asked the Lord President of the Council what is the average cost of producing the daily Official Report on Commons photocopying machines; and how many copies printed in this way are published each day.

When the service from St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press is not available some 100 copies of the Official Report are produced each day on the House of Commons photocopying machines at an average cost of about £325. The copies are made available at the Vote Office for Members and House officials; they are not published in the customary way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received, and from whom, calling for the removal of the Faslane submarine base.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what studies are being made by his Department of the use of directed-energy weapon systems in connection with the defence of the United Kingdom.

A series of studies are being carried out to assess the potential threat from such weapons and investigate the protection of our own defence systems. All new technologies which could affect United Kingdom defence are kept under review. But I think that recent Press reports about Soviet developments in this field are exaggerated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF quarters in the United Kingdom are now empty; and how this compares with the figure two years ago.

On 1st March 1977, the latest date for which information is available, there were 4,836 empty RAF married quarters in the United Kingdom. This compares with 3,292 on 1st March 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what approaches have been made by the Soviet Union in regard to possible exchange visits between RAF and Soviet Air Force units; and what reply has been given.

As explained in the Statement on Defence Estimates 1977, the Final Act of the Helsinki Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe envisaged certain military confidence-building measures designed to enhance stability in Europe. These include exchange of military personnel. In the light of this the Soviet Government proposed an exchange of flying units in 1977. After careful consideration, they were informed that for practical reasons, including the very busy ceremonial programme of the

					Increase in:
					Pay		Married accommodation charge
					Per cent.	£ per week	Per cent.	£ per week
Private	…	…	…	Round 1	13·9	600	16·8	1·05
	…	…	…	Round 2	5·1	2·50	13·5	0·98
Sergeant	…	…	…	Round 1	8·8	6·00	16·5	1·19
	…	…	…	Round 2	5·0	3·73	14·2	1·19
Lieutenant	…	…	…	Round 1	8·9	6·00	17·6	1·75
	…	…	…	Round 2	5·0	3·74	12·6	1·47
Colonel	…	…	…	Round 1	—	—*	18·4	2·45
	…	…	…	Round 2	2·4	4·00	12·4	1·96
* No pay supplement because of £8·500 cut-off.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons for the increase under phases 1 and 2 of the Government's pay code of average industrial earnings by 19·9 per cent. compared with that of the Armed Forces which have increased by 14·4 per cent.

The higher percentage increase in civilian earnings compared with that for the Armed Forces under phases 1 and 2 of the Government's counter-inflation policy is the result of a number of factors. For example, opportunities for additional overtime in the civil sector and the effect of people moving to new and higher paid jobs, both of which were referred to by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body in its last report (Cmnd. 6801), have contributed to the disparate movement in the percentages. The figures have also been affected by pay settlements for outside groups which

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average percentage increase in Armed Forces' pay and married quarter accommodation charges, respectively, under phases 1 and 2 of the Government's pay and prices policy in respect of the following ranks and equivalents: (a) privates, (b) sergeants, (c) lieutenants and (d) colonels.

The information requested in respect of typical examples of the ranks shown is given below. Cash amounts of increases are also shown, as any comparison of percentage increases not deduced from a common base is misleading.were concluded during the transitional arrangements made at the start of phase 1 of the pay policy and by payments made in outside employments under the Equal Pay Act 1970 which have been permitted under pay policies. The terms of the Equal Pay Act were applied to Service women's pay on 1st April 1975, before the counter-inflation policy was introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any statement to make about progress with his inquiry into pay and conditions of those members of the Armed Forces serving in Northern Ireland.

Yes. It has for many years been an accepted part of the military salary concept that, in compensation for the hardships incurred, single men should not be charged for food or accommodation when serving in the field for two nights or more. Service men on emergency tours in Northern Ireland are regarded as being on "field conditions" throughout their tour. Similar arrangements have not hitherto applied to members of the permanent garrison in the Province who normally serve for tours of 18 months or more and who may be accompanied by their families. In view, however, of the developing rôle of the permanent garrison in security duties I have decided that this distinction in treatment is no longer appropriate and that it would be right in future to regard members of the permanent garrison as similarly under field conditions. They will, therefore, be treated, as regards food and accommodation charges, in a manner analogous to those serving on emergency tours.The effect of this will be that single men in the permanent garrison will be relieved of food charges (93p a day) during their tour. The married accompanied man will receive the same rate of daily food allowance (50p) as is paid to members of the UDR called out for duty for days when he is not provided with food by his unit. Single men will also be relieved of accommodation charges, and for married accompanied men occupying official quarters accommodation charges will be abated by the amount of the appropriate single accommodation charge. Single accommodation charges vary according to rank and the savings to the individual will, therefore, vary similarly. For corporals and below paying the standard charge the saving will, for example, amount to £2·80 a week; for a Captain, it will be £7·50.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the function of the information policy unit at the Army Northern Ireland Headquarters; and what separate function it performs that could not be handled by the Army Information Service which maintains a 24-hour Press desk.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Information Planning Section at Headquarters Northern Ireland. This forms part of the Army Information Service, and its function is to advise the GOC on the public relations aspects of Army opera- tions and to prepare public information programmes. The function of the Press Section, which is also operated by the Army Information Service, is to provide a wide range of Press facilities, including a 24-hour Press desk.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the Army has refused to recover from the River Bann at Toome an agricultural digger.

I have been unable to trace any request for Army assistance to recover an agricultural digger from the River Bann at Toome. However, if such a request were received it would be considered in the normal way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is now able to place a further order for a Type 42 destroyer for the Royal Navy.

An order has been placed today with Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Ltd. for the construction of the Royal Navy's tenth Type 42 destroyer.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total throughput of spent magnox fuel which was reprocessed at Windscale in each year from 1970 to 1976.

The figures, expressed in terms of uranium content, are as follows:

Financial year	Tonnes uranium
1970–71	1,177
1971–72	1,086
1972–73	765
1973–74	730
1974–75	1,121
1975–76	589
1976–77	956

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the present number of oil production platforms constructed in concrete either in the United Kingdom, Norway or Holland which are now operating in the North Sea; how many were constructed at each location; and if he will make a statement about plans for further construction of such platforms in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy of the concrete production platforms located in the British sector of the North Sea, what is the number built in United Kingdom yards and the number built abroad.

There are now three concrete oil production platforms located in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea. All were built in Norway. Following the loss of these early orders due to lack of United Kingdom capacity, the Government took steps to ensure that United Kingdom sites were developed to provide a variety of designs favoured by the operators. Three concrete platforms are now under construction in United Kingdom yards and one has just been built in Holland. Clearly, sites are now available for orders and several operators are currently considering both steel and concrete designs and have not yet excluded either.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of all North Sea oil production platforms currently in operation are of concrete or steel construction.

Of the 14 oil production platforms now installed in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea, 10 are steel jackets, three are concrete gravity structures, and one is a floating production system. Full details are given in Appendix 9 of the Report to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Energy in April 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he anticipates will be the effect of fatigue on North Sea steel platforms; and whether his monitoring of the position has led him to recommend further security arrangement for the protection of the staff accommodated.

North Sea structures have been designed using the best knowledge available at the time, fatigue life being estimated from stress cycles calculated from environmental data and being designed to be greater than the estimated working life of the structure. Information on environmental data is being collected continuously. This will be taken into account in the four-yearly certification procedures and if necessary vulnerable parts of structures will be reinforced.In addition, the Department is looking into improved methods of inspection and monitoring of platform integrity. I am advised that it is extremely unlikely that catastrophic failure of a platform will occur due to fatigue.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the corrosive effect of sea water on North Sea platforms has been greater than anticipated; and whether this fact now warrants further investigation.

In general, the corrosion on North Sea structures has been within expectations, although there have been isolated instances where excessive deterioration has occurred. Unfortunately, corrosion is usually effected by a combination of factors and it is difficult to predict exactly what will occur, although well established practices can reduce the risk.A close watch is being maintained on these structures and improved techniques for detecting deterioration are in course of development.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions in 1976 he or his oil agencies have engaged consultant engineers to gauge the suitability of platforms or their sites; and how many consultants were employed from firms based predominantly in Scotland and England, respectively.

The Offshore Supplies Office of the Department has retained the services of one eminent firm of consulting engineers since 1975 to oversee the development of the concrete platform sites at Portavadie and Hunterston and to provide advice from time to time on the various designs of platforms for which these sites might be suitable. This firm, although based in England, has an office in Scotland.Certifying authorities appointed by the Secretary of State for Energy are responsible for ensuring that offshore installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea comply with prescribed standards of design and construction and are suitable for the location involved. These authorities are free to engage consultant engineers as necessary without reference to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, of the total capital cost of developing leading oil fields in the North Sea, what percentage is allocated to production platforms, modules, gas separation units, and pipelines to shore terminals or mooring facilities.

Disaggregation of total capital costs for North Sea oil field development into the detail requested is not possible. A number of different methods are used to produce and convey the oil. The following broad average figures, based on estimates from the operators, conceal wide variations between particular fields and therefore need to be treated with reserve:

Platform structure	30 per cent.
Platform equipment	20 per cent.
Pipelines and single-point moorings	20 per cent.
Terminals	15 per cent.
Development drilling and miscellaneous	15 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy with what companies, sponsored by his Department, he is having discussions about planning agreements; and when he expects to make an announcement.

The participation agreements with the oil companies constitute a form of planning agreement through the provision for close consultation. The tripartite arrangement for coal serve many of the purposes of a planning agreement and I hope to develop suitable arrangements with the other publicly-owned fuel industries, building on existing practices of consultation and planning.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what conferences or exhibitions in the United Kingdom or abroad dealing with North Sea oil have either been sponsored or financed by the Government; and if he will give the location, general theme and cost of each such conference held during 1976.

I have been asked to reply and will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will introduce amending legislation seeking to reduce patronage in the appointment of members to Health and Education Boards and to make these boards more democratic.

I have at present no plans to amend the legislation relating to the selection of persons for appointment as members of health and social services boards or of education and library boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the pay increases to the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and what representations he has had from the Police Federation in Ulster.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 19th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list of the items on the agenda for his coming meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Irish Republic; and if he will raise the matter of the murderers of Mr. Deeking M. Rosslea, who found sanctuary in the Republic after their crime.

It is not the practice to publish an agenda for talks of this nature. Matters of common security concern are, however, invariably among the topics discussed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he proposed for the further encouragement of tourist development in Scotland.

In order to carry forward our policy of promoting the growth of tourism in parts of Scotland where this form of development can make a significant contribution towards relieving problems of unemployment and depopulation, I have asked the Scottish Tourist Board to prepare outline proposals for comprehensive development schemes in consultation with local authorities, with other statutory bodies and with commercial and private interests.The Board has expressed its readiness to take this initiative. It has a number of possible schemes under examination, and discussions about these have started, or will start soon, with other bodies concerned. Because of the importance of physical planning considerations, the Board will be consulting closely with local authorities who will not, however, be financially committed in any way in terms of this announcement. The Tourist Board will work in co-operation with the Highlands and Islands Development Board, which also has a responsibility for the development of tourism, over the preparation of schemes for its area.I have asked the Board to be ready to set aside in future a substantial propor- tion of its existing allocation of project assistance funds for approved schemes of this kind.I am confident that my approach to the Board will now lead to proposals which will bring together private and public investment for tourism development in an effective way to stimulate economic growth in areas of special need, thus giving expression to the objectives of the Government's policy guidelines for tourism announced in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the Report of the Working Party on Forensic Pathology Services in Scotland.

I have now received a report of the working party, which was set up in 1972 with a remit to examine forensic pathology services in Scotland and to consider their future development in relation to both the existing requirements of the criminal authorities and the proper development of the discipline as part of general pathology. Hitherto the authorities have been well served by the informal and willing cooperation of doctors who have come to specialise in forensic pathology—the staff of university departments of forensic medicine, hospital pathologists and police surgeons. The working party reviewed the existing system, identified the future requirements of criminal authorities and of the defence, having regard to the increasing specialisation in pathology and the need to secure enough doctors trained in forensic pathology, and made recommendations accordingly. Full consultation with the interests concerned will be necessary before any decisions can be reached, and copies of the Report are being distributed to interested organisations by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he has received from trade unions in the baking industry regarding the problem of bread production and distribution being discussed within the National Economic Development Council.

My right hon. Friend has received various proposals from trade unions concerned with the production and distribution of bread. Earlier this year the Scottish Union of Bakers and Allied Workers suggested that some form of board or committee be set up through the services of the Economic Development Committee to look into the problems of the baking industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection under which article of the Treaty of Rome long-term food subsidies applied by any member States are prohibited; and if he will state the terms of the article concerned.

Consumer subsidies on food are not prohibited under the Treaty of Rome provided they are compatible with the Common Market. Articles 92 to 94 lay down general rules about aids granted by member states. Such aids are prohibited only if they distort, or threaten to distort, competition and affect trade between member States.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the latest rate of inflation in manufacturing output prices based on (a) year on year and (b) quarter on quarter bases.

The wholesale price index for the home sales of all manufactured products rose by 20½ per cent. on provisional figures in the 12 months to April 1977 and by 4¼ per cent. in three months since January 1977. Earlier three-month increases were 4 per cent. to July 1976, 4¾ per cent. to October 1976 and 6½ per cent. to January 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list the financial assistance provided through his Department in (a) the London borough of Islington area and (b) the Greater London Council area in the financial years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77.

The information is not readily available, but I hope to be able to provide an answer soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what was the average price for home-grown and imported potatoes, respectively, during February 1976, November 1976 and February 1977.

The average retail prices of loose potatoes in pence per lb. were as follows:

	Homeproduced maincrop	Imported
		maincrop	new
February 1976	11–12	10–12	14–20
November 1976	10·5–11·5	9–11	—
February 1977	10·5–11·5	9–11	14–20

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will list all the public appointments for which he is responsible, the names of the present holders of these appointments and their salaries and allowances.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th May 1977; Vol. 932, c. 238,gave the following information:The list of salaried appointments is as follows:

CENTRAL TRANSPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
Chairman (part-time)
	£
Mr. R.P.Roberts	1,250

ELECTRICITY CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS
Area Chairmen (part-time)
	£
Eastern
Mr. C. T. Muddiman	2,100
East Midlands
Mr. C. R. W. Grantham	2,100
London
Mr. D. T. King	2,100
Merseyside &North Wales
Mr. M. J. Moor	2,100
Midlands
Mr. L. V. Pike	2,100
North Eastern
Mr. J. Brocklebank	2,100
North Western
Mr. S. C. Clifford	2,100

	£
South Eastern
Dame Elizabeth Ackroyd	2,100
Southern
Mr. J. Peck	2,100
South Wales
Mr. A. E. Randall-Edmunds	2,100
South Western
Mr. F. A. W. Pannell	2,100
Yorkshire
Mr. D. Webster	2,100

METRICATION BOARD
Chairman (part-time)
	£
Mr. J. M. Wood	4,665
Members (part-time)
Mr. M. A. Abrams	750
Mr. E. Cust	750
Mr. D. H. Darbishire	750
Mr. D. C. Dewar	750
Mr. D. Hobman	750
Miss D. D. Hyams	750
Mr. D. M. Landau	750
Mr. T. R. S. Lyons	750
Prof. M. L. McGlashan	750
Mr. H. P. Scanlon	750
Mrs. A. Stanley	750
Mrs. J. Upward	750

MONOPOLIES AND MERGERS COMMISSION
Chairman
	£
Mr. J. G. LeQuesne	16,580
Deputy Chairmen (part-time)
Mr. E. L. Richards	6,618
Sir Max Brown	4,412
Members (part-time)
Mr. G. F. Ashford	2,300
Mr. R. G. Aspray	2,300
Prof. J. Barna	2,300
Sir Dallas Bernard	2,300
Lady Bowden	2,300
Mr. J. S. Copp	2,300
Hon. J. D. Eccles	2,300
Sir Roger Falk	2,300
Mr. C. J. M. Hardie	2,300
Dr. F. E. Jones	2,300
Mr. T. P. Lyons	2,300
Mr. R. L. Marshall	2,300
Mrs. V. M. Marshall	2,300
Mrs. C. M. Miles	2,300
Mr. R. G. Opie	2,300
Mr. C. T. H. Plant	2,300
Mr. S. A. Robinson	2,300
Mr. J. S. Sadler	2,300
Miss R. Stephen	2,300
Professor H. Street	2,300
Professor B. S. Yamey	2,300

NATIONAL CONSUMER COUNCIL
Chairman (part-time)
	£
Mr. M. Young	6,000
Vice-Chairman (part-time)
Mrs. J. Macintosh	3,600

Members (part-time)
Dr. H. Armstrong	750
Mr. M. Barnes	750
Mr. A. Crawford	750
Mr. K. Glyn	750
Mr. C. Holmes	750
Councillor R. Knowles	750
Mrs. P. Lambert	750
Mrs. B. Lipman	750
Mrs. D. McAuslan	750
Lord Peddie	750
Baroness Phillips	750
Mr. B. Sewill	750
Mrs. R. Waterhouse	750
Mr. M. Wood	750
Mrs. J. Young	750

NATIONAL GAS CONSUMERS' COUNCIL
Chairman (part-time)	£
Baroness Macleod of Borve	2,000

OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING
Director General	£
Mr. G. J. Borrie	16,580

POST OFFICE USERS' NATIONAL COUNCIL
Chairman (part-time)	£
Lord Peddie	2,000

PRICE COMMISSION
Chairman	£
Sir Arthur Cockfield	16,580
Deputy Chairman (part-time)
Professor D. C Hague	6,290

Members (part-time)
Miss M. E. Head	3,432
Mr. A. W. John	3,432
Mr. K. A. Noble	3,432
Mr. I. F. H. Davison	2,574
Miss S. Black	1,716
Mr. A. W. Howitt	1,716
Mr. B. I. Petch	1,716

REGIONAL GAS CONSUMERS' COUNCILS
Regional Chairmen (part-time)
	£
Eastern
Mrs. A. Williams	1,750
East Midlands
Sir Mark Henig	2,100
North Eastern
Prof. P. B. Fairest	1,750
Northern
Mr. J. Hudson	2,100
North Thames
Mr. C. T. Higgins	2,100
North Western
Cllr. A. G. Read	1,750
West Midlands
Mr. R. D. Hoskin	1,750
Scottish
Mrs. J. Buchan	1,750
South Eastern
Cllr. Mrs. M. R. Grimes	1,750
Southern
Mrs. K. E. Lambert	1,750

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to publish the report of the Price Commission on the intruder alarm industry.

The report is likely to be published next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has had with unions representing civil servants in his Department about the regions which they would find most desirable for dispersal; and, in particular, whether he has sought to establish whether they would prefer the West Country.

The MOD Departmental Staff Side was fully consulted about possible locations prior to the Hardman dispersal decisions announced by the Lord President of the Council on 30th July 1974. Its preference was for dispersal to existing MOD establishments in southern England but, in the event, it was not possible to meet its wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he proposes to deal with correspondence concerning complaints against the police which will be considered by the Police Complaints Board.

All complaints against members of police forces in England and Wales relating to incidents on or after 1st June will—with a few exceptions—be referred after investigation by the police to the Police Complaints Board which, in accordance with the provision of the Police Act 1976, will provide an independent element in the procedure additional to that already provided by the Director of Public Prosecutions. The new arrangements are described in the leaflet "Police and Public", copies of which will be available at police stations and citizens' advice bureaux. Copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.The Board is an independent body. The Police Bill was amended during its passage through Parliament to remove any suggestion that the Board's decisions on individual cases could be the subject of intervention by Ministers. It would not be appropriate for me to intervene, or to appear to be intervening, in matters that under the legislation are properly the responsibility of the police or of the Complaints Board. Nor would it be right for me to be drawn into commenting on the decisions taken by the Complaints Board in relation to individual complaints referred to it.In future, therefore, when a letter which contains or encloses a complaint against a member of a police force is received in the Home Office a reply will normally be sent inviting the sender to approach the chief officer responsible for the investigation of the complaint, and enclosing a copy of the leaflet which explains the new procedures and the role of the Complaints Board. I will, of course, take appropriate action if a letter sent to me appears to justify a departure from the normal practice described above, or to call for further action on my part. I will continue to give careful consideration to all cases where the matter about which complaint is made might call into question the Tightness of a conviction or sentence, and thus involve consideration of a recommendation concerning the use of the Royal Prerogative.Under Section 8 of the Police Act the Board will be able to draw my attention to any grave matter which comes to its notice in the course of their duties, and I expect it to review the general course of its work in the annual report which I am required to submit to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will give full details of all contributions and costs incurred by Great Britain in being a member of Interpol, including the costs incurred by local police handling Interpol inquiries; and what control Great Britain has in the administration of Interpol and the spending of these sums of money;(2) to what extent a 10 per cent. cut in all Government expenditure was applied to Interpol; and whether he will consider this as a means of reducing Government expenditure.

The British contribution to the estimated costs of the General Secretariat of the International Criminal Police Organisation—Interpol—for 1977–78 is £159,825. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that that is a reasonable contribution taking into account all the relevant considerations incuding the use which the police make of the organisation.The annual cost of maintaining the National Central Bureau of Interpol at New Scotland Yard is estimated by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis to be £430,000. The other costs falling on individual police forces in this country resulting directly or indirectly from membership of Interpol are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The expenditure is subject to the same controls and economic restraints as apply to police operational expenditure generally.The administration and financial policy of Interpol are subject to the approval of the General Assembly of the organisation where we have equal voting rights with all other member countries. The British representative is currently a member of the Executive Committee which considers recommendations of member countries and refers them through the General Assembly for ratification. The Executive Committee also monitors the work of the General Secretariat through its General Secretary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the anonymity of defendants accused of rape offences has been properly preserved in accordance with the provisions of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976 before trial and after trial where the trial has resulted in acquittal.

I am unaware of any breaches of the relevant provisions, but if my hon. Friend has information on this matter I should be glad to receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for perjury of complainants in rape offence prosecutions ending in acquittal have occurred in England and Wales over the last five years.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his Question on 23rd December 1976.—[Vol. 923, c. 266.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in his Department are wholly or mainly employed in cost efficiency programmes or methods of improving manpower utilisation (a) within the Personnel and Administration Division and (b) elsewhere in his Department; and what were the comparable figures in March 1974.

It is the general responsibility of management at all levels in the Department to ensure the most efficient use of resources. The numbers of staff employed either wholly or mainly on duties concerned specifically with the improvement of cost efficiency and manpower utilisation in the Home Office (a) in Personnel and Administration Department and (b) elsewhere in the Department at the present time and in March 1974 are as follows:—

	May 1977	March 1974
(a) Personnel and Ad ministration Department	60	48
(b) elsewhere in the Department	34	32

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the total value of all assets held by charities in the United Kingdom; and how much of this value represents holdings of land, as well as in share holdings.

We have made no such estimate. If my hon. Friend has in mind the "guesstimate" by the Board of Inland Revenue quoted in paragraph 16 of the Tenth Report from the Expenditure Committee for Session 1974–75, I understand that the Board is unable to make any closer approximation to the present value of charities' assets.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give the figures of dependants of New Commonwealth citizens, United Kingdom passport holders and Pakistan citizens, respectively, admitted for settlement in 1976 corresponding to the figures given for earlier years in his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Orpington on 3rd May 1976.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Question on 10th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of all of the persons found guilty of any offence in the recent Poulson bribery and corruption trials; what were their sentences; how much of these sentences was or has been carried out; and how long each of these people were kept in custody helping the police in their investigations.

I refer my hon. Friend to Chapter 2 of the report of the Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life—Cmnd. 6524. The assembly of more detailed information would involve disproportionate effort and expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make regulations under Section 17 of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1973 to govern the rates of scales of payments to be made out of central funds in legally aided criminal cases.

This power has been used to prescribe witnesses' allowances. Payments in legally aided cases are governed by regulations made under the Legal Aid Act 1974, and not under the 1973 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what standards are laid down by his Department or the inspecting officer of fire brigades for foam and breathing apparatus to be carried by fire-boats operating in busy ports and estuaries.

It is the statutory duty of every fire authority to provide a fire brigade and equipment to meet efficiently all normal requirements and, where it considers a fire-boat to be necessary, to equip it according to the risks of the port or estuary concerned, for which standards cannot be laid down centrally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the national insurance and other benefits which are raised each year in line with the cost of living or earnings, together with their estimated cost to public funds in the current year; and if he will state the annual cost of the increase in each of the last three years in £ sterling and as a percentage of the total increase in public spending in the relevant year.

Following is the information:

	£ million
	1977–78
National Insurance Benefits
Retirement pension	6,204
Widows benefit	484
Guardians allowance	2
Unemployment benefit	597
Invalidity benefit	569
Sickness benefit	560
Maternity benefit	56
Industrial injury benefits:
Injury benefit	46
Disablement benefit	178
Death benefit	26
Other benefits (under the Old Cases Act)	5
Other Benefits
War pensions	297
Attendance allowance	152
Invalid care allowance	8
Old persons retirement pension	36
Non contributory invalidity pension	53
Supplementary pension*	546
Supplementary allowance*	1,245
Family income supplement*	22
* These benefits have in practice been uprated broadly in line with earnings or prices though there is no statutory requirement to this effect.

The increase in total expenditure on those benefits in cash and as a percentage of the increase in total public expenditure at outturn prices, excluding debt interest, in each of the last three financial years was as follows:

	£ million	per cent.
1974–75	1,319	13
1975–76	2,160	21
1976–77	1,658	32

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the annual cost of exempting vehicles belonging to disabled people in receipt of mobility allowances from vehicle excise duty.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25th May to the hon. Member for Brain-tree (Mr. Newton).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants in the Inland Revenue are wholly or mainly employed in cost efficiency pro- grammes or methods of improving manpower utilisation (a) within the Establishments Division and (b) elsewhere within the Inland Revenue; and what were the comparable figures in March 1974.

About 105 staff within the Manpower Divisions and about 25 staff elsewhere in the Inland Revenue have jobs wholly or mainly concerned with cost efficiency or improved manpower utilisation. The corresponding figures for March 1974 were about 65 and 20, respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the visit of representatives of the International Monetary Fund to London.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) on 26th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the effect of tax changes and of phases 1 and 2 of the incomes policy, on the net income after tax, national insurance contributions and family allowances/child benefits, but excluding means-tested benefits, of a single person, a married couple, and a married couple with one, two, three and four children, assuming incomes in April 1975 of £25, £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55, £60, £65 and £70, and assuming that in each case the maximum allowable wage increases have been paid.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received concerning the non-availability of 25p Silver Jubilee commemoration coins; and what action he has taken.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Sir B. Braine) on 10th May 1977.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current position with regard to the production by the Royal Mint of crown pieces commissioned to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen; and when it is hoped to deliver the order placed by the town mayor of Torpoint on behalf of the town's Jubilee Committee.

The Royal Mint has already distributed over 18 million cupronickel crown pieces to banks and post offices and it is expected that the total issues will exceed 20 million by jubilee week. Distribution to the public is made by the banks and post offices, and queries concerning individual orders should be addressed to the bank or post office concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions or guidance have been given by the Treasury to the Foreign Office over the last 10 years on the manner of accounting for interest-free car loans to members of the staff; on what dates; and whether such communications have been complied with.

Guidance on accounting for these loans was given in letters sent during 1969 and 1970. As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 9th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of national production in February 1975, 1976 and 1977, taking February 1974 as 100.

The only national production data available monthly are those shown by the index of industrial production. When this index is rescaled, taking February 1974 as 100, the index numbers, seasonally adjusted, for February 1975, February 1976 and February 1977 are 101·5, 98·8 and 100·3 respectively. Making broad adjustments for the effect on the index of stock movements, it is estimated that the level of national industrial production in Febru- ary 1975 was some 2½ per cent. higher than in February 1974, in February 1976 it was at much the same level as in February 1974, and—on the basis of provisional estimates—in February 1977 about 1½ per cent. higher.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he has had with textile manufacturers concerning the change of system for export documentation; and how he expects it to assist manufacturers with the speedy dispatch of orders.

Customs and Excise are conducting a feasibility study of possible changes in the system of export documentation. In the course of this a number of textile manufacturers have already expressed their views. Representatives of wool textile exporters will also be meeting Customs and Excise officials. No decisions have been taken, and it would be premature at this stage for me to comment on the nature of possible changes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the official rate of interest for 1978–79 will be prescribed for the purpose of Section 66 of the Finance Act 1976; and if he will make a statement.

An order prescribing the rate will be introduced in the House in about October this year. The rate will be determined in relation to the rate of interest which a creditworthy personal borrower might have to pay on a bank overdraft. The rate in the order will take effect from the start of the fiscal year 1978–79 and will remain in force until further notice. The intention will be that that rate should remain in force at least until the end of 1978–79, but, if market rates should change substantially between the introduction of the order and the middle of 1978–79, a further order may be introduced to change the official rate either immediately or from the start of the fiscal year 1979–80.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any property has recently been accepted in lieu of estate duty under the provisions of Section 56 of the Finance Act 1910 and Section 30 of the Finance Act 1953.

Yes, Cragside Hall, Rothbury, Northumberland, together with adjoining land, and the major contents have been accepted and transferred to the National Trust to be held for the enjoyment of the public.The total cost borne by the National Land Fund after allowing for relief from estate duty and capital gains tax is £611,518.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what loss of revenue would result and what compensatory increase in the standard rate of VAT would be necessary if the bands of taxable income were altered to make tax payable at the following rates: £0–2,000 at 15 per cent., £2,000–4,000 at 20 per cent., £4,000–6,000 at 25 per cent., £6,000–8,000 at 30 per cent., £8,000–10,000 at 35 per cent., £10,000–12,000 at 40 per cent., £12,000–14,000 at 45 per cent., and £14,000 and above at 50 per cent.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the consultations which he announced in his Budget speech with the oil companies about the possibility of legislation to restrict unilateral relief have been completed; and if he will make a statement.

The consultations which my right hon. Friend foreshadowed have begun. They have thrown up difficult issues which require further consideration and in these circumstances it is not proposed to include legislation on the matter in this year's Finance Bill. The question of whether legislation in a future Finance Bill will be called for will be decided following further consultations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether VAT is payable on necessary items, such as beds, purchased by hospital leagues of friends.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th May 1977; Vol. 932, c. 563], gave the following information:VAT is payable on general hospital furniture such as beds and lockers. However, certain scientific or medical equipment is zero rated when purchased for donation to hospitals by charitable bodies such as hospital leagues of friends.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why there is not a distinct cash limit for pay alone; and whether it would be practicable to split the limits for pay and general administrative expenses into pay, and general administrative expenses, respectively.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th May 1977; Vol. 932, c. 566], gave the following information:Cash limits reflect departmental responsibility for expenditure, and also, as far as possible, the division of responsibilities between the Civil Service Department and the Treasury. It is appropriate to control pay and other administration costs together.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now amend Section 70 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1975 so that those workers who have had periods of unemployment shall no longer be disqualified from receiving a sub-contractor's tax certificate.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th May 1977; Vol. 932, c. 566–7], gave the following information:I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, and will bear in mind when, as I have promised, I come to consider how the new scheme is working in practice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the contribution made by the Exchequer to teachers' superannuation in the financial year 1975–76 under the Pensions (Increase) Acts.

I have been asked to reply.The toal cost of the element in teachers' pensions attributable to the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 in 1975–76 was £67 million. This figure relates only to teachers pensioned under the scheme for England and Wales.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why income tax relief on house mortgage interest payments is not payable to all mortgagors in the employ of Her Majesty's Government.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th May 1977; Vol. 932. c. 567], gave the following information:Income tax relief on house mortgage interest is available to employees of Her Majesty's Government on the same conditions as apply to mortgagors in general.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development in what way Her Majesty's Government are proposing to support UNICEF's projects in Bangladesh.

UNICEF has undertaken an extension programme for the development of hand-operated tubewells in Bangladesh, which was designed to prepare the way for a much larger programme, directed particularly at the rural poor, involving the installation of 300,000 shallow tubewells in rural areas. Her Majesty's Government have pledged a contribution of £200,000 to help finance equipment needed for the project.Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in the summer Sup-

					Textile cordage, cable, rope and twine		Metal cordage, cable and rope
					Thousand metric tons	£million cif	Thousand metric tons	£ million cif
1974	…	…	…	…	11·5	7·2	12·9	9·2
1975	…	…	…	…	8·6	5·3	14·2	13·0
1976	…	…	…	…	13·4	6·0	12·7	12·4
January to April 1977				…	7·8	3·5	5·1	5·8

These figures are published in the 1974 Annual Statement of Overseas Trade and appropriate issues of the Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom.Copies of all these publications are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what assistance she intends to give to the programme now being undertaken by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to assist refugees in Thailand and other countries in Asia.

The Government have decided to give £250,000 towards the programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for material assistance to refugees and displaced persons in Thailand—including many from Kampuchea, formerly Cambodia—and in other countries in Asia and for help with their resettlement.Parliamentary approval of this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Overseas Aid Vote. Pending that approval the necessary expenditure will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) how many tonnes of cordage, cable, rope and twine were imported during 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977 to date;(2) what was the value of imported cordage, cable, rope and twine during 1974, 1975, 1976, and 1977 to date.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the total value of imports from Poland during 1976;(2) what was the total value of exports to Poland during 1976.

Imports were valued at £154 million cif and exports £189 million fob. These figures are published in the December 1976 issue of the "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom ", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the quantity and value of waste paper imports in the first three months of this year.

Forty-three thousand metric tons were imported, valued at £2·7 million cif. These figures are published in the March issue of the "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the total value of imports from East Germany in 1975 and 1976.

Imports in 1975 and 1976 were valued at £39 million and £60 million cif respectively. These figures are published in the " Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom ", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is satisfied that the number of staff in the Insolvency Service is adequate.

I am aware of demands placed upon the staff of the Insolvency Service by the large numbers of bankruptcy and winding-up cases over the past two or three years. Additional staff resources have been made available and increases in monetary limits under Section 1 of the Insolvency Act 1976 should help reduce the work load. The effect of these and other measures on the adequacy of staff numbers is currently being considered in a staffing review of the whole Insolvency Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the number of prosecutions instigated by the Insolvency Service in each of the last five years.

Prosecutions for offences contrary to the Companies Acts, Bankruptcy Acts, other statutes and common law, arising wholly or partially out of investigations by the Insolvency Service, are undertaken by the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Department of Trade and police authorities. Of such prosecutions, those undertaken by the Department of Trade under the Bankruptcy Acts and Companies Acts in respect of bankruptcies and liquidations during the relevant years are as follows:—

	Bankruptcies	Liquidations	Total
1972	155	42	197
1973	174	38	213
1974	211	30	241
1975	181	53	234
1976	161	62	223

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the CCA system of inflation accounting is in line with any proposals on accounting standards likely to be adopted by the EEC.

The draft fourth directive on company accounts is still under discussion in the Council of Ministers. In its present form it would permit the introduction of a system of current cost accounting in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether any members of the EEC are proposing a system of inflation accounting incompatible with likely EEC standards;(2) how the other members of the EEC's proposals for a system of inflation accounting compare with those of the United Kingdom; on what date they propose to introduce it; and what systems they propose to adopt.

Belgian legislation of October 1976 allows the replacement cost of fixed assets and stocks to be shown in the accounts. West Germany introduced a voluntary accounting standard in October 1975, which recommends that the effect of inflation on fixed assets and stocks should be shown in a supplementary statement. Inflation accounting proposals are also under consideration in France and the Netherlands. In introducing systems of inflation accounting, Member States will have to consider the provisions of the draft fourth directive on company law. In its present form this directive in principle permits the introduction of such systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether, in view of the fact that Australia has had to postpone a system of CCA inflation accounting, he will draw the Morpeth Committee's attention to the reasons for the postponement.

The Morpeth Committee is aware of developments in Australia and is taking these into consideration in preparing a system of current cost accounting.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in studying systems of inflation accounting, what consideration he gave to systems which have been or are likely to be adopted in the United States of America, Canada and Japan.

The Morpeth Committee has been following developments in both the United States and Canada and is taking these into consideration. It is not aware of any similar developments in Japan.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) whether his Department intends to take legal action against businesses which are trading in names other than those of the proprietors and which are not registered with the Registrar of Business Names during and immediately following the period when the Registrar of Business Names is not processing applications for the registration of a business name;(2) when the processing of applications for the registration of a business name at the Registrar of Business Names will recommence;(3) what action he has taken to recommence the processing of applications for the registration of a business name at the Registry of Business Names;(4) how many applications for the registration of a business name are currently being received by the Registrar of Business Names;(5) how many applications for the registration of a business name are currently awaiting processing at the Registry of Business Names;(6) why the Registrar of Business Names has stopped processing new applications for the registration of business names;(7) when the Registrar of Business Names stopped processing new applications for the registration of business names.

The Registrar of Business Names has not stopped processing new applications for registration. They are being received at the rate of 3,000 a week, which represents a 40 per cent. increase over the corresponding period in 1975. Priority is normally given to new registrations over all other commitments, but during recent weeks resources have been diverted to meet arrears which had accumulated elsewhere. As a result there is a backlog of 14,000 new applications. In this situation we are reviewing the adequacy of the staffing of the Registry. It is not the Registrar's usual practice to commence default proceedings against the proprietors of businesses after they have applied for registration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has yet reached a decision on the proposal to close the Registry of Business Names.

As I have already told the House, one of the options under consideration, as part of the Government's programme for achieving economies within the Civil Service, was the introduction of legislation to repeal the Registration of Business Names Act 1916. Before proceeding, however, letters were sent to all significant users of the services provided by the registry to seek their views. The great majority of respondents argued strongly for continuation of the register, particularly as a protection against fraud. Accordingly, we have decided, as an alternative, to introduce amending legislation as soon as the parliamentary situation permits to enable fees charged by the registry to be increased to cover fully its costs of administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether applications for protection against dumping, possibly resulting in the imposition of an appropriate anti-dumping duty, are now being referred regularly to the Commission of the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement on the transfer of this responsibility from national Governments to the Community.

The handling of applications during the remaining weeks of the period of transition to full EEC competence depends on the nature of the case. My Department is continuing to investigate urgent cases where completion can be envisaged before 30th June. Even after this date, under the terms of the appropriate EEC Regulation, applications may be submitted to the Department rather than to the Commission. If this is done, the Commission will immediately be informed so that the implications for other member States' industries can be considered simultaneously, but it will be the responsibility of the Department to study the application and decide whether it should be submitted to the EEC Anti-Dumping Committee, with a view to formal investigation by the Commission in co-operation with member States. In the case of iron and steel products covered by the Treaty of Paris, similar procedures will apply but the Government retains the right, in the absence of Community action, to take action on a national basis, after consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the results of the investigation into the fatal accident at the Biggin Hill Air Show on 15th May.

A few minutes before 11 o'clock on Sunday, 15th May, a Bell jet helicopter with five occupants on board collided with a Tiger Moth which was one of a formation of three coming in to land at Biggin Hill Aerodrome. The undercarriage of the Tiger Moth was knocked off by the helicopter's main rotor. The helicopter crashed out of control on to a parked Cessna 150 light aircraft, but the Tiger Moth was able to make a forced landing on the grass without injury to the two pilots on board. All five occupants of the helicopter, which was engaged in passenger pleasure flights, were killed. The single occupant of the parked Cessna was not injured. The helicopter was equipped with radio and was operating from a landing pad to the side of the runway in use but the Tiger Moth had no radio, though the leader of its formation was radio-equipped. The Chief Inspector of Accidents has ordered an Inspector's Investigation under the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations 1969. This investigation is now in progress and it would be wrong for me to anticipate its findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the financial assistance provided through his Department in (a) the London Borough of Islington area and (b) the Greater London Council area in the financial years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77.

No financial assistance is provided by my Department's votes for either area.