asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take to bring the amounts of industrial pension to be disregarded, when the accommodation contributions are being assessed for retired persons in local government homes, to bring them into line with present-day prices.

I have at present no plans to change these disregards, which are linked to those in the supplementary benefits scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the recommendations of the various reports of the Select Committee on Abortion and the action taken on each by his Department.

The Select Committee on Abortion has published two reports. The first report was published on 28th July (H.C. 573–I) and the Second Report on 16th December (HMSO 737).As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Silvester)—[Vol. 923, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the recommendations of the Lane Committee on the Working of the Abortion Act and the action taken on each by his department.

A list of the 51 recommendations of the Lane Committee is on pages 186–189 of its report (Cmnd. 5579) published on 3rd April 1974. Not all the recommendations required action by my Department. Some were accepted ministerial policy at the time when the Lane Committee's report was published. For the others, I would refer my hon. Friend to announcements made by Health Ministers in the debate on the Second Reading of the Abortion (Amendment) Bill on 7th February 1975 [Vol. 885, c. 1755–1868]; in a statement to the House on 21st October 1975—Vol. 898, c. 244–54]; in the debate on the motion to re-establish the Select Committee on 9th February 1976—[Vol. 905, c. 100–164]; and in reply to my hon. Friend the member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 5th August 1976—[Vol. 916, c. 1024–5.] I propose to seek an opportunity of bringing the House up to date on all action taken by my Department in these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what statistical basis he makes plans and allocates resources for the treatment and rehabilitation of and provision of hostel places for homeless alcoholics; and if he will now take steps to obtain an estimate of the numbers of homeless alcoholics.

The number of homeless alcoholics, even if a reliable estimate could be made, would not provide a basis for assessing the number of hostel places needed. As the Working Party on Habitual Drunken Offenders said, in relation to its recommendations about hostel places

"How many hostel places, as opposed to clients, these figures represent will depend on how often and for how long the places are occupied."

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has actually been allocated to voluntary bodies since 1st April 1976 for hostels for alcoholics.

In this period grants paid to voluntary bodies for hostels for alcoholics totaled £316,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the number of general practitioners and dentists in the Walsall area; and how many area health authorities have a worse ratio of general practitioners and dentists per 1,000 of the population.

In 18 other areas in England, at 1st October 1975 the ratio of general medical practitioners to population was no better than in Walsall: the corresponding ratio for general dental practitioners was no better in seven other areas.I am not satisfied with the numbers in Walsall. There are several schemes to improve the distribution of doctors. In some other areas experimental schemes are under way to test a possible means of attracting dentists to places where there is a shortage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the ratio of general practitioners and dentists to patients (a) in the area covered by the Walsall Area Health Authority, (b) the average for the West Midlands Regional Health Authority and (c) the average for England and Wales.

The numbers were as follows in 1975:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to improve the number of general practitioners and consultants in the Walsall Area Health Authority.

The Government have given a very high priority to the expansion of our medical schools to provide a larger number of doctors overall. Various measures are also taken to improve the geographical distribution. In the case of general practitioners, the Medical Practices Committee classifies different parts of the country according to the existing number of general practitioners so that new practices may only be established where they are most needed—that is, in those areas which are classified as "designated" or "open". There are also financial inducements for doctors to set up practice in "designated" areas, and to remain in practice there. Of the three practice areas into which Walsall is divided, Walsall West is currently classified as "designated", and Walsall East and Aldridge and Brownhills as "open".In the case of consultants, new posts are allocated by my Department on a regional basis, and it is for the regional health authority to decide what proportion will be established in a given area. In allocating posts to regions, the Department takes account of existing staffing levels so that new posts are allocated preferentially to the regions which currently have low ratios of staff to population in the various specialities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any facilities available to him whereby he can assist the Judith Inchboard Trust of Avongarth, Alne, York, financially in respect of medically recommended foreign medical treatment; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Social Services' very limited powers to pay for treatment abroad would not extend to payment for carbon dioxide therapy in the United States of America, which I understand is the treatment in question. The Department is, however, interested to learn about this treatment and is making inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services over what period of time it is intended that the new Preston Hospital will be built through its various phases.

The main development of the new Preston Hospital is planned in two phases. It is expected that the first phase, including 36 isolation beds, outpatients department, accident and emergency department. X-ray department and boiler house, will be completed in September 1978; and that the second phase, including 738 beds and 12 theatres, will be completed by March 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally handicapped boys and girls are on the waiting list, at the latest available date, to enter medium security units in each of the Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster Area Health Authority districts.

It is not envisaged that children or younger adolescents will be admitted to regional secure psychiatric units save in exceptional circumstances. I am informed that no children or adolescents have been identified by the Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster Area Health Authorities as suitable for admission to the Trent Region's secure units when these are established.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has received regarding conditions in the accommodation at Whittington Hospital to which it is proposed to transfer inpatient services from the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital; and when he expects this transfer to take place.

I have seen a copy of an informal report by a consultant pathologist of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital staff. The Camden and Islington Area Health Authority (Teaching) is also aware of the contents of the report and is endeavouring to meet the additional requirements implicit in it; I understand that in consequence the nominal date for a transfer of in-patients services has been postponed for some eight weeks.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will instruct all Departments that when a report is distributed to the Press ahead of publication, with date and time and subject to an embargo, such a report should be distributed to all Members of the House of Commons at the same time and on the same basis.

I have nothing further to add to what my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council said on 26th January 1977 on the question of the availability of Government publications in reply to a point of order raised by the hon. Member for Canterbury (Mr. Crouch) and other hon. Members.—[Vol. 924, c. 1515–161]

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend and hon. Members to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council gave on my behalf to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 30th November.

the Prime Minister (1) if he has any plans to meet the CBI;(2) when he next intends to see the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 20th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to address the next meeting of the TUC General Council.

I have received no invitation to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the TUC.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Madden) on 18th January.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet EEC Heads of Government.

I expect to meet EEC Heads of Government at the next meeting of the European Council. By agreement with our Community partners, this will take place under British Chairmanship in Rome on 25th and 26th March, thus marking the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome on 25th March 1957.

asked the Prime Minister if he will assume responsibility for all matters concerning public policy towards the Press.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 20th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to meet the Secretary General of NATO.

I have no immediate plans to do so, but this year's spring meeting of the North Atlantic Council will be held in London and I expect to meet Dr. Luns then.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 1st February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 1st February.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his engagements for 1st February 1977.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 1st February.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden).

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit Bonn.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his recent discussions with Chancellor Schmidt.

I refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made to the House on 25th January.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the President of France.

At the next meeting of the European Council in Rome on 25th and 26th March.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay a visit to Bressay.

As I indicated to the hon. Member in my reply to his Questions of 25th and 27th January, I have no present plans to visit Shetland.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the heads of nationalised industries and their major suppliers to No. 10 Downing Street.

I have no present plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek an official meeting with representatives of Conservative trade unionists.

No.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes next to meet the Governor of the Bank of England.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Hastings (Mr. Warren) on 9th December.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his visit to London's dockland on 14th January.

I visited the London docklands on 14th January. My visit greatly helped me to understand the problems of the area. In particular, the discussions I had while I was there brought out two matters of major concern—relatively high unemployment and the need for extensive physical renewal The retention and revitalisation of industry in docklands is fundamental to the regeneration of the area, and I was impressed by the determination of the local authorities and other organisations and individuals facing this challenge. The Government commend the efforts being made to implement the docklands strategy which was endorsed last August by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. In many ways the problems of the docklands area reflect, on a particularly large scale, those of other inner urban areas in the major cities, which are being considered by a ministerial committee under the Chairmanship of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the Director General of NEDO.

Tomorrow.

asked the Prime Minister how many retired Prime Minister are in receipt of a Prime Ministerial retirement pension and privileges.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him on 27th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will reduce the £500,000 minimum value for expansion threshold which qualifies firms for assistance under the accelerated investment projects scheme to £50,000 so permitting small firms in Wales and other areas to qualify for assistance.

The Accelerated Project Scheme has closed. But a new Selective Investment Scheme has been introduced with this minimum value of eligible investmentUnder the powers for selective financial investment in Part II of the Industry Act 1972, each proposal has to be individually assessed. Setting a minimum limit under such a general scheme must take account of its prime purpose to encourage major new projects, the limited number of staff with the necessary skills to appraise proposals against the special criteria of the scheme, and the commitments arising from Section 7 and 8 measures already in train. Within these constraints it would be impracticable to open the scheme to projects smaller than this minimum limit.Companies should recognise that this minimum covers not just fixed capital but also certain categories of associated costs. Where this limit prevents proposals under the scheme, small manufacturing companies in Wales, and other assisted areas, with viable employment-creating projects can be considered for selective financial assistance under Section 7.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when Her Majesty's Government were informed, as shareholder, of the date for holding the latest annual general meeting of Cable and Wireless Limited.

Cable and Wireless Ltd. gave formal notice to all nominee shareholders on 22nd October that the 1976 annual general meeting would be held on 28th October. Following the adjournment of that meeting, the company notified the shareholders on 16th December that the resumed annual general meeting would be on 23rd December. On both occasions, after prior consultation with the company as to suitability of dates, the shareholders formally accepted, as provided for under Section 133(3)(a) of the Companies Act 1948, waiver of the full notice which would otherwise have been required under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what, since Her Majesty's Government became involved, have been the total moneys advanced to British Leyland; what is the total amount committed; how many employees British Leyland had at the time Government assistance was first advanced; and how many employees it has at the latest possible date.

£200 million was subscribed by Her Majesty's Government in October 1975 under the British Leyland Act 1975; and as my right hon. Friend told the House on 21st July 1976 he endorsed the conclusion of the National Enterprise Board that the first tranche of loan finance of £100 million envisaged in the Ryder Report should be made available to the company. Minor payments have also been made to British Leyland from time to time under general schemes of assistance available to industry. For information on the numbers employed, the hon. Gentleman should write to the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of employment opportunities and proposals on North Humberside and the Hull travel-to-work area in the next 12 months.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the regional employment premium to manufacturing industries in development areas like Merseyside was withdrawn; when manufacturers were notified that the Government intended to withdraw the premium; and what incentives are to be offered to manufacturers in its place.

The order withdrawing REP came into operation on 1st January 1977 and provides that no payments are to be made in respect of employment after 2nd January 1977. The decision to withdraw REP was announced on 15th December 1976 and the details were given in my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. Gould) on 22nd December.—[Vol. 923, c. 223.] All those in receipt of REP have been sent a notice about the arrangements. In place of REP, an additional £80 million has been allocated for expenditure in each of the next two years on selective assistance to industry, and the temporary employment subsidy and the job creation schemes have been extended for a further period.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how the price of reinforcing rods and other standard items of steel imported from EEC countries compares with the United Kingdom price of comparable steel products.

I regret that this comparative information is not available in a meaningful form.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the proposal to continue cost escalation insurance, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15th December 1976, applies to the shipbuilding scheme.

The announcement by my right hon. Friend relates solely to the cost escalation scheme operated by the Export Credits Guarantee Department for exporters of major capital goods and projects. We have, however, decided that the scheme of cost escalation insurance on sales by United Kingdom shipbuilders to both the home and export market, which is operated by my Department, should be continued.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the rates paid by food retailers as a percentage of total food retail turnover for each of the last six years.

I regret that I am unable to make such an estimate because separate information is not available on rates paid by food retailers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of the result of the producer survey carried out by the British Poultry Federation and the views expressed by its members against the Eggs Authority levy for the current financial year, what action he intends to take to reduce the Authority's levy on poultry producers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) on 27th January.—[Vol. 924, c. 720.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what expressions of views he has received from the Forestry Commission on the subject of devolution of forestry matters; and if he will now publish them.

The Forestry Commission was one of a large number of bodies which made known to the Government their views on the White Paper "Our Changing Democracy. Devolution to Scotland and Wales", and these were taken into account in framing the Scotland and Wales Bill. The Commission's views were summarised in a memorandum which, I understand, is available on application to it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the abattoirs in England and Wales which are currently approved to export to the EEC.

I am today sending the hon. Member a list of the 48 abattoirs in England and Wales at present approved for the production of fresh meat for intra-Community trade. Copies of the list are also being placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if agricultural land is rated in each of the EEC countries; and if he will publish the basis of assessment where applicable.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how much was spent on typewriters and other electronic equipment in the new Government Press offices in Little St. James Street, London, SW1.

The total expenditure on typewriters and other equipment was approximately £16,000.

Local property taxes are applied in Denmark, France, Germany, the Irish Republic, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The following information on the basis of assessment in each country has been compiled from the most recent edition of the "Inventory of Taxes" published by the EEC's Directorate of Taxation in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the total United Kingdom defence contracts in money terms have been allocated to Scotland in each of the years from 1970 to 1976.

The proportion of the total United Kingdom defence contracts in money terms which have been placed with firms in Scotland in each of the financial years from 1970 to 1976 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to publish the Lewis report on the integration of training in the Services.

As the Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee is at present considering this report I am in touch with the Chairman about the question of publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance the Government have given to teachers in the United Kingdom, particularly in the field of physical education, to obtain teaching posts in foreign countries, both within the EEC and in other countries farther afield; and if she will make a statement on the numbers of teachers involved.

Proposals have been made in the Education Ministers' Resolution of 9th February 1976 to increase the mobility of teachers within the EEC. The United Kingdom Government are responsible for the appointment of teachers to the European schools, and they promote teacher exchanges and interchanges through the support of schemes administered by the Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges and the League for the Exchange of Commonwealth Teachers. The British Council also arranges the recruitment of British teachers at the request of overseas countries. In the current financial year 342 British teachers are taking part in exchanges organised by the Central Bureau and the League including 99 in the EEC. 56 British teachers are currently in posts in the European schools. There are also some 740 teachers overseas who were recruited by the British Council. A very small number are concerned with physical education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average total cost of a student's obtaining a postgraduate certificate of education (a) at a university department of education and (b) at a college of education.

In the financial year 1975–76 the average recurrent institutional cost of a student in the education faculty of a university was estimated at £1,900. Students in education faculties are predominantly on courses leading to a postgraduate certificate in education. There are also teachers following courses of in-service training as well as relatively small numbers of undergraduates and of postgraduates doing research. The costs of all these would influence the average cost, but not to any great extent. No separate figure is available for college of education students studying for the postgraduate certificate in education, as these represent only a small proportion of all college of education students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether toxicity tests on babies a few months old were part of the MRC trials for whooping-cough vaccine.

I am informed that the answer is "No" and that the vaccines used in the trials were tested for toxicity in the laboratory before use.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will list for each local education authority in England the total numbers of pupils in receipt of education in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in (a) September 1975 and (b) September 1976.

Figures of pupils in schools are collected only as at January each year. In January 1976 the total number of pupils—including the full-time equivalent of part-time—attending maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in each authority's area is as shown below. Estimates for January 1977 have been published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and are available in the statistical section of the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the effect that the suspension of the regional services of the Victoria and Albert Museum would have on libraries and museums in the provinces, she will take whatever action is available to her to prevent this happening.

The director's proposals for effecting staff economies at this museum are being examined. In reaching her decision my right hon. Friend will certainly bear in mind the needs of museums and libraries in the regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from local authorities and hon. Members regarding the cut-back in regional services provided by the Victoria and Albert Museum; how many complaints she has received from people in the provinces about the severity of these cuts; if she will review the position; if she will consider giving additional funds for museum services to the regions; and if she will make a statement.

There have been nine parliamentary Questions on the future of the regional services of the V and A Museum and representations have been received from about 50 hon. Members and 18 local authorities or their organisations. Representations have also been made by 50 local authority institutions and educational establishments in the provinces and by about 50 other organisations and individuals. In considering the director's proposals my right hon. Friend will bear in mind the points made by my hon. Friend and the representations received.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost to public funds of repairing damage to school properties caused by vandalism in the county districts of the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County over the previous three years.

My Department has no record of the cost of work carried out by local education authorities to repair damage to school properties by vandals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to extend educational facilities in the county districts of the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County to children under the age of 5 years.

The provision of such educational facilities is a matter for local education authorities. The Government remain committed to increasing the supply of nursery education places nationally, especially for disadvantaged children, and are continuing to make building resources available to authorities for this purpose. I gave details of the 1977–78 allocation of resources to the Metropolitan Districts of Greater Manchester in my answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 17th January 1977.—[Vol. 924, c. 71–72.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many primary and infant schools in the county districts of the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County have outside toilets;(2) how many secondary schools in the county districts of the Metropolitan County of Greater Manchester have outside toilets.

From a small sample survey in 1976 it has been estimated that about 7,500 schools throughout England and Wales have some toilet facilities which are detached from the main teaching accommodation. The sample was too small to allow an estimate to be made for Greater Manchester.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of total capital investment in the United Kingdom is accounted for by the energy sector.

In 1975 the energy sector accounted for about 144 per cent. of total gross domestic fixed capital formation in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total annual turnover of all the industries in the energy sector in the United Kingdom.

The provisional results of the Census of Production for 1975, indicate that the total annual turnover—as defined by the sales of goods produced and of merchanted goods, and the receipts for work done and services rendered—of all the United Kingdom energy industries, excluding petroleum and natural gas for which information on 1975 is not yet available, was about £13½ billion.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the value of the net output of the energy industries in the United Kingdom; and what percentage of total national product that represents.

According to the provisional Census of Production results, the net output—or value added—of the United Kingdom energy industries, excluding petroleum and natural gas, in 1975 was about £5¼ billion. In 1973 the net output of the petroleum and natural gas industry was £117 million, or less than 4½ per cent. of the total for all energy industries. The contribution of the energy industries to gross domestic product at factor cost is measured on a slightly different basis and for 1975 is estimated at about 4¼ per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will consider widening the membership interests of the Advisory Council of Energy Conservation so that those with practical knowledge of the social and environmental implications of energy conservation have a direct voice in the Council's deliberations.

A number of members of the council have experience or responsibilities in the social and environmental fields. The desirability of reflecting in the membership all the relevant aspects of our national life has to be reconciled with the need to maintain a body of manageable size. I shall, however, bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he considers the present intensive advertising campaign by the Electricity Council to be compatible with the rational use of energy resources as advocated by the "Save It" campaign.

My Department is in close contact with all fuel industries, including the electricity industry, and has sought their voluntary cooperation to include an energy conservation message in their advertising wherever possible. To the extent that the recent advertisements by the Electricity Council feature a reference to home insulation, they reflect one of the main messages of our "Save It" campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in the light of the reduced budget for the current year's "Save It" campaign, he will make a statement as to the longer-term future of the campaign, its funding, and its rôle in energy policy.

The appropriate rôle for the Government in relation to information and advice on energy conservation is defined in paragraphs 3(b) and 27 of the White Paper "Energy Conservation" (Cmnd. 6575). Funding for the "Save It" campaign for the period after March 1977 has not yet been determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how his Department intends to give effect to its pledge to include information on grants for insulation in future material on energy conservation.

As my hon. Friend was told in the reply given to him on 6th August last, such publicity is primarily a responsibility of the other Departments concerned. My Department continues to consider with the Department of the Environment and the Supplementary Benefits Commission how best to provide information on grants. The current "Save It" campaign is concentrating on providing information about the comparative costs of heating by different fuels, but we shall draw attention to the availability of grants in any reprint of the booklet "Energy Saving in the Home".

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied that gas used for domestic purposes has a sufficiently pungent smell to ensure detection of leakages at an early stage; and whether he is satisfied that adequate research has been carried out in this matter in view of the increasing number of gas explosions that have taken place recently.

I am advised by the Controller of Gas Standards that he considers gas used for domestic purposes to have a sufficiently pungent smell and that adequate and continuing research on the matter is taking place. But the point is, of course, one which can be considered by the three-man inquiry team set up jointly by the Chairman of the British Gas Corporation and my right hon. Friend, and whose terms of reference he announced on 7th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies are currently sponsored by the UKAEA into the disposal of vitrified nuclear waste in salt or clay formations; and how many such studies have been completed in Great Britain to date.

The UKAEA, in association with the Institute of Geological Sciences, is carrying out a survey of geological formations into which suitably conditioned radioactive waste might be deposited. Three principal types of formation are under consideration—hard rock, clay and salt. Assessment of the relative merits of such formations requires laboratory and field work in a number of locations. Areas of each type of formation have been identified in the United Kingdom, but initially field work here will be done only in hard rock. Field work on clay and salt formations will be done elsewhere in Europe. The results of all this work will be pooled. Depending on the assessment of the relative merits of the types of formations, field work may then begin on clay and salt formations in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made in finalising an agreement between the National Coal Board, the SSEB, and the Government on an agreed level of coal burn in Scottish power stations.

The National Coal Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board have made considerable progress towards an agreement on the level of coal burn in Scottish power stations. We are endeavouring, with the Secretary of State for Scotland, to facilitate the conclusion of such an agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many motor cyclists have been injured or killed over the previous three years in the county districts of the Greater Manchester metropolitan county;(2) how many cyclists under the age of: (

Statistics of road accidents and casualties in local areas are a matter for the local authority concerned. I suggest that my hon. Friend gets in touch with the Greater Manchester Metropolitan County Council, which is the local highway authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicles were involved in road accidents in each of the last three years; and, after the accidents, how many were found to have been overloaded.

The available information is as follows:Heavy goods vehicles involved in injury accidents: 1973 to 1975:

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide a list of all major road schemes, with estimated starting dates, at present in the preparation pool.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th January 1977; Vol. 924, c. 580], circulated the following information: