asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the average weekly earnings of a police constable in Scotland; and what are the average weekly earnings of all ranks from constable to chief inspector at the latest available date;(2) by what percentage the average policeman's weekly earnings are higher or lower than the average weekly earnings of other non-manual workers in Scotland at the latest available date.

The latest information available relates to March 1976 and derives from a Survey of Police Earnings undertaken by the Police Council for the United Kingdom. While the survey was conducted on a United Kingdom basis the Scottish sample produced the figures for gross earnings set out below:

	£
Uniformed constable	69·38
Detective constable	85·94
Uniformed sergeant	85·59
Detective sergeant	102·25
Uniformed inspector	98·64
Detective inspector	103·41
Uniformed chief inspector	116·98
Detective chief inspector	121·21

The average gross weekly earnings of all male non-manual workers in Scotland aged 21 years and over at April 1976 was £80·80.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to visit Roxburgh.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton) on 7th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many police cadets there were in Scotland at the latest date; how many there were in 1974; and how many there were in 1964;(2) how many traffic wardens there were in Scotland at the latest available date; and how many there were in 1974;(3) if he will list all the civilian aids currently available to the police force whose work enables policemen and policewomen to be released from crime duties; what were the aids available similarly in 1974; and what proposals there are to cut those aids further.

The number of cadets at 31st March in each of the years was:

1964	258
1974	478
1977	439

The number of traffic wardens at 31st March in each year mentioned by the hon. Member was:

1974	760
1977	784

Apart from cadets, traffic wardens, and civilians employed on domestic duties the numbers of civilians at 31st March in each year on the authorised establishment of police forces in Scotland i.e. those engaged on clerical and technical duties, was:

	Clerical	Technical	Total
1974	1,121	732	1,853
1977	1,250	876	2,126

I do not know whether the last category corresponds with what the hon. Member has in mind in his reference to releasing police officers from crime duties. I have no proposals at present to cut these numbers.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average time now taken in the London area between the application of local authorities for an order against squatters and the determination of the case by the court.

Information on the time intervals between the successive stages of actions in the courts is not collected on a routine basis. However, a recent survey carried out at a sample of London county courts indicates that the average time taken between the issue of an application for recovery of possession under Order 26 of the County Court Rules 1936 (summary proceedings for the recovery of land or rent) by a local authority and an order being made is about 23 days. There is provision

				April 1970	April 1971	April 1972	April 1973	April 1974	April 1975	April 1976	April 1977	Scale*
Chief Information Officer (A)			…	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	£8,650–£11,100
Chief Information Officer (B)			…	—	—	1	—	1	1	1	—	£7,750–£9,350
Principal Information Officer			…	2	2	1	2	3	3	3	3	£5,680–£7,450
Senior Information Officer			…	6	6	6	6	6	7	10	10	£4,900–£5,900
Information Officer		…	…	6	5	5	4	6	7	10	10	£3,900–£4,700
Assistant Information Officer			…	—	—	—	—	2	4	4	1	£2,395–£3,670
Higher Executive Officer			…	6	7	7	3	2	2	1	1	£3,900–£4,700
Executive Officer		…	…				6	4	7	5	6	£2,395–£3,670
Clerical Officer	…	…	…	7	8	10	4	6	5	6	7	£1,930–£2,540
Clerical Assistant		…	…				4	2	3	3	3	£31·80–£37·30
												(weekly rate)
				28	29	31	30	33	40	44	41
* Exclusive of pay supplement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total cost of running the Scottish Information Service, including wages, maintenance, furniture, equipment, electricity and any other cost whatsoever.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th April 1977; Vol. 929, c. 650], gave the following information:On the basis of standard Civil Service staff costings, as applied to current staff numbers, salaries and the cost of accommodation and common services for a year total about £310,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give his estimate of the percentage of persons employed in his Department who left the Department

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are employed in the public relations section of his Department; what are their titles; what are their salaries; and what were the respective answers in each year for the last 10 years.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th April 1977; Vol. 929, c. 650], gave the following information:Records for all the past 10 years are not preserved in the form requested.The number of persons employed in the Scottish Information Office, by grade, over the last eight years is shown on the following table:in 1976 for reasons other than having reached retirement age.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th April 1977; Vol. 929, c. 650], gave the following information:About 7 per cent., accounted for mainly by voluntary resignations and transfers to other departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what percentage crimes of violence against the person in Scotland have risen or fallen in the last 12 months for which figures are available compared with the 12 months immediately prior to that and also to the 12-month period 10 years before.

The number of crimes of violence against the person made known to the police in Scotland in 1976 was 1·6 per cent. above the corresponding figure for 1975 and 45·9 per cent. above the corresponding figure for 1966. The 1976 figure is provisional. For comparison with 1966 it has been adjusted to take account of a break in comparability between 1974 and 1975. The break in comparability is explained in Criminal Statistics, Scotland 1975 (Cmnd. 6631).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many violent assaults were made against policemen in Scotland in the last 12 months for which figures are available; how many in the 12 months immediately prior to that; and how many in the comparable period 10 years ago.

Figures of assaults upon the police in Scotland resulting in absence from duty in each of the years were:

1966	88
1975	141
1976	86

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representation his Department will have in the proposed talks in Iceland between the EEC Commission and the Iceland authorities regarding granting access to British vessels in Icelandic fishing waters.

In these talks the EEC Commission, together with the Presidency delegation led by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be representing the interests of the fishing industries of the Community as a whole. I shall ensure that in the briefing of the delegation the interests of Scottish fishermen are taken fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present and projected cost for the next five years of maintaining Great Britain's nuclear deterrent.

The current costs of maintaining our strategic nuclear deterrent force are given in Annex B of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1977 (Cmnd. 6735). It is not the practice to publish further details.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the supplies of active and passive Sonarbuoys to the RAF to ensure that they are sufficient to meet NATO defence requirements.

No. The current stocks meet the requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will encourage Hawker Siddeley Aviation to sell the Nimrod airborne early warning aircraft to other NATO nations.

My Department will give Hawker Siddeley Aviation all appropriate support for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Ulster Defence Regiment are now on full-time duty; what is to be the duration of this call up; and, in view of its necessity, what steps are being taken to expedite and add to the formation of Conrate sub-units.

There are at present no members of the UDR on general call out, although between 17th March and 7th April five UDR companies were called out for periods of full-time service varying from one to three weeks. Recruitment and training of personnel for five full-time platoons are proceeding satisfactorily and three of the platoons have started to perform operational tasks. The formation of additional full-time platoons is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if the purchase of Service motor cars is by way of a contract which requires the contractor to observe and fulfil the obligations upon contractors specified in the Fair Wages Resolution passed by the House on 14th October 1946;(2) if the purchase of motor cars for Her Majesty's Government is by way of a contract which requires the contractor to observe and fulfil the obligations upon contractors specified in the Fair Wages Resolution passed by the House on 14th October 1946.

Contracts placed for the purchase of motor cars for Her Majesty's Government include a standard condition which requires the contractor to meet the obligations specified in the Fair Wages Resolution passed by the House of Commons in October 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current number of (a) Service and (b) civilian staff employed in the London headquarters of the Ministry; and by how many these totals have been reduced since 1st March 1974.

The current number of Service and civilian staff employed in Ministry of Defence Headquarters is 2,850 and 15,150 respectively. The reductions made since 1st April 1974—which is the baseline for the defence review—amount to some 200 Service personnel and some 750 civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the programme and what was the cost to public funds of the recent visit of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics officers to British defence establishments.

A party of nine officers from the Frunze Military Academy, Moscow, visited the United Kingdom from 27th to 31st March in return for a similiar visit paid to Moscow last year by officers of the Army Staff College, Camberley. In addition to visiting the Staff College, the Soviet Army visitors witnessed a Royal Engineer demonstration, paid courtesy calls in the Ministry of Defence, and visited places of interest. The costs of the exchange were met on a reciprocal basis, with each side paying its own air fares and the host nation meeting local expenses such as accommodation and transport. The costs to public funds of the Soviet Army visit to the United Kingdom is estimated to be about £1,800.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies it is estimated in 1977–78 will have taxable profits of less than £30,000; how many will have taxable profits of between £30,000 and £40,000; and what is the estimated corporation tax yield from all companies estimated to have profits of less than £40,000 in the year 1977–78, after all Budget changes.

It is not yet possible to provide any precise estimate of the numbers of companies by range of taxable income since sufficient information is not yet available on the impact of stock relief on this size distribution. But it is thought that over 95 per cent. of all companies will either have no liability to corporation tax in 1977–78 or be eligible for the small companies rate or marginal small company relief. Also, it is estimated that in 1977–78 receipts of corporation tax from companies with taxable profits less than £40,000 will be in the range £350 million to £400 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the revenue which will accrue to the Treasury by his imposition of the increased tax on petrol announced in his Budget.

As my right hon. Friend said in his Budget Statement, the proposed increase in road fuel duty will produce an overall revenue increase, including VAT, of £300 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent a 3p a pint increase in the tax on beer would increase the revenue to the Treasury.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull East (Mr. Prescott) on 7th April 1977.—[Vol. 929, c. 627.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the valuation of finds of treasure trove in view of the criticisms of rewards made to finders by the British Museum.

Although I have not found any justification for complaints about the valuation of finds carried out by the museum, I accept that some reassurance may be needed on this point. I have decided, with the agreement of the British Museum, to set up a reviewing committee under an independent chairman and with members nominated by the British Academy and the Society of Antiquaries, which will review the valuations carried out by the museum.The terms of reference of the committee will be to ensure that the valuations arrived at are fair and just, as between a willing buyer and willing seller, to announce awards, and to make payments to finders.The chairman will be Sir John Pilcher and the members, whom I am appointing for terms of three to five years in the first instance, will be Mr. I. O. Chance, Professor J. D. Evans and Mr. C. E. Blunt.

Date of Issue			Stock		Minimum Lending Rate
14th October 1976		…	£400 million 3 per cent. Treasury Stock 1982	…	15 per cent. (from 7th October 1976).
14th October 1976		…	£600 million 15½ per cent. Treasury Loan 1998	…	15 per cent.
11th November 1976		…	£600 million 15¼ per cent. Treasury Loan 1996	…	15 per cent.
11th November 1976		…	£600 million 14 per cent. Treasury Stock 1982	…	15 per cent.
25th November 1976		…	£800 million 13 per cent. Exchequer Stock 1980	…	14¾ per cent. (from 19th November).
10th December 1976		…	£500 million 15½ per cent. Treasury Loan 1998 A	…	14¾ per cent.
31st December 1976		…	£750 million 15¼ per cent. Treasury Loan 1966 A	…	14¼ per cent. (from 24th December).
7th January 1977		…	£600 million 12¾ per cent. Exchequer Stock 1981	…	14 per cent. (from 7th January 1977).
20th January 1977		…	£1,250 million 13¾ per cent. Treasury Loan 1993	…	14 per cent.
24th March 1977		…	£800 million 12¼ per cent. Exchequer Stock 1992	…	10½ per cent. (from 18th March 1977).
6th April 1977	…	…	£800 million 9¼ per cent. Exchequer Stock 1982	…	9½ per cent. (from 31st March).
Note: Between 20th January and 24th March when there were no issues minimum lending rate was reduced from 14 per cent. to 13¼ per cent. on 21st January, to 12¼ per cent. on 28th January, 12 per cent. on 3rd February. 11 per cent. on 10th March and to 10½ per cent. on 18th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide in the Official Report 1977–78 figures representing the effect in revenue terms of (a) a one point movement in the basic

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the extra revenue which would accrue to the Treasury by a further increase of 3p a bottle on whisky, gin and other spirits taxed on a similar basis.

The increase in revenue might be about £2 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much Government debt has been sold since interest rates rose to 15 per cent;(2) if he will indicate how much Government debt has been sold at 15 per cent. and at each of the lower level of interest rates which have prevailed since.

Since 7th October last year, when minimum lending rate rose to 15 per cent., issues for cash by Her Majesty's Treasury have totalled £7,700 million of stock. This is broken down in relation to each of the rates for minimum lending rate since then as follows:rate of value added tax, and (

About (a) £350 million and (b) £40 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of Government revenues from North Sea oil and gas for each year from the present until the middle of the 1980s.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th April 1977; Vol. 929, c. 557], circulated the following further information:The Government revenue from North Sea oil and gas depends on a number of factors which cannot be precisely estimated for particular future years. These include changes in the price of oil, the exchange rate, costs and the production programme.On the basis of oil prices in 1976, before the recent OPEC increase and the latest cost and production forecasts, the combined yield from royalty, petroleum revenue tax and corporation tax until the end of 1980 is expected to be in the region of £5½ billion at 1976 prices.During the early 1980s the yearly revenue is expected to rise to a level around £4¼ billion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the statutory authority for making a charge to importers for the cost of out-of-hours attendance by the Customs and Excise at ports of entry.

The Commissioners of Customs and Excise have powers under Section 3 of the Customs and Excise Act 1952 to prescribe the days and the hours when offices of Customs and Excise are open or officers are to be available for the performance of particular duties. Where traders wish to have the attendance of officers outside these prescribed days or hours, they enter into a contract with the commissioners for such attendance and it is one of the conditions of the contract that charges shall be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the basis of the calculation of the cost of out-of-hours attendance by the Customs and Excise at ports of entry; and how it is allocated between individual importers.

Charges for out-of-hours attendances by Custom and Excise staff are set at a level designed to recover the full costs of supplying the service and are calculated by reference to the average remuneration of the grades concerned including overtime, etc., with an appropriate addition for general expenses.Charges for additional attendances requested by individual importers or by agents acting on behalf of shipping companies, wharfingers, importers or exporters are calculated as indicated in Customs and Excise Notice No. 112. Where appropriate, the agent apportions the charge paid by him between the individual importers, etc., concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the reasons for charges in the criteria laid down for special attendance in Notice 112 of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise issued in January 1977 by comparison with earlier notices.

Extending the hours of free attendance by Customs and Excise staff wherever there is a recurring and continuous need for it would raise the level of public expenditure, and this cannot be justified in present economic circumstances: so the reference to the normal pattern of trade has been omitted from paragraph 1 of the notice as it is not the sole criterion. The reasons for grouping the rates of charges into two bands—set out in Appendix II to the notice—are explained in a revised paragraph 7. There is no other alteration of substance not issued as an amendment slip to the previous print.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the charge to importers for the cost of out-of-hours attendance by the Customs and Excise at ports of entry is in conformity with EEC regulations (a) as regards goods from other countries of the EEC and (b) as regards goods from countries not of the EEC.

There are no EEC regulations relating to charges for out-of-hours attendance by Customs and Excise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the recent increase in the charge to importers for out-of-hours attendance by the Customs and Excise at ports of entry was submitted to and approved by the Price Commission.

The proposal to increase the charge to importers for out of-hours attendance was considered and accepted by the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what charges have been made to importers for out-of-hours attendance by the Customs and Excise at the port of Dover and at other ports of entry for the months of January and February 1977, given port by port.

The receipts for charges for out-of-hours attendance at the port of Dover and at other ports for the months of January and February 1977 are not readily available, port by port. The following list records the charges collected in those months in the various Customs and Excise collections. In some collections the amounts represent the sum of charges at more than one port, or airport.

CHARGES FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE REQUEST OF MERCHANTS
(£ paid during calendar month)
Collection	January	February
Aberdeen	1,417	2,026
Belfast	4,123	6,296
Birmingham	913	579
Brighton	2,863	5,339
Bristol	2,436	4,022
Chester	423	3,636
Dover	23,442	53,187
Edinburgh	4,208	7,948
Glasgow	9,357	15,039
Greenock	14,372	27,657
Harwich	11,613	18,065
Hull	5,628	7,974
Leeds	171	277
Liverpool	5,276	7,194
London Airport	20,973	23,947
London Central	1,158	2,964
London North	46	80
London South	199	91
London West	199	94
Manchester	4,382	6,421
Newcastle	1,836	3,427
Northampton	1,398	568
Nottingham	654	311
Plymouth	556	800
Preston	606	1,573
Reading	135	168
Southampton	12,832	16,443
South Wales and Borders	2,987	4,775
London Port	7,894	10,642

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, pursuant to the Minister for Housing and Construction's answers to the hon. Member for Melton on 30th November 1976 and 3rd February 1977, he is now in a position to make a statement on the setting up in his Department of a full type-approval system, as recommended by the Agrément Board.

Our consideration of this matter is not yet complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take about the recent evidence that the Nationwide Building Society is not willing to accept nominations under the council mortgage replacement scheme in that part of Lewisham stretching between Lewisham Way and the River Thames, an area which includes the Brookmill Road General Improvement Area.

I understand that the London Boroughs Association has recently drawn the attention of the Building Societies Association to problems arising on replacement lending in London. I hope that this will lead to a satisfactory solution in cases such as that mentioned by my hon. Friend, and I have asked to be kept in close touch with developments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time now taken in the London area between a council order to evict and the execution of the order by bailiffs.

Orders are normally executed between 28 days and 49 days after being issued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether any local authorities have received loan sanction since 12th November 1976 to build dwellings for sale by direct labour; and, if so, whether he will name the scheme in each case, the gross tender price and the number of dwellings involved;(2) whether he will list the local authorities which have received loan sanction to build dwellings by direct labour since his answer to the hon. Member for Melton on 12th November

Local Authority

Name of Scheme

Tender price

Number of dwellings

£

Barrow-in-Furness

…

…

Ormsgill Estate Redevelopment

…

…

819,168

103

Easington

…

…

…

Shotten Lane

…

…

…

…

945,999

113

Sedgefield

…

…

…

Jubilee Fields, Shildon

…

…

…

839,703

88

Sunderland

…

…

Hall Farm II

…

…

…

…

…

1,763,772

188

Barnsley

…

…

…

Doghill Drive, Shafton

…

…

…

377,559

43

Scunthorpe

…

…

Manifold Road

…

…

…

…

275,726

32

Sheffield

…

…

…

Mackenthorpe Hall

…

…

…

…

384,799

52

Wakefield

…

…

…

Common End, Hensworth

…

…

…

1,149,862

132

Green Lane, Featherstone

…

…

…

421,119

52

Chesterfield

…

…

…

Green Farm, Phase I

…

…

…

1,104,442

139

Leicester

…

…

…

Cardinals Walk

…

…

…

…

23,010

2

Mansfield

…

…

…

Oak Tree Lane, Devel

…

…

…

1,033,165

124

North East Derbyshire

…

Westhill Lane, Grassmoor

…

…

…

228,277

25

Tupton Redevelopment, Phase II

…

…

247,565

23

Colchester

…

…

…

Wimpole/Winnock Road

…

…

…

64,096

8

Camden

…

…

…

52–58 Priory Road

…

…

…

…

154,718

12

Rhyl Street, Malden Road

…

…

…

163,282

10

Greenwich

…

…

…

Footscray Road, Eltham

…

…

…

22,888

1

Hackney

…

…

…

Richmond Road

…

…

…

…

732,764

49

Wandsworth

…

…

Kambala Road, Stage II

…

…

…

1,556,070

92

Convent, West Hill

…

…

…

…

2,112,297

142

Reading

…

…

…

Orts Road, Phase IIA

…

…

…

639,365

67

Orts Road, Phase IIB

…

…

…

1,033,069

101

Caroline Street

…

…

…

…

324,151

33

Birmingham

…

…

Audley Road

…

…

…

…

64,592

6

Sandwell

…

…

…

Richards Street/Barrack Street

…

…

322,228

38

Burnt Tree, Phase I, Tipton

…

…

690,670

71

The Wrekin

…

…

Moss Road, Wrockwardine Wood

…

767,473

89

Manchester

…

…

Alexandra Road

…

…

…

…

1,088,184

120

Bedwell Street

…

…

…

…

283,155

29

Sale

…

…

…

…

…

…

545,059

60

Sewerby Street

…

…

…

…

3,874,136

386

St. Helens

…

…

…

Weedon Avenue

…

…

…

…

162,707

19

Ogwr

…

…

…

De Clare Close, Porthcawl, Phase 2

…

13,001

1

De Clare Close, Porthcawl, Phase 2

…

26,932

2

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average controlled rent in England, London and outside London, respectively.

The latest estimates are for April 1973 and are as follows:

AVERAGE CONTROLLED RENTS 1973 (P.A.)
	£
Greater London	88
Rest of England and Wales	48
England and Wales	57

Separate estimates for England are not readily available.These figures include rents for dwellings in rateable value bands subsequently

The information available to the Department up to Thursday 7th April is as follows. None of the schemes listed contained dwellings for sale.decontrolled under the general decontrol provisions of the Housing Finance Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which categories of local government employees receive either full pay or its equivalent during sick leave; and whether they are also entitled to tax refunds in these circumstances.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction on 17th February.—[Vol. 926, c. 318.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many controlled tenants there were in 1957 at the time of the Rent Act 1957; how many controlled tenants there were in 1965 at the time of the Rent Act 1965; and what is the annual rate of loss of controlled tenancies since 1965.

It is estimated that there were 3·9 million controlled tenancies in England and Wales in mid-1957 and 1·9 million at the end of 1965. The best estimate at present, based in part on trends identified in the late 1960s, is that there are still about 375,000 controlled tenancies. Material from a departmental survey in process of being analysed suggests, however, that the current figure may be much lower.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many controlled tenancies have moved into the regulated system in each year since 1965 under the qualification certificate procedure.

The procedure for converting a controlled tenancy into a regulated one by means of a qualification certificate was introduced in 1969, but figures for that year and for 1970 are unfortunately not available. The numbers converted in England and Wales by this procedure in each subsequent year were as follows:

NUMBER OF CONTROLLED TENANCIES CONVERTED TO REGULATED ONES BY QUALIFICATION CERTIFICATE (ENGLAND AND WALES)
1971	22,380
1972	53,680
1973*	22,910
1974*	6,990
1975*	4,840
1976*	4,140
* For these years the figures exclude cases for which "fair" rents were not subsequently registered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many controlled tenancies were decontrolled under the Housing Finance Act 1972 in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

It is estimated that about 300,000 tenancies in England and Wales were so decontrolled in 1973, when the programme began, and about 150,000 in 1974. The programme was effectively ended during 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many controlled tenancies have been lost through demolition and redevelopment in each year since 1965;(2) how many controlled tenancies have been lost through the death of the tenant in each year since 1965.

I regret that separate estimates for losses due to demolition and redevelopment or through the death of the tenant are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many existing controlled tenants are estimated to be of pensionable age.

About two-thirds to three-quarters of heads of households in controlled tenancies are estimated to be of pensionable age.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in accordance with his answer to the hon. Member for Luton, West, of 1st April 1977, he will now give the figures for housing expenditure asked for at 1976 survey prices so as to enable comparisons to be made between Command Paper No. 6393 and Command Paper No. 6721.

The attached table compares, at 1976 Survey prices, the housing programmes in Table 2.7 of Cmnd. 6721 with those in Cmnd. 6393. As explained in Cmnd 6721, the figures for 1979–80 are more than usually provisional in that they were not reviewed in the light of the measures announced on 15th December 1976. Consequently a less detailed breakdown was provided for that year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to increase the number of registered disabled persons employed in the Ordnance Survey; and when he expects to achieve the 3 per cent. target.

The Ordnance Survey is not at present recruiting on a scale which would increase its proportion of registered disabled persons to the target of 3 per cent. The Department has been doing what it can to ensure that, where its existing staff are eligible to register, they do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to grant total or partial exemption from rating in respect of private dwellings occupied by severely disabled persons.

Section 45 of the General Rate Act 1967 already provides relief from rates in respect of structural facilities for disabled persons, including facilities in dwellings. My right hon. Friend is considering whether the current legislation ought to be amended in the light of the decision last year by the other place in the case of Vandyk v. Oliver.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the recent Noise Advisory Council Report on Concorde was based on data from the CAA DORA 7609 report.

The report of the Working Group of the Noise Advisory Council on Concorde noise levels draws on the measurements of Concorde's noise performance over its first eight months' operation at Heathrow which were published in the CAA DORA 7609 report. The report of the Working Group of the Noise Advisory Council, a copy of which is available in the Library, expresses the views of members of the Council rather than of myself as Chairman. A more up-to-date report by the Civil Aviation Authority to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade covering the first 12 months of Concorde's operation will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities in England and Wales are now required to exercise the duties imposed by Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th April 1977; Vol. 929, c. 640], gave the following information:In England, parish councils, or parish meetings, where they exist, otherwise district councils, or in Greater London, the London borough councils. The powers of London borough councils in inner London are permissive only.In Wales, the district and community councils, which have concurrent powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will inquire into the problem of rat and mice infestation in the Greater London area; and if he will publish his findings on the comparisons of effective control methods used and the number of operatives used borough by borough.

I have been asked to reply.No significant changes in levels of rodent infestation are apparent from the latest data which my Department has collected from the local authorities concerned. The situation in Greater London, as in other larger conurbations, is that mouse infestations are found more frequently, and rat infestations less frequently, than average levels for the country as a whole. My Department's Pest Infestation Control Laboratory regularly monitors and compares the suitability and effectiveness of various rodent control techniques and treatments. These findings are published, primarily with a view to providing guidance for local authorities, in a reference manual "Control of Rats and Mice". I am sending a copy of this to my hon. Friend and am arranging for a further copy to be placed in the Library of the House. No central records are kept of numbers of local authority pest control staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce the dangers to pedestrians, cyclists and drivers on the A36 trunk road passing through the parish of Wellow in Hampshire; and whether he will introduce a 30 m.p.h. speed limit, build a small roundabout at Canada Corner and replace the single white lines with double white lines.

I am considering improvements, which could include a roundabout at Canada Road junction. The white line markings are being re-examined and I am reviewing the question of a speed limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport on what evidence the Under-Secretary suggested on BBC television that mopeds can achieve 50 m.p.h.; to what proportion of mopeds he was referring; and if he will make a statement.

Many mopeds currently in use have a capacity which enables speeds of up to 50 m.p.h. to be achieved. I do not, however, know precisely what proportion this represents of the total number of mopeds. It is largely out of concern for the safety of young riders of such machines that the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1976 were enacted. Under these Regulations the term "moped" was redefined so that machines first used on or after 1st August this year cannot rank as a moped if their design speed exceeds 30 m.p.h. This in turn precludes people under the age of 17 from being licensed to drive such machines, and those who are eligible to drive them will have to undergo the motor cycle driving test before they can obtain full licences.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards fixed-route taxis known as jinties.

Under taxi and hire-car legislation, which is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, vehicles cannot offer services at separate fares as public service vehicles do. But it is open to any psv operator in the exercise of his commercial judgment to apply to the traffic commissioners for a road service licence for a service on a fixed route, but without fixed stops, using whatever size of vehicle seems to him appropriate—including cars. I have an open mind about the likely value of such services. A current experimental service in Leighton Buzzard, arranged jointly by the county council and the local NBC subsidiary, and using midibuses, has sections with no fixed stops and may throw some light on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for any alteration in the powers or responsibilities of the traffic commissioners.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Shoreham (Mr. Luce) on 9th February 1977.—[Vol. 929, c. 1407.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the average percentage increase since January 1975 in bus fares for schoolchildren travelling to and from school who are not entitled to bus passes.

This information is not available and the cost of providing it would be disproportionate.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry which sector working parties of the NEDO have published their reports and how many have not; and who has decided, on the basis of what criteria, that certain sector working party reports should be published whilst others were not.

The following sector working parties have made available versions of the reports submitted at the end of last year: ferrous foundries, non-ferrous foundries, pumps and valves, fluid power equipment, industrial engines, mechanical handling equipment, industrial trucks, construction steelwork, automation and instrumentation, telecommunications, electronic components, electronic computers, industrial electrical equipment, domestic electrical appliances, paper and board, rubber processing. 20 sector working parties have decided not to make their reports available at all or have yet to make a decision on this. It is for the sector working parties themselves to decide whether to release their reports. In arriving at their decisions one factor they no doubt take into account is the importance of not making widely available information which might be valuable to overseas competitors.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to receive the accounts and statement of account from the National Enterprise Board for its financial year ended 31st December 1976; when he expects them to be published; and if he will make a statement when they are published.

I understand they will be sent to my right hon. Friend next week, and published about a fortnight later. My right hon. Friend does not envisage making a statement. He will, of course, lay the accounts and statement before Parliament, as the Industry Act 1975 requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what study his Department is making of industrial opportunities likely to result from development of electronic chips.

The Department, in association with other European Governments and with the Commission of the EEC, has subscribed to a major study by a consultant of the market for semiconductors, including integrated circuits. The Electronics Research Council, which advises the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Industry, will give special attention to this sector during the coming year and so will the Computer Systems and Electronics Research Requirements Board. Several sector working parties under the industrial strategy are also concerned with the effect on industry of integrated circuit developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why, in view of the level of unemployment and reduced investment in Haverhill, his Department has been seeking to advise industrialists in this expanding town of the subsidies available to them if they move to development areas in the North and Scotland.

I recognise the need for more investment and employment in Haverhill, as in many places throughout the country. Firms there stand to benefit from the national schemes of assistance if they have an eligible project. But I must continue to give priority to the needs of the assisted areas, whose industrial and employment problems are in general more severe.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he received the report of the Central Policy Review Staff into the future of the power plant manufacturing industry; and what has delayed Government action to implement the report's recommendations.

The CPRS report was received in November 1976. Ministers have since then held a series of consultations with interested parties to seek their views on the report and on its implementation. These are nearing completion and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry expects to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what methods of support, aid or grants are available to the shipbuilding industry in the United Kingdom which are compatible with EEC and GATT obligations.

The United Kingdom shipbuilding industry has access to cost escalation insurance and credit facilities for both home and export orders; and benefits from shipbuilders' relief which is a rebate of indirect taxes. In addition, the industry is eligible for assistance under the Industry Act 1972. In particular the Government announced on 24th February the introduction of a £65 million fund under Part II of the Industry Act 1972 to assist the yards in Britain to obtain orders. All these measures are considered to be compatible with our international obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what he assesses to be the total volume of orders likely to be available on the world market for the construction of merchant ships in the foreseeable future.

The volume of new orders placed world-wide in 1975 and 1976 has been of the order of 13 to 14 million gross tons annually. The level of ordering is not expected to increase significantly before the end of the decade.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what he considers to be a realistic capacity for the shipbuilding industry constructing merchant shipping in the context of world market conditions on national requirements; and whether he sees any reason to depart from the assessments made in the Booz Allen Report of 1974;(2) how he proposes to reduce the British shipbuilding industry to a viable size bearing in mind current over-capacity and diminished international orders.

The Government's aim is to maintain the maximum capacity in the British shipbuilding industry compatible with market prospects. The Booz Allen report was based on information available in 1972 which is now considerably outdated.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether it is the intention of the Government to invest State moneys more heavily in the profitable shipbuilding companies in the United Kingdom or in those companies which have failed to secure orders; or whether it is their policy to aid all the recently acquired companies indiscriminately or subject to performance criteria.

Any Government assistance to shipbuilding companies will be made on a selective basis and will take into account performance and profitability.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the steering committee for the nationalised shipbuilding industry was set up; and what has delayed the decision as to the location of the future headquarters for the industry.