asked the Minister for Overseas Development what payments and allowances are paid from his budget for the purpose of providing help to education fees for employees' children either in Great Britain or overseas; what is the latest annual cost, the numbers of parents and children benefiting, and the cost of aid for travelling expenses for such educational purposes; how these costs have been affected over the last five years by inflation and the falling £ sterling; and if he will make a statement.

If we are to succeed in recruiting and retaining British aid personnel overseas it is essential that we give them financial assistance with the education of their children since they cannot normally continue to use the free public educational facilities in this country.Education allowances and holiday visit passage arrangements for people serving overseas and financed from the aid programme follow very closely those for British civil servants serving overseas. I

(Amounts in £'000)
	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
Capital aid	1,766	1,020	1,195	774	333
Technical co-operation	248	153	155	150	150
Non-project aid (budgetary aid and pensions)	313	135	—	—	1,031
Total	2,327	1,308	1,350	924	1,514

The specific projects to which money was assigned are as follow:

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of aid given to Dominica in each of the last five years; if he will list the specific projects to which money has been assigned; and if he will make a statement.

In the last five years the amount of bilateral aid given to Dominica was as follows:

asked the Minister for Overseas Development whether any changes have been made in arrangements for handling Her Majesty's Government's immediate disaster relief aid for developing countries.

When the disaster unit was set up in the Ministry of Overseas Development in June 1974 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office retained responsibility for Her Majesty's Governmenment's initial responses to natural disasters in developing countries. These arrangements have been kept under review, and it has now been decided to transfer this responsibility also to the Ministry of Overseas Development disaster unit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many chairmen, full- or part-time, of the Prison Board there have been since the Prison Commission was absorbed into his Department in 1963; how long each of these was in office; how many had previous experience of working in the prison service, Prison Commission or Prison Department; and what are their present salary scales and allowances.

There have been six Chairmen since 1963, one of whom had previous Prison Department experience. The present Chairman was appointed in October 1973. His predecessors served for four years one month, including two years six months with the Prison Commission; two years two months; seven months; two years 11 months; and three years three months. The Chairman is a Deputy Undersecretary of State whose salary is £15,000 a year of which £1,000 is currently withheld under the Government's incomes policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will carry out an urgent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of a premature baby born at Heathrow Airport to Mrs. Galiyara.

I have received a full report on this unhappy incident and have studied it most carefully. It is clear that the baby's death was in no way attributable to the action taken by the Immigration Service, which was throughout guided by medical advice; that the child could not in any circumstances have lived for more than a day or two—it died in hospital 24 hours after its delivery by the Port Medical Inspector; that the mother at all times received prompt medical attention; and that, contrary to reports, she was treated with courtesy, compassion, and concern by all those involved. In the circumstances I do not consider that further enquiry, which could only add to the distress of the parents, would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers and percentage of those who are undergoing or have undergone community service orders who have committed further criminal offences or who have otherwise breached the terms of the order.

The following table gives information about those offenders given community service orders who breached the conditions of the order as specified in Section 16 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973; the committing of further offences does not constitute a breach and information about it is not readily available.

PERSONS WHO FAILED TO COMPLY WITH CONDITIONS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS—ENGLAND AND WALES
Year		Persons sentenced to community service	Persons who failed to comply with the conditions
		Number	Number*	Percentage
1974	…	1,213	42	3·5
1975	…	3,126	90	2·9
* Does not necessarily relate to orders imposed in current year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers and percentage of persons subject to parole who have committed further criminal offences or who have otherwise breached the terms of the parole order.

In England and Wales during 1975, 311 persons who were on parole while serving determinate sentences had their licences revoked for breaches of the licence conditions including, in 144 cases, the commission of offences. The 311 revocations represented 7·7 per cent, of the number of persons granted parole in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what ratio of prison officer staff to prisoners exists in each of the dispersal prisons; and how this compares to the average ratio for closed prisons.

The ratio of prison officers class staff to inmates in each of the dispersal prisons at 1st October 1976 was as follows:

Albany	…	1:1·03
Gartree	…	1:0·92
Hull	…	1:1·23*
Long Lartin	…	1:1·13
Parkhurst	…	1:1·14
Wakefield	…	1:2·21
Wormwood Scrubs	…	1:3·11
* At 1st September 1976.

The ratio at Wormwood Scrubs reflects the lower proportion of Category A prisoners to its total population.The average ratio in other male closed prisons at 1st October 1976 was 1:3·02.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what proportion of the total wage bill for prison officer staff in closed prisons and each of the dispersal prisons is made up of overtime payments; and what is the average overtime payment in dispersal prisons for each of the last five years;(2) what is the total wage bill for prison officer staff in closed prisons and for each of the dispersal prisons.

I regret that information is not readily available in the form requested and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total prison officer staff employed in closed prisons; and how many are employed in each of the dispersal prisons.

At 1st October 1976 prison officer class staff in male closed prisons, including the dispersal prisons, was 10,201.The figure for each of the dispersal prisons was:

Albany	…	…	288
Gartree	…	…	257
Hull	…	…	252*
Long Lartin	…	…	284
Parkhurst	…	…	345
Wakefield	…	…	339
Wormwood Scrubs	…	…	447
* At 1st September 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the Jellicoe Report on Boards of Visitors of Penal Institutions; and whether he will make a statement on its recommendations.

A copy of this report was forwarded to my predecessor by the committee's chairman. I intend to make a statement about its recommendations soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount of public expenditure cuts recently announced affects prison services; and where the economies are to be made.

The White Paper on "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" (Cmnd. 6393) foreshadows a reduction of some £40 million in capital expenditure on prisons over the period from 1975–76 to 1978–79. Building schemes in progress will not be affected, but starts for nine out of 10 planned major place-producing projects have been indefinitely deferred. The prison service has been required to reduce overtime costs in the current financial year by approximately £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what amount was spent in increasing the security of dispersal prisons since the publication of the Mountbatten Report.

The estimated total cost of improvements to the security at Albany, Gartree, Hull, Long Lartin, Parkhurst, Wakefield and Wormwood Scrubs, since they became dispersal prisons, is of the order of £6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make publicly available the Gale Report into the causes of the Parkhurst Prison riot in 1972.

The disturbances at Parkhurst Prison to which my hon. Friend refers took place in October 1969. Earlier in that year Mr. M. S. Gale, an officer of the Home Office, carried out an inquiry into allegations that had been made of ill-treament of prisoners at Parkhurst Prison. The then Home Secretary made a statement about the results of this inquiry on 6th June 1969 and subsequently made it clear to the House that, having considered the matter very carefully, he did not intend to publish the report itself. I fully agree with his view of the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the ratio of prison officer staff to prisoners in closed prisons and each of the dispersal prisons; and by how much the prison officer staff is under strength in closed prisons.

At 1st October 1976 the overall ratio of prison officer class staff to inmates in all closed male prisons, including dispersal prisons, was 1: 2·73. The ratio in each case of the dispersal prisons was:

Albany	…	1: 1·03
Gartree	…	1: 0·92
Hull	…	1: 1·23*
Long Lartin	…	1: 1·13
Parkhurst	…	1: 1·14
Wakefield	…	1: 2·21
Wormwood Scrubs	…	1: 3·11
* At 1st September 1976.

The ratio at Wormwood Scrubs reflects the lower proportion of Category A prisoners to its total population.At the same date, overall prison officer strengths in closed male prisons were up to the current authorised levels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to implement proposals included in paragraph 97 of the Report of the Working Party on Vagrancy and Street Offences.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 18th October to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Moss Side (Mr. Hatton).—[Vol. 917, c. 259.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in closed prisons are in A and B categories of security risk; and what proportion are in the dispersal prison.

At 30th September 1976, the latest date for which information is readily available, there were 234 Category A and 7,359 Category B prisoners in closed prisons. At the same date dispersal prisons held 81 per cent, of all Category A prisoners and 26 per cent, of all Category B prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received concerning the decision to remove mining from the categories of industry that qualify for regional development grants after 1st April 1977; and if he will make a statement.

There have been over a dozen representations on behalf of companies or representative organisations The withdrawal of regional development grants from the mining and construction industries from 1st April next was a necessary consequence of the decision to concentrate these grants in future on the manufacturing industry in the assisted areas. This is in accordance with the Government's industrial strategy and the need, announced by the Chancellor last July, to secure major savings in public expenditure in 1977–8.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what estimate he has made of the total of new registrations of passenger cars in the United Kingdom for 1976, and for 1977; and what proportion he expects to be of British manufacture.

No official forecast is published. The industry estimates that new car registrations in the United Kingdom will be about 1·25 million in 1976 and 13 million in 1977. and that the proportions of British manufacture will be 63 per cent, and 64 per cent, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he expects to be in a position to announce the first planning agreements before the end of 1976.

Detailed discussions are still in progress. My right hon. Friend attaches great importance to the contribution which planning agreements can make within the context of our industrial strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with industrial performance in the Northern Region.

We are aware of the needs of the region and will continue to do everything possible to promote industrial investment there.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions he has had with the CBI regarding its policy document "Road to Recovery".

None to date, although my right hon. Friend expects to hold a meeting shortly.

Wainwright asked the Secretary of State for Industry what effect the recent increase in minimum lending rate will have on industrial investment.

Less than if we had not taken steps to restrain the growth in money supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the recent performance and progress of the Meriden Workers' Co-operative.

The co-operative has made progress, but a number of issues are being discussed with my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what sums of public money through the regional assistance Acts have been or will be spent on the Sullom Voe and Flotta oil terminals.

No application for regional development grant has been made in respect of the Sullom Voe oil terminal, and the Department has insufficient information to determine whether or not it will qualify for grant. Grants totalling £3·1 million have been paid provisionally to date in respect of the Flotta oil terminal in the expectation that the premises will qualify. The project has been estimated to cost some £120 million; only part of this expenditure is likely to qualify. If the forecast qualifying situation is not achieved any grants paid will be recovered. No other regional assistance has been made available for these oil terminals under Acts administered by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what information can be made available to hon. Members concerning the amounts of public money disbursed to named companies.

Information on regional development grants paid and regional selective assistance offered to individual companies is published regularly in Trade and Industry in accordance with the arrangements announced by my right hon. Friend's predecessor on 31st July 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why Spillers Foods Ltd. has been given an industrial development certificate to extend its factory at Wisbech in order to transfer to it the work at present carried out at its factory at North Shields which is to be closed with a resulting loss of some 350 jobs.

Before giving the industrial development certificate I was satisfied that the Company was convinced that the North Shields factory would have to close in any case. Granting the IDC enabled Spillers to keep the North Shields factory open several months longer than it otherwise intended.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what measures have been taken by his Department to preserve and create jobs in the West Midlands; and what has been the cost;(2) what measures have been taken to save and encourage industry in the West Midlands; what has been the cost; and whether he will make a statement.

Throughout the West Midlands region as a whole industry has benefited from a range of measures introduced under Section 8 of the Industry Act. Information to date indicates that so far these have had the following effects on industry in the West Midlands:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish the terms of reference of the Concorde Management Board and the names of its members.

The Concorde Management Board is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, at official level, in so far as this responsibility falls to the Governments of the United Kingdom and France rather than to the contractors undertaking the project. As stated by my noble Friend Lord Melchett in another place on 25th May 1976, it would not be appropriate to identify the officials who compose the Concorde Management Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to make a statement concerning the future of the regional consumer councils and the district consumer committees for the gas and electricity industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will make a statement on the recommendation contained in the report "The Consumer and the Nationalised Industries" which sought to abolish the regional gas consumers councils: and if he will resist the suggestion that the consumer should be deprived of this localised service.

This question is being considered with the other recommendations in the National Consumer Council's report "Consumers and the Nationalised Industries", on which I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 25th October.—[Vol 918, c. 12–13.]

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what changes concerning departmental responsibility for the Britsh Calibration Service he intends to make; and if he will make a statement.

The British Calibration Service functions as a service to industry in assessing and supervising calibration laboratories. The Secretary of State for Industry has agreed with me that this function would be more appropriate to his Department. With the agreement of the Prime Minister, functional responsibility for the BCS will, therefore, be transferred from my Department to the Department of Industry from today.Similarly, the Advisory Council on Calibration and Measurement, which supports the transfer, will in future advise the Secretary of State for Industry on the operation of BCS and other matters within its terms of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, of the 42 per cent, increase in export sales to Arab States in the first nine months of 1976, if he will list those States in which increased sales have been obtained and the principal items of export that have led to the improved sales.

Following are the countries in order of size of absolute increase in the value of United Kingdom exports between January-September 1976 and the same period in 1975: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Dubai, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria, Sudan, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Yemen Arab Republic, Sharjah and other Northern Emirates, Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen.The main commodity sectors registering improvements were non-electric machinery, electrical machinery, transport equipment and metal and metal manufactures. This and more detailed information is available from Table V of the September issues of the

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied with current measures to prevent and dispose of rubbish dumped from ships in the Channel.

My Department has received a number of complaints about the discharge of rubbish from ships, and has followed them up as appropriate, drawing the attention of the operators to their responsibilities to protect the environment from this nuisance. There are at present no regulations governing the disposal of rubbish at sea, though there is provision in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973. The United Kingdom is taking the initiative in IMCO towards its early implementation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the value

					Imports		Exports
					Thousand metric tons	£ million	Thousand metric tons	£million
1973	…	…	…	…	361	56·6	498	65·6
1974	…	…	…	…	468	103·8	370	83·7
1975	…	…	…	…	273	84·0	281	94·4

The 1973 figures exclude a very small amount of glass insulators which were not separately distinguished in the overseas trade statistics for that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether his plans for Heathrow Airport include the construction by British Airways of a fourth terminal for their own operation.

The British Airports Authority Master Development Plan for Heathrow envisages the construction of a fourth terminal. How such a terminal might be used would be a matter for the Authority in consultation with the airlines and other organisations concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the cost in terms of delay and additional fuel and other costs to British Airways and other British airlines as a result of the need to detour Vietnam; and what steps he is taking to renegotiate overflying rights.

In April 1975 the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommended that civil aircraft should cease to use the direct airways in of imports of toughened windscreen glass during each of the last five years.

Imports of toughened or laminated glass ready for incorporation in motor vehicles were as follows:

				£ million c.i.f.
1971	…	…	…	2·0
1972	…	…	…	2·6
1973	…	…	…	2·9
1974	…	…	…	3·5
1975	…	…	…	4·0

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the total imports and exports by volume and value, of glass and glass products during each of the last three years.

Following is the information:the Saigon Flight Information Region (FIR) because of difficulties besetting the Saigon Flight Information Centre (FIC) which then controlled services in the upper airspace over South Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia; the ICAO contingency re-routing has been in operation ever since by all international services.The Vietnamese Government have now set up an FIR only in their own national airspace as have the Government of Laos; nothing has been said on this subject by the Government of Kampuchia (previously Cambodia). Negotiations have been proceeding for some time now between the civil aviation authorities of Vietnam and Laos and by both with the similar authorities in Thailand and Hong Kong, who control the FIRs either side of Indochina, to agree upon the facilities necessary and the procedures to be followed to allow safe air navigation to be resumed on the direct air routes; these negotiations have not yet been completed and recent political changes in the area may initially make this process more difficult.All the necessary traffic rights are available for British airlines to operate scheduled services over Indochina and

operators on non-scheduled services will be able to apply for the usual

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will impose provisional charges to anti-dumping duty whilst an anti-dumping investigation into the importing of Eastern European suits is proceeding; when the result of the complaint made by the Clothing Manufacturers Association will be announced; and if he will make a statement.

Not at this stage. The case is very complex, and many facts have still to be verified. A provisional charge to anti-dumping duty has to be based on likely margins of dumping as well as on the extent of injury to the United Kingdom industry. We must be sure of the facts and able to assess wth some accuracy these margins. We are aware of the importance which the Clothing Manufacturers Federation attaches to this case, and our inquiries are proceeding as a matter of urgency. The result will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether it is the policy of his Department to encourage British exporters to invoice in dollars or other hard currencies; and, if so, what steps he has taken to give effect to it.

I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer given on 4th August 1976 to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wriggles-worth).—[Vol. 916, c. 835–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether the National Film Finance Corporation consulted him about the sale of the single special preference share in British Lion with particular reference to the £720,000 tax loss benefit that would be made available to the purchaser; if he is satisfied that a fair price for this benefit was £90,000; and if tax losses in other companies which had received public investment have been or are being sold;(2) whether he authorised the National Film Finance Corporation to dispose of its single special preference share in British Lion so that a £720,000 tax loss benefit could be enjoyed by the purchaser; and whether the Corporation sought advice from his Department on the transaction.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will specify the EEC regulations which prevent the Government from acceding to the request of the British Railways Board that they accept responsibility for the railway infrastructure.

In 1974 the Goverment rejected the support system preferred by BRB for a number of reasons, not least of which was that there was no guarantee that sufficient support would be available. Only one of the considerations was the serious doubt as to whether the system would have been acceptable under EEC rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he will publish the Coopers and Lybrand report on the National Freight Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

The Coopers and Lybrand report is a commercially confidential document which I do not intend to publish. I will make a statement when my review of NFC finances is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why a charge is levied for disabled persons' motor vehicle badges; and whether the charge is uniform throughout the country.

The charge is at the discretion of local authorities and is at the maximum permitted rate of £1 in three cases and 50p in one case. Other authorities make no charge. It is intended to cover the cost of the badge and administrative expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will introduce licensing regulations for all furniture removers irrespective of the size of vehicle used; and if he will make a statement.

No. The operators' licensing system is designed to ensure high standards of lorry operation, mainly in the context of road safety, for all operators regardless of their type of business. The present threshold of 3½ tonnes laden weight is generally satisfactory, and there are insufficient grounds for varying the threshold for a particular type of business.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the views of the South-West Economic Planning Council on the Government's Consultation Document on Transport Policy; and whether it is Government policy that the council's forecast that the number of cars in the South-West Region will increase by over 70 per cent, by 1990, is fulfilled.

I have received its views, and have noted its forecast. The question of Government policy does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total value of central and local government subsidies to public passenger transport, excluding concessionary fare schemes, in 1976–77, in the United Kingdom, Scotland, Wales, the South-East Region of England, the South-West Region and Cornwall, respectively, in cash terms and per head of population.

Detailed information is not available. Central Government support for rail passenger services is given towards the whole of the rail network and cannot be allocated to par- ticular areas. Nor is it possible to allocate all support for bus services to regions in England. The total amount of central and local government subsidies to rail, bus and underground in 1976–77, is estimated to be £623·8 million—£11·2 per head—of which the amount for bus and underground is estimated to be £276·4 million—£5 per head.Local government subsidies

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in view of the pending review of the law concerning the temporary 50 mph and 60 mph speed limits, he has considered removing offences against those from the "totting-up" category; and if he will make a statement.

It would be impractical for the police and courts to distinguish between the treatment of offenders against the temporary 50 and 60 mph speed limits and other speed limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria would currently persuade him to recommend the imposition of a 30 mph speed limit.

There should be continuous development on both sides of the road and frequent junctions. The total fatal and injury accident rate in relation to the amount of traffic on the road should be four or more per million vehicle miles travelled in a three-year period. The speed within which 85 per cent, of cars are observed to travel, when the driver's choice of speed is not limited by other traffic, should not exceed 36 m.p.h.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much land now used or designated for housing purposes will be required if the M23 is extended on its proposed route north of its present terminal point at Hooley.

The eventual terminal point of the M23 will depend on the outcome of discussions with the Greater London Council and, until any extension that may be decided upon has been designed in detail, it will not be possible to assess the areas of land which would be required. On the basis of the standards originally envisaged for the motorway route between Hooley and Mitcham, the line for which was fixed in 1968, about 370 properties would be demolished and about 210 would lose some land. Part of this route passes over open land, and information on whether any of this is designated for housing purposes can be obtained from the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the area of agricultural land which will be required for road building and road improvements in the United Kingdom during the next 10 years, in order to meet his Department's lowest estimate of the increase in car ownership and for other reasons, the annual value of the production of this land at 1976 prices and the additional cost to the balance of payments of importing food, which would otherwise have been produced on it.

No. Information is lacking upon which such estimates could be based.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much land zoned for agricultural purposes has been used in the construction of the British motorway network over the last 12 and six years, respectively.

Information is not readily available about the proportion of road land formerly in agricultural use. Approximately 18,000 and 12,500 acres of rural land of all kinds have been used for motorway building in England in the periods mentioned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out his policy with regard to the nationalisation of agricultural land.

I have no proposals for the nationalisation of agricultural land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the likely increase in oil costs per gallon to the horticultural industry resulting from the devaluation of the £ sterling to 1·59 dollars.

It is not possible to give a firm estimate of the effect on oil costs to the horticultural industry of the recent fall in the parity of the pound, although it can be expected in time to be reflected in oil prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the dangers of the Marburg virus or green monkey disease as it applies to the import of monkeys into Great Britain; how many monkeys are imported into Great Britain a month from the virus area; and what action he is taking to protect Great Britain from this virus.

I have been asked to reply.Marburg virus disease is a rare communicable disease, which as far as is known is normally found only in Africa, and is very dangerous in human beings. It has also been found in vervet monkeys in Uganda and certain other African countries.All monkeys imported into the United Kingdom are required to undergo six months anti-rabies quarantine in Government approved premises which are supervised by persons with medical or veterinary qualifications. Since the incubation period for Marburg disease in monkeys is

PROPERTIES SURPLUS TO REQUIREMENTS
Premises	Nature of holding		Future plans
1–8 Atholl Crescent	Crown	…	Other Government Departments and public bodies are being asked if they have a requirement for these premises before they are disposed of on the open market.
Lorne House, 1–2 Drumsheugh Gardens/29 Walker Street.	Crown	…	Other Government Departments and public bodies are being asked if they have a requirement for these premises before they are disposed of on the open market.
21 Landsdowne Crescent	Leased	…	To be surrendered to landlord when suitable terms are agreed.
45–47 Melville Street	Leased	…	To be surrendered to landlord when mutable terms are agreed

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to nationalise any part of the building and construction industry.

No, but I expect that the useful roles long played by public enterprises in this industry will continue to grow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Government properties in Edinburgh that are either surplus to requirements or are not currently in use for other reasons, and append a note of his plans for each of these properties.

The properties concerned are listed in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the intention to erect chain link fencing around the Victoria Embankment Gardens with the declared object of keeping out dossers, he will make a statement.

These gardens are the responsibility of Westminster City Council. Decisions about fencing are a matter for that council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the English Table Tennis Association concerning the decision to use foreign-made tables for the World Championship in Birmingham in 1977.

The Sports Council has discussed this matter with the English Table Tennis Association and I have just received the former's report. I shall be discussing the question with the ETTA and the Sports Council tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what subsidy was paid out during the last five years for housing.

Total subsidies, excluding rent rebates and allowances, paid in the years 1965 to 1975 for public housing in the United Kingdom are detailed in table 9.3 of the Central Statis-

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures have been taken by the Government to assist the council house building programme in Walsall.

Walsall has been included as one of the housing authorities listed in Circular 80/76 which will receive first priority in considering the overall level of new house building.My right hon. Friend in his published draft modifications to the Staffordshire structure plan has sought to make adequate provision for Walsall's general need for land for new housing in Aldridge—Brownhills and South Staffordshire. As my right hon. Friend's published statement of 16th September on the six West Midlands conurbation structure plans made clear, this need will also be borne in mind in preparing draft modifications to the Walsall structure plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has received any estimate from the South West Water Authority of the cost of providing standpipes during the recent drought; and if he will make a special payment to the water authority to cover this cost.

I understand that the South West Water Authority estimates the cost of providing standpipes at about £120,000. I fear that there can be no question of adding to Government spending by subsidies to this or any other water authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost to public funds of the cleaning of St. James's Park lake; and how many people will be employed on this operation.

The lake in St. James's Park is being cleaned in three annual stages at a total cost of £90,000. Work on the second stage started on Monday 18th October and will take about two months. About 18 men will be employed by the contractor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he invited volunteers and conservation groups to take responsibility for the cleaning of St. James's Park lake.

My right hon. Friend considers that the special problems of this artificial lake, caused by the high volume of leaves and other waste matter which fall into it, require the best available professional treatment. The present contractor has acquired a great deal of experience in this field and uses advanced machinery and techniques.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list giving the number of houses and flats in the use of stated Ministers, where these are situated, their actual or estimated annual worth, and whether in each instance the costs of heat, light, furniture, rates, cleaning &c, are met from public funds, and at what costs; and whether, in support of the Government's policy of cuts in public expenditure, he will cease these expenditures forthwith or charge the recipients according to their estimated worth.

Four Government residences are currently occupied by Ministers and the approximate annual costs of rates, heat, light and furniture, based on the latest figures available, are as follows: —

10 Downing Street	£5,200
11 Downing Street	£7,800
Admiralty House (two flats)	£4,175

These costs are directly related to the areas of the residences. There is no charge to public funds for their cleaning.It is not possible to assess a realistic rental for these types of property and consequently no estimate of their annual worth can be given. There are no plans to change the existing arrangements for the occupation of residences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities in the United Kingdom have installed or are contemplating installing waste recycle schemes; what is the net cost of such ventures; and whether his Department is granting aid or assistance to enable such authorities effectively to dispose of industrial, commercial and domestic waste.

Two waste disposal authorities are co-operating with my Department in pilot projects for the mechanical sorting of waste. The total capital cost of each installation will be about £2 million. My Department is contributing £1·4 million towards the two.In addition, of course, many local authorities reclaim waste paper and ferrous scrap under less sophisticated arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is prepared to take to encourage the Liverpool City Council to make the Birchfield Road area as well as others in the Walton division of Liverpool housing action area; and what future progress can be expected.

The initiative rests with the city council, since only the council is in a position to select potential housing action areas and decide on the timing of any declarations. My right hon. Friend will deal with any submissions as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of time which must elapse before tips containing rubbish in non-biodegradable sacks can be used for building purposes; and what is the amount of time for those containing paper stocks.

This will vary according to the types of waste deposited and the disposal methods use but a long wait is usually necessary for the site to become sufficiently stable. The difference between non-biodegradable sacks and paper sacks is not likely to be significant; what is in them is more important. Sites can often be used for recreational and agricultural purposes very soon after completion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions the Advisory Committee to the Housing Finance Review has met; and when the last meeting took place.

The Advisory Group on the Housing Finance Review has met 10 times. The last meeting was in July of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his reasons for estimating a staff increase in the supplies division of the Property Services Agency from 2,019 at 1st July 1976 to 2,105 by 1st April 1978.

The figure of 2,019 represents actual staff in post at 1st July 1976 whereas the figure of 2,105 represents the authorised staff complement for 1st April 1978. The figures are not therefore comparable. The authorised complement of 2,105 for April 1978 is in fact a reduction of 75 on the July 1976 authorised complement.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if his Department has reviewed the working of the Pension (Increase) Act 1971, which guaranteed the pensions of civil servants to be compensated for inflation.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in the light of the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's indefinite postponement of the target date for reaching single-figure inflation, he is reviewing the commitment to unlimited inflation-proofing of the Civil Service pension.

Under the provisions of the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, as amended by the Superannuation Act 1972, public service pensions are reviewed annually. In the course of each annual review the Government consider whether the existing arrangements are still appropriate.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many other countries in the OECD group have public sector pensions which are not funded; and how many have schemes which have guaranteed protection against inflation.

I regret that this information is not at present available centrally. I am having it collected and will write to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what has been the aggregate cost of public service pensions in each year since 1971; and what has been the corresponding percentage increase over each year.

Superannuation payments made to or in respect of former public service employees—that is, civil servants, teachers, NHS and local government staffs, policemen, firemen and members of the Armed Forces— amounted to £517 million in 1971, £614 million in 1972, £766 million in 1973, £884 million in 1974 and £1,071 million in 1975. These figures include payments to widows, children and other dependants and some non-recurring payments such as lump sums, transfer values and refunds of contributions as well as pensions to the former employees themselves.Any pensions which began on or before 1st April 1971 were increased from 1st September of that year by varying percentage amounts under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 to take account of increases in the cost of living since the previous increase was given in 1969. Subsequent reviews under the provisions of that Act resulted in basic increases of 99 per cent.—in respect of a 15-month period—from 1st December 1972, 9·3 per cent, from 1st December 1973, 16·5 per cent, from 1st December 1974 and 26·1 per cent, from 1st December 1975. The increase from 1st December 1976 is to be 13·8 per cent.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what consideration he has given to the recommendations of the Tomlin Commission of 1931 and the Fulton Report in 1966 to 1968 proposing that Civil Service pensions be placed on a contributory basis; and if he will make a statement.

The decisions not to proceed with the proposals of the Tomlin Commission in 1931 and of the Fulton Committee in 1968 for a contributory system for Civil Service pensions were taken by the Governments of the day on the agreed recommendations of committees representative of the Official and Staff Sides of the National Whitley Council. The present position, as has been explained on a number of occasions, is that civil servants contribute towards their pensions by forgoing pay. To change to a contributory system would therefore involve adding to the salary bill a sum to be deducted as contributions and the setting up of a more complex and costly administrative machine to bring these contributions to account, with a consequent overall increase in public expenditure.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total number of public servants employed at present in central and local government; and what were the equivalent figures in the same date in 1975 and 1974.

I can answer only for the Civil Service. On 1st July 1976—the latest date available—there were 744,100 civil servants in post compared with 707,982 at the same date in 1975 and 690,351 in 1974.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with arrangements for placing Government advertising via advertising agencies.

Yes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish the research documents on Civil Service pay produced by the Civil Service Pay Research Unit since 1971.

The understanding between the unit and the organisations participating in the surveys has always been that its reports will not be made publicly available. I am, therefore, unable to meet the hon. Member's request.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants have been dismissed or prematurely retired from each Department of State in each year since 1971; and what have been the grounds for dismissal.

The information that the hon. Member requests, which is available only for non-industrial civil servants, is too long for publication in the Official Report and I am therefore writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement about the Fifth Annual Report of the Principal of the Civil Service College 1974–75.

Copies of the report have been made available in the House of Commons Library and if the hon. Member will let me know of any points in it on which he requires further information I shall be pleased to write to him.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a further statement on the transfer to Scotland of Civil Service jobs in the next three years.

Within the next three years 108 posts are due to be transferred to Scotland. The transfer of some 7,000 posts in the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Overseas Development is due in the 1980s. These figures do not include posts to be established in Scotland as a result of the policy of locating new offices away from London wherever possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service which members, including chairmen, of Royal Commissions or commissions or committees of inquiry set up in the past 10 years have received fees or are to receive fees for so acting; and how much such fees were.

The Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Press currently receives a fee of £2,500 per annum. The following members of Royal Commissions set up in the past 10 years, in respect of which the expenditure is borne on Civil Service Department's Votes, have or will receive a fee of £21 per day:

Royal Commission	No. of members receiving a fee
Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury	6
Press	9
Standards of Conduct in Public Life	7
National Health Service	7
Gambling	1
Legal Services (England and Wales and Northern Ireland)	6
Legal Services (Scotland)	not yet determined

Information about fees paid by various other Government Departments to chairmen and members of Royal Commissions, Commissions and Committees of Inquiry is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will give an estimate of the annual cost of obtaining, reproducing, and storing, respectively, official documents of the EEC.

No record is readily available of the costs of obtaining, reproducing and storing official EEC documents in the numerous government departments concerned.Her Majesty's Stationery Office holds the official sales agency for EEC published items. This operates on a normal commercial basis.If my hon. Friend has any particular documents in mind perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce legislation to change the law so that hon. Members do not enjoy legal immunity from proceedings concerned with bribery and corruption.

I have been asked to reply.I refer my hon. Friend to the answer 1 gave to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) earlier today.

asked the Lord President of the Council what amendments to Standing Orders he expects to table in respect of procedure for EEC super-primary legislation.

As stated by my right hon. Friend on 4th August, amendments to Standing Orders will be tabled to extend the time for debates in Standing Committee, to widen the definition of the documents which the Scrutiny Committee may examine, and to omit the description of Community legislation as secondary.

asked the Lord President of the Council what further proposals he has for improving the system for debating EEC legislation.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Marshall) on 4th August 1976.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he has any plans to introduce a separate Bill on devolution for Wales; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend the Lord President announced to the House on 25th May, the Government considered the possibility of having separate Bills for Scotland and Wales but decided to keep to a single combined Bill. Separate Bills would demand too much parliamentary time for both to pass in a single Session.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many letters he has received in the last two months on the question of devolution and what reply he has made.

My right hon. Friend received about 21 letters on devolution in this period. All were fully considered and received replies bearing on the particular points raised in the correspondence.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many days of the next parliamentary Session he in tends to allocate to debates on devolution.

It is still too early for a forecast to be made.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will seek powers to pay allowances to hon. Members related to the length of a sitting and the requirement of attendance of each Member at that sitting.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will answer Questions concerning subsidies, grants and loans to private companies by the Government; and what criteria will govern his answers.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council what plans he has for finding time in the parliamentary timetable for dealing with legislation that exclusively affects English regions.

A consultative document on the future of government arrangements in England will be published shortly.

asked the Lord President of the Council when he next proposes to visit the Royal High School, Edinburgh, the site of the proposed Scottish Assembly.