asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, when he expects the next Price Commission report to be published.

The next quarterly report will be published in about two months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what will be the staff needs of the Price Commission after July 1977.

This depends on the precise functions of the Commission under the new prices policy on which my right hon. Friend is currently engaged in consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will institute an independent inquiry to monitor compliance with the Explosives (Age of Purchase etc.) Act and the voluntary agreement on the restriction of sale of fireworks next autumn.

I do not consider an independent inquiry to be necessary. As in 1976, local trading standards departments will no doubt be prepared to report to my Department on compliance next autumn with the Act and the voluntary agreement if asked to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the Government's current policy towards consumer advice centres in the light of the cutback in public expenditure.

In 1977–78 the Government are making a grant of £3 million available to local authorities in Great Britain to maintain the 31st March 1977 coverage of CACs.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many local authority consumer advice centres have now been established in England and Wales; and what proportion of the population is covered by their services.

108 centres, estimated to cover approximately 44 per cent. of the population.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what new proposals he has for ensuring greater price control in phase 3 of the social contract.

The proposals for a new prices policy which I have made in the consultative document issued on 22nd February are intended to make price control more effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection in what way the new prices policy proposals will ease the burden of form filling for distributors.

The present price controls have not represented a major administrative burden for most distributors, because they are not required to notify individual price increases. My right hon. Friend's proposals will not increase the burden except in the relatively few cases where the margins of individual distributors are investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he has received from the CBI concerning the new powers to be given to the Price Commission relating to the use of profits.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he has received from the CBI about his proposed new Price Code.

I have had some preliminary discussion with the CBI about my proposals and these discussions will continue throughout the consultative period.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish a shortened and simplified version of the Price Commission Document PD 520 on the control of profit margins and recording of information under the 1976 code and related orders for category III distributors.

No. The administration and interpretation of the Price Code is a matter for the Price Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what consultations he has held on the proposed changes to the Price Code.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many representations he has received on the Consultative Document on Prices Policy.

I have already held discussions with the CBI and the Retail Consortium and shall be meeting the Food and Drink Industries Council this afternoon. My Department has received representations from a large number of interested bodies. Discussions and correspondence on my proposals are continuing, and the outcome will be assessed at the end of the consultative period on 18th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what the price of bread is likely to be on the completion of the withdrawal of the bread subsidy.

I cannot forecast what increases may have taken place in the price of bread when the time comes to remove the subsidy.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the increase in the food index sector of the Retail Price Index since February 1974.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Lewes (Mr. Rathbone) and Harrogate (Mr. Banks).

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the most recent year-on-year figure for inflation.

16·6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what steps he is taking to protect the consumer against price rises for butter.

The price of butter in the United Kingdom is largely determined by the intervention price set by the EEC Council of Agriculture Ministers. The Council is meeting today under the chairmanship of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to discuss the level of support prices for farm produce for the coming marketing year. I shall be attending this fleeting myself later this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by what percentage the cost of living has risen since March 1974.

The retail price index increased by 68 per cent. between March 1974 and January 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer the cost of advertisements in the national and local Press to the Price Commission.

I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what steps he is taking to protect owner-occupiers of retail petrol filling stations from oppressive clauses in their agreements with wholesale suppliers.

My right hon. Friend has asked the Director General of Fair Trading to keep under review the revised undertakings by petrol suppliers which are intended, inter alia, to protect owner-occupiers' interests. Copies have been placed in the Library. The Monopolies and Mergers Commission is currently investigating certain aspects of petrol wholesaling, including discrimination in the terms of supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he has yet received the report of the Working Party on Metrological Control Systems; and if he will make a statement.

The working party has recently completed its task and I expect to receive its final report later this week. I intend to make arrangements for the report to be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer recent price increases on spirits sold in duty-free shops at airports to the Price Commission.

Sales in duty-free shops are exports and I see no reason to ask the Price Commission to look into this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection where and when he will publish the National Consumer Council's report on consumer protection in the nationalised industries.

The National Consumer Council's report "Consumers and the nationalised industries" was published on 3rd August 1976 and copies have been placed in the Library. We are considering the report's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what percentage of the civil servants in his Department he estimates will retire within the next 12 months.

Of the order of 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in the light of the opposition of all workpeople in the firm, including management, what representations he has received regarding the proposed take-over bid by Associated Engineering (A.E.) for Serck Limited; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations about this proposed merger. I will announce as soon as possible whether it is to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

asked the Lord President of the Council what estimate he has made for 1977–78 of the cost of running the House of Commons, including all services of any kind whatsoever, salaries of all staff, maintenance, repairs and improvement, and including all buildings, such as Norman Shaw, Dean's Yard, &c., where Members and/or their secretaries have official working facilities provided; and if he will itemise the main constituent costs.

The Supply Estimates for 1977–78 will be published at the usual time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many private prosecutions have been brought in each of the last 10 years for which records are available; in respect of what offences such prosecutions have been brought; in how many and what percentage of such cases the accused was acquitted; how the percentage of such acquittals compares with like cases for like alleged offences brought by or on behalf of the Crown; and in how many and what percentage of such cases in each category the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions was required and obtained.

This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants from the New Commonwealth have settled permanently in each of the London boroughs in each of the following years: 1969 –70, 1970 –71, 1971 –72, 1972 –73, 1973 –74, 1974 –75 and 1975 –76.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue a statement declaring the right

				1976–77	1976–77	1977–78
				Original Supply Estimates	Supplementary Estimates	Draft Supply Estimates
				£	£	£
Reimbursements to Local Education Authorities (Teaching Services)	…	…	…	3,636,825	322,380	3,950,000
Materials, Stores, Equipment	…	…	…	295,525	37,431	345,450

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total of grant aid under the Urban Programme paid in 1975–76 to each recipient local authority.

Following is the information:

Local Authority	Urban Programme grant paid in 1975–76
ENGLAND
London Authorities
	£
Barking	14,299
Barnet	52,960
Bexley	1,688
Brent	316,050
Bromley	12,202
Camden	203,612
Croydon	72,700
Ealing	107,075
Enfield	7,898
Greater London Council	33,969
Greenwich	22,181
Hackney	254,461
Hammersmith	153,639
Haringey	423,072
Harrow	8,628
Havering	16,685

No. There is a variety of circumstances in which men seek temporary or permanent entry to the United Kingdom and give as a reason the desire to avoid military service in Rhodesia. Such applications will continue to be considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what total expenditure on education programmes for Her Majesty's prisons was incurred in the year1976–77;and what is the estimate for1977–78.

The total expenditure in 1976–77 is not yet known. Approved estimates for education services in Prison Service establishments, 1976–77, and Draft Estimates, 1977–78, are as follows:

	Urban Programme grant paid in 1975–1976
Hillingdon	4,016
Hounslow	62,890
ILEA	577,690
Islington	328,121
Kensington and Chelsea	132,836
Lambeth	335,761
Lewisham	212,438
Merton	5,847
Newham	308,553
Redbridge	53,926
Southwark	314,551
Sutton	300
Tower Hamlets	108,058
Waltham Forest	109,473
Wandsworth	187,110
Westminster	33,206
Districts
Ashfield	1,593
Barnsley	28,428
Barrow-in-Furness	2,430
Birmingham	699,245
Blackburn	8,251
Bolton	101,882
Bradford	197,681
Bristol	25,857
Burnley	3,301
Bury	30,976
Calderdale	15,119
Carrick	672
Copeland	2,022

	Urban Programme grant paid in 1975–76
	£
Coventry	146,559
Derby	17,711
Derwentside	6,133
Doncaster	67,634
Dudley	59,302
Gateshead	191,934
Gravesham	968
Halton	30,977
Hartlepool	25,961
Hyndburn	183
Kerrier	608
Kingston-upon-Hull	1,265
Kirklees	181,792
Knowsley	143,922
Langbaurgh	6,582
Leeds	228,005
Leicester	103,987
Lincoln	4,931
Liverpool	660,917
Luton	2,522
Manchester	415,924
Mansfield	473
Middlesbrough	398
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	354,617
Northampton	23,574
North Bedfordshire	2,700
North East Derbyshire	2,120
North Hertfordshire	184
North Tyneside	91,563
Norwich	10,607
Nottingham	68,789
Oadby and Wigston	1,716
Oldham	107,210
Oxford	12,775
Pendle	932
Peterborough	3,807
Plymouth	92
Portsmouth	12,473
Preston	6,576
Rochdale	129,333
Rotherham	76,721
St. Albans	13
St. Helens	33,486
Salford	195,773
Sandwell	154,435
Scunthorpe	8,228
Sefton	52,800
Sheffield	235,746
Slough	12,878
Solihull	14,254
Southampton	20,193
South Tyneside	152,160
Stockport	50,022
Stockton-on-Tees	4,489
Stoke-on-Trent	8,475
Sunderland	125,456
Tameside	58,141
Trafford	43,550
Wakefield	48,667
Walsall	297,188
Wansbeck	1,215
Warrington	982
Watford	2
Wellingborough	68
Wigan	70,971
Wirral	12,979
Wolverhampton	255,356
Wrekin	1,924
Wycombe	5,603
York	13,177

	Urban Programme grant paid in 1975–76
	£
Counties
Avon	160,549
Bedfordshire	122,607
Berkshire	68,398
Buckinghamshire	20,558
Cambridgeshire	29,904
Cheshire	49,050
Cleveland	152,868
Cornwall	3,380
Cumbria	131,699
Derbyshire	225,475
Devon	19,153
Dorset	2,951
Durham	55,519
East Sussex	3,797
Essex	13,878
Gloucestershire	2,908
Hampshire	151,340
Hereford and Worcester	1,216
Hertfordshire	46,512
Humberside	40,404
Kent	52,792
Lancashire	166,725
Leicestershire	292,892
Lincolnshire	17,203
Northamptonshire	44,500
Northumberland	86,377
North Yorkshire	4,844
Nottinghamshire	374,415
Oxfordshire	7,748
Salop	21,067
Somerset	374
Staffordshire	94,567
Suffolk	20,304
Warwickshire	20,746
West Midlands	33,615
Wiltshire	5,352

Wales
Districts
Alyn and Deeside	670
Blaenau Gwent	7,887
Cardiff	nil
Cynon Valley	6,202
Islwyn	1,080
Lliw Valley	777
Merthyr Tydfil	5,214
Meirionnydd	675
Neath	1,372
Newport	9,504
Ogwr	nil
Rhondda	3,510
Rhymney Valley	4,753
Swansea	19,265
Taff-Ely	15,647
Torfaen	1,445
Vale of Glamorgan	2,250
Wrexham-Maelor	3,184
Counties
Clwyd	145,987
Dyfed	38,683
Gwent	148,645
Gwynedd	28,880
Mid Glamorgan	165,106
Powys	11,071
South Glamorgan	125,451
West Glamorgan	101,156

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained by the Essex police under the Prevention of Terrorism Act; how many have been prosecuted or released; and how many are still pending.

The answer to the first part of the Question is 28 up to 8th March 1977, and to the second and third parts, none.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Home Office circular POL 75 474/1/1 of 21st July 1976 was deposited in the Library; and if steps have been taken to ensure that such documents are deposited as soon as issued in future.

A copy of this circular was sent to the Library on the day of issue.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if and when he intends to introduce legislation to replace Section 16(2)(a) of the Theft Act 1968 with other provision against fraudulent conduct as recommended in the 13th Report of the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

I am studyingg the proposals in the report carefully and will make a statement of the Government's intentions as soon as possible. I should like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Criminal Law Revision Committee for all the thorough work that has gone into its report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers he has to refuse entry into the United Kingdom of a Commonwealth citizen who wishes to visit the United Kingdom for a period of three months or less.

I refer the hon. Member to the Immigration Act 1971 and the Statement of Immigration Rules made under it for the control on entry of Commonwealth citizens (House of Commons Paper No. 79 of 1973).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to reply to the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth's letter dated 30th December 1976 about communication procedures in emergencies between the police and gas boards following the explosion at Brentford in December 1976.

I replied to the hon. Member today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what contingency funds are available to meet localised disasters such as flooding; and what help is automatically made available to local authorities to meet the immediate financial burden of such events.

There are no central contingency funds specifically available to meet localised disasters and no help is given automatically to local authorities to meet the immediate financial burden of such events. The policy of successive Governments has been to give financial help only when the local authorities in the affected areas would otherwise suffer an undue burden.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for altering the formulae he adopts for calculating the rate support grant as between urban and rural areas.

Discussions with the local authority associations on the basis of the distribution of rate support grant in 1978–79 have begun. Final decisions will not be taken until later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the annual percentage increase in rate support grant for the metropolitan borough of Stockport in each of the last five years; and if he remains satisfied with the needs element in the grant for this authority.

Because of local government reorganisation it is not possible to provide comparable figures of rate support grant entitlement for years before 1974–75.The following table gives the percentage change in needs and resources grant for the years available:

	Percentage change over previous year
	Needs grant at main order stage	Resources grant at first increase order stage
1975–76	+45·35	+53·65
1976–77	+24·48	+17·12
1977–78	-3·46	*Not yet available
* Resources element grant depends on the expenditure and rate poundage decisions taken by rating authorities; the entitlements for 1977–78 have yet to be calculated.

I am satisfied with the rate support grant needs element entitlements embodied in the Rate Support Grant Order 1976 and approved by the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why copies of the DOE Document "Notes for the Guidance of Panel Inspectors" dated 15th April 1975 are not available for general distribution; and if he will take immediate steps to make the document generally available.

A copy of the notes is available in the Library. I am not persuaded that any useful purpose would be served by arranging for a wider distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Property Services Agency has any plans for the use or disposal of the premises at 1–9 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh.

The Crown holding at 1–8 Atholl Crescent is now surplus to requirement and disposal action is in hand. No. 9 Atholl Crescent is held on lease and will be reallocated when present occupants—Civil Service College—vacate shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list Government premises in Edinburgh which are, or are soon to become, surplus to requirements; and how he proposes to dispose of these premises.

The following properties are or will be surplus to present requirements:

• Lorne House, 1–2, Drumsheugh Gardens (available now—sale negotiations are in hand.
• 1–8, Atholl Crescent (available now)—preliminary negotiations for the sale of this property are in hand.
• 21, Lansdowne Crescent (available now)—premises will be surrendered to a landlord.
• Windsor Lodge, Portobello (available now)—existing hutments are being sold and site lease surrendered.

The Crown estate in Edinburgh is reviewed continuously and appropriate steps will be taken to dispose of any further property as and when no future use is foreseen for them by the Property Services Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals have been submitted to him since 16th July 1976; how many have been heard; how many have been determined; and if he is satisfied with the speed with which such appeals are handled.

Information related to 16th July 1976 is not available. During the period 1st July 1976 to 28th February 1977 7,933 planning appeals were received, 5,732 appeals were the subject of a local inquiry or site visit and 7,611 appeals were decided or withdrawn. As to the second part of the Question, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton, East (Mr. Clemitson) on 16th February.—[Vol. 926, c. 492–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the level of the water tables in the Severn Trent Water Authority area, the Anglian Water Authority area, and the North West Regional Water Authority area.

In the area of the Severn-Trent Water Authority groundwater levels are generally higher than they were at this time last year; in the North West Water Authority area they are normal for the time of year, whilst in the Anglian Water Authority area they are normal or above normal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue guidance to local authorities in fulfilling their duty under Section 82(5) of the Housing Act 1974 to check that the payment of improvement grants is conditional on the works pertaining to the grant being carried out to their satisfaction; and whether he will make a statement.

I have at present no evidence that authorities are failing to comply with these requirements of the Act, but if the hon. Member has any I will, of course, consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the procedure that a farmer must follow if he wishes to sink a water borehole on his land.

He must apply to his regional water authority for a licence, unless the water is to be used only fordomestic purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to enable district council omnibus undertakings to provide a service to all residents within their boundaries; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the various problems that can arise at the boundaries between different bus undertakings' operating areas. Although they can often be overcome by sensible co-ordination arrangements, they form part of a complicated set of issues concerning the bus industry which my right hon. Friend is considering as part of his review of transport policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average delay in the opening of letters containing forms concerning motor vehicle registration at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre in Swansea.

All correspondence received at the centre is normally opened within 24 hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre in Swansea; and how many people are employed at each grade.

As at 28th February the information required was as follows:

Under Secretary	1
Assistant Secretary	3
Senior Medical Officer	1
Nursing Officer Grade II	1
Staff nurse	1
Medical Officer	5
Principal Information Officer	1
Senior Principals	4
Principals	17
Senior Executive Officer	41
Professional and Technical Officer Grade I	1
Higher Executive Officer	152
Executive Officer	445½
Clerical Officer	1,167
Clerical Assistant	2,145
Senior Data Processor	126½
Data Processor	596½
Trainee Data Processor	92
Senior Personal Secretary	1
Personal Secretary	4
Chief Superintendent of Typists	1
Senior Superintendent of Typists	4
Superintendent of Typists	2
Audio Typists	34
Specialist Typists	18
Typists	18
Trainee Typists	0
Teleprinter Operator	2
Chief Photoprinter	1
Assistant Chief Photoprinter	2
Photoprinter Grade I	12
Photoprinter Grade II	13
Senior Messengers	18
Messengers	4
Porter Messengers	211
Office Keeper Grade 2	2
Office Keeper Grade 3	3
Senior Paperkeepers	15
Paperkeepers	42
Safety and Security Officer	1
Deputy Safety and Security Officer	1
Senior Security Guard	6
Security Guards	53
Stores Supervisory Grade C	1
Stores Supervisory Grade D	2
	5,275

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Daventry (Mr. Jones) and Bristol, West (Mr. Cooke) on 9th March 1977.—[Vol. 927, c. 1392.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre is yet in a position to start issuing kidney donor cards with driving licences.

I am pleased to say that it is. As from today kidney donor cards will be sent out from the centre with all first provisional driving licences—thus reaching approximately 1¼ million new drivers each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the rate and level of new bus grant to be available to the bus industry in 1977–78.

Yes. I have decided that for 1977–78 new bus grant should continue to be paid at the rate of 50 per cent. on approved capital expenditure. The grant will be subject to a cash limit of £48·8 million and this level is intended to enable about the same number of vehicles to be purchased with the aid of grant as are being purchased in 1976–77. I am discussing the allocations to individual operators with the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the local authority associations. I am considering the longer-term future of new bus grant in the context of the transport policy review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number and percentage of managers and farmers in England and Wales who have undergone formal agricultural training; and what plans he has to extend the scope of such training.

I regret the information requested is not available. However, the provisional results of an EEC sample survey on the structure of agricultural holdings in England and Wales undertaken in 1975 were published as a "Statistical Information" sheet (No 99/76) on 14th April 1976. This gives some related information concerned with agricultural education which is of course the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. Copies of the document are available in the Statistics Department of the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give reasons for the delay in announcing the price levels for those commodities unaffected by the common agricultural policy, namely, potatoes, sheepmeat and wool.

I shall announce the new guaranteed prices for fat sheep and wool within the next few days. I am still considering the arrangements for potatoes, for which the marketing year begins on 1st August, and I shall make an announcement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the current situation in the pig industry and the competition from Irish and Danish pigmeat producers, he will consider favourably an increase of the present temporary subsidy of 50p per score and an extension of the period during which it is due to operate.

I have no plans to increase the rate of the temporary subsidy for pigmeat which continues to give substantial help to the pig industry. In the meantime, I am continuing to work for a change in the method of calculation of monetary compensatory amounts for pigmeat which will improve the competitive position of our producers and processors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take in view of the fact that the effect of the EEC Commission proposals for the exclusive use of dairy fats in certain food products will be to prohibit completely the sale of the most widely consumed type of ice cream in the United Kingdom, with consequent effects on the price of ice cream products as well as the reduction of the number of people employed in the industry; and if he will make a statement;

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is likely to be the impact on employment in ice cream manufacturing and distribution of the EEC Commission's proposals for the exclusive use of dairy fat in certain food products;(2) what is likely to be the impact on ice cream prices of the EEC Commission's proposals for the exclusive use of dairy fat in certain food products;(3) what action he proposes to take in view of the fact that a major effect of the EEC Commission's proposals for the exclusive use of dairy fat in certain food products will be to prohibit the sale of 90 per cent. of the ice cream currently manufactured in the United Kingdom;(4) if, at the forthcoming meeting of the Council of Agricultural Ministers, he will ensure that the approach suggested by the Commission for dealing with the exclusive use of milk fat and protein will not adversely affect the manufacture of non-dairy ice cream in the United Kingdom;(5) if he will propose to his fellow agricultural Ministers that the implementation of the Commission's proposals on the exclusive use of milk fat and milk protein be deferred until 1987;(6) if he will propose to his fellow agricultural Ministers that discussion of the Commission's proposals on the exclusive use of milk fat and milk protein be adjourned until this matter has been debated in Parliament.(7) if he will inform his fellow agricultural Ministers at their forthcoming meeting of the health risks involved in compelling consumers to buy animal fat ice cream instead of the vegetable-based product.

The effects of the Commission's draft regulation cannot be fully evaluated until the proposals have been clarified in Brussels. Manufacturers of ice cream and other foods affected and consumers' organisations are provid- ing my Department with information and views on the Commission proposals. The Community agriculture proposals, of which this proposal forms part, will be debated in the House on 16th March.I intend to meet representatives of the food industry including the ice-cream manufacturers on 18th March to discuss the draft regulations with them. I will ensure that issues raised in the hon. Members' Questions are taken fully into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total cost of grants paid out by his Department, sub-divided by category.

Details of the grants paid out by my Department can be found in the published Appropriation Accounts and Supply Estimates. Direct grants to farmers appear in Class III 1 and Class XV 1, both of which also include subsidies and other payments to the industry. Grants to other public or private bodies are shown under the relevant subheads of Class III 4, 7 and 8.In 1976–77, my Department is also making payments and carrying out checks in respect of expenditure by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and by the Department of Prices & Consumer Protection (Class III, 3 and 5).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants there are in his Department, sub-divided into convenient categories.

At 1st March 1977 there were 15,090 civil servants in my Department, as follows:

Agricultural Development and Advisory Service	5,424
Headquarters staff	3,593
Regional and Divisional Offices (including Wales)	4,269
Others (including Food Science and Fisheries Research Laboratories; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Wakehurst Place)	1,804

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total cost of salaries to staff in his Department.

Based on the original and revised Supply Estimates for 1976–7 the provision for salaries, national insurance contributions and overtime for staff in my Department was £64·5 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total cost of expenses and office accommodation in his Department.

On the basis of the original and revised Supply Estimates for 1976–77 the total expenditure by my Department on travelling and other administrative expenses, and by the Property Services Agency on office accommodation for the Department, is £37 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total cost of running his Department.

On the basis of the original and revised Supply Estimates for 1976–77 (HC 276 and 483 of 1975–76,

£ per head
			Pure Bred Friesian				Hereford/Friesian X
			Bulls		Heifers		Bulls		Heifers
Year/Month			First quarter	Second quarter	First quarter	Second quarter	First quarter	Second quarter	First quarter	Second quarter
January—
1971	…	…	22·93	16·78	Not recorded		Not recorded		Not recorded
1972	…	…	38·36	29·89	39·96	27·98	43·56	34·39	37·65	30·29
1973	…	…	57·59	45·18	54·92	42·05	66·68	52·12	56·07	44·98
1974	…	…	36·81	25·21	34·34	21·43	52·1	36·09	39·33	25·91
1975	…	…	16·65	8·3	16·4	8·02	35·09	19·72	21·69	10·04
1976	…	…	40·75	25·05	32·86	20·52	47·17	30·73	33·82	19·63
1977	…	…	44·48	25·75	36·37	21·51	56·99	36·87	42·15	24·73

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total value of agricultural exports from the United Kingdom in 1976; how this compares with the position in 1975; and if he will state the significant categories in which exports were improved by more than 25 per cent.

The total value of the United Kingdom's exports in the agricultural and food sector in 1976 was £2,778·7 million. This was an increase of £507·2 million on the figure for 1975. The significant sections of the Standard International Trade Classification, in which the value of exports was improved by more than 25 per cent. were:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the average price obtained per calf in January 1977 and in the same month during the previous six years.

An average price for all calves is not meaningful because of the considerable variation in price for individual animals that arises from differences of breed, sex, age and quality. The following information relates to first and second quality rearing calves—not more than three weeks old—of the main categories sold at 42 selected markets in England and Wales:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent London meeting convened to examine the possibility of reaching a new International Tea Agreement.

The Fourth Session of the FAO Inter-Governmental Group meeting on tea, held in London in February 1977, made further progress towards the negotiation of an international tea agreement. Exporters and importers agreed on the work that needed to be done to achieve that end.It is expected that FAO and UNCTAD will be holding further meetings later this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the average return from sheep production both per ewe and per acre so used in 1976 and in 1973.

Returns for sheep production vary considerably according to different systems of production, location and many other factors, and it is not the practice of my Department to publish such figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are taken to protect historic remains such as raths when a planning application is being considered; and if he is satisfied that the planning officials are always kept informed of the existence of such monuments.

The Historic Monuments and Buildings Branch of the Department of the Environment is consulted and due account is taken of comments made in determining planning applications affecting historic remains such as raths. I am satisfied that planning officials are aware of the location of such monuments.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many school leavers in 1976 left school without basic skill in literacy and numeracy; and how this compares with the situation in 1970 and 1965.

Comparative statistics are not available; nor is there any generally accepted definition of basic standards of literacy and numeracy. In 1972 a survey by the Northern Ireland Council for Educational Research suggested that about 1·7 per cent. of school leavers— excluding pupils at special schools—had a level of reading attainment no greater than that of an average 7-year-old child. The council carried out a similar study during 1976 the results of which are awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied that there are no community associations in receipt of grant aid from public funds which are merely religious organisations under another name.

Yes. Community associations are now grant-aided by district councils and so far as I am aware all councils are continuing the practice of requiring such associations which seek grant-aid from public funds to demon-state that they are in fact bona fide community organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he proposes to bring the law in Northern Ireland into line with the law in Great Britain with regard to the issue of a driving licence for a period ending with the applicant's 70th birthday.

The holder's photograph on Northern Ireland driving licences provides a smeans of identification which is of great value in present circumstances, and because of this it would be wrong to extend the period of validity of licences to a point where the photograph might cease to serve its purpose. I propose however to lay a draft order before the House this year which will make provision for the renewal of driving licences at 10-yearly intervals or on the applicant's 70th birthday, whichever is the sooner, and thereafter at three-yearly intervals. Special provision will be made for persons suffering from physical or health defects.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the hourly rates of pay for RUC constables, full-time reserve constables and part-time reserve constables, respectively.

The current hourly rate of pay—excluding allowances—for an RUC constable is £1·15 in the first year of service, increasing over an eight-point scale to £1·63 after 15 years of service. Full-time members of the RUC Reserve are paid between £1·15 to £1·39 per hour, in accordance with the first four points of the scale for a constable in the regular force. Part-time members of the Reserve receive an annual bounty of £24 for a minimum of four hours' duty each month and 91p for each additional hour of duty.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what general guidance on confidentiality and the safe keeping of records has been given to the Central Services Agency and other public authorities which collect information about individual persons.

The Central Services Agency and other health and social services bodies have been given well defined guidance on the confidentiality and safe keeping of information of a private, personal nature.No general guidance has been given to other public bodies. The treatment of information of a personal nature held by a number of such bodies is governed by statutory provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many M1 carbines have been purchased for use by the RUC; and how many were found to be defective.

For security reasons I am not prepared to give information of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many terrorists with addresses in County Armagh have been convicted since 1st January 1976; and for what categories of offence.

It would not be possible to answer this Question without disproportionate cost and effort.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is currently the average time that an assistant Under-Secretary remains in the same post in each Government Department.

The average length by Department of all Under-Secretary postings which terminated between 1st January 1976 and the present day, together with all posting still continuing is:

	Years	Months
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food	3	1
Civil Service Department	2	5
Ministry of Defence	2	5
Department of Education and Science	2	8
Department of Employment Group	3	3
Department of the Environment and Transport	2	3
Department of Health and Social Security	2	10
Home Office	2	9
Inland Revenue	3	11
Departments of Trade and Industry Group (including Department of Energy)	2	9
Scottish Office	2	9
Treasury	2	2
All other Departments	2	11

Since present postings are included, these figures underestimate the lengths of tours in individual posts.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what reductions in the Service in numbers he proposes for the next year.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 11th March 1977 for the general background to these reductions, which are aimed at the financial year 1978–79. In 1977–78, I expect Civil Service numbers to increase at first. They may even go above the ¾ million mark, but they should fall as the year progresses and return to about their present level by 1st April 1978.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, pursuant to his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Park) Official Report, 9th March, columns 549–51, what would be the savings in capital cost and manpower costs in the Official Report and other parliamentary papers were all printed in a uniform size and on uniform equipment, and that size were (a) Royal Octavo, (b) Crown Quarto, (c) large Royal Octavo, (d) A4 and (e) A5, respectively.

The savings in capital and manpower costs, at August 1976 prices, of producing all parliamentary papers in a standard size as opposed to the present range of sizes are detailed below:

	Savings
	Capital	Manpower per annum
	£	£
Royal Octavo	360,000	87,000
Large Royal Octavo	360,000	87,000
A4	805,000	256,000
A5	805,000	87,000
	Extra Cost
Crown Quarto	120,000	—

The figures are based on using computer typesetting equipment and lithographic printing machines.Smaller page sizes than A4 incur greater labour costs in the plate-making and finishing departments because there are more pages and sections to handle. In addition, Crown Quarto will require additional machine capacity as it would probably require printing in 32 page sections as opposed to 64 for the other smaller sizes.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is (a) the present staff complement involved with each of the sections of her Department which are due to be transferred to Glasgow in accordance with the recommendations of the Hardman Report and (b) if the staff complement of these sections was on the same basis on which the Hardman recommendations were made.

The announcement on 20th July 1974 of the Government's decisions on the recommendations in the Hardman Report stated that 1,000 posts would be dispersed from my Department. This dif- ference from the report's figure of 1,177 posts arose mainly from the expected rundown of work in some of the sections identified for dispersal in the report. Subsequent changes in the organisation of my Department also make direct comparison with the report difficult, but the present staff complements of the Headquarters sections due to be moved to East Kilbride are:

Overseas Manpower Division:
Personnel Services Executive	81
Recruitment Executive	65
Overseas Services Resettlement Bureau	10
Other posts	16
Pensions Department	106
Accounts Department	103
Statistics support staff	22
	403

In addition necessary supporting posts from establishment and organisation departments will also be moved. These are at present expected to number about 230. Further consideration is being given to the question of dispersing the 350 stall of the Directorate of Overseas Surveys to the Glasgow area and I hope that a firm decision on this will not be delayed much longer.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give his estimate of the contribution that coal is likely to make to the United Kingdom energy balance in 1980, 1985 and 1990; and whether his assessments are in line with the report recently submitted to his Department.

1 would refer the hon. Gentleman to my Department's "Energy Policy Review", a copy of which is now in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will give a direction to the National Coal Board under Section 6 of the Coal Industry Act 1971;(2) when he last gave a direction under Section 6 of the Coal Industry Act 1971 to the National Coal Board.

My right hon. Friend has made no directions under this section and at present has no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why he is unable to publish cash flow forecasts for the National Coal Board for each of the next five years in view of the fact that a comprehensive plan for the industry is in existence.

Such forecasts, which include assumptions about the future course of costs and prices, must be regarded as commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much has been spent in each of the past three years on research and development of automatic and remote control mining.

Over the last three financial years NCB expenditure on research and development related to the evolution of automatic and remote control mining has amounted to £3 million, £5 million and £7 million, respectively. Within these figures direct expenditure on the automatic and remote control of mining operations was £0·8 million, £0·9 million and £3·6 million. We are unable to estimate the amount spent on research and development in this field by individual mining manufacturers or of the effort in other coal-producing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many representations he has had on the impending increase in gas prices.

My Department has received just over 150, up to today.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the civil servants in his Department he estimates will retire within the next 12 months.

4·9 per cent. in the 12 months from 1st April 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the coal supply figures for 1980, 1985 and 1990 published in the Financial Times on 7th March 1977 from his Department accord with the figures revealed in the "Plan for Coal" and subsequent public revisions.

"Plan for Coal" aims at production of 135 million tons by 1985. This is consistent with the figures quoted in the article in the Financial Times.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the number of fatalities and injuries in the gas explosions covered by the King Report; and if he will make a statement.

The inquiry's terms of reference do not limit its selection of incidents for examination; such figures as my hon. Friend seeks cannot, therefore, be calculated until its report is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive the report of the King inquiry on gas explosions; and what help was given in the meantime to residents in the affected areas.

Investigations are still proceeding, and it is too early to predict when the report will be ready. I am advised that assistance has been extended as appropriate by the relevant authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will make a statement on the action he is taking to end the industrial dispute at Windscale; and what discussions he has had with British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. and the Atomic Energy Authority on the adverse effects of the dispute;(2) what effect the industrial dispute at Windscale is having on fuel reprocessing and other activity; if he is satisfied that essential materials are reaching the plant to ensure continuing safety; what effect the dispute has had on overseas contracts; and what effect the continuation of the dispute will have on power output at United Kingdom nuclear power stations.

A basis for settling this dispute has now been agreed between the management and unions, and work at the site is being resumed. Production on the site ceased during the dispute but safety was maintained. I understand there has so far been no question of any overseas business having been prejudiced. Output from commercial nuclear power stations was not affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will place in the Library a copy of the Department of Energy document on future energy policy which was presented to a recent meeting of the National Economic Development Council and which has since been extensively reported in the national Press.

I did so on 8th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if more recent appraisals of gas reserves in the Frigg Field indicate that a bigger proportion of the reserves is in the Norwegian sector than originally estimated; and what is his latest estimate of the proportion and volume of recoverable reserves in the United Kingdom sector.

The recent appraisals by an expert appointed by the licensees of the Frigg Field have been of initial gas reserves in place, rather than of recoverable reserves. The expert's final report to licensees will be presented in mid-April and, when they have agreed the shares in the field they will so advise the Governments. Under the terms of the Frigg Agreement the two Governments will consult each other with a view to agreeing figures for the total reserves and their apportionment between the Continental Shelf of the United Kingdom and that of Norway.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the experimental fast breeder nuclear reactor at Dounreay; what is the future programme for this reactor; and what will be the next stage, the cost, and the time-scale of research and development on fast breeder technology.

I understand that the last operating period of the Dounreay fast reactor, required to complete its planned experimental programme, is now due to end on 23rd March. Lord Hinton will perform a closing ceremony on that day. The reactor wil be decommissioned and experimental work will be continued in the much larger prototype fast reactor (PFR) at Dounreay which has now operated at its full thermal power. I am at present considering our approach to the next stage of development of the fast reactor system.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects completion of the current studies on the feasibility of exploiting tidal power in the Severn Estuary; what is the estimated budget for these studies; and what is the estimated cost of a full-scale feasibility study.

The study on the effects of a Severn barrage on the tidal regime is complete and my right hon. Friend expects to receive a final report on the closure problem by the end of this month. He intends to publish the reports of these studies, which together cost about £50,000. We do not yet have firm figures for the cost of a full-scale feasibility study, but proposals have been made by consultants for broad studies costing somewhat over £1 million; these, however, would include little of the field and modelling work which would be necessary before a final decision on the construction of a barrage could be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what mortgage allocations will be given to Scottish local authorities in the years 1977–78; and what part he expects building societies to play, in assisting local authorities to provide funds for house purchase and improvements;(2) what is the total amount of funds given in Scotland under the building societies commercial indemnity scheme to date;(3) what allocation will be given to Scottish local authorities to allow them to maintain mortgage lending;

The total available to local authorities in Scotland during 1977–78 for lending to individuals for house purchase and improvement is £14 million. Allocations to individual authorities for 1977–78 will be intimated to them very shortly. To supplement these funds the building societies have agreed, subject to their levels of net receipts, to make available £10·5 million in Scotland. My Department is to discuss soon with both local authorities and building societies how all the funds available can be best utilised. It is open to a building society in certain circumstances to require a borrower to take out an indemnity insurance; there is no specific scheme and no public funds are involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what contingency funds are available to meet localised disasters such as flooding; and what help is automatically made available to local authorities to meet the immediate financial burden of such events.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the Official Report the dates and results of traffic censuses taken on the B8039 (old A73) through Luggiebank Village, Dunbartonshire.

As Strathclyde Regional Council is the highway authority responsible for this road the question of traffic censuses on the B8039 rests with that council. However, I understand that Dumbarton Council placed an automatic traffic counter in Luggiebank during 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the weekly tonnage of shellfish landed in Argyll.