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

In May this year my Department issued a discussion paper on the financing of student unions, and a similar paper was issued in June by the Scottish Education Department. The principal aim of the proposals outlined in these papers was to achieve greater accountability for the substantial expenditure of public funds involved in the financing of student unions without impairing the autonomy of the unions in essential matters, or the freedom of students to manage their own affairs. The main suggestion was that an upper limit—possibly £15 to £20—should be set on the amount which could be paid through the awards machinery in respect of student union subscriptions, and be reviewed periodically in consultation with the various interests concerned, and that this could be supplemented from an institution's recurrent grant, following local negotiations. At the same time, a minimum level of subscription, possibly £1·25 for full-time students, would be recommended in guidance to local education authorities.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have now considered the responses made to these discussion papers. A large proportion of those who responded, including bodies representing those responsible for providing student union facilities, are ready to accept the proposals outlined in the discussion papers, and indeed no acceptable alternative has been suggested. Accordingly, while we will of course be prepared to look at any new considered views which may emerge, my right hon. Friend and I have reached the conclusion that we must proceed with future arrangements for the financing of student unions on the basis of our proposals. A number of points require discussion and clarification, and we will pursue these with the various parties involved with the aim of ensuring that the new arrangements work fairly and effectively. If it proves necessary for this purpose to defer their introduction until the academic year 1980–81, we will issue recommendations to the bodies concerned in order that any increases in student union subscriptions for 1979–80 are kept within acceptable limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue circular to education authorities advising empty classrooms in infant schools for developing nursery education, rather than leaving the rooms empty and unused.

In successive years when local education authorities have been invited to submit bids for the nursery education building programme they have been advised of the desirability of adapting to nursery use primary classes vacated through falling rolls. The Department has also issued a report on education and a building bulletin describing how surplus primary space may be remodelled. My right hon. Friend therefore has no plans to issue a circular.

asked the Secretary of if she will publish in the Official Report the names of any education authorities which have not taken up the financial support currently available from central Government for the provision of nursery education.

The following local education authorities did not bid in the nursery 1978–79:

• Bromley
• Croydon
• Havering
• Kingston-upon-Thames
• Redbridge
• Sutton
• Dudley
• St. Helens
• Wirral
• Bolton
• Stockport
• Rafford
• Bradford
• Calderdale
• Kirklees
• Isles of Scilly
• Avon
• Bedfordshire
• Berkshire
• Buckinghamshire
• Cambridgeshire
• Cumbria
• Derbyshire
• Dorset
• Durham
• East Sussex
• Essex
• Gloucestershire
• Hampshire
• Hereford and Worcester
• Kent
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Norfolk
• North Yorkshire
• Northamptonshire
• Nottinghamshire
• Oxfordshire
• Salop
• Somerset
• Staffordshire
• Surrey
• West Sussex
• Wiltshire

asked if she will list, for the most recent year for which figures are available, the number of school leavers who have left school without any qualifications.

My Department does not collect statistics of all the examinations for which school children can enter. However, of the 751,000 children who left school in England and Wales in 1976–77, 117,000 did not possess a graded result in either the CSE or GCE examinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present cost of grants paid to British in parental contributions; and how much it costs to administer the scheme.

For the academic year 1978–79 it is estimated that local education authorities in England and Wales, and the Scottish Education Department, will spend about £175 million on the maintenance elements of awards and about £125 million on fees for students ordinarily resident in Great Britain and attending first degree courses at universities in the United Kingdom. In addition, the total assessed parental contribution toward grants for these students is estimated to be about £55 million. No reliable estimate of the cost of administering the awards scheme is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science from what date the proposed regulations governing the granting of added years for the pensions of teachers retiring per maturely will operate; and when they will be laid before the House.

When the processes of drafting and consultation are completed, the Government intend to make regulations retrospective to 1st April 1976. As in the case of all local government employees, the local authorities have been informed that they can anticipate the formal regulations and some are already doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list for every year from 1945 to 1967–68, inclusive (a) the total budget administered by her Department and (b) the portion of that budget spent on capital projects, both at 1977 survey prices.

This information is not readily available in precisely the form requested but the following table shows total expenditure on education in England and Wales from 1960–61 to 1967–78 with capital expenditure shown separately, at prices approximately equivalent to 1977 survey prices.

EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES
		£ million at 1977 prices
Financial year	Total(i)	Capital included in(i) (ii)
1960–61	3,406	497
1961–62	3,451	611
1962–63	3,602	647
1963–64	3,798	681
1964–65	4,087	751
1965–66	4,232	681
1966–67	4,552	755
1967–68	4,836	840

Certain additional information related to educational building financed from public sources from 1946 and other educational expenditure by public authorities from 1952-53 at outturn prices is contained in the annual volumes of Statistics of Education from 1962, copies of which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish a table, from international sources available to her, listing those countries in order where a higher proportion of students take up education beyond the age of 16 years, than is the case in the United Kingdom.

The figures will take time to compile from international sources and I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pilot experiments have been carried out in the United Kingdom in connection with the teaching of migrant children in their mother tongue: and what are the results.

Amongst the educational research relating to ethnic minorities, two experiments are known to teaching migrant children in their mother tongue.A project in Birmingham, sponsored by the Council of Europe, sought to examine the reactions of parents and pupils to the teaching of Punjabi as a language and the use of it as the language of instruction. The results were inconclusive.A DES funded project recently started in Bradford is making a comparative study of the relative benefits of two teaching approaches to two groups of Punjabi children on first entering infant schools; one group being taught through the medium of Punjabi whilst the other follows the usual practice of being taught the English language, which is also used as the medium for instruction. This project is expected or three years to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the percentage increase in productivity and the percentage increase in wages and salaries in the coal industry since the implementation of the National Coal Board's productivity pay scheme.

Over the past six weeks for which figures are available face productivity was over 12 per cent. and overall productivity 7 per cent. more than the corresponding period a year ago, that is, immediately prior to the introduction of the productivity scheme. The real improvement is, however, almost certainly greater since—and this is encouraging for the industry—the previous declining trend in productivity has been reversed.On the question of wages and salaries, I am asking the chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the quantity, per unit of volume, of tetraethyl lead contained in five, four, three, and two-star petrol currently being marketed by the major oil companies operating in the United Kingdom, together with the figures for the corresponding time in 1977, 1976, 1975, and 1974.

The Institute of Petroleum publishes annually the figures shown below for the average lead content of petrol supplied in the United Kingdom. The units are grammes per litre.

Year	5-Star	4-Star	3-Star	2-Star
1974	0·53	0·53	0·50	0–46
1975	0·52	0·51	0·45	0–40
1976	0·51	0·50	0·45	0·40
1977	0·47	0·46	0·45	0·42

Data for 1978 are not yet available.

Asked the secretary of state for Energy what research has been undertaken in the United Kingdom and the EEC into low energy consumption of ceramic materials.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations he has received concerning pay and conditions within the Ordnance Survey units; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received representations from civil servants, including some who work in the Ordnance Survey, about their pay and conditions generally, but none specifically concerning pay and conditons within the Ordnance Survey. I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 6th November about the current position on Civil Service pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used to decide the establishment figures of each police force.

The size and density of the population of the area, the incidence of crime, traffic and accidents, and any special features peculiar to the policing of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much recent improvements to Holloway prison have cost; and why, in spite of these renovations, Holloway prison is apparently unable to accommodate all categories of women prisoners.

Her Majesty's Prison Holloway is being completely rebuilt at an estimated cost of £12 million. Approximately half the new prison has been completed and is now in use. When the rebuilding is complete Holloway will be able to house high security remand prisoners in addition to the wide variety of inmates at present accommodated there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many women are imprisoned currently in Brixton prison; and why they are there;(2) upon what criteria is it decided to imprison female prisoners in Brixton rather than in Holloway prison;(3) if he will make compensatory provisions for women imprisoned in Brixton prison in view of the fact that they are deprived of the normal privileges allowed to the other inmates.

Two. They are in Brixton prison because they are in security category A and there is no other prison in the South-East of England which offers the degree of security required for unconvicted women prisoners in this category. They are not deprived any of the normal privileges allowed to other unconvicted prisoners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is

Police Area				Special Constables	Regular Force	Proportion Per cent
Avon and Somerset		…	…	608	2,804	21·3
Bedfordshire	…	…	…	203	877	23·14
Cambridgeshire	…	…	…	365	1,017	35·88
Cheshire	…	…	…	238	1,737	13·70
Cleveland	…	…	…	187	1,317	14·19
Cumbria	…	…	…	278	1,006	27·63
Derbyshire	…	…	…	522	1,513	34·50
Devon and Cornwall		…	…	1,330	2,606	51·03
Dorset	…	…	…	277	1,109	24·97
Durham	…	…	…	134	1,320	10·15
Dyfed Powys	…	…	…	170	923	18·41
Essex	…	…	…	397	2,350	16·89
Gloucestershire	…	…	…	324	1,061	30·53
Greater Manchester		…	…	466	6,371	7·31
Gwent	…	…	…	243	959	25·33
Hampshire	…	…	…	447	2,805	15·93
Hertfordshire	…	…	…	299	1,488	20·09
Humberside	…	…	…	322	1,813	177
Kent	…	…	…	797	2,678	29·76
Lancashire	…	…	…	389	3,088	12·59
Leicestershire	…	…	…	306	1,654	18·50
Lincolnshire	…	…	…	469	1,153	40·67
Merseyside	…	…	…	341	4,330	787
Norfolk	…	…	…	301	1,219	24·69
Northamptonshire		…	…	237	889	26·65
Northumbria	…	…	…	480	3,232	14·85
North Wales	…	…	…	550	1,262	43·58
North Yorkshire	…	…	…	375	1,292	29·02
Nottinghamshire	…	…	…	522	2,093	24·94
South Wales	…	…	…	297	2,916	10·18
South Yorkshire	…	…	…	267	2,519	10·59
Staffordshire	…	…	…	553	1,984	27·87
Suffolk	…	…	…	430	1,017	42·28
Surrey	…	…	…	268	1,483	18·07
Sussex	…	…	…	489	2,688	18·19
Thames Valley	…	…	…	580	2,725	21·28
Warwickshire	…	…	…	397	872	45·52
West Mercia	…	…	…	624	1,658	37·63
West Midlands	…	…	…	908	5,852	15·51
West Yorkshire	…	…	…	450	4,674	9·62
Wiltshire	…	…	…	264	961	27·47
City of London	…	…	…	131	842	15·55
Metropolitan	…	…	…	2,017	22,044	9·14
TOTALS	…	…	…	19,252	108,201	17·79

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current budget for national advertisements inviting those interested to join the special constabulary.

£22,000 nationally. There are, in addition, local campaigns which are the primary means of recruiting.

The information, for England and Wales, at 31st December 1977, the latest date for which special constabulary figures are available, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government propose to amend section 118 of the Housing Act 1974 and to improve the workings of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 in general.

Yes. We are proposing to include suitable provisions in the Housing Bill which is in preparation. As my hon. Friend knows, section 118(4) of the Housing Act 1974, which was carried against the Government's advice, introduced a new and separate valuation basis into the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 for establishing the purchase price of the freehold of houses brought within the scope of leasehold enfranchisement in 1974. We have always considered this anomalous and unsatisfactory, a view which was con-firmed as a result of the determination by the Lands Tribunal in the case of Norfolk v. Trinity College, Cambridge. We therefore propose to repeal section 118(4) with the result that all houses to which the Leasehold Reform Act applies will have their freeholds valued on the same basis for the purpose of the Act. The provision would apply to a case where notice of enfranchisement had already been given provided the price had not been determined before it came into force.We also propose to help enfranchising leaseholders who may face difficulty and delay in dealing with the holders of minor intermediate leases who stand between them and the freeholder. Such intermediate leases are particularly prevalent in certain districts in the Birmingham area where leasehold tenure is common. The proposal is that where an intermediate lease has a reversion of not more than a month and the net ground rent received for it is not more than £5 a year the price payable for that interest will be calculated by a formula similar to that in section 10 of the Rentcharges Act 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what information he has on the profitability of British industry over the past 12 months; and what estimate he has made for 1979.

The latest avail-able estimate of the rate of return at replacement cost, that is real profitability, of industrial and commercial companies relates to 1977 and is 4½ per cent. Excluding North Sea oil and gas activities it is 4 per cent. Such data as are now available for the first half of 1978 suggest that real profitability over the past 12 months has been much the same as in 1977. It is not the practice to publish forecasts of rates of return.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total in gross tons of new orders by United King dom shipowners in 1977 and up to the latest available date in 1978 and the total new orders given by United Kingdom ship-owners to United Kingdom yards in 1977 and 1978; and what were the amounts in compensated gross tons.

Information on new orders of merchant ships for United Kingdom registration is as follows:

ORDERS OF MERCHANT SHIPS FOR UNITED KINGDOM REGISTRATION
	1977	1978 January to September
Total orders:
('000 grt)	434	153
('000 cgrt)	514	144
Orders placed in United Kingdom shipyards:
(000 grt)	351	74
(000'cgrt)	408	60

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the launching aid costs involved in developing the Rolls-Royce 432 engine; and what progress has been made concerning the introduction of this engine into the air frame of the BAC111.

No proposals for launch of the RB432 engine have been submitted to my right hon. Friend. I understand Rolls-Royce is in contact with all airframe manufacturers to assess the potential requirements for the RB432.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions he has had on negotiations involving his Department and British Aerospace in their negotiations with the Japanese Government and commercial interests in Japan concerning the development in Japan of an aircraft manufacturing programme involving the BAC111.

My right hon. Friend has had no discussions about a possible aircraft manufacturing programme in Japan involving the BAC111.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what date the National Enterprise Board took up the extra 2,500 £100 preference shares in Inmos Ltd.

This is a matter for the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the National Enterprise Board has consulted him about disposing of the private medical interests of its subsidiary company, United Medical Enterprises Ltd.

The NEB sought my right hon. Friend's statutory consent to its acquiring more than 30 per cent. of the voting share capital of United Medical Enterprises Ltd., and obtained it on condition that the private medical interests which the company would acquire as a consequence of its take-over of Allied Investments Ltd. would be disposed of as soon as possible. These interests were subsequently sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the National Enterprise Board informed him of, or consulted him about, its investment in Allied Investments.

My right hon. Friend's consent was sought and obtained by the board for an investment in this company by its subsidiary United Medical Enterprises.

				Payment now authorized	Total payments on account
				£000	£000
British Aircraft Corporation (Holdings) Limited			…	30,350	40,000
Scottish Aviation Limited	…	…	…	400	1,050
Brooke Marine Limited	…	…	…	250	650
Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Limited	…	…	…	150	400
Hall Russell Company Ltd.	…	…	…	250	650
Hawthorn Leslie (Engineers) Ltd.	…	…	…	150	550
John G. Kincaid Company Limited	…	…	…	800	2,250
Scott Lithgow Limited	…	…	…	600	750
Scott Lithgow Drydocks Limited	…	…	…		750
Vickers Shipbuilding Group Limited	…	…	…	3,200	8,450
Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Limited	…	…	…	700	1,350
Vosper Shiprepairers Limited	…	…	…		1,350
Yarrow Shipbuilders Limited	…	…	…	850	2,250
Yarrow Training Limited	…	…	…		2,250
				37,700	58,350

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that his Department has effective means of regu-

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a general directive to British Shipbuilders to publish the individual profit and loss accounts of the 27 constituent yards and if he will make a statement.

The subsidiary companies of British Shipbuilders are required by the Companies Acts to make public their accounts. I understand they will be doing so as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will authorise additional payments on account of compensation for the nationalisation of the aircraft and shipbuilding industries.

My right hon. Friend has reviewed the possibility of further payments on account of compensation in the context of the stage now reached in negotiations with the stockholders' representatives. In the light of this review my right hon. Friend has authorised payments on account totalling £37·70 million as listed below. These payments cover all the companies for which compensation has yet to be settled. lating the sale of horses for slaughter as horsemeat (A) in Great Britain and (B) for export.

My right hon. Friend the Minister is satisfied that we have the necessary powers to safeguard the welfare of horses and ponies in these circumstances.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the evidence now available for declining population of sperm whales in a number of areas, if he will seek to ban the import of sperm whale oil into the United Kingdom.

In formulating their policy on the import of sperm whale oil, the Government take account of the decisions of the International Whaling Commission. The scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission will assess North Pacific and Southern Hemisphere sperm whale stocks later this month and report to a special meeting of the commission in December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what scientific papers and exhibits are being prepared for use at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Tokyo later during the year.

The scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission, which includes a representative from the United Kingdom, will be meeting in La Jolla, California from 27th November to 8th December to consider all the available data on Southern Hemisphere and North Pacific sperm whale stocks. The committee will submit its report to the special meeting of the commission in Tokyo.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

I meet representatives of the CBI from time to time, at NEDC and on other occasions. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Council.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingswood on 21st November (Mr. Walker).

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the CBI.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 14th November.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress and Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. Gould) on 9th November.

asked the Prime Minister if he has discussed with the EEC Heads of Government the likely consequences if the United Kingdom does not join the proposed European monetary system.

Heads of Government will consider the proposed European monetary system at the meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 4th and 5th December. No doubt the discussion include the consequences of one or more countries not joining from the outset if that appears probable.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he list his official engagements for 23rd November 1978.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 23rd November.

Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for Thursday 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state his public engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish his engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his public engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 23rd November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 23rd November.

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

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Lancashire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to invite the German Chancellor to Great Britain.

Chancellor Schmidt and I aim to meet for bilateral consultations every six months. We met in Bonn on 18th and 19th October and I look forward to welcoming Chancellor Schmidt to this country in spring 1979.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Wincle.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the interests of public debate, he will reconsider his decision not to publish the main findings of the Central Policy Review Staff study of unemployment.

I refer the right hon. Member to the replies which I gave him on 25th May and 4th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will visit the Central Lancashire new town.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now review the rules pertaining to the release of Cabinet papers for the use of Select Committees, with particular reference to those papers relevant to the Bingham report.

A statement will be made shortly about the Government's decision on a further inquiry following the Bingham report. There are no proposals for a general review of the rules on the release of Cabinet papers.

asked the Prime Minister if he intends to visit Vienna before the end of 1978.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Bulawayo, Rhodesia.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from pensioners about the earnings rule.

I receive occasional letters from retirement pensioners about the earnings rule but on the whole these are about the application of the rule in their own case.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to upgrade the Royal Hospital, Richmond; when he plans to reinstate in-patient and out-patient services; on what date this plan will be approved; and when the upgraded hospital will be functioning.

The South-West Thames regional health authority and the Kingston and Richmond area health authority are jointly considering proposals for upgrading in-patient accommodation and it is not yet possible to determine when this work might be completed. Out-patient services continue to be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number on the waiting list at hospitals in the Bury area health authority for surgical, medical and other kinds of operations or treatment, including geriatrics and psycho-geriatrics.

The numbers waiting on 30th September 1978 were as follows:

General surgery	261
ENT	270
Trauma and orthopaedic	185
Dental surgery	33
Gynaecology	394
Geriatrics	Nil
Elderly severely mentally infirm	Nil
TOTAL	1,143

NOTE. In addition to the number shown on the waiting list for general surgery, 65 patients have been notified of specific admission dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for developing hospital services in the Bury area health authority, in the light of the fact that the area has the largest population growth in the North-West.

The North-Western regional health authority is planning to develop Fairfield general hospital as the district general hospital for the Bury area. The authority's capital programme includes a scheme starting in 1984 to provide acute beds, operating theatres, an accident and emerging department and an out-patient department. The programme also includes a psychiatric day hospital and paediatric department statring in 1980 and 1981 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to receive the half year report from Lambeth, Southwark and Leiwisham area health authority referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Gravesend on 10th July; and whether he has rescinded his request for this report.

My right hon. Friend has not rescinded his request and expects to receive this report early in 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report those area health authorities where there are indications that expenditure is not being controlled within the cash limits notified to them; and, in each case, what action he has taken.

The cash limits for individual area health authorities are agreed between the regional health authority and the AHA within the total cash limit for the region, and it is the regional health authority which has responsibility for monitoring an AHA's performance. Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham AHA(T) has not agreed the revenue allocation given to it by the South-East Thames RHA. On the steps being taken in relation to this authority, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mr. Bean) on 13th November 1978.—[Vol. 958, c.67–69.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the estimated sum of money spent each year by the health services in the replacement of walking sticks and pairs of crutches not returned by National Health Service patients(2) how much money is paid on average by the National Health Service per new pair of crutches and per new walking stick;(3) how many walking sticks and how many pairs of crutches are estimated to be lost to the Health Service each year through their non-return by National Health Service patients.

My Department arranges central contracts for crutches and walking sticks. Hospitals, artificial limb and appliance centres, as well as social services authorities, order from these contracts as required. Ordering authorities arrange supply to patients and for the recovery of loaned items where this is appropriate and economical. Figures of losses are not available centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate expenditure of time and effort. It is not the practice to disclose prices of articles purchased under Government contracts. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular problem in mind, I shall be pleased to have it considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present unemployment pay for a married man with two children who was earning £50 per week; and what additional financial benefits he would be entitled to.

Entitlement to flat-rate unemployment benefit and earnings-related supplement depends on a person's previous work record and level of earnings in the relevant tax year. Assuming that he had been in continuous employment, a married man with a dependent wife and two dependent children whose current earnings were £50 a week would be likely to receive £29·20 in flat-rate unemployment benefit and £7·78 in earnings-related supplement, at current benefit rates, the supplement lasting for six months only.Child benefit of £6 week would also be payable, and there might, in addition, be entitlement to other, means-tested, benefits such as rent and/or rate rebates, free welfare milk and free school meals according to the particular circumstances of the family.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report the stillbirth rate, perinatal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, post-neonatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate for babies born weighing less than 2,500 gms.; and if he will subdivide these statistics in regional health authorities for each of the last three years for which figures are available;(2) if he will publish in the

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Members for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas), Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young), Walsall, South (Mr. George), Chorley (Mr. Rodgers), Welwyn and Hatfield (Mrs. Hayman), St. Marylebone (Mr. Baker), Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones), Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley), Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas), Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley) and Southampton, Test (Mr. Gould) on 17th November 1978.—[Vol. 958, c. 400–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report details of the distribution of the extra £50 million to be devoted to work in mental and geriatric hospitals as announced in his speech on 13th April; if he will give a breakdown of how that money was spent in Cambridgeshire; and if he is satisfied by the response of the area health authority to his directives.

The £50 million was for the United Kingdom; England's share was £41·3 million. £5·35 million was set aside for the central purchase of equipment and the remainder, revalued to 1978–79 forecast outturn prices, was allocated to regional health authorities as follows:

		£million
Regional Health Authority	Capital	Revenue
Northern	0·53	3·00
Yorkshire	0·54	3·00
Trent	0·64	4·06
East Anglian	0·24	1·55
North-West Thames	0·44	1·21
North-East Thames	0·76	1·39
South-East Thames	0·67	1·51
South-West Thames	0·38	1·63
Wessex	0·33	2·17
Oxford	0·26	1·32
South-Western	0·42	2·64
West Midlands	0·81	4·47
Mersey	0·46	2·11
North-Western	0·77	4·24

My right hon. Friend's envisaged intention was that nationally about one-third of the extra money would be spent on improved staffing levels and urgent maintenance work in mental and geriatric hospitals. His guidance to health authorities recognised, however, that not every area or region would find it appropriate to deploy the extra resources over every item in the list of purposes announced to the House.The amount received by the Cambridgeshire area health authority was £320,000. Of this, £68,500 is being spent on urgent maintenance work at long stay hospitals, and a further £10,250 is being provided for the appointment of a dietician and extra staff at the geriatric department at Peterborough district hospital. Most of the remainder is being spent on improving the community health services in the area, including additional staff for the mental health services.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will introduce legislation to regulate the activities of finance houses which offer loans to householders at high and escalating interest rates.

The Consumer Credit Act 1974 contains provisions governing the activities of finance houses in relation to loans to individuals. Some of the provisions are already in operation; I hope to make others operative soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations he has received from the British Reinforcement Manufacturers' Association regarding agreements on prices and market shares; and if he will make a statement.

The British Reinforcement Manufacturers' Association has made an application for the exemption of a proposed agreement from the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 and I recently met some of its members to discuss the matter. My right hon. Friend will make his decision on the application in the light of all the criteria set out in section 29 of the Act and after he has received the views of users.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the principal elements of the cost of producing a standard white loaf in Great Britain, each expressed as an approximate percentage of the total cost of production.

I regret that up-to-date information in the form requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) whether he has received the report of the Director General of Fair Trading's investigation into the Independent Television contract with the Football League for the exclusive televising of football matches; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he will ask the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to investigate the Independent Television contract with the Football League for the exclusive televising of football matches.

No. I understand that the Director General of Fair Trading is making inquiries into this agreement with a view to deciding whether the provisions of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act apply.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protectection if he will list in the Official Report those sections of the Consumer Credit Act which are now in force and those which have still to be brought into effect, with an indication of what action he proposed to implement them.

The following sections are in force: 1–42, 48–51, 56, 75, 82, 106, 113, 137–140, 145–150 and 152–193.The following sections are still to be brought into effect: 43–47, 52–55, 57–74, 76–81, 83–105, 107–112, 114–136, 141–144 and 151. This list includes certain sections conferring as yet unused regulation-making powers.I hope to make orders and regulations early in 1979 bringing into operation sections 43–47 and 52—which relate to advertisements and quotations. Replies to consultation papers on proposals relating to some 20 sections including 95 and 97—rebate on early settlement—are under consideration. A consultation paper with a view to implementing sections 66 and 83–85 was circulated this month. Con- sultation papers on regulations under section 60—form and content of agreements—and other provisions are being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British officers and other ranks died during the First World War in the battles at Ypres; how many of these men are buried in Commonwealth cemeteries at Ypres; what representatives from the British Army attended the opening ceremony at the Menin Gate after the First World War; and how many official British representatives attended the wreath-laying ceremony on the 60th anniversary of the armistice held at the Menin Gate, Ypres, on Saturday 11th November.

To provide the answers to the hon. Member's questions requires research which will take a little time to complete. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Government contracts have been placed with Bristol Channel Ship Repairers since the nationalisation of the shipbuilding and parts of the ship repairing industry.

No Ministry of Defence contracts have been placed with this company since the nationalisation of the shipbuilding and parts of the ship repairing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if Bristol Channel Ship Repairers have been invited to tender for Government contracts during the last six months.

This company has not been invited to tender for Ministry of Defence contracts during the past six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if Bristol Channel Ship Repairers are at present undertaking any work on Government contracts.

This company is not at present undertaking any work on Ministry of Defence contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons in the Armed Forces have salary levels in excess of £10,000 per annum.

1,754 Service personnel currently earn more than £10,000 in basic pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the progress in dealing with the defects in the engine of the Chieftain tank; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied with current progress in improving the reliability of the Chieftain tank engine and refer the hon. Member to the Sixth Report from the Expenditure Committee, Session 1977–78 (HC-485) on "The Chieftain Tank Engine".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to purchase the F-15 and F-16 aircraft for the Royal Air Force; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the loss of revenue due to the failure to sell or relet surplus married quarters at RAF Thorney Island since they became vacant; and what arrangements are being made to enable Service personnel to purchase them on a priority basis.

The Thorney Island site was transferred from the Royal Air Force to the Royal Navy in 1976 and many of its quarters were subsequently occupied by Royal Navy personnel. Following the decision in 1977 not to move HMS "Daedalus"—the Royal Naval air station at Lee-on-Solent—the married quarters have been passed to the Pro- perty Services Agency for disposal; only five, which are still occupied, remain in Royal Navy hands. Since the quarters were passed to the Property Services Agency for disposal as soon as practicable after they were identified as surplus, there was no avoidable loss of revenue.The possibility of introducing a scheme of general application for the preferential sale of surplus married quarters to Service personnel is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service men and their dependants of voting age are not on the electoral roll; and what steps he intends to rectify this situation.

Prior to the introduction of the new arrangements under the Representation of the People (Armed Forces) Act 1976, 25 per cent. of Service personnel were registered to vote. It is estimated that 37 per cent. of Service personnel and 33 per cent. of Service spouses were registered on the first electoral roll under the new arrangements. A continuing improvement can be expected on future rolls due to the cumulative effect of the registration arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likelihood and desirability of the free movement of sterling within the European Community in the context of the proposed European monetary system.

The proposed EMS is concerned with the relationship between the rates of exchange of the currencies of the members and with the creation of a European currency unit and a European monetary fund. Free movement of sterling or any other currency within the European Community is not a necessary feature of such a system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest proposals for the European monetary system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current state of discussions between Great Britain and her partners in the EEC on the proposed European monetary system.

The Government will be publishing a Green Paper on this subject shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the Government's plans for further discussions on European monetary union.

None. The present proposals for a European monetary system fall far short of monetary union.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to announce the Government's attitude towards participation in the proposed European monetary system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the discussions which he has instituted, and the view which his Department has formed, on the advantages and disadvantages of the United Kingdom agreeing to take part in the proposed European monetary system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies he has undertaken of the likely consequences of the United Kingdom not joining the proposed European monetary system; and what conclusions have been reached.

The Government have taken part in a large number of discussions on the European monetary system which will form the background to the Government's overall assessment of the scheme. The Government have not yet reached their decision because the discussions are not yet concluded.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which areas of economic decision-making are likely to be affected if the United Kingdom joins the proposed European monetary system.

Membership of the margins arrangements in the proposed European monetary system would imply that all economic decisions which can affect the exchange rate of sterling would have to take account of the need to keep the exchange rate within the margins required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to have completed his examination of the arguments for and against United Kingdom adherence to the proposed European monetary system.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Flint, West (Sir A. Meyer).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his Department's estimate of the relation between a 1 per cent. increase in average hourly wage rates and the rate of retail price increases, all other factors remaining constant.

A 1 per cent. increase in average hourly wage rates would be expected to add about 2/3 per cent. to retail prices if non-labour costs—for example, the exchange rate, the green pound and specific duties—were held constant. In practice, these factors will in time adjust to the increase in labour costs. The effect on prices will therefore approach 1 per cent. in the long run.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the proportion of the tax contribution to the total revenue contributed in total by the 100 major companies, other than public corporations, in the United Kingdom.

The available information relates to corporation tax analysed by the size of taxable profits. The group with the largest taxable profits, that is profits exceeding £5 million, contains rather over 100 companies which contribute nearly 40 per cent. of the yield of corporation tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest rise in interest rates.