asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether, in view of the concern felt by consumers that when world prices rise the prices at home rise but when world prices drop the reductions are rarely ever passed on to the consumer, he will cause an investigation to be made into these matters and publish a report on his investigations.

This matter has been investigated by the Price Commission. If my hon. Friend has particular examples in mind I shall be glad to look into them.

				Percentage increase on a month earlier
		Wholesale Price Index Manufacturing Industry other than Food, Drink and Tobacco			Import Unit Value Index
		Products (Home Sales)	Materials purchased*	Retail Price Index † All items less food	Fuels (SITC Section 3)	Basic Materials (SITC Sections 2 and 4)
1976—January	…	2·0	0·6	0·9	2·4	0·0
February	…	1·5	1·2	0·8	0·3	1·3
March	…	0·7	4·9	0·5	0·8	0·0
April	…	1·2	5·0	1·9	3·4	4·4
May	…	1·4	2·8	1·3	3·0	5·1
June	…	0·8	3·2	0·8	4·5	3·2
July	…	1·5	0·8	0·8	1·1	2·3
August	…	1·7	0·4	0·9	0·6	0·8
September	…	1·0	2·8	0·6	1·8	2·3
October	…	1·5	4·5	1·4	0·8	4·8
November	…	2·1	0·6	1·2	5·0	3·9
December	…	1·1	-1·4	1·1	-0·4	4·1
1977—January	…	2·5	2·5	2·2	-0·3	0·0
* Includes some home-produced materials.
† A sub-division of the retail prices index for all items less food into separate indices for imported and home-produced goods is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he has anything to add to his statement of 23rd February about the proposed acquisition by Babcock and Wilcox of Herbert Morris.

On 23rd February, in answer to a Question tabled by my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood (Mr. Walker) I announced my right hon. Friend's decision that there were no grounds for further intervention in the existing and contemplated merger situation between Babcock & Wilcox Limited

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each month since January (a) the increase on the previous month of the wholesale price of manufacturers less foodstuffs, (b) the increase on the previous month of import prices of manufactures for the previous six months, (c) the increase on the previous month of the retail price of imported and home-produced goods which figure in the RPI and (d) the increase on the previous month of the import price of fuel and basic materials for the previous 12 months.

The nearest information is as follows:(Babcock) and Herbert Morris Limited (Morris), in the light of the divided report received from the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. In my statement, I said:

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the latest three-monthly rate of price inflation.

5·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will reconsider the phasing out of consumer subsidies in view of the accelerating character of inflation.

I fully appreciate the concern which is felt generally about rising prices, and my right hon. Friend has recently announced proposals for maintaining a system of price control in the future, as part of the Government's policy to combat inflation. However, in view of the need to reduce public expenditure, which plays a key rôle in that policy, I regret that we cannot afford more money for consumer subsidies.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to receive the report of the Price Commission on intruder alarm systems; and if he proposes to publish it.

I understand that the Price Commission hopes to submit its report within the next few weeks. I expect to authorise publication.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will make a further statement on the release of the "Jurid" from Lerwick in view of the statement by the Scottish Fisheries Officers' Association that this was due to instructions received from the Scottish Office.

The powers vested in sea-fishery officers to detain a boat in port until criminal proceedings are completed are clearly and unequivocally set out in the relevant statutes. Section 8(4) of the Sea Fisheries Act 1968 as amended by section 2(8) of the Fishery Limits Act 1976 provides that:

"Where it appears to a British sea-fishery officer that a contravention of any provision of… section 2 of the Fishery Limits Act 1976… has at any time taken place within the fishery limits of the British Islands, he may take the boat in relation to which the contravention took place and the crew of the boat to the port which appears to him to be the nearest convenient port and detain the boat and the crew in the port until the completion of proceedings for the contravention".

I am advised that, after the skipper of the "Jurid" appeared in court on 24th January 1977 and was granted bail, the Commander of the Royal Navy vessel "Alfriston", the sea-fishery officer who made the initial arrest, was unsure of his powers in this situation and consulted the fishery officer of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland (DAFS). He in turn consulted his head office in Edinburgh as to whether the "Jurid" was free to sail. He was advised that no action could be taken to detain the boat. This advice, however, was based on a misconception of the effect of the granting of bail. The powers of sea-fishery officers under the Acts mentioned above in fact remained available and were not affected by the granting of bail.Neither the procurator fiscal nor the Crown Office was consulted about this matter.

asked the Attorney-General how many applications have been made to him in each of the last 10 years for his fiat; in respect of what proceedings such applications were made; and in how many and what percentage of such cases in each such category he granted and withheld his consent, respectively.

My fiat is necessary before proceedings under a large number of provisions can be brought. The information requested is readily available only in respect of some of them. It is as follows:

The Prevention of Corruption Acts, 1889 to 1916
Applications (1970–76)	955
Consent granted	808 (85 per cent.)
Consent refused	147 (15 per cent.)
The Official Secrets Acts, 1911 to 1939
Applications (1965–76)	93
Consent granted	34 (37 per cent.)
Consent refused	59 (63 per cent.)
Race Relations Act 1965
Applications (1965–76)	260
Consent granted	20 (8 per cent.)
Consent refused	240 (92 per cent.)
The Explosive Substances Act 1883
Applications (1970–76)	325
Consent granted	293 (90 per cent.)
Consent refused	32 (10 per cent.)

asked the Lord President of the Council who is responsible for the payment of counsel for persons appearing before the Select Committee on Conduct of Members.

Any application for the costs of representation by counsel before a Select Committee would be a matter for the House, which would, no doubt, take into account any recommendations made by the Committee.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many regulations, directives and decisions have been published in draft and final forms by the EEC Commission and Council of Ministers since June 1975; and how many of these documents have been debated (a) on the Floor of the House and (b) in Select Committee.

I am having this information assembled and shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware of the inadequacy of the lighting in the entrance hall of Norman Shaw North building; and if he will take steps to improve the illumination for hon. Members reading the daily newspapers there.

Yes.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware of the persistent breakdowns in the photocopying machines in the Norman Shaw North building and of the inadequacy of the servicing arrangements for these machines; what steps he is taking to maintain a more reliable photo-copying service for hon. Members and their secretaries; and if he will make a statement.

The photocopying machines in Norman Shaw North are not proving very reliable and the present arrangements are being reviewed.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why the bound volume of 1975 statutes was not published in February as promised.

It took longer to complete the printing and binding of this volume than was originally expected. HMSO now aims to pubish it early next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the details of the sanctions-breaking operations conducted by the official trading agencies in certain East European countries; and whether he will name the three Swiss companies that acted as intermediaries.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Stafford and Stone (Mr. Fraser) on 2nd March.—[Vol. 927, c. 229.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonweatlh Affairs what are the established procedures for dealing with evidence in relation to the breaking of sanctions, referred to in the answer given to the hon. Member for Chorley (Mr. Rodgers), Official Report, 2nd March 1977, column 348.

Information suggesting that British companies have been involved in breaches of sanctions is first of all examined by my right hon. Friend's Department. Where further inquiries are necessary to establish whether an offence has been committed it is passed to the appropriate Whitehall Departments for further investigation and any subsequent action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by the British Government since they came to office in March 1974 to secure the release from imprisonment in Spandau Gaol of Rudolf Hess; what replies have been received; and if, in the light of the Helsinki accord, he will undertake now to press this matter more firmly.

My right hon. Friend the then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, made representations to the Soviet Ambassador in favour of Hess's release on 29th October 1975, and my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the question again with the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr. Gromyko, in March 1976. Regrettably, the Soviet response was totally negative in each case. In Her Majesty's Government's view, the provisions of the Helsinki Final Act are not relevant to Hesss' case. We are, however, always ready to consider and take any steps likely to lead to agreement between the four Powers concerned on Hess's release.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rate of interest is charged to members of the Diplomatic Service serving abroad on loans provided for the purchase of cars.

None. As my right hon. Friend, then Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, told the House on 15th December 1975, these loans, which are made only in defined circumstances, are interest-free and repayable over a maximum period of two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has now been made towards obtaining compensation for United Kingdom citizens for injury, loss and damage caused by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus; and what is his estimate of the sums involved.

Negotiations with the Turkish Government about claims arising from the period of hostilities are progressing satisfactorily. I cannot yet say exactly how and when claimants may expect redress. The Turkish Cypriots have drafted regulations to set up a Claims Committee and we are urging that it begins work quickly. A realistic estimate of the total sum involved cannot be given because not all claimants have visited their properties to quantify their losses.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the occasions where Her Majesty's Ministers act within the structure of the European Communities under the Royal Prerogative.

In the field of foreign affairs the Government act in exercise of the Royal Prerogative principally to issue passports and to conclude treaties and other international agreements including agreements between member States of the European Communities and between member States and third countries. Those of the latter agreements which are not automatically Community treaties under Section 1(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 fall to be considered for designation as Community treaties by affirmative resolution Order in Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he proposes to take to safeguard the technological capacity of British industry to meet the requirements of the Royal Air Force for a new airborne early warning capability.

The RAF's requirement for a replacement AEW aircraft is now being considered as part of the overall NATO AEW requirement. Meanwhile, work on the Nimrod AEW programme continues.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many short service commission officers will not get the tax-free gratuities they were promised when they signed On.

Payment of gratuities to officers on non-pensionable short-service commissions will continue. The gratuities of certain aircrew officers in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force with special terms are still under review in the light of pensions legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the last occasion on which his Department or one of the Services placed advertisements with national newspapers offering applicants for short-service commissions tax-free gratuities as part of their terms of engagement; and if he will place an exemplar of the advertisement in the Library.

Advertisements for several types of short-service commission with tax-free gratuities are appearing in the national Press at the present time. If, however, the hon. Gentleman has in mind the 16-year commission for Navy and RAF aircrew, the pension and gratuity arrangements for which have been the subject of recent Press comment, this was last advertised in the national Press with specific mention of gratuities in April 1975. I will arrange for a copy of that advertisement to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has now concluded his consideration of entering into an agreement with the USSR to prevent the danger of a nuclear war breaking out accidentally similar to USSR-US agreements and an agreement averting the accidental or unauthorised use of nuclear weapons similar to the USSR-France agreement.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave to my hon. Friend on 13th January 1977.—[Vol. 923, c. 560.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what arrangements he proposes to make in the forthcoming planning agreement with Chrysler UK Limited relative to the total amount of investment to be assigned to the commercial vehicle division of the firm; and if he will make a statement.

The contents of the planning agreement are confidential. Any release of information about investment programmes is for the company to decide. However, I can say that the planned investment is consistent with the company's intention to expand commercial vehicle sales over the next few years, particularly into Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the recent collapse of the profitable Chrysler-owned air conditioning business in Maidstone, he will reconsider his policy of assistance to the corporation as a whole; and if he will make a statement.

No. The air conditioning business was excluded from the agreement dated 5th January 1976 under which the Government are assisting Chrysler.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the planning agreement that has been drawn up between the Government, the unions, and management of Chrysler UK Ltd.

My right hon. Friend expects to inform the House of the signing of this agreement later this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what consultations he has had about the development of industrial policies in the EEC.

My Department is in constant touch with the Commission and with other member States about the development of industrial policies in the EEC. Commissioner Davignon visited London for consultations with Ministers and officials in all the Departments concerned on 24th February. Commissioner Giolitti, the new Regional Commissioner, made a similar visit on 28th February and 1st March.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what research is being undertaken into substitutes for asbestos; what progress has been made; and if he will make a statement.

A considerable amount of research is being undertaken both in industry and in Government establishments which is either directed at or relevant to the development of substitutes for asbestos. This has led to the commercial availability of other materials for such uses as steel work and pipe lagging and wall boarding. The Health and Safety Commission's Advisory Committee on Asbestos is currently reviewing the whole situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish a table showing the value of grants given to each regional development association, and in total, for job promotion and the provision of employment opportunities, relating this to the level of unemployment and indicating where he is dissatisfied with disparities.

Grants in aid are paid to regional development associations to support promotional activities in respect of assisted areas. Figures are:

Region	Grant aid 1977–78	Development Area unemployment*	Unemployment in the region as a whole*
	£
North	250,000	105,743	105,743
North-West	135,000	82,969	205,360
Yorkshire	30,000	5,015	115,126
* Provisional figures for January 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the value of new buildings, works and adaptations, and the value of new machinery, plant and mining works, respectively, qualifying for regional development grant in the North-West Region for each of the last five 12-month periods for which figures are available; and what are the same figures subdivided as to special development, development and intermediate areas.

The amounts of eligible expenditure in the North-West Region on which regional development grants were paid in the four financial years 1972–73 to 1975–76, and in the nine months April-December 1976, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many new manufacturing units have been created either solely on the initiative of the NEB or by the NEB in joint ventures with private sector companies; and how many persons are currently employed in such units.

As these are matters for the NEB the hon. Member should write to it on this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what precise geographical definition of shipbuilding areas has been used in the latest programme of advance factory building; and how many advance factories are at the moment standing empty or under construction in those areas.

The shipbuilding areas are defined for this purpose as the travel-to-work areas of Tyneside, Wear-side, Teesside and Liverpool. The current figures of advance factories are as under:

TTW Area	Empty	Under construction
Tyneside	4	10
Wearside	7	5
Teesside	2	2
Liverpool	4	17

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the proposed redundancies at the Lucas Aerospace plant at Liverpool, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange.

We were naturally very much concerned to hear of the possible redundancies at the Liverpool plant of Lucas Aerospace, which are most unwelcome in an area of such high unemployment. My Department is in close touch with the company, which is at present suffering from the world-wide recession in the civil aircraft market. The company has been examining various remedial strategies in consultation with its employees, and I understand that officials from the Department of Employment have been in touch with the company and have brought the temporary employment subsidy scheme to their attention. I can assure my hon. Friend that if it proves impossible to avoid redundancies the agencies of the Manpower Services Commission will do all they can to help those affected to find new jobs or train for alternative employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether as Chairman of the Motor Industry Tripartite Group, he will now publish the results of recent considerations on industrial relations in the motor industry, including relations at British Leyland.

My right hon. Friend does not intend to publish the results of confidential discussions within the Tripartite Group on various aspects of industrial relations in the motor industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the cost per head of population of public expenditure for which his Department is responsible in Cornwall, and England and Wales, respectively.

I regret that information is not available in the form requested. Estimates of the expenditure on regional preferential assistance paid by this Department are as follows:

	1975–76
South-West assisted areas
Total expenditure	£7 million
Per head of population	£8·3
English assisted areas
Total expenditure	£225·5 million
Per head of population	£14
Wales
Total expenditure	£64·4 million
Per head of population	£23·3

The figures comprise regional development grants, regional selective financial assistance, the investment grant differential, Local Employment Act residual expenditure and expenditure on land and factories.The figures do not include expenditure by the Office for Wales to which certain responsibilities were transferred during the course of the financial year.All figures are gross and include payments to nationalised industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what has been the value and tonnage of steel imports to, and exports from, the United Kingdom by country or continent in each of the past three months, by category, including alloy, stainless and tool steels and in total; and if he will contrast the position with a year and two years ago, indicating whether or not he is satisfied with the latest trends.

Information in the detail requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost. A good deal of information relating to this trade is, however, published in Tables III and VI of the monthly "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the Official Report the organisations from which he has received written submissions in the course of his consultations on the CPRS Report on the power plant industry and those organisations and individuals he and the Minister of State have met, respectively, in the course of those consultations; whether there are any organisations or individuals they have still to meet; and when he expects to complete the consultation process.

Apart from the consultation meetings, a large number of written submissions have been received since the CPRS study of the power plant industry was announced last June. It will take some time to compile an accurate answer to the Question. I will arrange to include the complete details in the Official Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will update the data in the 1971 census of distribution pertaining to shop floor space; and if, in the case of Scotland, he will bring the information into line with the reorganised local government boundaries.

The latest available information is that published in Parts 2 to 12 of the report on the 1971 census of distribution, copies of which are in the Library. This is on the basis of the local authority areas then in existence. Any corresponding data collected in the future will be analysed on the basis of local government boundaries at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that the change to premium-related commissions under life assurance policies is in the best interest of the consumer.

Commissions payable on life assurance policies are not subject to my approval or control, but it seems to me that the policyholder's interest is more likely to be served by commission being related to the premium paid rather than to the sum assured, as was the case previously.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that the cif price of all models of Belaz trucks now satisfies the anti-dumping code.

The USSR authorities have given assurances that the two models of Belaz truck recently the subject of an anti-dumping investigation will in future be landed in the United Kingdom at cif prices, which will not constitute dumping.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the cost per head of population of public expenditure for which his Department is responsible in Cornwall, and England and Wales, respectively.

The cost of assistance for certain tourism projects in Cornwall given by the English Tourist Board under Section 4 of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 is borne on my Department's Vote. In 1975–76 this represented 38p per head of the population of Cornwall, compared with 3p per head for comparable expenditure in England as a whole. Responsibility for parallel expenditure in Wales rests with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the result of the monitoring of the movements of aircraft in late 1976 in the neighbourhood of Beaconsfield.

The results showed that some overflying of Beaconsfield was still taking place. My officials are discussing with the Civil Aviation Authority possible measures to reduce this.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action is being taken to simplify documentation concerned with exports; what consultations are taking place on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

Considerable work is being undertaken both here and overseas to simplify, and abolish where possible, procedures and documentation in international trade. Successive Governments have attached much importance to achieving improvements and I believe some real progress has been and continues to be made.The Department of Trade, through the British Overseas Trade Board, wholly funds the Simplification of International Trade Procedures Board (SITPRO), which was set up in 1970 to carry on work initiated earlier, and officials of my Department and of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise take an active part in its work both at home and in international for a. Recent achievements include the publication by SITPRO of a handbook "Systematic Export Documentation", which illustrates the substantial progress made towards standard formats and offers systems of preparation of export documentation which can reduce costs substantially. Copies of this have been placed in the Library of the House.Representatives of many bodies both public and private concerned with international trade contribute in many ways towards this work of removing unneces- sary obstacle for exports and I am grateful to those who give their time to this unglamorous but very necessary activity.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, pursuant to his reply to Question No. 541 on 28th February 1977, what the highest noise levels would have been had Concorde been included in the results; and which runways the relevant aircraft were using.

Following is the information:

	PNdB	Runway	Aircraft Type
1976
January	118	10L	Trident
February	124	10L	Boeing 707
March	118	10L	Trident
April	117	28L	Trident
		10R	Boeing 707
May	119	l0R	Concorde
June	124	10L	Boeing 707
July	119	10L	Boeing 707
		10R	Boeing 747
August	119	10R	Boeing 707
September	124	10R	Concorde
October	122	10R	Concorde
November	118	28L	Boeing 707
December	118	28L	Boeing 707
1977
January	121	10R	Boeing 747

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps are being taken to acquaint British industrialists with the immediate demand for a wide range of capital and other goods and services in the Lebanon.

The normal wide range of advice and assistance to exporters is available from my department and the British Overseas Trade Board (BOTB). Specific export opportunities to the Lebanon are channelled to subscribers through the BOTB's Export Intelligence Services. In addition, an exploratory mission to Beirut was undertaken in January under the auspices of the committee on Middle East Trade. Following this visit, publicity was given to a seminar at which a first hand account was given of the prospects for reconstruction and for the involvement of British firms.The Government have also, through its ambassador in Beirut, made offers to the Lebanese Government in connection with a number of projects that the Ministry of Overseas Development is willing to finance under its technical co-operation programme. It has been willing to provide funds for studies on the reconstruction of Beirut port and on industrial estates and related housing; an agricultural expert is being made available to examine appropriate forms of assistance; equipment has also been provided for a hospital and for the Ministry of Works.The commercial facilities of ECGD are also available for exports to the Lebanon on suitably secured terms which are being kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many invalid tricycles for disabled people are on issue from his Department; and what is the annual cost to his department.

1,792 at 31st December 1976. Identifiable expenditure in 1975–76 was £418,000. This includes expenditure on new vehicles, reconditioning vehicles, spare parts, insurance and carriage, but excludes routine servicing and repair, driving tuition and petrol tax allowance, which cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department will have discussions with representatives of the disabled, similar to those taking place with the DHSS, about a scheme for commutation of the mobility allowance so that disabled car drivers can get a lump sum in advance with which to buy and modify a car; and whether he will make a statement about what lump sum he has in mind.

My right hon. Friend and my hon. Friend the Minister with responsibility for the Disabled are in close touch about proposals by the Central Council for the Disabled aimed at helping disabled people to buy and modify a car. It is not possible at this stage to say what form any such scheme might take or how it might apply to Scotland. However, representatives of the disabled in Scotland will be consulted on the implications for them of any such scheme before any decision is taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, in arriving at his decision about moving Dunfermline College, he will take account of the fact that the councillors representing all parties on the Lothian Regional Council and the councillors on the Edinburgh District Council, with the abstention in the case of the latter, have made it clear that they are in favour of Dunfermline College of Physical Education and Craiglockhart College remaining in Edinburgh;(2) whether, in his consideration of the matter, he will take into consideration the fact that nine of the 10 colleges in Scotland are general purpose colleges and that only Dunfermline College of Physical Education is a specialist college which is purpose-built;(3) whether he will take into consideration the difference in facilities required for the training of specialist teachers of physical education as primary school teachers in arriving at his decision on the moving of Dunfermline College;(4) whether he will take into consideration that the percentage ratio of notional to actual teaching places filled ranges from 42 per cent. to 111 per cent.;(5) if, in arriving at his decision about the moving of Dunfermline College, he will take account of the fact that it is a national Scottish college which draws its students from every region in Scotland and which provides teachers for all constituencies in Scotland;(6) if he will take account of the disadvantage to women's sport in Scotland, as opposed to men's sport, if he moves Dunfermline College of Physical Education from Edinburgh, which includes Meadowbank and the Royal Commonwealth Swimming Pool within its boundaries.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he estimates that to move Dunfermline College of Physical Education will cost more than any other merger or closure or reduction in size of any of the nine general colleges in Scotland.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook) on 31st January.—[Vol. 925, c. 26.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the recent decision in a Scottish court to sentence former inmates of a metal hospital to imprisonment for the rest of their natural lives, he will discuss with the prison service the most appropriate means of detaining such persons; and if he will make a statement.

In discharge of my statutory responsibilities for prison in Scotland I am currently considering the allocation and management of these prisoners. In reaching decisions I shall take full account of the need to protect the public and prison staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the senior Physical Education Inspector was consulted over the suitability of facilities at Dundee College for the training of specialist teachers in physical education; and, if so, when;(2) why the senior Physical Education Inspector was not consulted over the suitability of facilities at Dundee College for the training of specialist teachers in physical education;(3) if his Assessor to the Board of Governors of Dunfermline College of Physical Education was consulted over the proposed merger with Dundee.

It is not the practice to disclose what consultations have taken place with particular officials.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether the Board of Governors of Dunfermline College of Physical Education applied to him in 1975 to change the name of Dunfermline College of Physical Education to the Scottish College of Movement and Education;(2) if he will give permission to the Board of Governors of Dunfermline College of Physical Education in Edinburgh to change its name to the Scottish College of Movement and Education; if so, when, giving reasons for his decision; and if he will make a statement.

Such a change would require amendment of the Teachers (Colleges of Education) (Scotland) Regulations 1967. My Department indicated in April 1976 that the proposal would be considered along with other proposed changes in the Regulations. Further action on this proposal must, however, await my right hon. Friend's decisions on the future pattern of teacher training.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if, in arriving at his decision on moving Dunfermline College, he will take account of the fact that the Board of Governors of Dunfermline College of Physical Education has been making proposals to the Scottish Education Department to diversify courses into such fields as health education, movement therapy and sports coaching since 1974–75;(2) what are his reasons for refusing to allow Dunfermline College of Physical Education to diversify courses into such fields as health education, movement therapy and sports coaching; and what his reasons are in each case.

My right hon. Friend will take account of all relevant factors, including the proposals for these courses, which were formally submitted to my Department in November 1976 and are at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what account he took when forming his proposals to merge the purpose-built specialist Dunfermline College of Physical Education for Women in Edinburgh of the fact that removing it to Dundee College would, without the expenditure of about £1 million to provide similar specialist facilities at Dundee, greatly limit the opportunities of Scots sportswomen by depriving them of the specialist facilities which are now available as well as depriving them of ready access to Meadow-bank and the Royal Commonwealth swimming pool, thereby disadvantaging women's sport in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend will take account of all the comments made on the Consultative Paper, including the estimate of cost referred to by the hon. Member which has been made by the Dunfermline College of Physical Education.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual yield of personal income tax paid by all persons employed in Scotland in the last full year for which figures are available.

I regret that there is no readily available estimate of the tax paid by persons employed in Scotland. However, the latest estimate of the total amount of income tax paid by residents in Scotland on all forms of income is £955 million for 1974–75.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table setting out the tax benefits of civil servants and members of the Armed-Forces, respectively, in cases where they are sick; and if he will set out the different bases upon which the tax reliefs are made.

Members of the Armed Forces do not receive sickness benefit and on this account pay national insurance contributions at a lower rate. Sickness does not therefore directly affect their tax liability.Civil servants are entitled to sickness benefit and either have their pay reduced by reference to the benefit they receive or renounce the benefit and continue to be paid at the normal rate. The sickness benefit—or equivalent amount of pay—is not taxable, but the effect of this on the individual's tax liability varies with the level of pay and the length of sickness.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make provision for tax relief for expenditure on solar energy apparatus where its use is to replace other sources of energy.

Expenditure on solar energy apparatus installed in com- mercial or industrial premises will normally qualify for 100 per cent. first year allowance as expenditure on the provision of machinery or plant for the purposes of a trade. I do not consider that tax relief for similar expenditure by private householders would be appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what relief on VAT payments he will consider giving to charities which run hostels as substitute homes for young people.

I am afraid that in a broadly based tax special relief could not be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the rules followed by the Treasury in approving dividend increases in excess of 10 per cent. per annum.

The areas where Treasury discretion is likely to be exercised in approving dividend increases in excess of 10 per cent. were described in Section III of Cmnd. 5444. Since then, two additional grounds for exemption were introduced by Treasury announcements on 20th October 1975 and 16th January 1976. It is not possible to specify precise rules applicable to all cases, and each application is therefore treated on its merits. Precedents and circumstances are taken into account; for example, the amount of increase allowed where new capital is being raised relates to the yield considered necessary to secure the success of the issue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what gross income a married man with two children and no other tax allowances would have had to earn in February 1977 in order to have maintained the real value of his take-home pay if his gross income in January 1974 was (a) £2,000, (b) £3,000, (c) £4,000 and (d) £5,000.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the normal take-home pay of a married man with two children currently earning £65 gross a week.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was his estimate for average household expenditure per week in the United Kingdom in February 1974; and what is his latest estimate.

Information is available only in respect of calendar quarters. It is estimated that in the first quarter of 1974, average consumers' expenditure per household was about £43·20 a week and that in the third quarter of 1976—the latest quarter for which information is available—it was about £71·40 a week. This latter figure is a correction of the estimate given in answer to the hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr.

£ million
				1973	1974	1975	1976
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund—Guarantee Section	…	…	…	63·3	111·8	339·6	197·5
European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund—Guidance Section	…	…	…	—	—	2·5	9·6
Social Fund	…	…	…	—	16·1	19·3	11·1
Regional Development Fund	…	…	…	—	—	0·3	28·5
Other receipts	…	…	…	15·4	22·0	36·0	48·8
Total	…	…	…	78·7	149·9	397·7	295·5

Estimates for future years were published in the White Paper "The Government's Expenditure Plans" (Cmnd. 6721 —Volume II) and are as follows:

£ million at 1976 prices
	Gross contribution	Receipts	Net contribution
1977	725	295	430
1978	810	285	525
1979	930	295	635
1980	1,010	310	700
1981	1,050	345	705

It is not possible to estimate receipts by individual funds for future years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the total amount of income tax collected Stewart (on 28th February.—[Vol. 927, c. 93.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the total contributions to, and receipts from, each EEC fund in each year of United Kingdom membership; and what are the intended contributions and receipts for future years.

The United Kingdom's contributions to, and receipts from, the Community budget since 1973 are as follows:

£ million
	Gross contribution	Receipts	Net contribution
1973	181·1	78·7	102·4
1974	180·5	149·9	30·6
1975	341·7	397·7	—56·0
1976	462·8	295·5	167·3

The United Kingdom contributes to the Community budget as a whole and not to individual funds. Receipts from individual funds are as follows:from the self-employed in each of the last six years.

pursuant to his reply [Offical Report, 3rd March 1977; Vol. 927, c. 319], gave the following information:I assume the hon. Member is referring to tax on income from self-employment. Income tax is, however, a tax on the total income of a taxpayer, irrespective of its source. Hence, if a self-employed individual receives some employment income or investment income in addition to his self-employment income, the allocation of taxes by type of income can only be made arbitrarily. With that reservation the figures of income tax charged under Schedule D on trading profits and professioning earnings for the last six years for which figures are available are as follows:

Year of earnings	Tax charged £million
1968	354·0
1969	415·3
1970	431·2
1971	500·7
1972	753·3
1973	1,049·2

The tax shown is that due on earnings of accounting periods ending in the fiscal year to the following 5th April, which correspond approximately to earnings of the calendar year. The tax in general becomes payable in two instalments, the first on 1st January following the fiscal year in which the accounting period ends and the second on the following 1st July. Surtax is excluded, but for earnings in years 1972 and 1973, assessed in Inland Revenue years of account ending October 1974 and 1975, some income tax charged at the higher rates is included.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total profit chargeable to corporation tax in each financial year since, and including, 1972–73.

pursuant to his reply [Offical Report, 3rd March 1977; Vol. 927, c. 319], gave the following information:Estimates of the total net amount chargeable to corporation tax for accounting periods ending in each financial year since 1972–73 are:

£ million
1972–73	7,200
1973–74	7,500*
1974–75	7,800*
1975–76	9,400*
*Provisional

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the incorrect information supplied to him by the London borough of Camden in respect of No. 13 and 14 Mortimer Crescent, London NW6, if he will now reconsider his decision to permit the London borough of Camden to redevelop Nos. 13–16 Mortimer Crescent, London NW6.

No. The decision to allow the council to demolish Nos. 15 and 16 Mortimer Crescent was based on the structural condition of those properties and was not dependent on that of Nos. 13 and 14.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, following his statement of 22nd December, if he is yet in a position to call in the planning application by British Nuclear Fuels Limited for an oxide fuel reprocessing plant at Windscale.

British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. has now made and advertised an application for this purpose. I intend to direct that it be referred to me for determination when the 21-day period allowed for representations to the local planning authority is up.When I have called the application in Mr. Justice Parker will be appointed to hold a public local inquiry into it with the assistance of Sir Edward Pochin, CBE, MA, MD, FRCP, and Professor Sir Frederick Warner, FRS, as assessors. Details of the date, time and place of the inquiry will be announced as soon as possible but my aim is for it to open in Cumbria in mid-June. I hope that this early notice will be of assistance to those who wish to attend and give evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what study he has made of the increased charges imposed by the water authorities and their expenditure pattern; and if he will establish specific financial targets for these authorities.

The Water Act 1973 obliges water authorities to break even on revenue account, taking one year with another. My right hon. Friend sets a limit on capital expenditure by water authorities each year, but their revenue spending is not subject to his control. It is for each authority to decide what levels of expenditure are necessary to discharge their functions; to set their charges at the levels required to meet their statutory obligation to break even; and to justify those charges to the public. All water authority budgets are subject to scrutiny by the Price Commission.I have no plans to set additional financial targets for water authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the departments of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs posts overseas to which staff of his Department are currently attached, showing the number of staff in each case.

There are five staff from the Departments of Environment and Transport serving in Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts overseas.There are three in the office of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Communities in Brussels and two in the British Embassy in Tokyo.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost per head of population of public expenditure for which his Department is responsible in Cornwall, and England and Wales, respectively.

Separate comprehensive figures for Cornwall are not available. Public expenditure on housing and other environmental services in England and Wales in 1975–76 was £125 per head at 1976 Survey prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has reached on rating relief for the disabled in the light of the House of Lords judgment more than 12 months ago.

We have not yet reached a decision, but I hope to be able to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress he has made in his consideration of the report of the Working Party on Dogs and his consultations thereon.

Consultations are still in progress on the report, and no decisions have yet been taken on implementation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average net weekly rent of those local authority tenants who are in receipt of rent rebates, after rent rebates have been deducted, in the public sector of housing in England; and what this figure represents as a percentage of average household income in this category for the years 1970 to 1976.

The average rebated rent of local authority tenants not receiving supplementary benefit but receiving rebates in England and Wales in the years 1974 and 1975 combined, was £1·72, or 6 per cent. of head of household's and spouse's joint gross income. I regret that the other details requested are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the light of the announcement of auction sales of the contents of Mentmore, if he will make a further statement on negotiations to acquire it for the nation.

I can add little to my undertaking to consider any renewed offer from Lord Rosebery if sufficient funds were to be offered from private sources towards the cost of acquiring and running the property. Lord Rosebery revised his offer, which is open until April, but this is less attractive than his original offer. The capital cost to the Government would be about £3 million. In the light of constraints on public expenditure I could consider this only if a prompt and substantial contribution towards the cost of acquisition of at least £2 million was made available from private sources, together with a sufficient endowment to cover running costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what correspondence and discussions he has had on the recent draft housing report of the Building Economic Development Council of the NEDC; and if he will make a statement.

The hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Rossi) wrote on 17th February to request that the Government should take steps to secure publication of the report.I replied to him on 4th March, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations were made to him by the water authority about water loss from the fountain in New Palace Yard, when he was advised not to put the fountain into operation; and what is the degree of water loss.

There is no abnormal water loss from the fountain, and my Department has received no representations from the water authority. My predecessor himself decided that the fountain should not be operated on account of the water shortage, some time before legal restrictions were imposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, concerning the surveys for compiling grid references for post codes, (a) how many people were employed in this work and for how long on average, (b) whether there was a Government subsidy to the research companies carrying out this work, and what form it took, (c) what criteria there were for the employment of persons engaged in the survey, and (d) how many would otherwise have been on unemployment registers.

The total estimated cost of this work, which has not yet been completed, was given in answer to the hon. Member's Question on this subject, and the breakdown of that total to the nearest £1,000 by road construction unit area is:

	£
North Western	24,000
North Eastern	25,000
South Western	25,000
Midland	26,000
Eastern	30,000
South Eastern	30,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost incurred for Ordnance Survey gridding of all post codes expressed for each road construction unit area.

Approximately 230 people were employed on compiling Ordnance Survey grid references of post code areas for a period of three to four months. The exact number of people concerned is not readily available and would require detailed analysis of work records.The work was carried out on behalf of the Secretary of State by transportation consultants commissioned by him. No Government subsidy was involved.The criteria for the temporary staff employed by the consultants were those usual for general clerical work.The people employed were either on the unemployment registers, casual or part-time workers. My right hon. Friend has no means of knowing how many would otherwise have remained on the register.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will name all the groups, bodies and organisations which are regularly consulted on highway, traffic and transport matters.

We consult interests concerned on a whole range of transport matters, ranging from detailed highway and traffic matters, to wider questions of transport policy. The extent and regularity of our consultations vary with the subject. They also depend on whether the issues involved are at the international, national, regional or local level, on the degree of public interest and on statutory requirements. A comprehensive list of organisations would be extremely long and would not bring out which bodies were consulted on which matters. My right hon. Friend is always willing to consider the claims of other organisations to be consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will give a general direction to the Chairman of British Railways to provide accounts which show the costs of the different services properly apportioned.

There is no unique method of apportionment appropriate to a statutory direction affecting audited accounts. I understand that the Railways Board is now considering the whole question of cost allocation, which it discussed in its response—"An Opportunity for Change"—to the transport consultation document.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed in the roadside census teams concerned with post codes; what criteria there were for their employment; and how many of them would otherwise have been on unemployment registers.

About 1,100 one-day roadside surveys were carried out over a period of 13 weeks and the total numbers of persons employed at the census points varied between 250 and 600 per day over this period. The criteria for the employment of interviewers were those for general clerical work and the ability to work on the roadside in all weather conditions. Their suitability for the work was assessed by the transportation consultants appointed by the Secretary of State to manage the surveys.The census sites covered the whole of England and the interview teams were recruited on a short-term basis from the particular localities where the surveys were carried out. My right hon. Friend has no information about the number of different persons employed. They were either on the unemployment registers or were casual or part-time workers. My right hon. Friend has no means of knowing how many would otherwise have remained on the registers.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what kind of information was obtained on road traffic from the road-side census teams whose operation was completed by November at a cost of £1 million; and when this information will be published.

The kind of information obtained on road traffic from the roadside censuses that were completed in November 1976 was concerned with the origins and destinations of road journeys and the purposes for which people make them by the various vehicle classes. The survey information was obtained to assist my right hon. Friend in fulfilling his responsibilities for road planning. This data is held in coded form in a data bank for this purpose and will not be published separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many lives and serious injuries might have been saved between 1st March 1976 and 1st March 1977 if it had been compulsory to wear a seat belt in the front seat of all appropriate vehicles.

It is estimated that up to 1,000 lives and more than 10,000 serious injuries might be saved each year if all available seat belts were worn.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what powers his Department has, including the terms of leasing facilities, to regulate the price and quality of food served at motorway service area restaurants.

It is a condition of service area leases that the lessees provide all the services specified in the lease to the satisfaction of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Specifically, in respect of catering services, operators are required to provide meals and refreshments of good quality at reasonable prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what view was taken at the time of the design and construction of the Severn Bridge about the possible effects of unlikely but possible loading conditions on the rocker assembly units.

The design of these secondary members was based on a pattern of loading which at the time was considered to be the most severe case.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has of any general change in the level of support in 1977–78 for bus operators now planned by county councils compared with the levels contained in the approved transport supplementary grants; and what advice he intends to give to local authorities on this matter.

I have no information on how much county councils will actually spend on bus revenue support in the forthcoming financial year and will not be in a position to know until the authorities have determined their budgets for 1977–78.The 1977–78 transport supplementary grant settlement and the acceptance of shire county estimates for bus revenue support reflected the special importance I attach to the maintenance of minimum levels of service in rural areas. The shire counties are aware of my views and I hope that they will be acted upon.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what levels of support to National Bus Company subsidiaries are included in each county council's revenue support bid accepted by his Department in the 1977–78 transport supplementary grant allocation; and what proportion of the National Bus Company's request each of these figures represents.

Precise information for each county is not available. In England as a whole, however, the National Bus Company estimates that some 60–70 per cent. of its subsidiaries' total claims were included in counties' estimates of expenditure on bus revenue support for 1977–78.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will state the establishment and actual strength of the British Transport Police in each of the last five years and an estimate of the establishment and actual strength at the end of 1977.

These are matters for the British Railways Board, which controls and administers the British Transport Police.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost per head of population of public expenditure for which his Department is responsible in Cornwall, and England and Wales, respectively.

Available information for 1976–77 is as follows:

Cost per head of population (£)
	Cornwall	England
Local government subsidies (including concessionary fares)	2·5	5·6
Central and local government expenditure on roads	37	10

The Department is not responsible for the above expenditure in Wales. Central Government loans and subsidies to nationalised industries, and sundry other expenditure, are not allocated to particular areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will introduce proposals for compensating the estates of persons killed as passengers in road vehicles prior to December 1972 when the insurance of passenger risks became compulsory.

There was no provision for retrospection in the legislation, which came into operation on 1st December 1972; and I regret that I see no possibility for requiring it now.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many fatal accidents occurred to passengers in motor vehicles for any convenient period before December 1972 when the legislation was introduced making the insurance of passenger risk compulsory; and how this compares with the figures since 1972.

The information is as follows:

Passengers killed in motor vehicles: 1971 to 1976: Great Britain.

Year	Number killed
1971	1,567
1972	1,546
1973	1,509
1974	1,354
1975	1,230
1976*	1,300
* Estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the ratio of hospital beds per 1,000 of the population in 1975 and 1976.

The number of National Health Service hospital beds per 1,000 of the population at 30th June 1975 and 30th June 1976 was as follows:

	30th June 1975	30th June 1976
Acute, mainly acute, partly acute	3·49	3·52
All other hospitals	4·91	4·77
All hospitals	8·40	8·29

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) on 18th February, he will give the total expenditure on personal social services by central Government and local authorities in each of the last 10 years, and a table showing the total cost of administration of his Department, and supporting services provided by other Government Departments, in each of the last 10 years.