch Potato Board to restrict exports of potatoes to Great Britain.

The Dutch authorities announced on 16th February that they were licensing the export of ware potatoes within the EEC as a monitoring exercise. They have indicated that exports to the United Kingdom would be continued at their recent level.

asked the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the target acreage for potatoes as laid down by him for 1975 and the acreage actually planted.

The target acreage for potatoes planted in the United Kingdom in 1975 was 565,000 acres. The acreage actually planted was 504,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of and total acreage of local authority smallholdings in each English county in 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively.

I regret that the information for 1975 and 1976 is not available. The information for 1974 is given in the annual report to Parliament on smallholdings in England and Wales which my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales laid before the House on 10th July 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of and total acreage of local authority smallholdings in England and Wales, respectively; and if he will express this as a percentage of the total acreage of each country.

At 31st March 1974 the number of statutory smallholdings held by local authorities in England and Wales, the total acreages of these smallholdings, and these acreages expressed as a percentage of the total acreage of agricultural land—excluding woodlands and rough grazings—for each country, as shown in the agricultural census for June 1974, were as follows:

	Number	Acreage	Percentage of all agricultural land
			Per cent
England	9,212	363,629	1·71
Wales	1,107	50,251	1·94

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the sharp rise in the number of cases of tuberculosis detected in cattle in Cheshire.

Routine tuberculin testing of herds is generally a triennial operation. In the herds tested in Cheshire in 1974, only one reactor was found, but the number increased in 1975 to 49–38 of them in only four herds—and so far this year there have been 23 reactors—17 of them in one herd. Despite intensive investigations, which are continuing, the source of infection has not yet been identified. The rate of incidence of reactors in Cheshire for 1975, at 0·034 per cent. of cattle in herds tested, was still below the national average.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many agricultural holdings are held on tenancy in the North-West Region, and in Cheshire in particular, at the latest available date.

According to the agricultural census in June 1974 there were 7,577 wholly rented holdings and 5,038 partly rented holdings in the North-West Region. Comparable figures for Cheshire were 1,904 and 1,066 respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments of the new compensatory allowances to hill farmers in Brecon and Radnor and in Wales have been made to date; how many applications for each of these areas have been received; and what assurance he will give that most claims will be paid within two months of receipt.

I have been asked to reply. 9,990 claims for compensatory allowances, out of an expected total of some 13,500, have been received to date from hill farms in Wales. 989 have been sent for payment of which 575 have been paid and the remaining 414 will be paid very shortly. The comparable figures for Brecon and Radnor are 2,282 claims received, out of an expected total of some 2,500, of which 131 have been sent for payment and about 100 have been paid.Farmers' unfamiliarity with the new claim forms has caused some difficulty in getting them completed correctly but I have every confidence that most claims, provided they have been completed correctly, will be paid within two months of receipt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now consider opening discussions with the Government of Sierra Leone, with particular relation to the reassessment of the Guma Valley Dam project financial aid aspect and the future of the Kissy Jetty; and if he will make a statement.

We have already had discussions with the Sierra Leone Government about the Kissy Jetty and, as I informed the hon. Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 23rd January, agreement has been reached that a survey of the jetty should be undertaken. This survey will begin on 8th March.As regards the Guma Valley water project it would be more appropriate for discussions to take place with the Commonwealth Development Corporation, which put up most of the finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek the co-operation of the South African Government to bring joint pressure to bear on Zambia to secure the release of Lionel Cliff and four other British lecturers and Mr. Robert Molteno, a white South African lecturer, who have been imprisoned in Lusaka.

No. But we are in touch with the Zambian Government about the only British lecturer in detention, Mr. Lionel Cliffe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what respects the Government of Rhodesia fail to satisfy the criteria for recognition on the basis of which Her Majesty's Government on 18th February recognised the MPLA as the Government of Angola.

Rhodesia remains in law a part of Her Majesty's dominions for which Her Majesty's Government retain responsibility in accordance with Section 1 of the Southern Rhodesia Act 1965. Furthermore, the Security Council of the United Nations has decided that member States should refrain from recognising the régime. In the circumstances no question can arise of recognising the illegal republican régime in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British newspaper correspondents are accredited to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and how many Soviet correspondents to Great Britain.

The figures are 11 and 17 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions exist for Soviet visitors to Great Britain; and for British visitors to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

Soviet citizens who wish to visit this country must obtain a visa before entering the United Kingdom. Similarly, British citizens wishing to travel to the Soviet Union must obtain a Soviet visa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restriction exists for British diplomats travelling in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and on Soviet diplomats travelling in Great Britain.

British diplomats in the Soviet Union, together with their families, are required to give the Soviet authorities at least two working days' notice of their intention to travel beyond a 40-kilometre radius of the centre of Moscow. A few towns and highways in the Moscow oblast—province—are, however, open to notification-free travel by British diplomats. One working day's notice is required for journeys by road along certain prescribed motor tourist routes. The British Ambassador, his family and personal driver/interpreter may travel without prior notification to the open towns and areas of the Soviet Union. Large areas within the 40-kilometre zone centred on Moscow; within the Moscow province; and in the Soviet Union as a whole are formally out of bounds to foreigners.Soviet diplomats in the United Kingdom, together with their families, are subject to the requirements of the travel notification scheme. Soviet diplomats must give the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at least two working days' notice of their intention to travel beyond a 35-mile radius of the centre of London. Notification is not required for journeys to the Soviet Embassy's country house at Seacox Heath, nor for road journeys to Hastings, Bexhill, St. Leonards, Rye, Winchelsea and Hawkhurst. The Soviet Ambassador, together with his family, personal interpreter and personal driver, is allowed to travel within the United Kingdom without prior notification to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. There are no closed areas, as such in the United Kingdom to which foreigners may not travel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what statute or by what authority British subjects returning from Angola had their passports confiscated by the police.

There is no statute law on the grant and refusal of passports, which is a Royal Prerogative exercised in the United Kingdom by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. The list of categories of persons to whom passports are refused or from whom they may be withdrawn, given to the House on 15th November 1974, included those

"whose past or proposed activities are so demonstrably undesirable that the grant or continued enjoyment of passport facilities would be contrary to the public interest".

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many houses and flats have been completed to the latest convenient date from the date when the Northern Ireland Housing Executive assumed responsibility, in each of the Housing Executive districts, listing each estate within the respective districts.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made concerning the acquisition of the Royal High School in Edinburgh for the Scottish Assembly; and at what date modifications will be undertaken to make this building suitable for its new purpose.

The Property Services Agency with the co-operation of Edinburgh District Council, the owners of the former Royal High School, has been carrying out an examination of the site with a view to assessing the terms on which the buildings might be acquired and the modifications that would be necessary. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State made clear when announcing the decision about choice of location to the House on 30th July 1975, there will be a further reference to Parliament before any subsequent expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what repair works are scheduled to take place on the Erskine Bridge in 1976; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such repairs.

A contract has been placed for work—expected to take about 18 months to complete and to cost about £1 million—resulting from the recommendations of the Merrison Committee on steel box girder bridges.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the recommended ratio of social workers to population in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 17th February to the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson).—[Vol. 905, c. 614–15.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the current ratio of social workers to population for each of the Scottish regions and island authorities.

This information will not be available until the first returns are made later this year by the regional and island authorities following the introduction of a new system of social work statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers have been paid hill farming compensatory amounts grants since 1st January; and what is the average time between application and payment.

The closing date for applications for the 1976 payment of hill livestock compensatory allowances was 31st January. The bulk of the claims have now been received and are being examined by my Department. As about 25,000 claims will have to be processed, payments must be spread over a period; but a start has been made and I hope that it will be possible to complete the process during the next three months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the current waiting list for geriatric beds in each of the Scottish health board areas.

The latest available figures are those at 31st December 1974, which were given in my reply of 9th December 1975 to my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. Gourlay).—[Vol. 902, c. 187–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what stage he has reached in his plans for the introduction of an independent element into the procedure for complaints against the police in Scotland.

I have had consultations with the police and local authority interests in Scotland about the best means of bringing an independent element into these procedures. Legislation is now in preparation and will be introduced at a suitable opportunity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the savings to the Treasury by way of income tax relief if the building societies reduced the interest rate from 11 per cent. to 10 per cent. to the 4½ million people buying their homes on a mortgage.

Assuming no consequential changes to other rates of mortgage interest, the estimate for 1974–75—the latest complete year for which figures of interest payments are available—is about £50 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a breakdown of the major factors determining the discrepancy between the relative price effect for 1975–76 as projected in Command Paper No. 5879 and the outturn, distinguishing between the contributions in £ sterling million and percentage terms of the basic price indices of public sector activities referred to in page 69 of the Public Expenditure White Paper handbook on Methodology.

The relative price effect in 1975–76—on a year-to-year basis—is now estimated as minus £850 million—at 1975–76 prices—compared with the estimate in Cmnd. 5879 of minus £137 million—at 1974–75 prices. Costs are now estimated to have risen less—relative to the GDP deflator—than was assumed last year. In particular, the relative rise in wages and salaries was significantly less than estimated and it is believed that average prices paid for land will prove to have fallen absolutely.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount granted in tax relief on mortgage interest for each year since 1960 (a) in 1975 prices and (b) as a percentage of gross national product.

The figures are as follows. Column (a) gives the cost of tax relief in the year increased by the ratio of the average retail price index in calendar year 1975 to the average for the year in question. Column (b) gives the actual cost of tax relief (not so increased) as a percentage of gross national product.

TAX RELIEF ON MORTGAGE INTEREST PAYMENTS
	At 1975 prices (a)	Percentage of GNP (b)
	£ million
1960–61	191	0·30
1961–62	197	0·30
1962–63	190	0·29
1963–64	224	0·32
1964–65	263	0·36
1965–66	308	0·42
1966–67	341	0·46
1967–68	387	0·50
1968–69	397	0·51
1969–70	456	0·57
1970–71	515	0·63
1971–72	512	0·60
1972–73	563	0·63
1973–74	692	0·75
1974–75	794	0·85

The figures for 1970–71 onwards have been revised downwards slightly to take account of revised estimates of total mortgage interest payments. The actual figure for tax relief in 1974–75 is now put at £670 million compared with an earlier estimate of £700 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the years since 1945 when more expenditure has been allocated to England than Scotland per head of the population, for, respectively, roads, housing, schools, and hospitals.

I regret that the information required to answer this Question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of money remaining uncollected by the income tax authorities over the past three years.

For Inland Revenue duties an analysis of tax outstanding and the amounts presently collectible at the end of the years of account up to 1974 is given in Table 15 of the 118th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the year ended 31st March 1975 (Cmnd. 6302). Figures for 1975 are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the changes required in income tax necessary to produce an extra £4,000 million in taxation.

At 1975–76 income levels and allowances an increase in the basic rate of income tax from 35 per cent. to 46 per cent. would be required to produce additional revenue of £4,000 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the countries with which the United Kingdom has double taxation agreements identifying those in which petroleum revenue tax is an eligible for tax relief.

The United Kingdom currently has a comprehensive double taxation agreement in force with each of the following countries:

• Antigua
• Australia
• Austria
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Belize
• Botswana
• British Solomon Islands
• Brunei
• Burma
• Canada
• Cyprus
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Gambia
• Federal Republic of Germany
• Ghana
• Gilbert Islands
• Greece
• Grenada
• Guernsey
• Indonesia
• Republic of Ireland
• Isle of Man
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jersey
• Lesotho
• Luxembourg
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• Netherlands
• Netherlands Antilles
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Pakistan
• Portugal
• St. Christopher and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• South Africa
• South West Africa (Namibia)
• Southern Rhodesia
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tuvalu (formerly Ellice Islands)
• Uganda
• United States of America
• Zambia

None of the agreements listed refers explicitly to the petroleum revenue tax, but in all cases the terms of the agreement enable our partner countries to give relief for it. Agreements concluded subsequent to the enactment of the petroleum revenue tax will with the agreement of the parnter country, include an explicit reference to the tax in those cases where it is considered appropriate to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the income tax receipts in 1974–75 from those in the following tax brackets; £2,000–£3,000, £3,000–£4,000, £4,000–£5,000, £5,000–£6,000, £6,000–£7,000, £7,000–£8,000, and £8,000 or over.

The information is as follows:

Range of total net income	Income tax for 1974–75
	£ million
£2,000–3,000	2,750
£3,000–4,000	2,360
£4,000–5,000	1,440
£5,000–6,000	720
£6,000–7,000	420
£7,000–8,000	290
£8,000 and over	1,980

Total net income is as defined in the Inland Revenue's Income Surveys—p. 42 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1975.The figures given are estimates of the tax due on incomes chargeable with income tax for the income tax year 1974–75, not of the tax actually received in the year. The estimates are provisional and will be subject to revision when the results of the 1974–75 Income Survey become available later this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is taking to ensure that funds available as a result of the recent interest rate reductions are only channelled into productive investment rather than into consumer or property purposes.

On 17th December 1975 the Bank of England re-stated the qualitative guidance to banks and finance houses. This asked the banks and finance houses to ensure that any expansion of their business in the period immediately ahead was directed to the needs of manufacturing industry for working capital, the expansion of exports, saving of imports and to domestic industrial investment. Banks and finance houses were also asked to maintain their existing restraint on lending to persons and to property companies. This qualitative guidance should ensure that any increase in bank lending resulting from increased demand for funds following the fall in interest rates is channelled in the right direction.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report for each of the past 10 years the percentage of GNP debted to industrial investment.

The following table shows gross domestic fixed capital formation in the industries covered by the index of industrial production—mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, gas, electricity and water—as a percentage of gross national product at market prices:

1965	6·9
1966	7·2
1967	7·0
1968	6·4
1969	6·3
1970	6·2
1971	5·8
1972	5·0
1973	5·1
1974	6·3
1975*	6·6
*Preliminary estimate

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Government has a target figure for investment in its economic strategy.

The Government have no numerical target for the level of gross domestic fixed capital formation for any future years, but we are doing all we can to encourage investment so that a higher share of national resources is devoted to this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report Budget surpluses or deficits for each of the past 20 years.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Arundel (Mr. Marshall).—[Vol. 905, c. 403.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the percentage of GNP going into investment and consumption for each of the past 15 years.

The following table shows gross domestic fixed capital formation—investment—and the total of consumers' expenditure and of public authorities' current expenditure on goods and services—consumption—as a percentage of gross national product at market prices:

Year	Investment	Consumption
1960	16·3	82·2
1961	17·1	81·5
1962	16·7	82·5
1963	16·3	82·3
1964	18·0	80·4
1965	18·0	80·2
1966	18·0	80·3
1967	18·6	80·7
1968	18·7	80·3
1969	18·3	79·3
1970	18·3	79·0
1971	18·2	79·5
1972	18·2	81·1
1973	19·0	80·2
1974	19·7	82·9
1975*	19·6	83·3
* Preliminary estimate

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the 10 leading components in the United Kingdom's invisible exports in value terms.

Detailed information on invisible exports is published in United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1964–74—in particular Tables 7 to 14—and Economic Trends, December 1975—in particular Appendix Table 2. Any listing of components by value would depend on which definitions of the components were chosen.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the 10 leading countries from which the United Kingdom receives its earnings from invisible exports in value terms.

I regret that this information is not available. There are considerable practical difficulties in determining how to attribute many transactions to individual countries. Also, commercial records, on which the global estimates for the balance of payments are based, are often not maintained on a country basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the rate of inflation.

The Retail Price Index rose by 23·4 per cent. over the 12 months to January, compared with the December figure of 24·9 per cent. The year-on-year rate of increase has now declined in five successive months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the operation of the Inland Revenue limits for occupational pensions in relation to the contracting out provisions of the new State pension scheme.

Yes. The maximum pension which may be provided by a tax-approved occupational pension scheme is, in general, two-thirds of the employee's final remuneration. The question has recently been under examination whether the ceiling for members of schemes which contract out of the State pensions scheme should be different from the ceiling for members of schemes which do not, so as to take into account their different levels of State pension benefit. The Government, having sought the views of the main bodies concerned and having given careful consideration to all the circumstances, have decided that there should be no change in the present position.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report in tabular form the amount of revenue from stamp duty on conveyances or property in each of the following price brackets: £15,000 to £20,000, £20,000 to £25,000, £25,000 to £30,000 and over £30,000 that has been received since he increased the rate of duty on 26th March 1974.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd February 1976; Vol. 906, c. 86], gave the following information:Stamp duty on conveyances of property was increased with effect from 1st May

1974, and receipt of duty in May 1974 will refer mainly to properties transferred before the effective date. The latest available information on the gross receipt of stamp duty at the new rates on conveyances of property in the United Kingdom is as follows:

£000
Price bracket	June 1974 to March 1975	April 1975 to December 1975
(£000)
15–20	4,607	6,194
20–25	8,452	8,339
25–30	4,551	6,461
30 plus	35,035	39,053
Total	52,645	60,047

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many units of accommodation the Warrington District Council had for the use of homeless people within its district in each of the following categories (i) emergency, (ii) short life, and (iii) temporary, at the latest convenient date.

The number of units of accommodation used temporarily by district councils varies according to circumstances and need and on the availability of permanent housing. Accommodation provided temporarily is by no means the sole measure of the overall help that district councils give to homeless people, and distinctions between categories of such accommodation are seldom meaningful. However, I understand that on Tuesday 17th February 1976, Warrington District Council regarded 49 units of accommodation as available for use temporarily by homeless people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish as part of his forthcoming review a table showing the principal categories and total income, including grants but excluding capital sums, of the British Railways Board in each of the last 10 years, together with the main headings of expenditure.

Much of the information requested is contained in the Annual Reports and Accounts published by the British Railways Board. I shall take account of my hon. Friend's suggestion in considering what information to make available in the forthcoming consultative document.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish as part of his forthcoming review a table showing for each of the last 10 years the number of road vehicles operated by the British Railways Board engaged in collection or delivery of goods transported by rail and the income to British Rail from the GPO for carriage of mail.

Since the Transport Act 1968 collection and delivery for British Rail has been carried out under contract by National Carriers Ltd., a subsidiary of the National Freight Corporation. Details of the numbers of vehicles operated by the NFC are contained in its annual reports. Details of the income of the Railways Board from the carriage of postal parcels and letter mails are contained in the Board's annual reports. I shall take account of my hon. Friend's suggestion in considering what information to make available in the forthcoming consultative document.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish as part of his forthcoming review a table showing, for each of the last 10 years, the approximate passenger mileage on British Railways under the headings of: Inter-City; suburban and local services, together with the approximate income from each category in each year.

The information referred to is available only for the year 1970 onwards. I shall take account of my hon. Friend's suggestion in considering what information to make available in the forthcoming consultative document.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will appoint an independent inspector to arbitrate in the event of passenger transport executives and British Rail authorities failing to agree on arrangements for commuter lines which cross more than one passenger transport authority area.

A decision to do this would have to depend, among other things, on whether I had powers to do so in the actual circumstances of any case that might arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total number of employees of British Rail on a comparable basis in each year from 1963 to 1975; and what was the route mileage operated for each year.

Following is the information:

	BR Employees	Route Mileage
1963	476,545	17,471
1964	439,551	16,982
1965	399,005	15,991
1966	365,043	14,920
1967	338,740	13,721
1968	318,092	13,172
1969	268,970	12,447
1970	253,395	12,098
1971	250,777	11,799
1972	242,490	11,643
1973	234,972	11,537
1974	228,590	11,326
1975	234,218	11,289
1976	230,972	11,258

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to make a statement on the future of the proposed Ml6 motorway.

All of the proposed orbital route round London is now known as the M25. The latest position of those parts of the orbital route which were formerly known as the M16 is given below. The dates quoted are subject to the satisfactory completion of all the statutory processes and to the availability of funds at the appropriate time.

A10-M11: Route not yet fixed. Inspector's report awaited following inquiry into line of route and ancillary orders. Estimated starting date: 1979. Estimated completion date 1981.

M11-A12: Route not yet fixed. Inspector's report awaited following inquiry into line of route and ancillary orders. Estimated starting date: 1978. Estimated completion date: 1980.

A12-A13: Route fixed. Objection to cetrain ancillary orders now being considered. Estimated startinig date: 1977. Estimated completion date: 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will settle the claim made by farmers at Rawcliffe, near Goole, for compensation in respect of damage to their potato crops in July 1973 owing to construction work on the M62 motorway; and if he will make a statement.

This claim is the responsibility of the contractor who was carrying out the works. I have written to my hon. Friend to explain the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now give subsidy approval for the acquisition by West Lancashire District Council of the two properties in Lyelake Lane, Latham, and for the property in Gaw Hill Lane, Angletor.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to bring Section 7 of the Road Traffic Act 1974 fully into operation to enable councils on behalf of local residents to protect footpaths, grass verges and central reservations from the intrusion of motor vehicles and lorries.

Before Section 7 can be fully implemented local authorities must prepare orders exempting from the ban those roads where footway parking should be allowed to continue. With existing resources this is bound to take time. The local authority associations will be consulted in the spring about the prospects for implementation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will table a commencement order pursuant to Section 24 of the Road Traffic Act 1974 to bring into operation provisions of the Act which make it an offence to park a vehicle on a footway, grass verge or cetral reservation of an urban road.

Before such an order can be introduced local authorities must be allowed time to prepare orders exempting from the ban those roads where footway parking should be allowed to continue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total average capital cost of installing one street light on a motorway or major road, and on a minor road.

Averages are not easy to derive with any accuracy, but would be of the order of £350 for a motorway lighting unit, £250 for a major road and £150 for a minor road. Due to variations in site conditions and availability of supplies actual costs in a specific case could vary from a half to twice the above figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give his estimate of the total cost of the electricity consumed by street lighting in the United Kingdom during 1975.

It is estimated that the energy costs for public lighting in the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland, for the latest year available, 1974, were about £20 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount paid in the latest available year by way of attendance allowances to councillors, in accordance with Section 173 of the Local Government Act 1972.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Thanet, West (Mr. Rees-Davies) on 29th January.—[Vol. 904, c. 302–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when a decision can be expected in respect of a scheme for the development of flats by S B and C Developments Limited submitted by the Castle Point District Council to his Department on 10th March 1975.

As my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction has already explained to the hon. Member, the original application was not received. A copy was received by the Department on 15th January 1976. The cost yardstick was approved in a letter to the district council dated 11th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what period of time will be allowed for the excavation of the Roman settlement of Magniovinium before the building of the southern section of the A5(D).

About six months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, from the sources available to him, he can advise which countries require the compulsory fitting of laminated windscreens in motor vehicles.

So far as I am aware the fitting of laminated windscreens is compulsory in 11 countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Italy, the USSR, Czechoslovakia, Iraq, South Africa, Canada and the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what records are kept of the number of eye injuries caused by the shattering of toughened glass windscreens of motor cars; and if he is aware of any research into this subject undertaken in other countries.

Various studies have been undertaken both here and abroad. No complete record of eye injuries caused directly by the shattering of toughened glass windscreens is available; but I believe such injuries to be rare. In a recent survey by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, of about 1,000 incidents in which windscreens shattered on the road, without vehicle impact, there was no case of eye injury.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department keeps a record of the number of car accidents attributed to loss of vision resulting from the shattering of toughened glass windscreens.

No complete record of these accidents is aavilable. Investigations carried out in recent years by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory indicate that accidents caused by the shattering of a windscreen are very rare.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of local government expenditure in England is met from central Government funds.

Central Government grants, including grants towards rate rebates, represented about 64 per cent. of net expenditure chargeable to the rate fund for English local authorities for the latest financial year, 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the other major carriers of parcels in the United Kingdom other than the Post Office and indicate which of these carriers is State owned.

There are a large number of parcels carriers and no statistics are available about their relative importance in the private sector. Within the public sector the three major for hire carriers of parcels, apart from the Post Office, are British Rail Express Parcels Service, National Carriers Ltd. and Roadline UK Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will have further consultation with the existing Eastern Sports Council prior to the establishment of the new Regional Sports Council.

I have had long and detailed discussions with representatives of all the regional Sports Councils, including the Eastern Regional Sports Council, and am fully aware of their views on my proposals. I hope that final decisions will be taken shortly, but if the Eastern Regional Sports Council has fresh views to express on this subject, it is not too late to let me have them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation banning the issue of insurance schemes providing benefits similar to those lost by the removal of licence to those motorists banned from driving as a result of the totting up system or a conviction under the Road Safety Act 1967.

This is one of the matters discussed in the Blennerhasset report on drinking and driving which I intend to publish shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the Government's White Paper on Public Expenditure, he will reconsider his decision to proceed with the construction of that stretch of the M54 between Telford and the M6.

This section of the M54 has recently been the subject of a public inquiry and no decision will be made until the inspector's report has been received and given due consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for an exhibition of the work of the Noise Advisory Council to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that arrangements were made with the authorities of the House for an exhibition on the work of the Council to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 21st to 29th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he has given to the recommendations of the Erroll Committee on liquor licensing.

I have thought it right to defer conclusions on this subject until the House has had the opportunity, afforded by the Licensing (Amendment) Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), to express opinions on some of the Committee's main recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a disaster unit which can operate in the aftermath of major accidents and provide the relations of victims with all the financial, social, psychological and legal assistance and guidance they require.

No. As I made clear to the House in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 8th May 1975, I understand and sympathise with his objectives, but I do not think that what he suggests is the best approach to dealing with the problem.—[Vol. 891, c. 1605–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money was taken in fines in Crown courts and magistrates' courts, respectively, in 1974 and 1975, respectively.

Fines imposed by the Crown court are enforced and collected by magistrates' courts. The total sums for all courts received in England and Wales during 1974 and 1975 were £35,465,475 and £42,883,523 respectively. Separate figures for fines imposed by the Crown court and by magistrates' courts are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information has been collected by his Department during the last 10 years, or any part of that period, about the number of persons detained in police stations overnight for three nights or more without having appeared before a court in respect of the Metropolitan Police area, or any other area of the country, or on any sample basis whatsoever.

No such information has been collected by our Department, with the exception of information concerning extensions of detention under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974.