the Secretary of State for Employment when the rules of the extended Job Release Scheme will be available.

The rules of the scheme for the extended period from 1st July 1977 to 31st March 1978 have now been produced and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the library.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total strength of the Factories and other Inspectorates: what was that strength on any convenient date in each of the past five years ; and what proposals he has for future strengthening of the Inspectorate.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th October 1977 ; Vol. 936, c. 886], gave the following information:I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that at 1st October 1977 the total strength of the Factory and other Inspectorates— Agricultural, Alkali and Clean Air, Explosives, Mines and Quarries, Nuclear Installations— in HSE, including inspectors and administrative support staff, was 2,348.It is not possible to produce comparable statistics for the past five years. The HSE was established in 1975 with elements from a number of Departments. and has since been enlarged by the inclusion of the Agricultural Inspectorate.The Factory and other Inspectorates— Agricultural, Alkali and Clean Air, Explosives, Mines and Quarries, Nuclear Installations—are planned to increase to about 2,750 inspectors and administrative support staff to meet the anticipated work load over the next three years or so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance the Government have given to the Employers' Side of the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Fire Brigades about the fire service pay claim.

The Government have informed the Employers' Side that they expect to see any pay settlement for the Fire Service with effect from 7th November 1977 negotiated within the limits of the Government's guidelines on pay.The Government recognise that there is a long-standing claim for a reduction in the 48-hour working week of the Fire Service and would now be prepared for a reduction in working hours to be negotiated. The reduction could not be implemented before the autumn of 1978, although preparations could begin before then. Detailed arrangements on costs and other aspects of the reduction would be matters for negotiation.The Government recognise the need to establish a formula for determining Fire Service pay. The Government welcome the fact that the National Joint Council is seeking through established negotiating procedures to achieve this. The Government are following closely discussion on this subject in the NJC, but the phasing of any further pay increase will have to be considered in the light of circumstances prevailing at the time.I understand that on 3rd November 1977 the Employers' Side of the National Joint Council made an offer of 10 per cent. in earnings as from 7th November 1977 and agreed to continue negotiations about a reduction in working hours and establishing a formula for determining Fire Service pay.

Lewis asked the Attorney-General whether he will publish in the Official Reportas much detailed information as may be available showing to what extent since October 1974 those connected with the legal profession have observed the various Government restrictions on incomes and whether he will publish figures showing actual or estimated payments which show that the restrictions on incomes have been observed by the legal profession.

Detailed information is not available but I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to him on. 28th July 1977. —[Vol. 936, c. 437.) The Government will continue to apply their general policy on prices and pay to any proposals that may be made for increases in the remuneration of lawyers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any further objects have recently been accepted in lieu of estate duty.

Yes, a number of mediaeval ivories have been accepted under the provisions of Section 34 of the Finance Act 1956. The total cost borne by the National Land Fund after allowing for exemption from estate duty and capital gains tax is £331,100.The Minister responsible for the Arts will announce the destination of these items in due course after taking advice from the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet received from the Review Board for Government Contracts its Report on the Second General Review of the Profit Formula for Non-Competitive Government Contracts ; and, if so, what decisions the Government have reached.

The Report was submitted to the Government on 15th July 1977 and a copy has been placed in the Library. The Report formed the basis of discussions with the Confederation of British Industry, which have now been completed. Both the Government and the CBI have agreed to accept all the Board's recommendations. The agreement has been formalised by an exchange of letters with the President of the CBI. The texts of the letters are as follows:

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to transfer additional functions in respect of education to the Secretary of State for Wales.

I have decided to transfer to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales responsibility in the Principality for all non-university institutions of higher and further education; public libraries; the youth and community services; and adult education. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science will continue to exercise responsibility as at present for the University of Wales; the Research Councils; mandatory and postgraduate awards to students; and the pay, superannuation, qualifications, probation and medical fitness of teachers and cases of teachers' misconduct.The new arrangements will make it easier to take account, as appropriate, of the special needs and circumstances of Wales, but both Secretaries of State will work closely together on the full range of functions now being transferred, as on those already transferred.The educational and library interests will be consulted about the details of the implementation of the transfer and a Transfer of Functions Order will then be laid before Parliament. I envisage that it will come into effect on lst April 1978 or as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the series of leisure experiments set up in 1973 in Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Dumbarton and part of Clwyd.

The report of a central steering group of officials entitled "Leisure and the Quality of Life" was published on 27th September by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Volume 1 describes and evaluates the experiments which were jointly sponsored by my Department, the Department of Education and Science, the Scottish Education Department and the Welsh Office in association with the Arts Council of Great Britain— including the Scottish and Welsh Arts Councils— and the Sports Councils. Volume 2 contains detailed supporting papers. Copies of both volumes have been placed in the Library. The experiments themselves were carried out by local groups, set up by the local authorities in partnership with local and regional arts and sports organisations and actively involving many voluntary organisations and individuals from the communities concerned. I intend that the findings of the report, particularly the importance of greater community involvement in the regeneration of urban areas, will be among the subjects discussed at a series of regional conferences on sport and recreation that I am arranging.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the study on "Recreation and Deprivation in Inner Urban Areas."

The study was published on 2nd November. It was commissioned jointly by myself, the Chairmen and Directors of the Government Agencies concerned with recreation and the representatives of the local authority associations, and was carried out by a research worker in my Department. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library. The study is a research document, not a statement of Government policy. It examines the effect of policies for sport and recreation on opportunities for deprived groups in our inner city areas. Its findings will he among the subjects discussed at a series of conferences to be organised by the Regional Councils for Sport and Recreation in the first half of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what decisions were made at the meeting of the EEC Council of Transport Ministers which was held in Luxembourg on 27th October; and if he will make a statement.

I reported to the House on 1st July that at the meeting of the last Transport Council in June, the item of greatest immediate importance to the United Kingdom was the proposal to amend EEC Regulation 543/69 on bus and lorry drivers' hours of work. At that meeting it had proved impossible to agree to a package of amendments including the staged introduction of the regulation for domestic traffic in the United Kingdom and Ireland. I am glad to be able to say that at last week's meeting the Council agreed to the amendment of the regulation, and to the introduction of the amended regulation in the United Kingdom and Ireland over a period of three years from 1st January 1978. This agreement requires the United Kingdom to seek the Commission's authorisation for our proposed programme of changes over the three-year period, and I shall be doing this within the next few days.The Council went on to approve a related regulation to bring into force the European Agreement on the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the number of recipients of each of the following benefits in, respectively, 1973–74 and 1977–78: attendance allowance, mobility allowance, invalidity benefit, non-contributory invalidity pension, war disablement pension and industrial disablement benefit.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th October 1977 ; Vol. 936, c. 729], gave the following information:The table below gives the available statistics: