asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many Civil Service jobs have been dispersed from London in the past two years; and what are their new locations.

Nearly 3,000 Civil Service posts were dispersed from London between 1st October 1974 and 30th September 1976, the latest period for which comprehensive information is available. Details are as follows:

Location			Number of posts
Basingstoke	…	…	312
Blackpool	…	…	122
Bradford	…	…	90
Bristol	…	…	63
Cambridge	…	…	42
Cardiff/Newport	…	…	882
Cardington	…	…	14
Colchester	…	…	43
Corby	…	…	30
Eastbourne	…	…	31
Glasgow	…	…	476
Huntingdon	…	…	36
Leeds	…	…	6
Llantrisant	…	…	216
Manchester	…	…	19
Merseyside	…	…	10
Newcastle	…	…	19
Norwich	…	…	5
Portsmouth	…	…	17
Southampton	…	…	79
Southend	…	…	109
Southport	…	…	32
Sunningdale	…	…	56
Swindon	…	…	234
Worthing	…	…	19
Total			2,962

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants now working in Greater London will be asked to move to other parts of the United Kingdom in the next five years.

The timing of the Government's dispersal programme is currently being reassessed, following the measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the end of last year.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans his Department has for containing the further growth of administrative and clerical staff both in Whitehall and in other administrative centres around the country.

The Government will ensure that the cuts in expenditure on the Civil Service to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member's previous Question on 27th January 1977, and in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 11th March 1977 are achieved. These expenditure cuts are consistent with a Civil Service of around the three-quarter million mark for the rest of this year and 10,000 to 15,000 less over the next two or three years. The methods of control of manpower by my Department are designed to prevent unnecessary growth in staff numbers and to promote economy in staffing in the Civil Service.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total annual cost to the taxpayer of the 25 personal political advisers to Ministers employed since the last General Election.

There are currently 26 special advisers to Ministers, whose total annual salaries amount to £186,000.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what investigations have been carried out by HMSO into the possibility of providing House of Commons stationery and envelopes made wholly or partly with recycled paper.

Certain stationery, other than the die-stamped range, containing a substantial element of recycled fibre is already in use. For the die-stamped range, HMSO will shortly propose a less costly paper. It cannot however, recommend paper containing recycled fibre, partly because it is more difficult to die stamp satisfactorily and partly because it would cost more than the paper being recommended.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why the difficulties referred to in his replies of 24th January and 11th March regarding the pay of the 10 Ministry of Defence chief police officers only apply to this small number of officers, all other members of the same force having been accorded pay increases arising from an application made at the same time as the senior officers' claim.

The arrangements for determining pay in the two groups are not the same. The Ministry of Defence chief police officers have their pay determined by a vertical pay relativity with the lower ranks. The treatment to be accorded to vertical pay relationships under the transitional arrangements in the White Paper, "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd 6151), was not an issue for other members of the force.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what consideration has been given by Her Majesty's Government to the future concentration at one or two centres of public map making, survey and chart production services subsequent to decentralisation of offices from London.

There are at present no proposals to concentrate public map making, survey and chart production services at one or two centres.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement on the non-profitability of the House of Commons Refreshment Department.

Ministers and the Chairman of the Catering Sub-Committee are well aware that this is an extremely serious problem and that it cannot be allowed to continue. Steps have recently been taken towards the appointment of a Financial Controller and the introduction of a system of budgetary control in the Department, as recommended by the Committee of Inquiry chaired by my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green and Bow (Mr. Mikardo). I hope that this will provide the basis for a permanent improvement of the position.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will publish a regular verbatim record of meetings he has with members of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied with the progress on discussions between the Government and the Liberal Party on the Joint Consultative Committee.

I would refer the hon. Gentlemen to my answer to the hon. Member for Surrey, North-West (Mr. Grylls) on 28th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the amount of the Sports Council grant for 1977–78; and what percentage increase this represents over 1976–77.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the amount of grant aid to the Sports Council for Wales for 1977–78 will be £1,300,000. This is an increase of 8·3 per cent over the 1976–77 grant aid.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will conduct a departmental inquiry into the rôle and function of the Eggs Authority with a view to bringing forward amending legislation to provide a new statutory body for eggs.

The EEC Commission is currently considering the contribution which a European inter-professional body might make to the eggs and poultry sector of the Community. Until the Commission comes forward with its proposals it would be premature to consider possible changes in the present rôle and functions of the Eggs Authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that it is the policy of milk distributors to run down milk bottles and replace them with cartons and of his Depertment's permission for 1p extra to be charged for cartons, and that this is a price imposition on all consumers dependent only on individual suppliers in their neighbourhood, what action he proposes to take.

Over the past decade there has been a continuing tendency for dairies to supply milk to shops in non-returnable containers rather than returnable glass bottles, largely because of heavy losses of the latter. When dairies have taken the commercial decision to use non-returnable containers for the shop trade, it has been the policy of successive Governments not to oppose the addition of a reasonable charge for the non-returnable package compared with the lower cost of returnable glass bottles on the delivery rounds. A close watch is, however, kept by my Department on such charges to ensure that they are not excessive. The results of our latest investigations confirm that charges of up to 1p a pint can be justified. More than 90 per cent. of households in England and Wales, however, have milk delivered to the doorstep at the controlled maximum retail price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that imported high protein animal feeding stuffs will be available to farmers in adequate quantities at reasonable prices over the next year; and whether he will make a statement.

A lower production of soya beans by the United States of America last year, together with an increased level of consumption, particularly in those EEC countries affected by the drought, has resulted in the current high prices for protein feeds. A good soya harvest in Brazil, which is now becoming available, should ease the situation. Moreover, first forecasts of United States planting intentions this year show an increase in soya bean acreage of from 12 to 19 per cent. Supplies from this crop will be available towards the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be announcing the guaranteed price for potatoes for the 1977–78 season; and whether he is satisfied that in the absence of an announcement an acreage will be planted which will ensure adequate supplies over the next year, at lower prices to the housewife than in the previous two seasons.

My right hon. Friend is still considering the guaranteed price for potatoes of the 1977 crop and will make an announcement as soon as possible. Various factors influence planting intentions, but we have no reason to expect that, given normal weather, the area planted will be insufficient to meet our needs. This season's high prices resulted from the effect of last summer's drought on the yield, and in normal weather conditions the area planted would have provided ample supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the estimated price rise in the costs of heating oils announced in the Budget Statement and used by the horticulture industry; and whether refunds of hydrocarbon duty will offset such increases.

The increase in the price of heating oils used by the horticultural industry resulting from the Budget Statement is estimated to be 1½p per gallon. The repayment of excise duties on oil used for heating and soil sterilisation by horticulturists has been increased to offset the rise in price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what extra payment of monetary compensatory amounts will be paid on beef entering the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland, as a result of its recent green pound devaluation; how much he expects domestic beef prices to fall in consequence; what steps he intends to take to support farmer's returns and at what cost.

The net increase in the United Kingdom/Irish Republic MCA as a result of the latest devaluation of the Irish green pound is equivalent to 3·6p lb on fresh and chilled carcase beef. It is not possible to predict how much this might affect beef prices, but United Kingdom producer returns continue to be underpinned as necessary by our current support arrangements of premiums and intervention.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects an agreement to be reached with the Icelandic Government about fishing rights.

The Commission is expected to report on the present position at the Foreign Affairs Council on 5th April. Her Majesty's Government have left no doubt about the importance they attach to an early and satisfactory settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for what purpose the Property Services Agency has entered into a lease of office buildings at Bank House/Sovereign House, Sheffield; and which accommodation at present leased will be vacated as a result.

The offices have been leased to house new regional offices of the Inland Revenue and the Health and Safety Executive. The staff will come from several existing buildings in Sheffield and elsewhere, some of which will be surrendered if not required for other use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what purpose the Property Services Agency has entered into a lease of office buildings at Andover Road, Winchester; and which accommodation at present leased will be vacated as a result.

The Property Services Agency has leased office buildings in construction at Andover Road, Winchester to rehouse a Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food divisional office and two Inland Revenue tax offices. The present accommodation at Government Buildings, Christchurch Road will be sold to provide land for housing. The leases at Black Swan Buildings, Southgate Street and 13 Southgate Street will be surrendered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he remains satisfied with the adequacy of the present legislation for the protection of the environment, particularly regarding the tipping and burning of rubbish especially at night, in the light of the practice at a site at Hamlet Hill, Roydon.

Adequate powers are available under the site licensing provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974, which allow waste disposal authorities to prohibit the deposit of controlled waste where this is necessary to protect the environment, and under the Public Health Act 1936.I am writing to my hon. Friend about the site to which he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received copies of the report of the Noise Advisory Council about Concorde; and how soon after Easter he expects to be in a position to comment on this and indicate what action he will take.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave him on 25th March—[Vol. 928, c. 707.]I expect this report to be published later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the statutory requirement under which commercial metering devices installed by regional water authorities are required to be of approved design and accuracy and subjected to routine inspection by trading standards officers.

None. No regulations have been prescribed under either Section 11 of the Weights and Measures Act 1963 or Section 32 of the Water Act 1973 to require water meters to be subject to such approval and inspection. However, consumers are doubly protected; firstly, by the dispute procedure provided by paragraph 59 of Schedule 3 of the Water Act 1945; secondly, by the offence provisions of section 16 of the Weights and Measures Act 1963.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the members of the Sports Council at 1st April 1977.

The members of the Sports Council as at 1st April 1977 are as follows:

• Chairman
• Sir Robin Brook, CMG, OBE

• Vice-Chairmen
• Mr. J. I. Disley
• Mr. B. P. Atha

• Members
• Miss E. Alexander, OBE
• Mrs. E. Baker
• Mr. J. Charlton
• Mr. N. R. Collins
• Mr. J. S. Edbrooke, OBE
• Mr. G. Edwards
• Mrs. M. A. Glen Haig, CBE
• Mr. A. Hardaker, OBE
• Mr. P. Heatly, CBE
• Mr. W. J. Hicks
• Mr. F. J. Hill, CBE

REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR SPORT AND RECREATION
	Chairman	Vice-Chairman appointed by Minister of State for Sport and Recreation	Vice-Chairman elected by local authority representatives
Northern	J. S. Calvert, T.D.	J. Dunning.	Councillor R. C. Baxter.
Yorkshire and Humberside.	R. Hoyle, C.B.E., J.P.	Professor J. A. Patmore.	Councillor J. C. Cornwell.
North West	Lord Pilkington.	C. Muir.	Councillor H. S. Armitage, O.B.E., J.P.
East Midlands	J. Cattermole.	Mrs. E. M. Tomlinson, J.P.	Councillor J. Carr.
West Midlands	C. Cadbury, C.B.E.	Vacant.	Councillor Mrs. D. I. P. Gask, O.B.E., J.P.
Eastern	P. Wayre.	Mrs. P. A. Bowen-West.	Councillor J. H. Walker.
Southern	A. J. Sage, J.P.	C. Hall.	Councillor W. C. Carvosso.
South Western	N. R. Collins.	G. Somerset.	Councillor R. D. Cooper.
Greater London South East.	Lord Selsdon.	Vacant.	Vacant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in the light of the success of the Paper Savings Movement, based on 7, Barclays Avenue, Salford, and the sums of money raised

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the amount of the Sports Council grant for 1977–78; and what percentage increase this represents over 1976–77.

Subject to the approval of the Estimates that have been presented to Parliament, the grant-in-aid to the Sports Council will be –11·5 million. In cash terms this represents an increase of 12·7 per cent. over 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the chairman and vice-chairman of the regional councils of sport and recreation.

The information is as follows:for local good causes, if he will investigate methods by which more paper saving organisations can be encouraged; and if he will make a statement.

We are keen to encourage successful waste paper collection schemes by voluntary groups when and where conditions are favourable. We shall be taking measures later this year, centring on a free guide giving detailed practical advice to voluntary groups. There will also be a national symbol and slogan. It is clear that there will need to be a great deal of co-operation between voluntary groups and the other interests concerned in waste paper collection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place a copy of all housing action area declaration reports, which are available by law in council offices, in the Library.

No. These reports are not basically any different from the many other types of reports commissioned by local authorities and there would be no point in singling them out for special treatment in this way. A report on a housing action area is a working document prepared mainly to assist the local authority itself to take a decision and, after declaration, is made available for inspection locally, with other relevant documents, to anyone interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why his Department has not yet approved the proposal of Surrey County Council, supported by the Ash Parish Council, for a pedestrian crossing on the A323 Aldershot-Guildford road at Ash Street, Ash, as part of the Council's 1977–78 programme.

The county council has been informed that the volume of traffic and the number of pedestrians wishing to cross at this site do not justify the provision of a Pelican crossing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in the light of the fact that the Government's policy for expenditure has led local authorities in the Greater London area to cut down on road repairs and that in many boroughs there are now dangerous potholes measuring 12 inches to 15 inches in circumference and of depths of 3 inches to 5 inches which are causing dangerous hazards to motorists and pedestrians, what action he proposes to take to prevent loss of life and danger to limb by these dangerous roads and streets.

Maintenance of roads other than trunk roads is the responsibility of the local authority concerned. In the case of the Greater London Council, £180 million was accepted for Transport Supplementary Grant purposes for 1977–78 and it is for the GLC to decide, in consultation with the London boroughs, how this should be allocated between road maintenance and other local transport functions.Local authorities have been told they should keep in mind the overriding importance of the safety of travellers.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if, from sources available to him, he will publish figures for the proportion of urban public transport expenditure provided by revenue subsidies in Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Munich, London and each of the six metropolitan counties.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 28th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing).—[Vol. 929, c. 32–3.] Revenue from fares expressed as a percentage of operating costs in 1976–77 for London and the six English metropolitan areas is as follows—based on estimates provided by local authorities in mid 1976:

	1976–77 Percentage
London (including underground)	71
Greater Manchester	70
Merseyside	62
Tyne and Wear	66
West Midlands	59
South Yorkshire	51
West Yorkshire	77

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the fact that for many years numbers of motorists have persistently refused to pay the road fund licence, what action he proposes to take to ensure that the recently announced £50 road fund tax is applied to all motorists.

Experience suggests that the level of evasion is not affected by increases in the rates of duty. Last year my Department received and acted upon over 1 million reports of apparent unlicensed use. A new survey of evasion is now in hand, and given centralisation of vehicle licensing records on computer at Swansea I am considering new methods both of deterring evasion and of catching evaders.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that there is no danger to daily commuters travelling in coaches where blue asbestos has been inserted in the construction.

Where blue asbestos has been used in the construction of passenger coaches it is normally exposed only during maintenance and repair or as the result of an accident. My right hon. Friend is satisfied, on assurances from the British Railways Board, that in normal service the levels of blue asbestos dust to which passengers are exposed are well below the standards recommended by the Advisory Committee on Asbestos.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what public funds have been made available to the National Council for Civil Liberties (a) in 1976, and (b) to date in 1977; and for what purposes.

I am informed that the Equal Opportunities Commission has made a grant of £5,000 to the National Council for Civil Liberties towards a three-year project on women's rights. The project includes the production of a film illustrating tribunal procedures for use in courses in advocacy in tribunals with particular reference to the Sex Discrimination Act and Equal Pay Act. No other public funds have been made available to the NCCL.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the growing practice of immigrants obtaining false and forged passports to enter Great Britain, what further action he has taken to prevent such malpractices; on how many occasions he has been notified of cases in the past generally and by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West in particular; and what action he took on these notifications.

Both the Immigration Service and the police have established special intelligence units whose functions include the prevention and detection of attempts to enter the United Kingdom illegally with false or forged passports—including forged British visitors passports. Both services work closely with their counterparts in neighbouring countries in combating illegal entry.Any relevant information, whether general or about individual cases, which may come to the attention of hon. Members should be given to us, and will be actively followed up wherever that is possible. It would require disproportionate expenditure to compile from records of individual cases the information requested about notifications from hon. Members or others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

2,500 people have been detained in Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. An extension of detention under Section 7 of the 1974 Act or Section 12 of the 1976 Act has been approved in 250 cases; a further 568 people were detained for 48 hours or less. 1,682 people have been detained pending further examination at ports under the supplemental orders made under the Acts.110 people detained under the Acts have been charged with offences in Great Britain. Eleven of them have been charged with offences under the Acts. Eight of the remainder have been charged with murder, three with attempted murder, 12 with conspiracy to cause explosions, seven with unlawful possession of explosives, six with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, seven with contravention of Section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, five with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, 16 with theft, one with robbery, nine with burglary, one with assisting offenders, two with causing criminal damage, two with attempting criminal deception, one with handling a stolen vehicle, three with handling stolen property, one with unlawful wounding, one with possession of drugs, three with wasting police time, two with causing an explosion, one with harbouring a person known to have committed an arrestable offence, one with attempted theft, one with assault on police, one with being found on enclosed premises, one with possessing an offensive weapon, one with fraud, two with offences under Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 and one with criminal deception.In addition, three people have been returned to the Irish Republic and there charged, two with burglary and one with robbery. Fifteen people have been returned to Northern Ireland and there charged, two with murder, one with conspiracy to cause an explosion, three with armed robbery, two with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, three with unlawful possession of explosives, two with causing an explosion, one with unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and one with burglary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

Eight people have been charged in Great Britin with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976; two under Section 10(1)(a) and Section 10(2), two under Section 10(1)(a), one under Section 1(1)(b), one under Section 9(1), one under Section 9(2)(a), and one under Section 11(1). Three people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(b) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and, if so, how many.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, whether any have been dropped before the case was heard; if so, which charges; whether any charges have led to an unsuccessful prosecution; if so, which charges; whether any charges have led to a successful prosecution; and, if so, in each case, what was the sentence imposed.

As I indicated in the course of the debate on the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 (Continuance) Order 1977 on 9th March, I have asked the police to consider whether information on the outcome of charges can be provided and I hope that further information will be available shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

My predecessor and I have made 96 exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Acts 1974 and 1976. Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 88 people, 82 of whom have been removed, 59 to Northern Ireland and 23 to the Irish Republic. Nineteen of the 88 made representations objecting to the order and my predecessor revoked the order in five of these 19 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate a campaign against hooliganism and vandalism.

The police, and others in co-operation with the police, area already waging a campaign against these undesirable and criminal activities. My actions are designed to support that campaign.We have made provision for increases in police strength, promoted discussion of measures to combat hooliganism associated with football matches, and will soon hold a conference about measures to prevent vandalism.We also propose, through the Criminal Law Bill, which is being considered in another place, to increase substantially the maximum fines and amounts of compensation which offenders may be ordered to pay by magistrates' courts for offences associated with vandalism and hooliganism.This is not a matter for the Government or the police alone. Our campaign needs in particular the support of all those who are in a position to control or influence young people who may be tempted to commit acts of hooliganism and vandalism.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many 14 to 16-year-old girls were in (a) prisons and (b) remand centres at the latest available date; and how many of them were 14-year-olds;(2) how many 14 to 16-year-old girls were in (

On 28th February 1977 there were 15 girls aged 15 or 16 in prison in England and Wales, and 10 in remand centres. There were no 14-year-old girls in Prison Service establishments on that day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to implement the Finer Report's recommendation that maintenance and affiliation order defaulters should not be imprisoned.

My right hon. Friend has no present intention of introducing legislation for this purpose. He is not satisfied that this recommendation could be implemented without causing unaccept- able hardship to the recipients or unacceptable extra public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were in cells designed for one and how many in cells designed for two at the latest available date.

The information requested is not available from central records and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were (a) awaiting trial and (b) sentenced at the latest available date.

3,545 and 35,577, respectively, on 28th February last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total prison population at the latest available date; how many of these are women; and how many are aged between 14 to 16 years.

On 28th February last there were 41,577 persons in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. Of these 1,319 were females and 2,059 were aged 14–16 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report the population of certified normal accommodation of each prison, remand centre, borstal and detention centre at the latest available date.

The information requested is given in the following table, which indicates the position on 13th February last:

ESTABLISHMENT AND POPULATION IN CNA
Establishments for Male Offenders
Remand Centres
Ashford	…	…	…	412
Brockhill	…	…	…	137
Cardiff	…	…	…	100
Exeter	…	…	…	54
Latchmere	…	…	…	136
Low Newton	…	…	…	251
Norwich	…	…	…	52
Pucklechurch	…	…	…	85
Risley	…	…	…	764
Thorp Arch	…	…	…	156
Winchester	…	…	…	119

Local Prisons
Bedford	…	272
Birmingham	…	1,018
Bristol	…	559
Brixton	…	1,048
Camp Hill	…	1
Cardiff	…	388
Canterbury	…	327
Durham	…	1,024
Dorchester	…	243
Exeter	…	433
Gloucester	…	338
Leeds	…	1,067
Leicester	…	365
Lewes	…	353
Lincoln	…	525
Liverpool	…	1,559
Manchester	…	1,495
Norwich	…	399
Oxford	…	283
Pentonville	…	1,339
Shrewsbury	…	256
Swansea	…	287
Wandsworth	…	1,377
Winchester	…	560
Wormwood Scrubs	…	1,365
Closed Training Prisons
Acklington	…	301
Albany	…	272
Aylesbury	…	306
Blundeston	…	404
Channings Wood	…	237
Chelmsford	…	192
Camp Hill	…	494
Coldingley	…	269
Dartmoor	…	450
Erlestoke	…	27
Exeter	…	38
Featherstone	…	158
Grendon	…	170
Gartree	…	238
Haverigg	…	467
Hull	…	83
Kingston (Portsmouth)	…	101
Lancaster	…	199
Long Lartin	…	318
Maidstone	…	393
Northallerton	…	187
Northeye	…	335
Nottingham	…	249
Onley	…	340
Parkhurst	…	379
Preston	…	543
Ranby	…	481
Reading	…	143
Shepton Mallet	…	251
Stafford	…	733
Standford Hill	…	169
Swinfen Hall	…	173
Verne	…	499
Wakefield	…	733
Open Training Prisons
Appleton Thorn	…	298
Ashwell	…	322
Ford	…	541
Kirkham	…	401
Leyhill	…	296
Rudgate	…	308
Springhill	…	188

Standford Hill	…	366
Sudbury	…	348
Borstals
Feltham (Finnamore)	…	50
Gaynes Hall	…	164
Gringley	…	71
Guys Marsh	…	183
Hatfield	…	196
Hewell Grange	…	93
Hollesly Bay	…	354
Lowdham Grange	…	210
Usk	…	82
Westerby	…	224
Deerbolt	…	156
Dover	…	201
Everthorpe	…	359
Feltham	…	268
Glen Parva	…	278
Grendon	…	10
Hindley	…	306
Huntercombe	…	167
Manchester	…	197
Portland	…	453
Rochester	…	389
Stoke Heath	…	438
Wellingborough	…	315
Wormwood Scrubs	…	146
Detention Centres
Campsfield House	…	60
Eastwood Park	…	128
Foston Hall	…	72
Kirklevington	…	130
Send	…	89
Whatton (Junior)	…	104
Aldington	…	80
Blantyre house	…	83
Buckley Hall	…	81
Haslar	…	66
Hollesley Bay	…	97
Medomsley	…	69
New Hall	…	72
North Sea Camp	…	135
Usk	…	83
Werrington	…	74
Watton (Senior)	…	84
Sub-Total (Males	…	39,364

Establishments for Female Offenders
Remand Centres
Low Newton	28
Pucklechurch	61
Risley	147
Prisons
Askham Grange	115
Drake Hall	98
Durham	36
East Sutton Park	17
Holloway	292
Moor Court	102
Styal	200
Borstals
Bulwood Hall	123
East Sutton Park	38
Styal	15
Sub-Total (Females)	1,272
Grand Total (Males and Females)	40,636

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to lay an order preventing boys aged 14 years being remanded to prison service establishments; and if he will out line his policy on the matter.

The Government's policy is to phase out the remand of all juveniles to prison department establishments under certificates of unruliness. Progress depends on the provision of the necessary alternative resources within the local authority system. My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Social Services and for Wales plan to discuss the next step in phasing out these remands with the local authority associations later in the year, in the light of the resources available and of experience in absorbing all 14-year-old girls on remand in the child care system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plan to bring forward new proposals for (a) remission and (b) parole; if so, for what category of prisoner; and, if not, why not.

My right hon. Friend naturally keeps these matters under continuing review, but he has no immediate plans to bring forward new proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were imprisoned for simple drunkenness in the last year for which figures are available; and how many are currently in prison.

None, because the maximum penalty for simple drunkenness is a fine. Some of the 2,463 persons received during 1976 into prison in default of payment of a fine for drunkenness may have been fined for simple drunkenness, but it would not be possible without disproportionate cost to ascertain the precise number.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women and (c) young persons, are currently in prison for begging or sleeping rough; how many of these were imprisoned without the option of a fine; and what was the sentence in each case.

On 30th June, 1976, there were 17 people in prison for begging or sleeping out. All were adult males, 13 had been sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine, five for three months, five for one month and one each for four months, two months and 14 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to decriminalise the offenders of (a) simple drunkenness (b) begging and sleeping rough and (c) soliciting by prostitutes.

We have no present proposal for legislation which would make it no longer a criminal offence to be drunk in a highway or other public place; action on this matter would need to be carefully weighed, because of the implications for public expenditure. Offences of begging and sleeping rough, and soliciting by prostitutes, have recently been reviewed by the Working Party on Vagrancy and Street Offences, whose report, as announced on publication, the Government have accepted in principle. We propose to take a legislative opportunity in due course to implement its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to amend the Shops Act to give more discretion to shop keepers in tourist areas to open on Sundays.

We have at present no plans for legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the administrative procedures of his Department in order to ensure that all letters sent by Ministers receive replies, or reminders are sent.

Administrative procedures relating to ministerial correspondence in my Department are kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost of keeping (a) a man, (b) a woman and (c) a schoolchild in prison.

In the financial year ended 31st March 1976, the latest date for which information is available, the average weekly cost of keeping a man and a woman in prison was £75 and £101, respectively. The cost of keeping young persons of school age in prisons is not separately recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many specialised Rule 43 units there are at each of Her Majesty's prisons by location; what is the individual accommodation of each unit; what is the size of the waiting list at each prison for admission to a Rule 43 unit; what is the longest period that a prisoner has remained in a Rule 43 unit; and when these were established.

There are three special units in Gloucester, Reading and Wakefield prisons. These units house men who have been segregated for their own protection under Rule 43 elsewhere and are likely to need such segregation for a considerable time. The other details asked for are:

	Gloucester	Reading	Wakefield
Number of cells	81	92	39
Waiting list*	17	8	5
Date opened	October 1973	April 1970	November 1975
* On 4th March 1977.

The longest period a prisoner has remained in one of these units is seven years—that is, since the unit at Reading opened.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from journalists of Border Television Limited about misrepresentation in the Annan Committee Report; and if he will make a statement.

None; though I understand that representations have been made to the secretariat of the Annan Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the extent of Scottish self-sufficiency in major foodstuffs, as reflected by Scottish production and Scottish patterns of consumption.

The following estimates relate to 1973–74:

		Production as percentage of Consumption
Beef	…	105
Mutton and Lamb	…	300
Pigmeat	…	85
Poultrymeat	…	140
Liquid Milk	…	100
Cheese	…	90
Butter	…	15
Eggs	…	80
Barley	…	90
Oats	…	105
Wheat	…	20
Potatoes	…	90
Fish	…	300

These estimates cover the major commodities that can be produced in Scotland. They exclude a number of minor items such as vegetables and temperate fruits where Scottish self-sufficiency is relatively low and a large range of commodities not grown in Scotland at all such as tea, coffee, citrus fruit, sugar and rice. Thus in total they account for about 60 per cent. of Scottish food consumption.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are registered as blind in Scotland.

This information is no longer collected centrally. At 31st December 1974, the last date for which figures are available, there were 10,063 persons in Scotland who were registered as being blind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the figures for injury accidents on the A74 for each of the last three years showing, where possible, the weather conditions during which these accidents happened.

The total number of injury accidents on the A74 south of

		January-March	April-June	July-September	October-December	Total
1974	…	29	51	46	53	179
1975	…	34	42	53	37	166
1976	…	21	21	30	34	106

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made towards improvement of trunk roads in Dundee; and what are the projected costs for improvements already planned.

Improvement of the western part of A972 Kingsway trunk road in Dundee is being planned.The statutory orders for the first phase were published in June 1976 and I hope that the last of the objections lodged against them will be withdrawn shortly. The other phases are at an earlier stage of consideration and similar statutory procedures will be necessary.The estimated cost at November 1976 prices for the first phase is £3·7 million, but detailed estimates of the cost of the remaining improvements are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what experiments are currently being carried out into community service orders; and where they are based;(2) what is the cost to date of experiments in community service orders.

Grampian, Lothian, Strathclyde and Tayside Regional Councils have agreed in principle to participate in experimental community service schemes for offenders and planning is proceeding. No expenditure has yet been incurred on the operation of these schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what mileage of motorway is under construction in

Eight miles of motorway are under construction. A start should be made in April on a scheme of about one mile, tenders have been received for a further scheme of just over five miles, and I expect that a further scheme of about 4½ miles will start towards the end of the year. In view of the need to control public expenditure the programme is being kept under review. It is, therefore, not possible to allocate starting dates to other motorway schemes at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the costs per unit of electricity produced at Hunterston B, inclusive and exclusive of research and development costs and capital and fixed charges; and how they compare with the average costs of production in Scotland.

I am asking the Chairman of the South of Scotland Electricity Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on planning consent and consent under Section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909 given to the South of Scotland Electricity Board in respect of sites at Torness and Carriden indicating what progress has been made.

Consent under Section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909 for the construction of a steam generating heavy water reactor power station at Torness was given to the South of Scotland Electricity Board on 5th February 1975 after a public local inquiry had been held. The consent carried with it planning permission under Article 3 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development) (Scotland) Order 1950, as read with Class XIX of the first schedule to the order. No work on the construction of the station has been undertaken pending completion of the current review of the SGHWR programme.Following a public local inquiry in May 1974 into the South of Scotland Electricity Board's application for Section 2 consent to construct an oil/gasfired power station at Carriden the reporter concluded that further information on atmospheric conditions in the Forth Valley was required. A survey being undertaken by the Warren Springs Laboratory has been extended accordingly. When the findings of the survey, which are expected later this year, are available, further consideration will be given to the board's application.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the amount of the Sports Council grant for 1977–78; and what percentage increase this represents over 1976–77.

Subject to parliamentary approval, the grant-in-aid to be paid to the Scottish Sports Council in 1977–78 will be £1·9 million. This represents an increased in cash terms of 11·7 per cent. over 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in the absence of costings and a feasibility study, upon what criteria his proposals in the consultative document on the future of teacher training colleges in Scotland are based.

The proposals take account among other things of the reduced need for teachers, the development of in-service training, the educational effectiveness of the colleges of education and the need to run them economically.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to make a statement of his conclusions on the future of the teacher training colleges in Scotland.

I have nothing to add to the answer given on 23rd March to Questions by the hon. Members for Dunbartonshire, East (Mrs. Bain), Edinburgh, North (Mr. Fletcher), Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind) and Edinburgh, West (Lord James Douglas-Hamilton).—[Vol. 928, c. 1277–78.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, before issuing the consultative document on teacher training colleges in Scotland, he considered the proposals of the Educational Institute of Scotland that the colleges should not be closed or merged, but that the intake to all of them should be cut back, with slightly heavier cuts being borne by the larger colleges.

I am not aware of any such proposals, but I am considering the comments made by the Educational Institute of Scotland on the consultative document.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he considered any alternative reorganisation for teacher training colleges in Scotland before issuing the consultative document; if so, what other possibilities he considered; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he considered closing or merging any colleges of education in Scotland other than the four mentioned in the consultative document; what were his reasons for choosing the four colleges concerned; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend considered a number of possibilities. The reasons for his proposals are set out in the consultative paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he will have on possible and viable diversification within the Scottish colleges of education.

I am considering various suggestions for diversification of the range of courses in colleges of education put forward in response to my right hon. Friend's consultative paper of 17th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the publication of the document "Teacher Training from 1977 Onwards", he is still considering the option of leaving all 10 Scottish colleges of education open.

All possible options are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect in Scotland of the plans to increase the number of mathematics and science teachers; and, in particular, whether these plans will alter his proposals for the teacher training colleges.

Discussions are being arranged with the General Teaching Council for Scotland, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, and other interested bodies about measures to improve the supply of teachers of subjects in which there are still shortages. I do not expect these measures to have any significant implications for my recent proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the position of the tanning industry in Scotland.

I am aware that a number of firms in the industry, faced with rising costs for raw materials, are having cash flow difficulties and are receiving assistance from the Government through the Temporary Employment Subsidy Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has had from the Scottish tanning industry; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations from the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will undertake a re-examination of the case for a four-year Bachelor of Education degree for Scottish primary teachers in place of the existing three-year diploma.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total refinery distillation capacity in each of the EEC countries and his estimate of the existing over-capacity in the terms of EEC requirements.

At the end of 1975 total refinery distillation capacities in Community countries, as notified to the OECD, were as follows:

			million tonnes a year
Belgium	…	…	48·7
Denmark	…	…	11·0
France	…	…	169·5
Germany (F.R.)	…	…	153·9
Ireland	…	…	2·8
Italy	…	…	220·7
Luxembourg	…	…	—
Netherlands	…	…	102·1
United Kingdom	…	…	147·2
Total	…	…	855·9

In the recent EEC Commission document "Community Approach to Refining Problems within the Community" [R/684/77] it was estimated that there were some 220 million tonnes a year spare capacity in the Community in 1975, after allowing for normal under-utilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) of the total United Kingdom refinery capacity, what is the present over-capacity bearing in mind the present yield and current market demand;(2) what is his estimate of the number of new refineries and/or modified existing plants required to produce the volume of light and medium distillates required to meet immediate and prospective demand in the United Kingdom.

In 1976 the utilisation of gross United Kingdom annual refining capacity of about 146 million tonnes was approximately 67 per cent. After allowance for factors such as maintenance and seasonal variations in demand, this corresponds to a utilisation level of about 79 per cent. of achievable capacity. It is not possible to judge overall capacity needs by reference to the demand for particular refined products. Existing capacity is, however, sufficient to meet United Kingdom demand for middle distillates for the present and in the foreseeable future. The United Kingdom does not at present have enough secondary upgrading capacity to produce the yield pattern needed to meet national demand for light distillates, but the refining industry has put forward a number of schemes for new upgrading plants.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) considering the growing numbers of export refineries on stream, under construction or planned in the Middle East and on the Mediterranean literal, whether he proposes in collaboration with the Community to protect the EEC market;(2) whether he has recommended to or discussed with the Commission the prospect of an EEC approach to product imports involving either quantitative restrictions or additional import duties.

These problems are amongst those examined in the Commission's recent communication to the Council about the Community approach to refining problems within the Community which was briefly discussed at the Energy Council on 29th March and will be further considered by the Council in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has now abandoned, modified or postponed his proposal for an EEC minimum support price for oil; and if he will make a statement.

No. Our position is unchanged, and the Commission was requested by the Council on 29th March to do further work on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why no decision has yet been reached by the EEC Energy and Research Ministers on the siting of the thermonuclear fusion project; and when he now expects an agreement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier this afternoon to the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. King).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the EEC regulations dealing with the import of petroleum products.

Imports of petroleum products are, or can be, affected by the following instruments:

• Regulation 459/68 (anti-dumping).
• Decision 72/455 (terms for imports from third countries).
• Regulation 3254/74 (notification of imports: extension of Regulation 1055/72).
• Regulation 2677/75 (application of Regulation 3254/74).
• Directive 491/76 (notification of prices).
• Regulation 1507/76 (preferential tariff ceilings for imports from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia in 1977).
• Regulation 3021/76 (preferential tariffs for certain products originating in developing countries in 1977).
• Regulation 3031/76 (preferential tariff quotas for imports from Spain in 1977).
• Regulation 3037/76 (preferential tariff ceilings for imports from Israel in 1977).
• Regulation 3040/76 (preferential tariff quotas for imports from Egypt in 1977).
• Regulation 3053/76 (preferential tariff quotas for imports from Turkey in 1977).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any proposals to broaden research and development at the Atomic Energy Authority establishment at Harwell to allow for a higher priority of work on solar, tidal, wavepower and windpower; and if there are any plans to step up work at Harwell on improving efficiency of combustion systems using coal and other energy conservation projects.

My Department's Energy Technology Support Unit at Harwell is being built up to enable it to meet its functions of assessment and management of our growing R & D programmes in these fields and of the overall strategic assessment of national energy R & D requirements. Harwell already carries out a substantial energy R & D programme for several Government Departments. My Department is placing R & D contracts with Harwell when it is the most appropriate establishment to carry out the work.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what benefits he expects for the United Kingdom from the proposed EEC guaranteed loans for the financing of nuclear power stations.

Both nuclear power stations and industrial fuel cycle installations are eligible for loans under the Euratom scheme. I understand that applications for loans are being made by the Electricity Council and SSEB.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has now withdrawn his opposition to the proposed EEC guaranteed loans for the financing of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom reservation on the Euratom loans scheme was lifted at the Energy Council of 29th March 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any proposals to support research to assess the prospects for extracting uranium from sea water.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Macfarlane) on 18th October 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why he has not yet published the exceptional circumstances which justify his intervention, under the Counter-Inflation Act 1973, to increase gas prices outside the provisions of the Price Code; and when he intends to do so.

The ministerial consent will appear in the Gazette tomorrow and the majority of national newspapers shortly afterwards. As to the justification for my intervention, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman) on 28th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what consideration he has given to including site rents for static holiday caravans within the Price Code.

My right hon. Friend has no powers to extend the Price Code to include rents.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Monopolies Commission the proposed acquisition by the sugar monopoly Tate and Lyle of Messrs. Ridgeways from International Stores having regard to the structure already existing in the tea blending and marketing trade in the United Kingdom.

I am advised that the proposed acquisition is unlikely to qualify for possible reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission under Section 64 of the Fair Trading Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the facilities of the Export Credits Guarantee Department are available for exports to agencies of any Government unrecognised or regarded as illegal by Her Majesty's Government and, if not, what criteria are applied by ECGD to exports to such agencies.

The facilities of the Export Credits Guarantee Department are available in principle to support British trade wherever this can be conducted on a sound commercial and legal basis. Thus, for example, ECGD cover is available for exports to agencies of the Government of the Transkei at the present time subject to the Department's normal underwriting criteria. However, ECGD facilities are not available in respect of illegal trade with Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the approximate balance of trade of the United Kingdom

UNITED KINGDOM TRADE BALANCES* WITH EEC AND THE REST OF THE WORLD BY COMMODITY GROUP, 1976
£ million
		SITC Code Number	EEC	Rest of the World
Passenger motor cars	…	732·1	-472	+237
Motor cycles etc.	…	732·91	-7	-57
Domestic refrigerators, electrical	…	725·01	-23	+2
Domestic washing machines	…	725·02	-27	+10
* Exports (fob) less imports (cif).

The information has been derived from figures in the December 1976 issue of "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what is the total number of anti-dumping cases currently being investigated by his Department; and what was the comparable figure in March 1976;

Commodity				Exporting country		Date advertised
Single-barrelled sporting shotguns	…	…	…	U.S.S.R.	…	5th February 1976
Double-barrelled sporting shotguns	…	…	…	U.S.S.R.	…	5th February 1976
PVC leathercloth	…	…	…	Hungary	…	16th March 1976
PVC leathercloth	…	…	…	East Germany	…	10th January 1977
Stereo flong	…	…	…	U.S.A.	…	24th August 1976
Stainless steel bars and billets	…	…	…	Spain	…	18th October 1976
Steel reinforcing bars	…	…	…	South Africa	…	21st December 1976
Non-alloy steel sections and flats	…	…	…	Spain	…	1st February 1977
Non-alloy steel sections and flats	…	…	…	South Africa	…	1st February 1977
Non-alloy steel sections and flats	…	…	…	Japan	…	14th March 1977
Printed circuit board drills	…	…	…	U.S.A	…	4th February 1977
Horticultural glass	…	…	…	U.S.S.R.	…	17th February 1977
Horticultural glass	…	…	…	Czechoslovakia	…	17th February 1977
Horticultural glass	…	…	…	Romania	…	17th February 1977
Horticultural glass	…	…	…	Poland	…	17th February 1977
Socket sets	…	…	…	Japan	…	18th March 1977
Compressed air breathing apparatus	…	…	…	Sweden	…	24th March 1977
High speed steel	…	…	…	Austria	…	25th March 1977
Tool steel	…	…	…	Austria	…	25th March 1977

The comparable figure in March 1976 was 10 cases. These figures do not include cases which have not reached the formal full investigation stage. It would not be appropriate to list these, since this might prejudice our inquiries. In addition the Department is currently assisting the Commission in handling three formally announced anti-dumping complaints on behalf of United Kingdom industries.