Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Written Answers To Questions

Friday 24th November 1978

Education And Science

Seals

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many seal pups died from the effects of poison in their mothers' milk following the use of detergents against oil from the "Christos Bitas".

None, so far as is known. A large proportion of the pups would have been weaned before any detergent was applied. Because grey seals—the species found off the coast of South Wales—do not feed while suckling their young, they would have been unlikely to ingest detergent and pass it on. This is supported by the preliminary results of a post-mortem analysis of a small sample of pups.

Rate Support Grant

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about the impact on the education service of the rate support grant settlement for 1979–80.

If local authorities decide to spend in total according to the broadly agreed policies and priorities that underlie this settlement, expenditure on education and its related services in 1979–80 can be expected to increase by rather more than 3½ per cent. compared with the level achieved in 1977–78. By comparison, over the past three years local authority expenditure on the education service has remained virtually static. There has been no growth in real terms during that period. What we are hoping for in this settlement, so far as education is concerned, is a rate of progress over the two years 1978–79 and 1979–80 taken together which will go some considerable way towards easing the restrictions placed on various parts of the service during recent years.All that follows will be directed at the national picture, not to the circumstances of individual local authorities. Each local authority will need to consider its budget for next year in the light of its own local needs and circumstances. In doing so it must clearly take account of its actual share of grant as part of this settlement; the level of its own balances; and the rating policy to be adopted for 1979–80. At the same time, before they reach their decisions, it is right to let local authorities know as clearly as possible how the Government see the national picture and the main assumptions about policies and priorities which underlie that picture.Our general expectation is that 1979–80 will see a consolidation of the process of recovery which, on the evidence so far available to us, has already begun this year. The years 1976–77 and 1977–78 were years of tough restraint and, in the difficult process of reducing their overall budgets, local authorities actually ended up spending less than had been estimated at the time of the settlements for those years. This was a general phenomenon, not confined to the education and library services, and there is no evidence that cuts took place to finance developments elsewhere. The year 1978–79 so far gives some cause for optimism. I said last year that I believed that the settlement for 1978–79 would put us back on course and I am optimistic that this is happening, particularly on teachers' employment and on non-teaching costs. We cannot necessarily expect to see local authority expenditure on education and libraries reach the levels that we were forecasting for 1978–79 this time last year, but there are good grounds for believing that local authorities will achieve the expected growth of about 3½ per cent. between 1977–78 and 1979–80. In other words, to the extent that there may be some failure to reach the forecast level of expenditure in 1978–79, I would expect that to be compensated for in 1979–80.Looking at the expenditure forecasts for 1979–80 in more detail, the main assumptions that we have made are for:

i. some expansion of provision for the under-fives as more purpose-built accommodation becomes available, and in existing primary schools with spare capacity, and therefore some additional teachers;

ii. an allowance of 8,500 extra teachers in primary and secondary schools beyond what would be required to keep pupil-teacher ratios constant, in order to meet management and deployment problems and to protect curriculum standards as school rolls fall, and a further 1,000 extra teachers towards the needs of disadvantaged children;

iii. the expansion of induction and in-service training programmes so that nationally the full-time equivalent of 9,000 teachers might be released for training in 1979–80—compared with 4,000 in 1977–78 and an estimated 5,000 in 1978–79.

iv. a growth—compared with 1978–79—of 3½ per cent. in non-teaching costs per pupil in primary and secondary schools, partly to meet the unavoidable increases in costs associated with falling school rolls—about 1½ per cent.—and partly to enable local authorities to take steps towards meet-a growing backlog of repairs and maintenance work and towards improving the provision of books and equipment—about 2 per cent.;

v. a growth of 1 per cent. in further education non-teaching costs per student, together with extra teachers as numbers of students continue to rise;

vi. an increase, as I announced on 6th November—[Vol. 957, c. 55.]—from 25p to 30p in the school dinner charge from September 1979, with the usual remission arrangements for poorer families.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have also decided to increase the building starts programmes for 1979–80 for England and Wales. Details will be given shortly.

School Rolls

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provisions are being made to help local education authorities to deal with the staffing problems caused by falling school rolls.

I recognise that the maintenance of standards within the schools requires a larger total teaching force than would be required if the number of teachers were reduced pro rata with the fall in the school population. There are widespread problems asso- ciated with falling school rolls. In particular, there are practical limitations on the scope for redeploying teaching staff, and the speed with which this can be done. In secondary schools, there are problems in maintaining an acceptable curriculum balance.To help authorities meet these specific requirements, the Government are making financial provision for an increased margin of 8,500 teachers in England and Wales in 1979–80, rising to about 15,000 by 1982–83. This compares with an earlier provision—in Cmnd. 7049—of an additional 7,600 teachers in each year up to 1981–82. These teachers are additional to the numbers needed to maintain existing pupil teacher ratios and those provided to help meet other needs.

Defence

Chieftain Tank

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the proportionate effect on the cost of producing a Chieftain tank in the event of Iranian orders for this weapon system being terminated.

None.

International Military Services Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he intends to make regarding the future ownership of International Military Services Ltd.

It is intended to transfer the shares of International Military Services Limited—previously known as Mill-bank Technical Services Limited—to the name of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, and provision is being made in Winter Supplementary Estimates for any stamp duty payable in the expectation that the shares will be transferred by the end of the financial year.

Scotland

Porterfield Prison, Inverness

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the number of prisoners confined in the special segregation unit at Porterfield prison, Inverness, in each of the five years prior to its falling into disuse; and what was the average length of stay of a prisoner in the unit in each of those years.

The information is as follows:

Year			Number of prisoners	Average length of stay
1968	…	…	32	2 months, 3 weeks
1969	…	…	17	4 months, 2 weeks
1970	…	…	11	3 months, 3 weeks
1971	…	…	14	2 months, 1 week
1972	…	…	17	2 months, 3 weeks

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the rules governing the operation of the special segregation unit at Porterfield prison, Inverness; and if he will set out the criterion to be applied in deciding if a prisoner is suitable for admission.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to change the practice under which internal prison service documents of this kind are not released for publication.Prisoners are considered for possible temporary admission to the unit if their violent or trouble-making behaviour is creating difficulties for the operation of their prison of allocation and does not respond to normal measures of management and control.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement outlining his policy towards the secure accommodation at Porterfield prison in Inverness.

I have made it clear that I regard the unit at Inverness prison as an integral part of the prison system and that I am prepared to authorise the temporary transfer there of violent or troublemaking prisoners.I have also instructed that consideration be given to devising an alternative cell divider.

Girvan And Maybole

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the continuing high unemployment in the Girvan and Maybole areas, he will ask the Scottish Development Agency to undertake a special study to see what further assistance can be given in the creation of new male employment.

I have passed the hon. Member's suggestion to the chairman of the agency. I know that the agency is well aware of the level of unemployment in these areas and is already taking vigorous steps to reduce that level, as elsewhere in Scotland.

Prison Officers (Dispute)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the dispute involving prison officers in Scotland.

On 17th November, representatives of the SPOA executive committee informed my Department that, in view of the meeting with me arranged for yesterday, a recommendation had been made to the local branches that industrial action planned for the week commencing 20th November should not take place. I regret that unofficial action by staff in certain penal establishments is causing disturbance to their regimes and delay and inconvenience to the courts and the police.At yesterday's meeting we discussed a number of issues raised by the association at a delegate conference on 15th November. I hope that, in the light of the discussions at the meeting, the association will be able to reinforce its advice to members to defer any question of industrial action.

Violent Prisoners

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the provision of additional secure accommodation in Scottish prisons or to alterations in existing secure accommodation for violent prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

I undertook yesterday that my Department should enter into discussions with the Scottish Prison Officers' Association and consider its views on possible additional units in the prison system, which it is possible might include additional secure accommodation. Otherwise, there are no current plans, except the possibility of a new cell-divider in the unit at Inverness prison.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the appointment of a committee of suitably qualified persons with experience of the operation of prisons to make decisions on the detention of violent prisoners in secure accommodation units.

At a meeting with the Scottish Prison Officers' Association yesterday I undertook to pursue, in consultation with the governors, the association's proposal for the establishment of a standing body for this purpose.

Health Centres (Patients' Records)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to the fact that at certain health centres staff have easy access to private and confidential files concerning individual patients; and what steps he intends to take about this situation.

My attention has not been drawn to any particular causes for concern regarding the handling of confidential records in health centres.

ASSAULTS ON PRISON OFFICERS
Year			Number of assaults	Dealt with by referral for police investigation	Resulting in criminal prosecutions	Dealt with by internal discipline procedures
1973	…	…	40	5	2	35
1974	…	…	62	31	24	31
1975	…	…	51	33	28	18
1976	…	…	59	38	36	21
1977	…	…	55	37	28	18
1978 (to 20th November 1978)		…	63	45	18 (to date)	18

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assaults on prison warders were recorded in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

The following table gives the relevant information:

ASSAULTS ON PRISON OFFICERS
Year	Number of assaults	Serious assaults
1968	38	10
1969	46	13
1970	46	8
1971	48	19
1972	46	13
1973	40	5
1974	62	16
1975	51	1
1976	59	16
1977	55	8
1978 (to 20th November 1978)	65	7

Assaults involving the use of weapons are classified as serious assaults.

General practitioners, as independent contractors in contract with health boards, are responsible for maintaining their own high ethical standards and those of staff directly employed by them. Health board staff who may have access to personal information about patients are made fully aware of the need to maintain the confidentiality of the information and it is the board's responsibility to ensure that its staff comply with instructions.

Prison Officers (Assaults)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many instances of assaults on prison officers by prisoners there have been in each of the past five years; how many in each year have resulted in criminal prosecutions in the courts; and how many have been dealt with by internal discipline procedures.

The following table gives the relevant information:

Home Department

Prisoner K56084, Norwich

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, and on how many occasions, drugs have been administered to 16-year-old remand prisoner K56084 in Her Majesty's Prison, Norwich; which drugs have been used; and what consultations have taken place with the local authority in whose care the prisoner had been placed by Peterborough magistrates' courts.

The prisoner in question, who is located in the prison hospital, was given a sedative on one occasion when the medical officer considered that his behaviour was so disturbed as to be a danger to himself and to others. There has been consultation between the local authority social services and the prison medical authorities about the preparation of medical reports on the prisoner.

Mail (Members Of Parliament)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the assurances given to the House by previous Administrations that the mail of hon. Members would not be intercepted remain in force.

Yes.

Cigarette Sales (Juveniles)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in the light of the fact that there were only 22 prosecutions in 1977 for breaching the regulations prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to children in England and Wales, if he is satisfied that the law is being adequately enforced; and if he will take further steps to improve its enforcement.

The offence of selling tobacco to people under the age of 16 is not easy for the police to detect—partly because both parties acquiesce to the transaction—without a disproportionate concentration of police resources. The deployment of his resources is, of course, entirely a matter for the chief officer of any particular force. I am sure that chief officers do, and will continue to, bring prosecutions where offences come, or are brought, to their attention.

Official Secrets

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a detailed statement on his intentions in respect of legislation on official secrets.

As the Gracious Speech made clear, it remains the Government's intention to propose legislation to replace section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 with a measure better suited to present-day conditions. The Government wish first to give full consideration to any comments on the legislative proposals set out in the White Paper (Cmnd. 7285) published in July.

Remembrance Sunday (National Front Demonstration)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the public disturbance in central London on Remembrance Sunday caused by a National Front demonstration.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that on the afternoon of Remembrance Sunday, 12th November, 3,208 police officers were deployed to keep the peace on the occasion of a demonstration against a National Front march from Bressenden Place to the Cenotaph. In minor disturbances, 28 people were arrested and four police officers injured.

Traffic Wardens (Pay)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the issue of the Metropolitan Police traffic wardens' pay, submitted by the Civil Service Union to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, will be referred to arbitration; and if he will make a statement.

I have told the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police that I should not be prepared to approve a stage 3 settlement for the London traffic wardens which broke their existing pay link with the provincial traffic wardens. He has therefore informed ACAS that he cannot agree to the dispute being referred to arbitration.

British Broadcasting Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the current level of financing of the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The British Broadcasting Corporation has drawn my attention to the fact that its indebtedness will reach the limit of its borrowing powers early next year, unless in the meantime its income is raised by means of an increase in television licence fees. It has represented to me the desirability of my setting licence fees at levels which will provide it with an assured basis for planning its activities and developments for a reasonable period ahead. Specifically, it has proposed increases in licence fees to £12 for a monochrome licence and £30 for a colour licence, which, it says, would last it for three years.

I have carefully considered the BBC's estimates for the cost of its home services. The Government have decided that an increase in the present television licence fees, which have been in force since 30th July 1977, is necessary, and the appropriate regulations are being laid. I told the House on 27th February—[Vol. 945, c. 4–5]—that fee increases would come into effect at midnight on the day on which they were announced.

From midnight tonight, therefore, the fees will be increased from £9 to £10 for monochrome television reception and from £21 to £25 for colour television reception. The Government intend that these new fees should last for about a year.

These increases are designed to last for a shorter period than the BBC had asked for and will not provide for all the improvements in services which it had wished to introduce. The Government consider that at a time when the overriding need is to win the battle against inflation, viewers, many of whom have small incomes, will regard it as important that the increases in the licence fees should be kept to moderate levels. It will be for the governors of the BBC to decide how to adjust the corporation's planned expenditure in the light of the level of fees indicated. However, the Government have taken the cost of the additional Welsh language programmes mentioned in paragraph 72 of the White Paper on Broadcasting (Cmnd. 7294) into account in their review of the level of the licence fees.

I acknowledge the problems created by a one-year increase for the BBC's future planning, and the Home Office will be ready to enter into discussions with the BBC about its future financial requirements and about the basis upon which it can be enabled to carry forward its longer-term planning.

Trade

Oil Tankers

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will tabulate the 10 nations under whose flag most oil is carried in international waters, for each of the last 10 years, indicating for each year and for each country: (a) the num- ber of notified accidents, (b) the amount of oil known to have been spilled at sea as a result of accident, (c) the quantity of oil spilled expressed as a percentage of each ton/1,000 miles carried and (d) the percentage of tons spilled per 1,000 miles carried, nation by nation, taking the figure for the nation with the best record as 100.

I regret that this information is not available.

Salvage Tugs

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many salvage tugs are presently available: (a) in British ownership and (b) in British ports, which are capable of fulfilling the tasks for which the French salvage tug presently stationed off Brittany is equipped; and where these tugs are normally based.

I am aware of 16 salvage tugs owned by British companies with a comparable bollard pull to that of the French salvage tug currently stationed off Brittany. Their actual location depends on the task in hand. In addition, foreign salvage tugs are often found in or near our waters.

"Eleni V" Oil Spillage (Treatment Cost)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his latest estimate of the cost to: (a) central Government and (b) local authorities of dealing with the pollution caused by the "Eleni V"; how much has so far been recovered; and how much he expects to be able eventually to recover and from whom.

Whilst final costs are not yet known, it is estimated that the expenditure by central Government and the local authorities concerned in dealing with the bow section of the Greek tanker "Eleni V" and with the associated oil pollution of the sea and coastline will be of the order of £2½ million and £1 million respectively. It is not possible at this stage to identify separately that portion which arises solely from oil pollution clearance.No claim has yet been made for the recovery of this expenditure which we expect to recover in full from the shipowner or his insurer, backed up as necessary by the CRISTAL scheme.

Marine Oil Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, pursuant to his Department's review of contingency measures to deal with accidents at sea causing oil pollution, why he indicates that the only standby facility is seaborne, rather than airborne; and what steps are being taken to create a helicopter-borne capability which could deal with the pollution by transferring equipment to ships in the area.

As the review makes clear, work is continuing on a fuller assessment of the potential for using aircraft to spray oil dispersant.Ministry of Defence helicopters are available to transfer salvage equipment to stricken tankers, and were so used during the "Christos Bitas" operation.Because of limits on the weight that can be carried by helicopters and the size of most dispersant spraying vessels, it will only exceptionally be feasible to envisage equipping, or resupplying, them by helicopter at sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is aware of any technology which enables oil to be removed from the sea in sea conditions in excess of force 3; and what advantage his Department would see in such technology.

We fully recognise the ecological benefits of recovering, rather than dispersing, oil. It is for that reason that the Warren Spring laboratory is devoting a major part of its research and development effort to devising a system capable of recovering oil in the often turbulent waters around our coasts. The Warren Spring laboratory has evaluated several of the more promising items of equipment available on the market, but we are not aware of any system that is currently on offer which has demonstrated a capability consistently to recover worthwhile quantities of oil in such conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many letters he has received from members of the public, and interested bodies, concerning methods of dealing with oil pollution at sea.

So far this year, we have received rather more than 100 letters from hon. Members and of the order of 300 letters from the general public on this broad subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the differences proposed by his Department, and the measures proposed by the EEC Commission, to deal with oil pollution at sea.

The EEC Commission is currently undertaking a number of preliminary studies aimed at identifying any gaps in the arrangements for dealing with oil pollution at sea which might appropriately be filled by Community action. The Commission may in due course put forward proposals on the basis of these studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he is yet able to announce the name of the person who is to be the head of the contingencies planning and operations unit, to take charge of operations to deal with pollution at sea, as announced by him on 2nd August;(2) if he has yet fully established the contingencies planning and operations unit within his Department, to take charge of operations to deal with pollution at sea; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade informed my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. Gould) on 20th November, he has appointed Rear-Admiral M. L. Stacey to be director of the new marine pollution control unit in the marine division of my Department. He also announced that Captain Ralph Maybourn, a director of BP Tanker Company, will serve part-time as a special adviser to the unit. The staffing of the unit will be completed as quickly as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what account he is taking of international obligations both (a) within and (b) outwith British international waters in preparing legislation to make the owners of oil responsible for all costs arising from its spillage at sea; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom has already ratified both the 1969 international convention, which makes shipowners strictly liable, within certain monetary limits, for oil pollution damage from ships carrying bulk oil cargoes, and the 1971 convention, which establishes an international fund, financed by the major oil importers in contracting States, to provide, from mid-February 1979, supplementary compensation up to an aggregate limit of £19½ million per incident. Whilst these compensation arrangements are restricted to damage caused to the United Kingdom and its territorial sea, they extend also the cost of reasonable measures to prevent or minimise such damage, wherever those measures are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he endorses, as a general principle, the philosophy that "the polluter pays"; and how he interprets this, in practical terms, in relation to pollution created by oil spills at sea.

Yes. The present system of liability and compensation for marine oil pollution damage involves both shipowners and oil companies, the former under the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act 1971 and the latter under the Merchant Shipping Act 1974. These Acts implement two international conventions, of 1969 and 1971 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether the joint exercise with the Department of Defence, aimed at improving preparedness in dealing with oil pollution at sea as announced on 2nd August, has yet been arranged at the Joint Service Maritime Headquarters.

While such an exercise has not yet been arranged, the "Christos Bitas" operation provided an opportunity for close and fruitful collaboration between my Department and the Joint Service Maritime Headquarters at Plymouth, the results of which are being carefully studied.

Salvage

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress has been made in the detailed review of salvage arrangements which he announced on 2nd August.

This work is well advanced.

United Medical Enterprise Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give the names of the directors of United Medical Enterprises Ltd., the dates of their appointment and their salaries.

While it is my responsibility to ensure that registered companies publish the information required under the Companies Acts, including some of the matters mentioned in the hon. Member's Question, I have no evidence that a company of this name has been registered in Great Britain.

Yarn (Turkey)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the 1978 quota for yarn from Turkey under the current multi-fibre arrangement; what percentage of this yarn has been imported already; and what was the 1977 quota.

There is no quota on imports of yarn from Turkey in 1978 under the multi-fibre arrangement. The EEC Commission negotiated an understanding with the Turkish textile industry last year that its exports of cotton yarn to the United Kingdom in 1978 would not exceed 3,240 tonnes. Unfortunately, this understanding was not observed, and in September the Commission published a regulation suspending further imports into the United Kingdom in 1978. Total United Kingdom imports from Turkey in the first nine months of 1978 were 164 per cent. of the restraint level. The 1977 quota was 3,367 tonnes.

Social Services

Bury

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken to increase the number of beds available and to appoint additional consultants to cater for geriatric and psycho-geriatric cases in the Bury area health authority.

A unit for the elderly severely mentally infirm with 56 beds and 50 day places is being built at Fairfield general hospital and should be completed by December 1979. Two 24 bed wards for geriatric patients are planned for a start in 1982 and 1983, respectively, to replace the existing accommodation. No additional consultant geriatrician post has been allocated to the North-Western regional health authority for 1979–80, but, as my hon. Friend knows, Bury has top priority within the region for such an appointment, when it can be made. The regional health authority has so far been unable to fill a vacancy in Bury for a consultant psychiatrist.

Mental Health Review Tribunal (Hearings)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many patients applying for mental health review tribunal hearings in each year since 1960 requested a public hearing;(2) how many of the patients requesting public hearing before a mental health review tribunal in each year since 1960 had their request for a public hearing turned down.

So far as can be ascertained from readily available records, the information requested is as follows:

		Number of requests for public hearings	Number of requests not granted
1974	…	1	Nil
1976	…	2	1
1977	…	4	2
1978	…	2	*
^*One request was withdrawn before the tribunal considered it.

One-Parent Families

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many one-parent families claim (a) long-term and (b) short-term, non-householder rate supplementary benefit.

Of the 326,000 one-parent families estimated to be receiving supplementary benefit at November 1977, 157,000 were in receipt of the long-term rates and 169,000 the ordinary rates. A total of 59,000 people was receiving the non-householder rate of supplementary benefit, but the numbers paid at the long-term and ordinary rates are not known.

Cigarettes (Carbon Monoxide Yields)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends publishing tables giving information on the carbon monoxide yields of cigarette brands.

Further to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 5th July 1977—[Vol. 934, c. 469]—we expect to receive a report shortly from the Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health under Lord Hunter's chairmanship. My right hon. Friends and I will then consider the advice it is expected to contain on the publication of carbon monoxide yields from cigarette brands before reaching a decision on this matter.

George Mckenna, Bo'ness

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, following the visit of a Department of Health and Social Security inspector to George McKenna, 34 Bo'mains Road, Bo'ness, on 13th October, no further action has yet been taken; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment wrote to my hon. Friend about this case on 22nd November. I shall write to him myself when inquiries in the case are complete.

Perinatal And Infant Mortality

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report the perinatal mortality rate and infant mortality rate in each year since 1947 classified by legitimacy and place of confinement.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Council Of Ministers (Fisheries)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Ministers (Fisheries) meeting in Brussels on 23rd and 24th November.

I hope to make a statement shortly.

Fishing Limits

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reply he has sent to the director-general of the British Fishing Federation Limited on the need to obtain for the British fishing industry a 50-mile zone within the exclusive control of the United Kingdom.

Since receiving the communication to which my hon. Friend refers, my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland have had a full discussion with representatives of the British Fishing Federation and other leaders of the fishing industry about the Government's efforts to negotiate changes in the common fisheries policy.

Lobster Fishing

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to restrict the taking of lobsters by skin divers and others who do not earn their living from fishing.

My Department is circulating to fishing organisations a consultation document on management of the lobster fishery in England and Wales, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. One of the proposals in the document is a survey of lobster fishermen in 1979 in order to assess the level of effort on the stocks.

Civil Service

Public Appointments

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many former Members of Parliament, former Labour councillors and former trade union officers now hold appointments at the Government's pleasure; how many hold offices in quasi-autonomous, non-governmental organisations, and what is the total remuneration paid to them.

The information sought is not held centrally by Departments or by the Civil Service Department. To collect it—as an accurate and comprehensive answer could be provided only by checking posts with all office-holders—would be a major task incurring a disproportionate cost.

Police Pay (Inquiry)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is now able to announce the membership and terms of reference of the committee to inquire into the pay of those public sector police forces not covered by the recommendations of the Edmund-Davies report on police pay and related matters.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Privy Seal has appointed Mr. Eric Wright, C.B., a former Deputy Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office, to chair the committee, and Sir James Haughton, C.B.E., formerly Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, and Sir Frederick Hayday, C.B.E., a former chairman of the TUC, to be members of the committee.The committee's terms of reference will be:

"To examine the relevance of the recommendations of the Edmund-Davies Committee to the pay and conditions of service and responsibilities of the other police forces in the public sector whose rates of pay have in the past, directly or indirectly, followed those of the Home Departments' forces; to recommend for each police force what the appropriate pay relativity should be with the Home Departments' forces."

The committee has been asked to report as soon as possible. Its recommendations will form a basis for subsequent negotiations on the pay of these police forces.

Pay

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what adjustments to existing cash limits will be necessary as a result of the 1978 Civil Service pay settlements.

Cash limits on Civil Service pay for 1978–79 included provision for a 10 per cent. increase in line with the Government's guidelines for the relevant pay round. The 1st April 1978 pay settlement for the non-industrial Civil Service provided for a 9½ per cent. across-the-board increase, together with consolidation into basic rates of the supplements of earlier pay rounds. As a result, overtime rates were increased and those few Departments with substantial overtime working have incurred costs in excess of 10 per cent.: correspondingly, Departments with little or no overtime working have incurred costs of less than 10 per cent.In one case—cash block HO 1, which contains the provision for prison officers —it had proved necessary to increase the cash limit to allow for the extra overtime costs. Compensatory reductions have been made in a number of other cash blocks containing Civil Service pay where the settlement cost less than 10 per cent.A further increase of £7·8 million in HO 1 block is also needed to finance the payment, with retrospective effect over

INCREASES AND REDUCTIONS IN CASH BLOCKS
Department		Cash Block		Cash Limit	Increasel Reduction	New Cash Limit	Reason
Home Office	…	HO 1^*	…	256·0	+7·8	(see below)	Additional retrospective payments to Prison Officers.
Home Office	…	HO 2	…	140·3	-7·8	132·5	Reduced expenditure mainly due to slippage on capital projects.
Home Office	…	HO 1^*	…	256·0	+4·6	268·4	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
MAFF	…	MAFF 1^*	…	93·5	-0·5	93·0	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
COI	…	COI 1^*	…	8·1	-0·1	8·0	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
CSD	…	CSD 1	…	24·0	-0·3	23·7	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
		CSD 2	…	63·8	-0·1	63·7	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
DOE	…	DOE 1^*	…	93·5	-0·4	93·0	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
PSA	…	DOE 3^*	…	152·8	-0·9	151·9	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
DEm	…	DEm 1^*	…	125·9	-0·9	125·5	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
		DEm 2	…	595·2	-0·5	594·7	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
		DEm 3	…	50·7	-0·2	50·5	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
OS	…	OS 1^*	…	23·8	-0·1	23·7	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
HMSO	…	HMSO 1^*	…	70·6	-0·2	70·4	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
DTP	…	DTP 1^*	…	91·5	-0·2	91·3	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
HMT	…	HMT 1^*	…	15·6	-0·2	15·4	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
DI	…	DI 1^*	…	59·5	-0·2	59·3	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
DoT	…	DoT 1^*	…	47·9	-0·2	47·7	Uneven effect of Civil Service pay settlement.
				Sub-Total	-4·6
^* CSD-controlled cash blocks.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Her Majesty The Queen (Audiences)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he tenders to Her Majesty regarding the granting of audiences to former Heads of State.

There are no firm rules. Any advice tendered to Her several years, of an allowance to meet obligations to prison officers existing before the current pay policy. This will be met by a corresponding reduction in the related Home Office block HO 2.Details of the increases, compensating reductions and the new limits are given below.Majesty by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs would depend on the person of the former Head of State, the circumstances of the visit and the situation prevailing at the time.

Bermuda

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he proposes to take in relation to the proposals in the report of the Royal Commission on the 1977 disturbances in Bermuda; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. and noble Friend in another place on 8th November. The Speech from the Throne on 27th October—a copy of which is available in the Library of the House—contained many proposals in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission's report. The Bermuda Government have now agreed that a conference such as that recommended in the report should be held within the next few months.

Bbc Overseas Service

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decision he has taken about the capital spending proposals of the BBC's overseas service.

Technical experts from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and BBC have prepared a report on the capital investment required to improve the audibility of External Services' broadcasts overseas. Ministers have agreed in principle to the report's recommendations and the financial implications are at present being considered with the BBC.

World Industrial Trade

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish the interdepartmental study on adjustment assistance setting out the implications for United Kingdom industry of the changing pattern of world industrial trade and, in particular, of industrialisation in the developing countries.

My right hon. Friend hopes that this study, which is on the new industrialising countries and the adjustment problem, will be available to the House early in December.

Anti-Nazi League

asked the Attorney-General if the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to institute criminal proceedings against the Anti-Nazi League for distributing leaflets during the course of the Bournemouth, East parliamentary by-election.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has carefully considered this case with the assistance of counsel and has decided that it is not a suitable case for prosecution. It is, however, desirable to emphasise that the issuing of advertisements, circulars or publications or the incurring of other expense with a view to disparaging a candidate at a Parliamentary or local election may constitute an offence under section 63 of the Representation of the People Act, 1949, if the expense is incurred by a person other than a candidate at that election, his election agent or a person so authorised in writing by the election agent. In particular, in a Parliamentary or local by-election, the incurring of such expense for the purpose of attacking the candidate of a particular political party is likely to be an offence if it has not been so authorised. Organisations whose policy it is to intervene in by-elections in this way should be warned that they may be at risk of committing offences against election law.

Industry

Council Of Ministers

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what meetings of the EEC Council of Ministers have been attended by Ministers of his Department so far in the current year.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State attended a meeting of the Council of Ministers dealing with steel questions on 16th and 17th October 1978, and a further meeting, also on steel on 21st and 22nd November 1978.

Telecommunications (European Investment Bank Assistance)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will publish details of financial assistance provided by the European Investment Bank for the development of telecommunications, respectively, in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and North-East England.

Following is the information:

Northern Ireland: £18·5 million to the Post Office for the development of the telecommunications network.

Scotland: £17·3 million to the Post Office for the development of the telecommunications network.

Wales: £17·5 million to the Post Office to help modernise and extend the telecommunications network in Wales and certain parts of the adjoining counties of England covered by the Wales and the Marches Telecommunications Board.

North-East England: £17·6 million to the Post Office for the improvements to the telecommunications network in the North of England

Industrial Growth

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what estimate he has made of the likely rate of growth of British industry over the financial year 1978–79.

The latest available forecast of economic prospects is set out in the supplement to the November 1978 Economic Progress Report published by Her Majesty's Treasury.

Insac Data Systems Limited

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what date the National Enterprise Board took up the extra 700,000 £1 ordinary shares in Insac Data Systems Limited.

This is a matter for the board.

Parliamentary Questions

asked the Secretary of State for Industry to how many of the Questions which were tabled to him in Session 1977–78 he replied that the answer was a matter for the Post Office.

Twenty-four out of a total of 98 Questions relating to the Post Office.

Employment

Minimum Wage

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to establish a minimum wage below which remuneration levels shall not fall.

No. I am not convinced that a single statutory minimum wage would be the best way of helping the low-paid.

Barmaids And Barmen (Wage Increase)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average increase proposed by the Wages Council for barmaids and barmen in licensed houses due to be implemented on 15th January 1979; and how this compares with the Government's guidelines.

The increase proposed, outside London and where board and lodging is not provided, is £8·75–27 per cent.—per 40-hour week. Since this brings the adult weekly rate up to only £41·20 it is well within the pay guidelines.

Proteection Of Employment Regulations

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will name the organisations to which he circulated as a consultative document the draft regulation the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1978; by what date he requested comments; and when he expects to lay regulations before Parliament.

Approximately 300 copies of the draft regulation were sent in June to both the TUC and the CBI to enable them to conduct their own consultations. Copies have also been sent to the following organisations:

The Law Society
Senate of the Inns of Court and the Bar
Insolvency Practitioners' Association
Association of Certified Accountants
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
Institute of Chartered Accountants for Scotland
The Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies in England & Wales
The Law Society of Scotland
Faculty of Advocates
British Institute of Management
Employment Appeal Tribunal
Central Office of the Industrial Tribunals
Stock Exchange
Panel on Take-overs and Mergers

Comments were requested not later than 15th September 1978. I expect to lay regulations before Parliament early next year.

Energy

Gas And Electricity Disconnections (Code Of Practice)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to be able to publish the results of his review of the code of practice for the disconnection of gas and electricity consumers.

I expect the results of the short-term review to be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what new steps he plans to take to ensure that all domestic consumers of gas and electricity are aware of the terms of the code of practice on disconnection of supply for non-payment of accounts.

This has been discussed with the industries, trade unions and gas and electricity consumer councils in the context of the short-term review of the code on which an announcement will be made shortly.

Energy Consumption

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much energy has been consumed so far in 1978 in the United Kingdom, compared with a similar period in 1977.

The most recent figure relates to the nine-month period January to September which will be published in the November issue of the Department's statistical bulletin "Energy Trends". For convenience, the figures are tabulated below.

Inland energy consumption: primary fuel input basis
(million tonnes of coal equivalent)
Jan.-Sept. 1977	…	…	…	247·5
Jan.-Sept. 1978	…	…	…	246·7
Per cent. Change	…	…	…	-0·3

National Coal Board (Financial Assistance)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what additional financial support the Government have agreed to give the National Coal Board for this financial year; and what are the implications for the DEN 3 cash limit.

Subject to parliamentary approval of Supplementary Estimates, the Government have agreed to make a further £50 million at 1978–79 outturn prices available to the National Coal Board within the planned total of public expenditure for this financial year. This will cover assisted coalburn, stocking aid for coal and coke and coking coal production subsidy, bringing the total grants to the Board for 1978–79 now agreed to £124 million.The grants for the stocking of coke have been agreed as part of a five-year programme of support estimated at £60 million to help the Board's subsidiary, National Smokeless Fuels, to adjust to the expected level of demand for coke. Provisions for this will be included in the next public expenditure White Paper.Coalburn assistance is included in the cash limit against the Department of Energy's block DEN 3, covering research and development and industrial sponsorship. As announced by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department on 2nd November, the limit of £62·2 million in Cmnd. 7161 has been reduced by £0·8 million to offset an increase in the Central Office of Information block COI 2. The revised DEN 3 limit of £61·4 million has now been increased by £17·7 million to £79·1 million.

Environment

Marine Oil Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to bring forward proposals to amend the Control of Pollution Act 1974, in order to clarify the current problem of affixing responsibility on owners and carriers of oil at sea, respectively.

It would not be appropriate to seek to amend the Control of Pollution Act 1974 to deal with such matters. The respective responsibilities of ship and cargo owners to pay compensation for oil pollution damage are already clearly defined in the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution) Act 1971 and the Merchant Shipping Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions and when he has met local authority representatives to discuss the review of beach-cleaning arrangements in the event of oil spillage at sea since the review was announced on 2nd August; and when he expects to issue his report on the matter.

The Department of the Environment's study of the arrangements for dealing with the pollution of beaches following a major oil spillage at sea is almost completed. The next step will be to enter into detailed consultations with the local authority associations, and this will he initiated very shortly.

Rate Support Grant

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a statement about the rate support grant settlement for 1979–80.

Yes. The statutory meeting on the rate support grant settlement took place today with the consultative council on local government finance. A copy of the statement I made at that meeting has been placed in the Library.Briefly, my proposals are that the rate support grant should be at a rate of 61 per cent. on relevant expenditure of £14,109 million—at November 1978 prices. The planned level of local authority current expenditure in 1979–80 shows an increase of 1·6 per cent. over what authorities are now expected to spend in 1978–79. The total of relevant expenditure takes account of my decision not to introduce charging for building regulations work in 1979–80.The total amount of additional grant that may be payable under any increase orders relating to 1979–80 will be, as in previous years, subject to cash limits. These limits accord with the Government's pay and anti-inflation policies. The cash limit on rate support grants is £417 million; on transport supplementary grant £25·9 million; and on national parks supplementary grant £0·3m.The 1979–80 rate support grant distribution continues the policy of concentrating resources in those areas with the most pressing social and economic problems. However, the increase in the size of the needs element, and the further steps taken to limit changes in the pattern of distribution, will minimise the extent of grant losses by individual authorities. The 1979–80 needs assessment formula has been produced by multiple regression analysis carried out on the same basis as in 1978–79. The period of "damping" will be extended from four years to five years, and a safety net will ensure that no authority loses more needs element than the equivalent of a 2p rate in real terms. London's needs element will increase by £41 million. The within-London arrangements will be set to secure a relative advantage to inner London, to compensate for the higher rate burdens its ratepayers are now having to face. This continues the advance for inner London and is consistent with the thrust of the Government's policies towards the inner cities.The national standard rateable value for the distribution of resources element will be £175. Domestic rate relief will be maintained at 1978–79 levels, namely 18½p in the £ for England and 36p in the £ for Wales.There will be one major innovation; needs element will be paid to non-metropolitan districts. By providing some compensation for variations in districts' expenditure needs, it will put the district ratepayers' burden on to a more equitable basis.The cash limit on rate support grants for 1977–78 has been further revised to take account of changes in the variables items. It now stands at £273 million. This is £40 million below the amount of grant already approved by Parliament. I do not, therefore, propose any further increase in rate support or national parks supplementary grant. Transport supplementary grant will, however, be increased by £2·4 million.The cash limit on rate support grants for 1978–79 has been adjusted to take account of the national insurance surcharge; the decision not to increase the school meals charge—the Government are reimbursing authorities in full for this; the police and firemen's pay settlements; and the downwards movement in the variable items. It has been reduced by £3 million to take account of the chief executives' and related pay settlements, which were outside the pay guidelines. It now stands at £541 million. The cash limit on transport supplementary grant has been adjusted to take account of the national insurance surcharge and now stands at £22·1 million. The increase order I propose to make will increase rate support grants by £534 million, transport supplementary grant by £22·1 million, and national parks supplementary grant by £0·3 million. This will not exhaust the cash limit on rate support grants. This will be adjusted further for changes in the variable items; the Government do not, however, propose to make any further changes either in it or in the cash limits on the supplementary grants.There will be a full opportunity for the House to debate the settlement. I shall be laying the appropriate orders for approval within the next few days.

Itchen Navigation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory provisions govern the current operation of the Itchen Navigation.

As far as I am aware, the Acts of Parliament passed in 1665, 1767, 1795, 1802, 1811, 1820 and the Southampton Corporation Act 1931, are still extant.

Transport

Vehicle Registration (Mr G S Hood)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why a Hillman Hunter de luxe estate car, 1500 cc., registration number MGH911P, chassis number R5ABF5L 132856, purchased by Mr. G. S. Hood of 46 Cole Park Road, Twickenham, Middlesex, on 30th November 1977 has not yet been registered; why between 30th November 1977 and 13th February 1978 his Department at Swansea incorrectly sent Mr. Hood registration documents for a Ford Escort 1100 estate car and a red Hillman Hunter two-door saloon; why he has not replied, other than by postcard acknowledgments to Mr. Hood's three recorded delivery letters of 13th February, 3rd July and 28th October; and whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Hood now wishes to sell the car, he will ensure that Mr. Hood receives the correct registration document within seven days.

I offer apologies to the hon. Member and his constituent for the errors and delays which have arisen in this case. I shall send a full reply as soon as possible to the hon. Member's letter to me of 17th November. Meanwhile, a correct vehicle document has been sent to Mr. Hood.

Vehicle Excise Duty

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give an assurance that there will be no compulsory redundancy arising from the abolition of vehicle excise duty.

I have given that assurance in respect of the 800 posts to be saved in Swansea; in local offices we shall ensure that the rundown takes place smoothly, with full regard to staff interests and in consultation with the unions involved, but some redundancies may be inevitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport which recent study mentioned in "The Future of Vehicle Excise Duty" showed that between 7 per cent. and 9 per cent. of car owners evade payment of duty.

"A survey of Vehicle Excise Duty Evasion, 1977–78", published by the Department of Transport and announced to the House on 1st August—[Vol. 955, c. 298–9]. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

Motor Vehicles (Registration)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why he proposes to retain a fee for vehicle registration after vehicle excise duty has been abolished; and how much he expects it to be.

The fee would be to cover administrative expenses, but this is a matter for further consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff will be retained for vehicle registration after vehicle excise duty is abolished.

On present estimates, rather more than 3,000 on all vehicle work.

Concessionary Fares

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities do not grant concessionary bus fares to women over retirement age whose husbands are working; and whether he has given local authorities any advice on the matter.

A few authorities have limited their schemes in this way, but we do not know how many. Circular 2/78 advised local authorities to provide half-fare concessions. This advice is applicable to all those for whom concessions may be provided under section 138 of the Transport Act, 1968, including women over the age of 60 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the levels of concessionary fares throughout the United Kingdom provided by funds from central Government are equal in all regions.

I shall continue to repeat the advice I gave in circular 2/78 that local authorities should introduce a half fare concession as a minimum for the elderly and handicapped. I cannot at this stage make available from the resources of central Government sufficient means to raise all schemes to the best at present available.

Highway Code (Enforcement)

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to seek to give statutory force to the provisions of the Highway Code that turning traffic should give way to pedestrians.

Failure to observe the code may be used to establish liability in legal proceedings, for example, for driving without due care and attention. No further legislation seems to be needed on pedestrian priority at junctions, which is fundamentally a matter of care and courtesy on both sides.

Wales

Colwyn Borough Council (Development Order)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will consider as a matter of urgency, and expedite his decision in respect of, the Colwyn Borough Council Town and Country Planning General Development Order (Direction No. 5) 1977.

This direction was approved, subject to modifications, on 17th November 1978.

Land Authority Of Wales

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of acres of land in Wales that (a) have been purchased by the Land Authority of Wales since its inception, (b) have been sold by the Land Authority of Wales since its inception and (c) are currently owned by the Land Authority for Wales.

This information may be obtained from the Land Authority for Wales.

National Parks

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the terms of reference of the review of the national parks in Wales; and what role will be played by the Welsh Office in formulating conclusions in relation to Wales.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. and learned Friend, in announcing their conclusions in 1976 on the report of the national park policies review committee accepted that there would be advantage in reviewing the administrative and staffing arrangements of the national parks in about five years' time. They have not yet decided what form such a review should take or when it should be conducted. The Welsh Office would participate fully in any such review and in the assessment of any proposals for change which might emerge from it.

National Finance

Mr Carter, Basingstoke

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Mr. Carter of Basingstoke, who sought to earn a living as a self-employed painter and decorator instead of being on the dole, has been refused a 714 certificate due to having been unemployed.