asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to approve capital expenditure proposals for Derbyshire to allow the speeding-up of plans to abolish all outside toilets for infant schoolchildren; and if she is satisfied with Derbyshire's current programme.

It is for the Derbyshire local education authority to decide its school building priorities within the capital allocations authorised by my right hon. Friend. I understand that toilet facilities at 26 primary schools in the county will be improved during the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will initiate a campaign in schools to alert children to the dangers of exposure to excessive noise levels in discotheques.

No. It is for local education authorities and the schools themselves to decide what place the effect of prolonged exposure to excessive noise, which has long been recognised as a health hazard, should have in the school curriculum. But the hon. Gentleman will know that the Medical Research Council is supporting a research project at Leeds Polythechnic to study hearing loss in school children with particular reference to pop music in discotheques.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied that local education authorities make sufficient provision for educating appropriate children outside their age group.

It is for local Education authorities and the schools themselves to determine whether certain pupils could benefit from attending classes outside their age group. The education service as a whole is becoming increasingly aware of the widely differing needs of children and of the consequent need for flexible organisation, including provision for the education, where appropriate, of some children outside their age group.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has had about the position of universities in Scotland, post-devolution.

I have not myself received any representations on this matter in the past year. Representations on the proposal for a Council for Tertiary Education for Scotland would be made to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy towards local authorities asking parents to contribute financially to their children's education in nursery schools.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to his Question on 16th May.—[Vol. 950, c. 93–4.] My right hon. Friend strongly deprecates the practice of local authorities asking parents to make voluntary contributions to nursery education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the shortage of teachers with special training required for children with all kinds of speaking difficulties, she will now make a statement, taking into account the Warnock Committee's report on her future plans to provide the necessary places and teachers for these children.

Though teachers of children who have difficulties of speech or language are not required to possess specialist teaching qualifications, some courses of initial training now include elements of linguistics and speech therapy. There is a growing interest among serving teachers in the short courses on the education of these children arranged by my Department.The Warnock Report recommends further expansion and development of both initial and in-service training in the teaching of children with special educational needs. Consultations about these and other recommendations will start shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she proposes to introduce the voucher system in schools in order to increase parental choice.

No. A voucher system, as the Kent feasibility study makes clear, is cumbrous and expensive. There are more efficient and fairer ways of taking account of parental wishes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of the study carried out by Kent County Council, she has any plans to provide central Government funds to assist in experiments with the voucher system.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, following the study by Kent County Council, she will set up an examination into the feasibility of voucher schemes in education.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has received regarding a voucher scheme for payment of education.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have conducted experiments in the voucher system of educational payment; and if she will make a statement.

I am not aware that any local education authority has conducted an experiment with the voucher system, but I understand that Kent is planning to do so following the feasibility study that it has conducted, which was published earlier this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from parents regarding the transfer of their children from primary to secondary schools in the last month.

My right hon. Friend received 96 complaints in May from parents regarding the transfer of their children from primary to secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will bring forward proposals for elections to the Arts Council.

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend on 18th April, she considers that the Council's membership should reflect the interests both of artists and the public, and she makes appointments with that end in view.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to take a decision on the future shape of secondary school examinations.

My right hon. and learned Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales and I have just received the report of the steering committee chaired by Sir James Waddell, which has been looking into the Schools Council's proposals for a common system of examining at 16-plus to replace the General Certificate of Education O level and Certificate of Secondary Education examinations. I shall be considering the Committee's findings before reaching a decision on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will detail 1978–79 and subsequent arrangements for reimbursing local authorities who are providing free school milk for 7-to-11-year-olds.

As my right hon. Friend said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lich-field and Tamworth (Mr. Grocott) on 25th May—[Vol. 950, cols. 632–633]—expenditure on free milk for junior pupils during the autumn term 1978 and the spring term 1979 will be fully reimbursed by means of direct grants from the Department to cover the cost of the milk itself and an element for overheads; provision of this milk in the financial year 1978–79 will therefore cost authorities nothing. For 1979–80 onwards, authorities' expenditure—net of the EEC subsidy on school milk which can be claimed separately from the Department—will form part of relevant expenditure for rate support grant in the normal way. I am sending my lion. Friend a copy of the letter which the Department sent to chief education officers explaining these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will issue a revised and updated version of circular 323 of 1957, giving advice on the liberal education component of technical and vocational courses.

No. The approaches it advocates are still valid and consistent with current developments in technical and vocational education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received concerning the disciplinary case of probationary teacher Dave Potter employed by the London borough of Hillingdon.

Mr. Potter's case has not been referred to my Department on disciplinary grounds. The Department has been considering a recommendation from the London borough of Hillingdon that he be determined unsuitable for further employment as a qualified teacher on the ground that he has failed to demonstrate his practical proficiency as a teacher. Representations were received from six individuals or groups, apart from the teacher himself, including my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Bidwell) and other hon. Members. Mr. Potter's probation has been extended.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about future financing of the universities.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 10th April 1978 to my hon. Friend the Member for Newton (Mr. Evans)—(Vol. 947, cols. 289–90.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied with resources available to local education authorities in order to ensure an adequate supply of books and other teaching materials to schools.

No, and that is why the calculations underlying the 1978–79 rate support grant settlement give scope for local education authorities to make progress towards restoring essential expenditure on books, materials, and equipment deferred in recent years.

asked the Lord President of the Council what discussions he has had concerning the need to ensure a close link between the British Members of the European Parliament who will be elected in June 1979 and the House; whether he has any proposals to make: and if he will make a statement.

I recognise the interest in this matter but I have no statement to make on it at the present time.

asked the Lord President of the Council, in view of the fact that an hon. Member's salary was £3,250 per annum in May 1965 and that by March 1978 this would have to have increased to £10,627 per annum to keep its real May 1965 value, taking account of price increases recorded by the retail price index, how many staff and civil servants for whom he has ministerial responsibility are in the same situation; and whether he will now give the figure, required at May 1978 to restore the position to the May 1965 level.

The figures are two and £10,855 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much it costs to hold a coroner's inquest on treasure trove and to administer the law on treasure trove.

No figures of the costs of such inquests are kept centrally but I estimate that the average cost may be about £100. Figures for the total cost of administering this part of the law are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training is provided for privately employed security guards responsible for the escort and custody of immigrants subject to deportation proceedings.

I understand that Securicor Ltd. provide a one-week course for all new employees and an additional one-day course for those of their employees who are to be engaged full time on the escort and detention of people detained under the Immigration Act 1971. For their first month on such duties they remain under the supervision of more experienced staff, apart from remaining at all times under the overall authority of the Immigration Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist for him to exercise selection, or rejection, of individual security guards employed on the escort and custody of immigrants subject to deportation proceedings.

The arrangements whereby attendants employed by Securicor Ltd. are used to escort and detain persons held under the Immigration Act 1971 are governed by contract between that firm and the Home Office. It has not so far been found necessary to include in that contract the kind of vetting procedures which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the current parliamentary electorates for each of the constituencies in (a) Inner and (b) Outer London, indicating in each case the variation from the 1971 electorate.

It is expected that provisional figures for the 1978 register will be published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in an OPCS Monitor (Reference EL 78/2) within the next fortnight. Copies will be placed in the Library. Electorates for 1971 were published in the "Registrar-General's Statistical Review of England and Wales for the Year 1971", Part II, pp. 96–97 and final figures for the 1977 register were published by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in "Electoral Statistics 1977" (Series EL No. 4), copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints he has received from representatives of the police force concerning the operation of Section 62 of the Criminal Law Act 1977; and what proposals he has for its reform.

Section 62 came into force only yesterday—19th June—and I have not therefore received any complaints about its operation. There has been detailed consultation between my Department and the police on the implementation of the section and I shall keep its operation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to establish how many Arabs have settled in the United Kingdom and have purchased property.

The Control of Immigration statistics show the numbers of people accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom, but I am not in a position to establish how many of them have purchased property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will clarify the relationship between the local police authorities and local chief constables in areas of the United Kingdom, particularly in relation to the police authority's functions in the determination of local police policy.

The duty of a police authority in England and Wales is to maintain an adequate and efficient force for its area. Subject to the approval of the Secretary of State it appoints, and may in the interests of efficiency or for disciplinary reasons remove, the chief officers of the force. It fixes the establishment of the force, subject to the Secretary of State's approval, and it provides the resources necessary.The chief constable has the direction and control of his force; local policing is his responsibility. On the other hand, the Police Act in no way inhibits discussion of operational issues between the chief constable and his police authority whether in the context of a review of the resources necessary or more generally. The chief constable is generally accountable to his police authority for his policy;

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) in what circumstances an animal may be slaughtered for the purpose of consumption without coming under abattoir or slaughterhouse regulations;(2) if the Slaughterhouse Act ruling which allows a farmer to kill a goat for domestic consumption also permits the animal to be sold and slaughtered by any he is in particular required to make an annual report to the authority on the policing of the area and to report wherever appropriate on individual matters relating to this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals regarding the common fisheries policy he will be putting to the EEC Fisheries Ministers when they meet next week.

I refer the hon. Member to my speech to the House on 15th June 1978.—[Vol. 951, c. 1245–55.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the total cost of running the Forestry Commission, including all main constituent costs of any sort, such as expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating and lighting and maintenance in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79.

The information is given in the following table:goat owner or premises other than a licensed abattoir.

The slaughter of animals the flesh of which is intended for sale for human consumption is subject to legislation governing hygiene, prevention of cruelty and meat inspection and, except in an emergency, must take place in a slaughterhouse. Animals, including goats, may be slaughtered outside a slaughterhouse if the meat is not intended for sale for human consumption.Whether or not slaughter takes place in a slaughterhouse, it is an offence to inflict unnecessary suffering on an animal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if milk produced by goats is classified as raw in relation to the proposal to ban the sale of unpasteurised milk.

No, the proposal applies only to cows' milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many goats have been slaughtered in approved abattoirs in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

I regret that my Department does not collect this information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount so far expended in respect of assistance to farmers under the measures announced earlier in 1978 to help meet the cost of flood and storm damage and lost livestock.

No payments have yet been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has received from water authorities to his invitation for plans to be submitted for the improvement of sea defences following the floods of January 1978; and if he is satisfied that plans are proceeding with sufficient urgency to ensure that necessary remedial and improvement works are carried out before next winter at those points where inundation took place.

I understand that much of the remedial work necessitated by the floods of January 1978 has been carried out already and that water authorities are making every effort to ensure that the remainder is completed before the end of the year. The improvement of defences is a longer term problem. Whilst some major improvement schemes are now well under way, others involving extensive local consultations, detailed design or major construction works will take a considerable time to complete. We are satisfied that these schemes are being tackled as quickly as is practicable. Water authorities concerned have put for- ward plans to spend substantial additional sums on improvements to sea defences this year. We have authorised the necessary capital investment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy towards a proposal to bring forward the completion of the Thames Flood Barrier by two years; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend said when he visited the Thames Barrier site on 17th March, the Government are anxious to see London provided with full flood protection at the earliest date. I understand that the Greater London Council is examining the possibility of advancing completion of the barrier. Any worthwhile proposals which it puts forward as a result of this examination will be considered very carefully.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many acres of potatoes he estimates to have been sown in England in 1978.

The Potato Marketing Board estimates that about 368,000 acres —149,000 hectares—have been sown by registered producers in England.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to plant trees on his Sutton Bridge estate in order to replace the elms that are dying of Dutch elm disease.

Twenty-five dead and dying elms trees on the estate have been felled and replaced by other species. A programme to plant an additional 750 trees comprising ash, hornbeam, oak, great willow and grey alder is in hand and some 250 have already been planted with the active co-operation of the tenants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken and will take to prevent the imposition by the European Economic Community of a heavy external tariff against New Zealand on the importation of sheepmeat into Great Britain.

The recently published proposals for a common organisation of the market in mutton and lamb contain no provision for greater charges on imports from New Zealand than exist at present. We will continue to make it clear that, to be acceptable to the United Kingdom, any market arrangement must ensure adequate access to the supplies of New Zealand frozen lamb which we need.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate the fitness and suitability of the United Kingdom fishing fleet to fish in the waters of the Falkland Islands on the basis of present estimates of the available catch and bearing in mind the financing of conversion or new construction to operate at such distances from markets.

It would be premature to do so before being reasonably assured that conditions were right for the establishment of a commercially viable fishery. In any case, it would be a matter for the industry itself.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday, 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 20th June 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister what are his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 20th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Tuesday 20th June.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will raise at the Summit meeting of Heads of Government in July the need for an agreed programme for stabilisation of commodity prices.

There is already an agreed programme of international work in this field, and the importance of maintaining its momentum is widely recognised.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet representatives of the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds, West (Mr. Dean) on 25th May.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the TUC and CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes next to meet the TUC and the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) on 13th June.

asked the Prime Minister when he plans next to meet the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 13th June.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech by the Secretary of State for Social Services in Harrogate on 5th June 1978 concerning the Health Service represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Secretary of State for Social Services in Harrogate on 5th June 1978 concerning the Health Service represents Government policy.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham).

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the heads of nationalised industries.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 16th May.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Llanystymdwy.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with progress towards achieving the programme set out in the Gracious Speech.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects next to take the chair at the National Economic Development Council.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice) on 9th May.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with co-ordination between the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment with regard to the use of rate support grant to equalise the cost of concessionary bus fares to pensioners in different parts of the country.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit the City of London.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of the speech he delivered to the United Nations Special Session on Disarmament on 2nd June 1978.

I did so on 5th June.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit Arundel.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Lord President of the Council and the Secretary of State for the Environment in restoring to hon. Members access to Cromwell's Green.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement about the report from the Health and Safety Executive of their investigation of potential hazards at Canvey Island.

The report of the Canvey Island study is being published today, and copies have been placed in the Library of the House. The inquiry was arranged by the Health and Safety Commission at the request of the then Secretaries of State for Employment and for the Environment in 1976 to investigate the risks to health and safety associated with various installations both existing and proposed on Canvey Island. It was commissioned following the report of an exploratory public inquiry into the desirability of revoking the planning permission given in 1973 to United Refineries Ltd. to build an oil refinery on Canvey Island.The study was carried out for the Health and Safety Executive by the Safety and Reliability Directorate of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The report is in two parts: part 1 is the HSE's own report, which summarises the technical report by the SRD, explains the method of approach—including its view of its limitations—points out the degree of confidence to be placed on the figures, quotes other risks faced in every day life as a means of setting the report in perspective, and sets out a series of recommendations for action; part 2 is the report of the study carried out by the SRD on the Canvey/Thurrock area, and is largely technical in content. Copies of the complete report, or of part 1 alone, are obtainable from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.The conclusions of the HSE report relate both to existing activities and to proposed development. The report concludes that if certain detailed recommendations are implemented there are no health and safety reasons why the existing installations should not continue to operate and the three outstanding refinery proposals go ahead. The HSE has already initiated discussions with the firms and others concerned about the recommendations affecting existing activities, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and the local planning authorities will be studying the recommendations relating to projected developments with a view to deciding appropriate action on outstanding planning matters.I welcome the report of the inquiry as a valuable contribution to discussion of health and safety and environmental issues. It provides a comprehensive survey of the complex problems of an area which is in many respects unique. The Health and Safety Commission has also pointed out that this report will be of interest for its contribution to the methodology of risk analysis. It is the first such inquiry to be carried out in this country and probably in the world.The installations covered by the report form a significant part of the United Kingdom oil, gas and petro-chemical industries, and relates closely to the utilisation of our North Sea resources. The report is therefore important in assisting decisions which may affect those who live in the locality, those who depend on the installations for their employment, and the contribution that the installations make to the economy of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advice he is giving to local education authorities to help them improve the effectiveness of their careers advisory service in a period of continuing high unemployment.

The advice of my careers service inspectors is constanly available to local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will increase the size of the Council of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service to include representatives of both small businesses and the consumer.

My right hon. Friend is currently consulting the Confederation of British Industry about the appointment of three members to the ACAS Council with effect from 1st September and will take into account any views it may have on the representation of small firms. I believe that the Coun- cil is sufficiently representative to ensure that consumer interests are taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently employed in all forms of public service, civil and military; and how many of such people are receiving levels of pay which fail to exceed by at least 50 per cent. the minimum level required to satisfy the basic needs of an employee and his family.

The latest available public sector estimates for June 1976, published in the December 1977 issue of Economic Trends, are 6,978,000 in civil employment and 336,000 in the Armed Forces. These totals which include part time employees, relate to the United Kingdom and the whole of the public sector, as defined in that published article.Estimates, based on the New Earnings Survey, of the distribution of earnings as public sector employees are limited to those for April up to 1977 which were published in the December 1977 issue of the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, from January 1977 to May 1978, or the latest month for which figures are available, how many textile mills in Great Britain and in the Macclesfield constituency have been closed down per month; how many workers have been laid off for more than two weeks; and what has been the total cost per month, to the latest date for which figures are available, of temporary employment subsidies to the textile industry in Great Britain.

Comprehensive information of the kind requested is not available. However, I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that details are available of the number of workers involved in redundancies per month since January 1977, in the textile industry in Great Britain and in the Macclesfield constituency and these are shown in table I; some of these redundancies may have resulted from the closure of textile mills. Information about the number of operatives on short-time working is collected for a selected week in each month. It distinguishes those stood off for the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he proposes to bring up to date the basis for the local unemployment rates now being published.

My Department has recently completed a review of the groupings of employment office areas into travel-to-work areas, which are the smallest areas for which meaningful unemployment rates can be calculated. The travel-to-work areas hitherto in use were, in the main, based on information from the 1961 Census of Population. As a result of changes in travel-to-work patterns since then, the published local unemployment rates in some cases no longer accurately reflect the local employment situation.People normally register as unemployed at the employment office nearest their home, while statistics for those in employment relate to their place of work. An unemployment rate, expressing the number of the registered unemployed as a percentage of the total number of insured employees—employed and unemployed—is meaningful only if it relates to an area which is self-contained in travel-to-work terms, that is, if the great majority of the people who work in the area also live there, and vice versa. When a single employment office area does not meet these criteria it is grouped with one or more other employment office areas with which it does form a relatively self-contained travel-to-work area.The recent review was based on travel-to-work data obtained from the 1971 Census of Population and also took account of developments which have affected travel-to-work patterns since the Census was taken.The majority of travel-to-work areas will remain unchanged, but the review has led to the introduction of a number of new groupings. I have already consulted those hon. Members whose constituencies are affected by these changes.Local unemployment percentage rates will be calculated on the basis of the revised network of travel-to-work areas with effect from the unemployment count taken on 8th June 1978. The following list shows those employment office areas which are affected in their new or revised travel-to-work groupings. Except where a separate travel-to-work area title is given, travel-to-work areas are known by the name of the first employment office area listed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent fluoride has been scientifically tested for its toxic contents; and if he will make a statement.

In the form of sodium fluoride, fluoride is acutely toxic to mammals when ingested at a level greater than 42 mgms per kilogram of bodyweight. Members of the public are not likely to be exposed to fluoride at this level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he first received the Fraenkel Report on canal maintenance; and when he expects to make a statement concerning its implementation.

The Fraenkel Report was received in February 1976. My right hon. Friend made a full statement on publication last November—[Vol. 938, c. 122–4]—and over £10 million has been made available for urgent maintenance work in the canals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what change there has been in the number of self-employed builders and contractors since the introduction of the 714 tax exemption certificates.

A reliable estimate can not be made until further evidence is available towards the end of 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total cost of running each regional economic planning council in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what is the estimated charge on public funds for each council for 1978–79.

Figures for the annual cost of running the economic planning councils are not available in the form requested. They are included in the cost of the Department's regional organisation and cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total cost of running the Nature Conservancy Council in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what is the estimated charge to public funds for 1978–79.

The accounts for 1976–77 included in the Nature Conservancy Council's latest annual report show expenditure of £5,028,000. For 1977–78 the provisional figure will be £6,142,000.The present approved estimated cost to public funds for 1978–79 is £6·4 million. I shall be seeking the approval of Parliament to increase this to £8 million.An announcement will be made later about appropriate cash block adjustments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total cost of running each of the new town development corporations in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what is the estimated charge to public funds for each for 1978–79.

Full details of the income and expenditure of the English development corporations are given in their annual reports. These are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in one volume and are available in the Library. The figures for 1977–78 are not yet available but in 1976–77 the administration costs of the English corporations, covering such items as salaries, professional fees, rent, rates, maintenance of offices, travel and subsistence and publicity, were as set out in the following table, which also gives the estimated comparable costs for 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total cost of running the National Water Council in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what is the estimated charge to public funds for 1978–79.

The accounts for 1976–77 included in the Council's latest annual report show total expenditure of nearly £4 million. The Council's expenditure is almost entirely financed by the water authorities. I am advised by the National Water Council that its projected budget for 1978–79 amounts to just under £5 million at outturn prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total cost of running the Location of Offices Bureau in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what is the estimated charge to public funds for 1978–79.

The last published accounts of the Bureau, for 1976–77, showed expenditure of £202,000. The accounts for the year ending 31st March 1978 are expected to be published next month; I understand the total costs for that year were £254,000. The estimated charge to public funds for 1978–79 is £521,000, the increase reflecting the new roles of the Bureau.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the total cost of running the National Building Agency in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what is the estimated charge to public funds.

The total expenditure of the Agency in 1976–77 was £1,883,145. Of this, £1,075,064 was expenditure on the staff remuneration. My Department paid a net amount of £320,360 to the Agency in grant-in-aid to cover work commissioned by central Government together with a contribution to certain of the Agency's costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to reduce the fouling of cities by dogs in order to reduce the risks to children from toxicara canis; and if he will make a statement.

Local authorities already have powers to make byelaws prohibiting the fouling of footpaths and prohibiting dogs from children's play areas and other areas of parks requiring special protection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the report of the working party on dogs; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the working party on dogs was published on 5th August 1976. I hope to announce my views on the report of the working party, which has been the

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what temperatures have been recorded in the Strangers' Cafeteria over the past three weeks; what monitoring has been carried out of the level and its effect on staff and those eating in the Cafeteria; and if he is satisfied that conditions are comparaable to those laid down in the Factories Acts and that the standard of maintenance is acceptable.

Temperatures in the Strangers' Cafeteria are monitored three times daily when the House is sitting. Since the House reconvened, the following temperatures have been recorded:subject of extensive consultation and careful consideration by the Government, as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the requirement of British industry of fluorspar and the percentage derived currently from indigenous resources.

The requirement of British industry of fluorspar, which is used chiefly in the manufacture of hydrofluoric acid and other fluorine chemicals, as a flux in steelmaking and as an opacifer and flux in the ceramics industry, was approximately 175,000 tonnes in 1977.Over 95 per cent. was derived from indigenous resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to obtain a transcript of the trial of the two British subjects who were recently flogged publicly in Saudi Arabia for alleged offences in that country in relation to alcohol.

No transcripts are ordinarily made of court proceedings in Saudi Arabia. A court register is kept which is usually signed by the prisoner after conviction. My right hon. Friend is asking our Ambassador in Jedda to make inquiries about the procedure followed in the case of Mr. Maidment and Mr. Cooper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Saudi Arabia regarding the recent public flogging of two British citizens.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 19th June to the hon. Member for Westbury (Mr. Walters).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will list those British embassies which co-operated with other EEC embassies in 1977 to produce joint economic reports on the countries to which they were accredited;(2) if he will arrange for copies of the economic reports compiled jointly by EEC embassy staffs on the countries to which they are accredited to be placed in the Library.

In 1977 Foreign and Commonwealth Office posts played a part in the preparation of joint economic reports on the following countries:

• Greece
• Uruguay
• Israel
• Tanzania
• Finland
• Austria
• Portugal
• Bulgaria
• Paraguay
• Zaire
• United Arab Emirates
• Guatemala
• Spain
• Yugoslavia
• Cuba
• Switzerland
• Hungary
• Nigeria
• Syria
• Malaysia
• Iran
• Turkey
• Soviet Union
• Kenya
• Mexico
• Chile

• Sierra Leone
• Korea
• New Zealand
• Australia
• Romania
• Singapore
• India
• Thailand
• Bolivia

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assure this House that in his discussions with the Argentine Government on the future of the Falkland Islands the possibility of alternately nominated United Kingdom and Argentine governors is not a matter for negotiation.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking, and upon the basis of what criteria, to define the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands.

The territorial waters of the Falkland Islands are currently set at three miles, measured from base lines.As I have said in the House, following the United Kingdom's decision to extend her fishery limits to 200 miles on 1st January 1977, consideration is being given in consultation with governors of dependent territories to extending dependent territories' fishery limits also.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the present discussions with the Argentine Government include an agreed definition of the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands; and what authority has been given to the United Kingdom representatives to negotiate on this matter.

The extent of the territorial waters of the Falkland Islands has not yet been discussed with the Argentine Government in the present negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what have been the changes in the charges for the renewal of the British passport over the last 10 years.

The following is a table of the fees charged over the last 10 years for the issue of a British passport and for the replacement of one that has expired. Since 1968 passports have been issued with a full 10 year validity and have not been renewable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whom Her Majesty's Government regard as the employer of the members of the public services in Southern Rhodesia who have carried on with their normal tasks as they were instructed to do by the Governor in his proclamation at the time of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

As far as existing members of the public services in Southern Rhodesia are concerned, Her Majesty's Government regard the illegal regime as their employer. As the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in March 1970 in answer to Questions in the House following the purported declaration of a republic in Rhodesia:

"The former Governor's injunction has lapsed and those who continue to serve a regime which asserts illegally that Southern Rhodesia is a republic—like those appointed by the regime—cannot be regarded as serving the crown in Southern Rhodesia."—[Official Report, 2nd March 1970; Vol. 797, c. 13.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make public the report of the group on Anglo-Irish economic co-operation.

The report was made public today and copies have been placed in the Library of the House. Further copies are available from the Library and Records Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will list the local authority and university museums and galleries which have been, or are, recipients of, loans whether temporary or long-term, of works of art and museum objects from national collections during the past 12 months; and if she will also list any additional local authority or university museums and galleries to which the provision of such loans during the forthcoming months has been agreed.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish the list of education authorities in Wales which have agreed schemes for early retirement for teachers.