asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the Metrication Board have been introduced since April 1976; and what were the expenses claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

In 1977 the chairman received an increase of £104 per annum. The chairman and members received a 10 per cent. increase in January 1978. The deputy chairmanship lapsed in April 1977. The total expenses of the chairman and the 12 other members of the board during the last year were £485.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman, deputy chairmen and members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission have been introduced since April 1976; and what were the expenses claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

In 1976 the part-time members of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission were awarded the due proportion of the stage 1 increase of up to £312 per annum. In 1977 the chairman was awarded the stage 2 increase of £208.80 per annum and the part-time deputy chairmen and members received the due proportion of this sum. In 1978 the chairman, deputy chairmen and members were all awarded an increase of 10 per cent. of salary. Members' claims for travelling and subsistence in the period 1st April 1977 to 31st March 1978 total led £5,411.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairmen of the electricity con- sultative councils in England and Wales have been introduced since April 1976; and what were the expenses claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The only increase in remuneration received by the chairmen of the electricity consultative councils since April 1976 is the 10 per cent. awarded this year. Details of chairmen's expenses are not readily abstracted from the expenses paid to all members and staff of the twelve electricity consultative councils in England and Wales and the Electricity Consumers' Council which during 1977–78 totalled £89,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman and members of the National Consumer Council have been introduced since April 1976; and what were the expenses claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

In 1976 the deputy chairman of the National Consumer Council received the due proportion—as a part timer—of the stage 1 increase of £312 per annum. In 1977 the posts of part-time chairman and deputy chairman received the due proportions of the stage 2 increase of £208.80 per annum. On 1st January 1978 the chairman, deputy chairman and members were all awarded an increase of 10 per cent. of salary.

Details of expenses of individual members are not readily available, but the expenses paid to all members, including the chairman and deputy chairman, in the 12 months ended September 1978 totalled £7,480.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman, deputy chairman, and each member of the Price Commission have been introduced since April 1976; and what were the expenses claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The Price Commission was reconstituted on 1st August 1977 with new powers and functions for which appropriate levels of remuneration were set. The chairman, deputy chairmen and members received a 10 per cent. increase in 1978. Members' claims for travelling and subsistence expenses are dealt with in accordance with the rules for senior civil servants; in the period 1st August 1977 to 31st March 1978 these claims totalled £8,885.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what annual increases in the rates of pay of the chairman of the National Gas Consumers' Council, and each of the chairmen of the regional councils have been introduced since April 1976; and what were the expenses claimed by each during the last 12 months for which figures are available.

The only increase in remuneration received by the chairmen of the gas consumers' councils since April 1976 is the 10 per cent. awarded this year. Details of the chairmen's expenses are not readily abstracted from the expenses paid to all members and staff of the thirteen gas consumers' councils which during 1977–78 totalled £68,500.

CONSUMER PRICES
					February 1974-August 1978	Latest 12 months (August 1977-August 1978)
					Percentage increase
West Germany	…	…	…	…	20·6	2·4
USA	…	…	…	…	39·7	7·9
Japan	…	…	…	…	45·5	4·2
Canada	…	…	…	…	49·1	9·4
France	…	…	…	…	56·8	9·4
United Kingdom	…	…	…	…	96·1	8·0
Italy	…	…	…	…	98·0*	12·1†
*February 1974-July 1978.
†July 1977-July 1978.

Food Prices
					February 1974-August 1978	Latest 12 months (August 1977-August 1978)
					Percentage increase
West Germany*†	…	…	…	…	19·2	0·5
USA	…	…	…	…	36·7	10·3
Japan	…	…	…	…	46·2	5·0
Canada	…	…	…	…	60·0	17·8
France*	…	…	…	…	61·1	8·5
United Kingdom	…	…	…	…	104·4	7·5
Italy	…	…	…	…	121·0‡	14·9§
* Includes Beverages.
†Includes Tobacco.
‡February 1974-July 1978
§July 1977-July 1978

Sources:

OECD Main Economic Indicators

National Sources

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) if he will list in ascending order the percentage change in food prices from February 1974 to the latest available date in Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and West Germany;(2) if he will list in ascending order the percentage change in prices from February 1974 to the latest available date in Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and West Germany.

The cumulative increases as requested are given below. As the overall figures conceal differing trends over time, the latest annual increases are also given. These illustrate the marked reduction in the rate of increase for the United Kingdom relative to that for other countries; the latest available information for the United Kingdom indicates a further fall. In the year to September 1978 the retail price index rose by 7·8 per cent., and food prices by 7·2 per cent. The comparisons of increases in food prices are further complicated in that the inclusion of alcoholic drinks and tobacco varies between countries.

Rodgers asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer the activities of bureaux de change to the Price Commission or any other cause.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so, but if my hon. Friend has evidence of unjustifiable trading practices my right hon. Friend would be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will amend the Petrol Prices (Display) Order 1978 to make it a compulsory requirement on all garages to advertise prices or price reductions that are visible from the road.

Our objective in introducing the Petrol Prices (Display) Order 1977 was to ensure that, when garages chose to display prices at the roadside, the consumer would not be misled. This we have achieved. When a garage does not so display its prices the consumer is well able to draw his own conclusions about the likely level of prices at that garage.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading for investigation the claims made by the electricity supply industry in its recent advertisements of the off-peak electricity tariff economy, in the light of a report by the Electricity Consumer Council.

I will reply to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will list the names of the chairmen of the area electricity consultative councils in England and Wales and in each case the date of appointment, the full-time employment and other official appointments held.

The information requested by the hon. Member is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold discussions with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on what steps to take immediately to deal with the vandalism and lawlessness in Greater London, and, in particular, in the area of Ham.

I regularly hold discussions with the commissioner on matters affecting the policing of the Metropolitan Police district, without in any way affecting his responsibility for action taken by the Metropolitan Police to deal with crime. As my recent national conference on vandalism showed, the problem of vandalism is not only a matter for the police, but also for local authorities and voluntary bodies. Consequently, the police are ready to join with other local bodies to deal with outbreaks of vandalism where they occur, and to develop contact with the community so that local problems and action to deal with them can be discussed by all concerned. If the hon. Member has some specific police action in mind to deal with events in Ham I suggest that he puts it to the commissioner, or the commander of T ' Division of the Metropolitan Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail all the sanctions employed by prison officers in the last year; in what prisons they occurred; for what reason; and what were the consequences.

The establishments in England and Wales at which industrial action has been taken by local branches of the Prison Officers Association during the past 12 months are as follows:

• Albany
• Ashford
• Aylesbury Bedford
• Blundeston
• Bristol
• Brixton
• Brockhill
• Camp Hill
• Canterbury
• Cardiff
• Channings Wood
• Coldingley
• Dartmoor
• Dorchester
• Durham
• Eastwood Park
• Feltham
• Finnamore Wood
• Gartree
• Gavnes Hall
• Hollesley Bay
• Hull
• Highpoint
• Lancaster
• Leicester
• Leyhill
• Liverpool
• Long Lartin
• Low Newton
• New Hall
• North Sea Camp
• Norwich
• Onley
• Oxford
• Parkhurst
• Pentonville
• Portland
• Portsmouth
• Puckleehutch
• Ranby
• Reading
• Rochester
• Shrewsbury
• Stafford
• Stanford Hill
• Sudbury
• Swansea
• Swinfen Hall
• Wakefield
• Wansworth
• Whatton
• Winchester
• Wormwood Scrubs

The forms of the action taken have included instances in which visits of solicitors, police officers and probation officers have been restricted or prevented; the process of delivery and reception of prisons to and from courts of all levels of jurisdiction has been disrupted or halted, as has the transfer of prisoners in and out of establishments; the movement of staff, building contractors, vehicles, and supplies into prisons has been prevented; the unlocking of inmates has been delayed; and restrictions have been placed on prisoners' exercise, association, bathing and educational classes and the operation of prison workshops.The reasons given for the industrial action have included disputes about manning levels, bank holiday pay arrangements, staff facilities, staff quarters, duty systems, overcrowding, payment for meal breaks and working conditions at establishments. Action has also been taken in support of claims for a cost of living allowance for Isle of Wight prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Greater Manchester police authority's proposals to increase its establishment of policemen and police officers.

The Greater Mandiescer police authority has not yet submitted specific proposals for increasing the establishment of the force. The detailed study of the chief constable's review of organisation and establishment is continuing and is likely to take some months to complete. On 30th September there were 473 vacancies. The present establishment does not therefore constitute a restraint on recruitment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will agree to meet a deputation of local representatives from the London borough of Newham together with the hon. Member for Newham, North-West to discuss matters connected with the growing number of physical assaults occurring in the borough, the allegations that these are racially inspired and the charges that the police are failing to take adequate steps to deal with such matters;(2) in the light of allegations that enforcement of the law is not adequate in relation to the almost daily assaults on immigrants in the London borough of Newham, if he will visit the area to make a personal investigation;(3) in the light of the increasing number of assaults on the immigrant population in East London in general and in the London borough of Newham in particular which is causing concern to local councillors, if he will arrange to visit the Newham area to discuss these matters with local public representatives and the leaders of the ethnic groups.

The prevention and detection of crime in the borough of Newham are responsibilities of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. As a result of a letter to me from my hon. Friend, the commissioner has recently sent me a report on the situation there. I understand that reports to the police do not indicate a large number, nor an organised pattern, or racially motivated attacks on the Asian community in New- ham. It may be, however, that some attacks are not being reported. The commissioner has deployed extra patrols in Newham, and the police there are active in trying to develop their contact with the community so that the true nature of the problem can be assessed.I have no plans at present to visit Newham. If, in the light of this reply, and my recent letter my hon. Friend has specific points which he would like to discuss with me I should be grateful if he would let me know so that suitable arrangements can be made for a meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for a recent convenient period the number of cases of physical assaults reported to the police in the London borough of Newham; and of these, the number of assaults that were made on immigrants, the number of prosecutions that were made, and with what results.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that in 1977 there were 523 offences of "assault", and so on, recorded by the police in the borough of Newham; these figures cover nearly all indictable offences of violence against the person and certain sexual offences involving violence. Information is not available on how many of the victims were immigrants.The information available on court proceedings relates to offences of violence against the person and does not include sexual offences involving violence. In 1977, 239 persons were proceeded against in the Newham petty sessional division for indictable offences of violence against the person; 168 persons were found guilty either in the Newham petty sessional division or in the Crown court following committal for trial from the Newham petty sessional division.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the authorised establishment of each police force in England on 1st April in each year since 1972; and what was the corresponding manpower at each date.

The figures, which take account of the reorganisation of forces which took place on 1st April 1974, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase the allowable remission of sentence from one-third to one half for all those serving sentences of up to two years.

I have no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for amending the rules of evidence so as to facilitate the admission of evidence from witnesses abroad in writing in cases heard under the extraterritorial provisions of the Suppression of Terrorism Act 1978.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to alter the present situation in which a child born abroad out of wedlock cannot have British nationality even if born to British parents; and if he will institute the immediate reform that an illegitimate child should be able to take British nationality from its mother.

The present law does provide for acquisition of citizenship by such children in some circumstances. A child, whose mother was a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies at the time of his birth, and who is and always has been Stateless, is entitled, whether he is legitimate or illegitimate, to be registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies under section 1(1)(a) of the British Nationality (No. 2) Act 1964.aspects of our nationality law are being re-examined following the publication of the Green Paper on nationality law—Cmnd. 6795. I cannot forecast when it will be possible to introduce legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is proposed to designate Dominica, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu as Commonwealth countries for the purposes of the Fugitive Offenders Act 1967.

I cannot yet give a firm date, but I shall be laying the necessary order before Parliament in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that children born out of wedlock to the same mother and the same acknowledged father should be legally recognised as siblings.

I am not sure from the wording of my hon. Friend's Question what particular feature of existing law she wishes to see changed. Since however a Law Commission working party is reviewing the law relating to children born out of wedlock I suggest that she might put her points to the commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of people from the New Commonwealth, including Pakistan (a) admitted for settlement in the United Kingdom and (b) accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom by revocation of conditions, in 1969 and each subsequent year, the figures for 1978 being estimated on the basis of the latest available monthly totals calculated at an annual rate.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th November 1978; Vol. 957, c. 42], gave the following information:The figures requested for 1969 to 1977 are given in Tables 7 and 8 of Control of Immigration: Statistics 1977—Cmnd. 7160. Figures for the first half of 1978 were published in a press notice on 14th September 1978 which is available in the Library of the House. In the first half of 1978, 12,797 citizens of the New Commonwealth and Pakistan were accepted for settlement on arrival, and 9,352 on removal of time limit, equivalent respectively to an annual rate of 25,594 and 18,704.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation general conference; and what outcome they expect from the conference.

We support UNESCO as a valuable agency of the United Nations, and seek to play our part in directing its activities constructively. We are applying that policy at the present conference. I hope the outcome will be successful.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list in theOfficial Report all the new public bodies that are listed in the new edition of "A Directory of Paid Public Appointments Made by Ministers" that have come into being since the previous edition.

Twenty-five such bodies have come into being since the 1976 edition of the "Directory of Paid Public Appointments Made by Ministers" was compiled. They are:

• Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Arbitration Tribunal.
• British Aerospace.
• British National Oil Corporation.
• British Shipbuilders.
• Commission for Racial Equality.
• Co-operative Development Agency.
• Construction Industry Manpower Board.
• Detergents and Allied Products—Voluntary
• Scheme, Scrutiny Group.
• Development Team for the Mentally Handicapped.
• Electricity Consumers Council.
• Health Services Board.
• New Towns Staff Commission.
• Police Complaints Board.
• Economic Council, Northern Ireland.
• Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland.
• Fair Employment Agency, Northern Ireland.
• Labour Relations Agency, Northern Ireland.
• Londonderry Port and Harbour Commission.
• Northern Ireland Development Agency.
• Police Complaints Board, Northern Ireland.
• Dumping at Sea Act, Representations Panel.
• Lay Observer for Scotland.
• Scottish Committee of the Health Services Board.
• Development Board for Rural Wales.
• Welsh Committee of the Health Services Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will locate the National Enterprise Board microprocessor project in the Greater Manchester area.

The location of the INMOS facilities is a matter for the company and the NEB, subject to the NEB guidelines requirement that an area of high unemployment should be chosen if possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will state the total amount of industrial development aid from the central Government to Cornwall and Wales, respectively, both absolutely and per head of the insured population, in the latest financial year.

The information is not available in precisely the form requested. Following is the information relating to the South-West assisted areas, which include the whole of Cornwall, and Wales:Estimates of the expenditure on assistance to industry in the South-West assisted areas and Wales during the 1977-78 financial year are as follows:

	1977–78
	£
South-West assisted areas
Total expenditure*	9 million
Per capita of insured population	30·67
Wales
Total expenditure*	91·4million
Per capita of insured population	85·02

In addition, under the various schemes of selective assistance to industry operating under section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 the following sums were offered in aggregate to companies in the South-West assisted areas and Wales:

	1977–78
	£
South-West assisted areas	2·3 million
Wales	1·3 million
*This expenditure includes regional development grants, regional selective financial assistance under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972, and Local Employment Act assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Confederation of British Industry.

I have no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will introduce legislation to repeal sections 67 and 68(2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 and sections 65 and 66(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he plans next to meet the chairman of the British Steel Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he next expects to meet the chairman of the British Steel Corporation.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman regularly and I shall be meeting him on 16th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied that the powers and authority of publicly appointed directors of privately owned enterprises are sufficient to enable them to carry out their public responsibilities properly.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Aerospace.

I have frequent meetings with Lord Beswick.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on future civil aircraft projects for British Aerospace.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer), on 6th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the employment of men and women, respectively, in Government-owned factories in Sunderland at the latest available date; and what were the figures 12 months previously.

In September 1978 there were 2,861 men and 1,019 women employed and in September 1977 2,934 men and 1,226 women.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with industrial progress in the Northern region.

We shall continue to do everything practical to encourage the continued growth of industry in the region.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the level of industrial investment in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for 1973.

Total investment by manufacturing industry in 1977 is estimated to have been £3,573 million at 1975 prices; the comparable figure for 1973 is £3,504 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will discuss with the corporation the financial prospects of the British Aerospace HS146 airliner now that the £ sterling has risen above the level of $1·95 beyond which British Aerospace has stated it could not make the project profitable; and if he will make a statement about this and alternative projects.

It is primarily the responsibility of Birtish Aerospace to keep the commercial prospects of its products under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with progress towards the achievement of an agreed policy towards the aerospace construction industry within the European Economic Community.

The Government's view is that the prime responsibility in this field lies with the manufacturers. The entry of British Aerospace into Airbus Industries will be a major step towards the establishment of a European aircraft industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress he has made in discussions to help Wharton Cranes of Reddish, Stockport.

My hon. Friend discussed the problem of Wharton Cranes with the Minister of State and representatives of the management and trade unions on 3rd November and subsequent discussions have been held involving the NEB. Before deciding what assistance can be offered to minimise the loss of jobs, the Department is awaiting the specific proposal being prepared by the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of the number of jobs created or likely to be created by his industrial strategy; how many have been preserved during the same period by his policy of rescuing companies which are not within the industrial strategy; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government's industrial strategy is a long-term programme for improving the productivity and competitiveness of the whole of British manufacturing industry. It is not practicable to assess the employment impact of the wide range of the Government's measures taken to this end.We calculate that during the period of the industrial strategy, projects assisted under section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 have involved the creation of nearly 150,000 new jobs and the safeguarding of a further 90,000 jobs. Our accelerated projects scheme, selective investment scheme and 15 sectoral schemes involve the safeguarding of many thousands of jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he next expects to meet the chairman of the National Enterprise Board.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman very frequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what plans he has to meet the chairman of the National Enterprise Board.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman very frequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he next plans to meet the chairman of the National Enterprise Board.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman very frequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he is taking to assist the woollen industry with water and effluent charges.

I am actively examining with the industry how modernisation and the use of new techniques for wool scouring can reduce costs of water and trade effluent treatment. On 23rd October I met representatives of the industry to discuss the situation outlined in the recent report on water and trade effluent charges in Yorkshire. I am currently engaged in discussions with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment regarding the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will issue further guidance to public and private sector industry on the need to buy British.

Through our general sponsorship role all sectors of industry should be well aware of the Government's views that they should buy British wherever possible. Terms of membership of the EEC and other international obligations such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) do not permit a requirement to buy British as a condition of Government assistance. However, all applicants are encouraged to seek United Kingdom tenders and are made aware of suitable United Kingdom sources if they are not already aware of such sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the unemployed in the Greater Bristol area are under 21 years of age.

At 12th October, 17·7 per cent. of those registered as unemployed in the Bristol travel-to-work area were under 20 years of age. Information is not available for the precise age range specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will arrange for the publication of the criteria used to determine the allocation of money from central funds to individual training boards.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for the allocation of Exchequer resources to industry training boards, that the two main criteria used in considering boards' requests for financial support are that: —

(i) priority should be given to proposals which support the Government's industrial strategy or otherwise provide for opportunities to train in skills of importance from a national point of view.

(ii) there should be firm evidence that boards and their respective industries are doing all they can from their own resources to meet the objectives set out in the MSC's "Training for skills" report to increase the quality and quantity of training and put industries' training arrangements on to a more comprehensive and long-term basis.

The detailed criteria to be used under the "Training for skills" programme are set out in paragraph 5.7 of the MSC's "Training for skills" report which was published in December 1977. The criteria used in previous years were published in the MSC's Annual Reports for 1974–75—page 18—and 1975–76—page 16.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobcentres there are in Central London including the City; where they are located; what is the annual cost of each; and how many new jobs each has placed over the last convenient 12-month period.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there are seven jobcentres in Central London, including the City, located as follows: