asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of expenditure by her Department in each of the past three years on astronomy.

The Science Research Council's expenditure on astronomy has been £11·5 million in 1975–76, £14·0 million in 1976–77 and £10·4 million in 1977–78. These figures comprise expenditure on the Royal Greenwich Observatory, the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, the Appleton Laboratory, the Anglo-Australian Telescope and the South African Astronomical Observatory, and grants to universities and other institutions. In addition, some of the expenditure of the European Space Agency, to which the Council makes a contribution, is devoted to astronomy but a detailed breakdown is not readily available.Details of expenditure on astronomy by universities, polytechnics and other educational institutions are also not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the effects of the road haulage strike on the school meals service.

Although authorities are experiencing shortages in some food stuffs, it appears from informal inquiries that my Department has been making that they are in general able to provide a school meals service, although there have been some temporary suspensions. There are indications that as a result of the code of practice which has been issued by the Transport and General Workers' Union to its members, supplies of food reaching school kitchens are improving. Meanwhile, I wish to pay tribute to the workers in school kitchens and local authority supplies departments which are doing their best to maintain a service despite present difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in England and Wales were closed on Monday 22 January as a result of industrial action.

My Department made inquiries of 52 local education authorities on 22 January to find out how many schools were closed. In 25 of the 52 authorities most schools were closed. It is reasonable to deduce that nearly half the schools in England were closed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is fully satisfied that she can continue to discharge her duty under the Education Act 1944 to promote the education of the people of England and Wales in the current industrial situation.

Yes. Whilst I regret that a number of schools were closed on 22 January as a result of industrial action by public service workers, I am glad to report that a survey carried out by my Department two days later showed that over 95 per cent. of schools were working normally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children received school meals on Monday 22 January.

This information is not available to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people in Inner London in years 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 served custodial sentences for non-payment of rates.

The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost of legal aid in 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978.

Estimates for calendar years up to 1977 of the total amount paid under the legal aid scheme with respect to criminal and care proceedings in England and Wales were published in table 7·4 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales 1977"—Cmnd 7289. I understand from my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor that expenditure on legal aid in civil proceedings in financial years up to 1976–77 was published in appendix 22 of "27th Legal Aid Annual Reports [1976–77]"—HC 172—and that the net cost of civil and criminal legal aid in England and Wales for 1977–78 was £81,752,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Nome Department how much money was taken in fines in crown courts and magistrates' courts, respectively, in 1976 and 1977, respectively.

Fines imposed by the crown court are collected and enforced by magistrates courts. Separate figures for fines imposed by the crown court are not available.The fines received during the financial years 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78 amounted to £45,885,989, £59,022,051 and £71,246,594 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Scotland Yard's computer contains names of individuals who are not criminals, associates of criminals or suspect criminals.

Its main purpose is to keep information about crime, criminals and their associates. Such other information as is kept will relate to the protection and the security of the State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has completed his discussions with the chairman of the Equal Opportunities Commission, concerning the proposal that the Government should refuse contracts to employers who refuse to comply with the Sex Discrimination Act; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what contingency plans he has made for a possible substantial exodus of Rhodesians wishing to settle in the United Kingdom, on the same basis as the arrangements made for Asians who left Uganda in 1973–74;(2) what preparations he is making for the reception of large numbers of Rhodesians of all races who may seek refuge in the United Kingdom, in the event of any further breakdown of law and order in Rhodesia.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the House on 17 January the Government are continuing their efforts to bring about a peaceful solution to the present conflict in Rhodesia. We hope that the possibility envisaged by the hon. Member will not arise, but the situation is kept constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Rhodesians have been admitted to Great Britain for temporary or permanent residence in each of the years since 1968; and how many of these have been or are students in full-time education, returning citizens or residents of the United Kingdom and persons claiming political asylum, respectively.

I shall reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what redress exists for private individual's repeatedly questioned by the police due to the use of Scotland Yard's full text retrieval system.

I understand that the system is not yet fully operational, but I have no reason to think that it will be used in that way.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the extension of the intervention fund to British shipbuilding.

Future intervention fund support for the industry is being studied in the context of the Government's current review of British Shipbuilders' corporate plan. In the meantime, the Commission is continuing to consider intervention fund cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with current agreements covering the trade of iron and steel products within the European Economic Community.

The ECSC Treaty does not provide for agreements to control trade between member States of the Community. However, the Commission has instituted a system of voluntary forward production and delivery programmes for Community producers in line with total demand within the Common Market. These arrangements are now working reasonably well.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what studies he has carried out into the extent to which the ferrous foundry scheme has boosted investment in excess capacity in the ferrous foundry industry; when he now expects the upturn in demand to take place on the expectation of which the scheme was based; what plans he now has for the rationalisation of the industry; and whether he will make a statement.

The object of the ferrous foundry industry scheme was to help companies eliminate bottlenecks in capacity, and encourage the modernisation of the industry so as to improve its competitiveness and its ability to respond to its customers' needs. The ferrous foundry advisory committee of industrialists and trade unionists which advised my right hon. Friend on applications for as- sistance under the scheme was particularly anxious not to encourage investment in excess capacity. We are accordingly keeping a close watch on the recovery of demand. Any upturn in demand for ferrous castings must depend upon a recovery in the economy as a whole but the ferrous foundry industry should be much better placed than before to meet that demand. My right hon. Friend has no new plans for the rationalisation of the industry since the assistance scheme included a measure of planned rationalisation with financial encouragement to reequip and modernise.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will seek to achieve an agreement with the European Investment Bank to enable loans to be made to firms engaged in distribution for the construction of shops and warehouses in the development and special development areas, and where additional jobs are created thereby.

No. We are already prepared to examine the availability of European Investment Bank finance for service industry projects with a genuine choice of location which would create additional employment in development and special development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why the closing date for applications for assistance under the drop forging scheme has been put back; why the upper cost limit for projects has been abolished; why the minimum project cost threshold has been reduced; and what changes in the industry and its markets have taken place since November 1977 to require these changes in the scheme.

Shortly after the drop forging industry scheme was introduced, the industry's confidence in an increase in demand, which it had previously expected, weakened. However, during the latter part of 1978, companies began to show a greater interest in the scheme and, at the end of the year, 13 applications had been approved, with grants totalling £0·3 million and 67 applications for a maximum total of grants of £3·5 million were under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the membership, powers, responsibilities and budget of the Mechanical Engineering and Machine Tool Requirements Board.

The current membership of the Mechanical Engineering and Machine Tools Requirements Board is:

Mr. V. J. Osola, technical director, Triplex Safety Glass Co. Ltd., chairman.

Mr. G. F. W. Adler, director of research, BHRA Fluid Engineering.

Professor J. Black, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath.

Mr. A. B. Cameron, director research and development, J. H. Fenner & Co. Ltd.

Mr. J. G. Dawson, managing director, Zenith Carburettor Co. Ltd.

Mr. K. Deutsch, technical manager, Imperial Metal Industries Ltd.

Dr. T. L. Johnston, director of research, GKN Group technical centre.

Mr. W. T. Lees, chief executive, Alfred Herbert Ltd.

Dr. I. Nussey, IBM (UK) Ltd.

Mr. S. Robson, managing director, IRD Ltd.

Mr. O. Roith, general manager engineering department, BP Trading Ltd.

Dr. R. B. Sims, group technical director, Delta Metal Co. Ltd.

Mr. W. R. G. Bell, head of vehicles division, Department of Industry.

Mr. D. M. Dell, head of machine tools and mechanical engineering division, Department of Industry.

Mr. A. J. Egginton, Science Research Council.

Mr. D. H. Mallinson, director, National Engineering Laboratory.

Dr. L. Bovey, research and technology requirements and space division, Department of Industry.

Mr. E. Barlow Wright, research establishments management division, Department of Industry.

Mr. J. D. Summerfield, executive officer, RTS division, Department of Industry.

Mr. W. T. K. Henderson, secretary, RTS Division, Department of Industry.

New appointments may be made shortly.The terms of reference of the Board are to determine, subject to the agreement of the Secretary of State for Industry, the objectives, composition and balance of the Department's intra-mural and extra-mural R & D programmes and the broad allocation of funds available in this field to further the industrial use of technology. The board advises the Minister on other matters relating to science and technology within the board's field of interest. This includes R & D requirements as well as other science and technology matters in support of departmental policy in mechanical engineering, which covers machine tools, numerical control and the application of computers in engineering, manufacturing machinery, iron and steel castings, welding, forming and production engineering, and such other matters that shall be allocated to it by the Secretary of State.The budget of the Mechanical Engineering and Machine Tools Requirements Board for the financial year 1978–79 is £11·0 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies in which the National Enterprise Board has an interest made a profit and how many a loss in the year 1977–78.

I refer my hon. Friend to the board's annual report and accounts, 1977, and interim statement for the first half of 1978, copies of which have been laid before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the average percentage rate of return on capital in the year 1977–78 of companies in which the National Enterprise Board has an interest.

I refer my hon. Friend to the board's annual report and accounts, 1977, and interim statement for the first half of 1978, copies of which have been laid before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will place in the Library copies of the latest accounts of subsidiary companies of British Shipbuilders.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25 January 1979; Vol. 961, c. 225], gave the following information:I shall arrange for this to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he has any plans to provide for the special needs of adult double arm amputees in the provision of artificial limbs;(2) what research is being carried out by the Biomechanical Research and Development Unit to improve the design of artificial limbs for double arm amputees.

There is usually little difficulty in meeting the needs of adult double arm amputees from the current range of limbs and appliances. Nevertheless, arrangements exist for patients to be referred to specialist groups comprising doctors and technicians from both the Department and the manufacturers. Experience has shown that particular problems of this small group of patients can normally be overcome in this way.Improvements to the existing range of artificial limbs is an on-going activity. Although the Biomechanical Research and Development Unit is not at present undertaking any research specifically directed at double arm amputees, it is in close contact with the manufacturers and is always available for consultation and advice.If the hon. Member has any proposals for research or particular problems in mind, I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the 1976 Department of Health and Social Security's report of the Supplementary Benefits Commission Inspectorate's inquiry, or make copies available to those working on supplementary benefit problems.

The Supplementary Benefit Commission has said in its annual report for 1977 that for obvious reasons, including the constraints of confidentiality, it does not think it appropriate to publish the findings of all inspectorate inquiries. It also pointed out that much of the inspectorate's work is concerned with technical matters that are not of general interest. However, it has said that where a subject appears to be one of particular interest, and the findings of an inspectorate inquiry might make a helpful contribution to public debate, it proposes in future to publish them.The inspectorate carried out a number of inquiries in 1976, several of which were referred to in the commission's annual report for that year. If the hon. Member will let me know the subject of the inquiry in which she has an interest I shall write to her.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with treatment by his Department of the case of Mrs. Carol Cross, details of whose case have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Stockport, North.

I am making further inquiries and shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it takes up to 19 months to obtain repayment of overpaid national insurance contributions from the office of the Department of Health and Social Security at Newcastle.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the type of refund which is made to a contributor who has paid contributions in respect of more than one occupation and these have exceeded the maximum amount he was liable to pay for the tax year in question. The payment of contributions in excess of the maximum is normally identified automatically after the employers' end-of-year contribution returns have been received by my Department and the information has been examined. The contributor is then invited to claim a refund; but, because of the vast quantity of information which the Department must receive and process, the invitation will not normally be sent before the autumn following the April in which the tax year ends. Anyone who does not wish to wait until the Department has received and processed the information from his employers may obtain an application form from the local social security office and send it, at any time after the end of the tax year, to the Department's refunds group at Newcastle together with evidence of the contributions he has paid in each employment. Refunds of excess contributions are generally made within two or three weeks of an application being received.It is possible for people who would otherwise expect to pay contributions in excess of the annual maximum to avoid the need for a refund. They may make an advance payment of the maximum amount and pay no contributions through their employers. Alternatively, a person who will pay the maximum amount in respect of one or more employments may apply to defer his liability in respect of any other employment. Application forms for either advance payment or deferment are available at local social security offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his estimates of the cost of establishing a national transplant register which he gave on 13 November 1978 take into account the possibility of using some of the existing facilities at the United Kingdom transplant centre in Bristol.

No. The small computer at United Kingdom transplant keeps detailed clinical data on the relatively small number of people awaiting kidney transplants. Those facilities are not suitable for recording data on the scale required for a national register of organ donors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new contracting-out certificates have been issued since the introduction of the new pension scheme to occupational pension schemes not contracted-out on the date when the new scheme commenced; and how many employees are members of such schemes.

I am advised by the Occupational Pensions Board that some 22,800 contracting-out certificates have been issued in respect of over 10 million employees. The figure of 10 million is based on information given by employers on their applications to contract-out and more precise figures will be available early in 1980 when the national insurance contributions for the first year of contracting-out have been recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost saving to the National Health Service if all drivers and front seat passengers wore seats belts.

No recent estimate is available. An estimate made in 1977 using 1975 data suggested that if all drivers and front seat passengers wore seat belts the saving to the National Health Service in Great Britain might be of the order of £5·3 million—£7·2 million at November 1978 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Thornaby, of 13 November, the public attitude survey on possible amendments to the Human Tissue Act has been completed; and when he expects to be able to publish it;(2) if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Thornaby, of 13 November 1978, he will consult hospital staff and doctors to ascertain their views on the operation of a national transplant register;(3) pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Thornaby of 13 November 1978, if he has yet published the document setting out the arguments for and against amending the Human Tissue Act to improve the supply of kidneys.

I expect to receive a full report of the public attitude survey shortly. I do not intend to put forward any proposals or to undertake further consultations until I have considered its findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether strikers in receipt of supplementary benefits on behalf of their dependants will qualify for extra help with their next electricity bills if they are in excess of £20.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether strikers in receipt of supplementary benefits for their dependants also qualify for the £5 fuel bonus.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total sum that has been paid in supplementary benefit (a) to strikers and (b) to strikers' dependants in each year since 1966.

The information is as follows:

Year	Strikers	Strikers' dependants
	£	£
1966	1,454	126,134
1967	1,770	375,330
1968	749	333,722
1969	1,401	747,141
1970	2,191	1,445,912
1971	5,434	4,309,149
1972	181,447	8,380,124
1973	2,950	729,302
1974	46,957	4,994,090
1975	2,080	776,441
1976	2,128	363,062
1977	6,612	2,496,625
1978—to end of November	5,004	3,105,663

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the death of Miss Kim Charlwood, further correspondence relating to whom has now been forwarded to him.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number of patients awaiting organ transplants at 31 October in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977, respectively.

A total of 851, 983, 1037 and 1178 respectively. These figures, of which the first two include Eire, are of patients awaiting kidney transplants. The 1978 figure was 1,177.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total sum paid in social security benefit to the families of those in prison in the last year for which figures are available.

The annual expenditure at November 1977 of supplementary benefit paid to prisoners' wives with children is estimated at about £7 million. A separate figure for wives without children is not available since claims by lone women without dependants are not separately analysed. As regards other benefits, the annual expenditure on guardians' allowance at current rates is estimated at £20,000; information for family income supplement and child benefit is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the expenditure that would have been incurred by the Supplementary Benefits Commission in 1978 if tax rebates during trade disputes had been disregarded for supplementary benefit purposes.

Information on which to base such an estimate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those regional health authorities which have not appointed work study officers; and, of those, those which have no plans to do so.

All regional health authorities have appointed work study officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in authorising day-care abortion treatment in private nursing homes; and whether he will make a statement.

Following the recommendations of the committee on the working of the Abortion Act—the Lane committee—and the third special report of the Select Committee on the Abortion (Amendment) Bill, the two major charitable trusts providing abortion services in the private sector—British Pregnancy Advisory Services (BPAS) and Pregnancy Advisory Services (PAS)—were authorised to carry out day-care abortions for a trial period of two years. These trials began in February 1976 within specific conditions laid down by my Department.Full reports on the working of the trial have been furnished by the two organisations concerned. These satisfy me that day-care abortion treatment can be provided in the private sector for suitable patients without detriment to standards of professional care or the safety and welfare of the patient.In the light of the results of the trials, I am, therefore, now prepared to consider applications from other private nursing homes which are approved under the Abortion Act 1967 for permission to carry out day-care abortion treatment. Approval will not be given unless I am satisfied that all necessary facilities are available at the home. Moreover, as in the case of the BPAS and PAS, proprietors will be required to give firm assurances that they will observe special conditions laid down by my Department. These are the conditions which applied during the period of the trials, modified in the light of the experience gained during those trials. The conditions are as follows:1. Acceptance of patients: The following categories of patient shall be excluded from day-care:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the proposed programme of the United Kingdom Association for the International Year of the Child for which he granted £125,000.

The Government grant is for the expenses of the association's headquarters and its committees in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.The association's proposed programme is as follows:CALENDAR OF EVENTSSelection of events planned for next year. Further events will be announced during the year.1

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the effect that industrial action by members of NUPE planned for next week will have on patients at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield and those awaiting admission on the waiting list; and what action he proposes to take.

As I said in my statement to the House on Thursday—[Vol. 961, c. 678–84]—there is no escaping the fact that any industrial action in the health service is liable to harm patients. This will be true this week when laundry and

				Amount paid	Number of recipients	Number of payments	Average payment	Average duration of payments—weeks
				£			£
For dependants	…	…	…	1,270,637	15,527	95,287	13·33	6·14
For strikers' urgent needs			…	254	14	27	9·40	1·93

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the names of British drug firms which export to developing countries; (2) if he will list in the Official Report the names of the British firms, or multinational firms with branches in Great Britain, which export drugs to developing countries which have been banned in Great Britain.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23 January 1979, Vol. 961, c. 109–10], gave the following answer:This information is not available centrally; most of the large pharmaceutical companies export to developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the names of the medical central sterile supply department services will be disrupted at Good Hope Hospital and a general work-to-rule will operate. There is local agreement to maintain emergency services by staff volunteers and management in the central sterile supply department and other means of maintaining linen supply are being implemented. The action will mean that waiting list admissions will be suspended and only emergency services will operate. Everything possible will be done to mitigate effect on patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, in the recent Ford strike, was the amount of supplementary benefits paid out to (a) dependants and (b) strikers; what was the number of recipients in each category, the number of payments in each category, and the average payment in each category; and what was the duration of these payments.

The information is as follows:drugs which have been banned in Great Britain in the past 10 years.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23 January 1979, Vol. 961, c. 109–10], gave the following information:The sale, supply and importation of Bal Jivan Chamcho is prohibited by an order under section 62 of the Medicines Act 1968. Other medicinal products have been withdrawn or withheld from the market voluntarily as a result of appraisal by the Committee on Safety of Drugs and the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Details could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade which airlines are being encouraged to move from Heathrow to Gatwick.

The Government's first objective is to transfer to Gatwick all scheduled passenger services between London and the Iberian peninsula, the Spanish and Portuguese islands and Canada. These services are operated by British Airways, Iberia, TAP, Gibair and Air Canada.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the results of representations made by Her Majesty's Government to the Common Market authorities about the effects on the United Kingdom metal fastener industry of imports of nuts and bolts made from cheap steel marketed by European producers in breach of EEC regulations.

We presented evidence from the industry to suggest that European competitors had unfair access to raw materials sold at prices in breach of the Davignon plan. The British industry is assembling more information for the Government to pass to the Commission in support of its claims that the Davignon plan is being disregarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when he expects next to meet the chairman of the British Airports Authority.

My right hon. Friend and I met the chairman and other members of the British Airports Authority on 5 December 1978. Neither he nor I have any immediate plans for a further meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why he did not include the South-East of England in the recently announced £1½ million grant for tourist projects from the National Tourist Board.

Because if we had made these limited extra funds available throughout the country they would have been spread too thinly to be effective. We extended the scheme to the inter- mediate areas, which have plenty of potential for tourism development and are economically in greater need of assistance than other parts of the country, including the South-East.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the most recent balance of trade figures for goods and services.

The latest available figures show a surplus of £717 million in the balance of trade in goods and services in the first three quarters of 1978, an improvement of £383 million compared with the corresponding quarters of 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what further proposals for anti-dumping measures he intends to make to the EEC.

None. Under Community regulation 459/68 applications to the European Commission for anti-dumping action must be made by, or on behalf of, the industry concerned. In practice such applications are normally made through the appropriate European trade association with my Department supplying full advice and assistance whenever necessary to the United Kingdom industry concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the effect of the Iraqi boycott on British goods and what steps he is taking to minimise the damage caused to British trade.

It is too early for the full effect of the boycott to have appeared in the export figures, but several companies have reported that they have lost business in Iraq and we take a very serious view of the damage being caused to United Kingdom trade. Representations to the Iraqi Government have accordingly been made at ministerial level in London and by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Baghdad.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what exports listed in categories and quantity have been sent from the United Kingdom to Cuba, Angola, Mozambique and Zambia, respectively, since May 1975.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of shares in British industry were held by private individuals, insurance companies, and union and union pension funds, respectively, in 1945, 1964, 1970, 1974 and at the latest available date.

I regret that information is not available in this precise form and that it would be disproportionately expensive to obtain it. Some information about the shareholdings of different categories of shareholders in listed United Kingdom companies for the years 1963, 1969 and 1975 was published in the Government statistical service publication Economic Trends, September 1977, pp. 96–107. Further information relating to holdings by individuals is published in Economic Trends, January 1978, pp 97–106.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many X-ray machines for baggage have been installed to date at each of the British Airports Authority airports; and if he will take steps to investigate any problems caused by delays in acquiring and installing such equipment.

There are 11 X-ray machines at Heathrow; two at Glasgow and one at Edinburgh. Until recently there was one at Gatwick but this is unserviceable. It is the intention to instal more devices at BAA, and other, airports during this year; meanwhile, searching by hand of passengers' baggage is continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to prevent oil tankers of 20,000 tons or over which, like the "Betelgeuse" which blew up at Bantry Bay on 8th January, are not equipped with an inert gas safety system, from being handled at any jetty in the United Kingdom close to residential population, as at Canvey Island.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Nelson and Colne (Mr. Hoyle) on 26 January.—[Vol. 961, c. 270–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of rail staff (a) killed, (b) seriously injured and (c) slightly injured in the 10 years 1968 to 1977 using the same conventions as appendices VI, VIII and IX of the annual report of the chief inspecting officer.

The total numbers of railway staff killed, seriously injured and slightly injured in the 10 years 1968 to 1977 were as follows:

Killed	512
Seriously injured	5,959
Slightly injured	56,739

I would also draw my hon. Friend's attention to appendix II of the annual report by the Chief Inspecting Officer of Railways which details these figures for the past five years individually and then on a five-yearly average basis for the preceding 15 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in the light of the collapse of the Kempley road bridge on the M50, what action he has taken to ascertain how many bridges on the motorway network have support structure in need of strengthening.

As a first step I shall be asking agent authorities to identify the bridges, the supports of which are unlikely to meet the strength requirements introduced in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has plans to strengthen any motorway bridges other than five bridges on the M50, as a result of the collapse of the Kempley road bridge.

None at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on the effect that industrial action by members of NUPE has had upon salting roads; whether he will detail those areas of the country most affected; and what action he proposes to take.

In severe weather any interruption of winter maintentenance arrangements can result in an accumulation of ice and snow giving rise to dangerous road conditions. The areas affected vary with the severity of the weather.At midday today the combination of weather conditions and industrial action has closed the A66 and A 1(M) in Durham. In West Yorkshire the M62 is passable but industrial action is keeping a maintenance compound out of action. All trans-Pennines routes are affected to some extent—partly as a result of there being no weekend work. Generally other roads are open, although industrial action has affected some of them. The A34 in Oxfordshire has been a specific target for industrial action and is still badly affected.The Government have contingency plans ready for the use of troops if the local situation warrants it and it is not possible to get the work done any other way.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Price Commission the increases taking place currently in insurance premiums covering households and household effects.

Insurance premiums are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade. The provisions of the Price Investigation and Examination (Exceptions) Order 1977 preclude my right hon. Friend from directing the Commission to examine insurance premiums of any kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading for investigation the practice of the Post Office to supply postage stamps from stamp machines of value less than the coins inserted in these machines; and if he will make a statement.

From the additional information which the hon. Member has submitted to me, it appears that the problem relates to a single defective stamp vending machine and not a Post Office practice. This is a matter which should be taken up with the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he is in consultation with outside organisations on the origin marking of goods; and if he will list in the Official Report those bodies to whom he has written.

Yes. I am considering a specific request by the cutlery industry that an order should be made under section 8 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to require all cutlery to be marked with its country of origin. I have exchanged correspondence about this request with the Sheffield city council and the Federation of British Cutlery Manufacturers.I have also written to the Chairman of the National Consumer Council and asked him to let me have the co-ordinated views of the consumer organisations on the possible benefits to the consumer of goods being marked with their country of origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he expects to publish the report of the Price Commission for the period to 31st October 1978.

This report was published on 14 December 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the total estimated cash value of interim and subsequent safeguards for company profits or margins applied in connection with investigations and examinations under the Price Commission Act since 1st August 1977; and what effect this has had on the retail price index.

It is estimated that on an annualised basis the total yield per year of price increases awarded under the safeguard regulations since 1 August 1977 is approximately £365 million. Prices investigated by the Price Commission are not necessarily components of the retail prices index, but if fully passed on to the United Kingdom consumer this annual sum would represent approximately 0·5 per cent. of consumer expenditure. The function of the Price Commission is, however, to investigate prices and price increases on a selective basis in accordance with the criteria set out in section 2 of the Price Commission Act 1977, and not to seek to control the general level of inflation.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what research he is carrying out into the inflammability of upholstered chairs and settees; and if he intends to introduce legislation to get furniture manufacturers to treat their products with anti-inflammable chemicals.

A considerable amount of research, including Government-sponsored projects, has been undertaken into the flammability of upholstered furniture and this has led to the publication by the British Standards Institution of a document (DD58:1978) setting out test methods for determining the ignitability of furniture of this kind. I intend to consider, as a matter of urgency, the feasibility of basing regulations on these tests. I have already held discussions in a working party now being set up by my Department. One way of complying with any such regulations would be to use fire retardant additives but alternatives which are equally acceptable should, I think, be permitted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the effect on (a) United Kingdom farm gate prices, (b) the food price index, (c) the EEC Budget and (d) the United Kingdom's gross contribution to that Budget if national farm prices under the common agricultural policy were to be harmonised with Commission prices and German prices, respectively.

If national support prices under the CAP were aligned with common prices or with German prices United Kingdom support prices would increase by 29·7 per cent. and 45·4 per cent. respectively, at current exchange rates. Once the effects of these increases had worked through to retail level, the food prices index could be expected to increase by about 5 per cent.-6 per cent. and 8 per cent.-9 per cent. respectively. The effect on FEOGA expenditure and on the United Kingdom contribution is very difficult to assess. At current exchange rates the level of prices in the Community as a whole expressed in national currencies would increase on average by about 7 per cent. if all countries aligned with the common prices and by about 20 per cent. if all aligned with the German price. There would be a direct net saving of expenditure arising from the ending of MCAs of some 550 meua per annum but this would be more than offset by expenditure on market support measures being higher than otherwise, as production and consumption responded to higher prices. It is not possible to quantify this with any precision but if production of the main commodities expanded by 10 per cent. in response to a price incentive of 20 per cent., the net effect on expenditure on agriculture from the Community budget could be as much as 5,000 meua. The United Kingdom's gross contribution to expenditure of this order would be about £500 million. For a 7 per cent. price incentive, the effect on the same basis on the United Kingdom's gross contribution would be over £200 million. In addition, the United Kingdom's percentage contribution to the Budget would rise somewhat, as a result of the increased levies collected on agricultural imports from non-EEC countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what has been the cost to the United Kingdom in each year for which the information is available to subsidise the sale of EEC butter stocks to the Soviet Union and other third countries;(2) what has been the cost to the United Kingdom in each year for which the information is available to store or destroy beef, milk powder, wine or fruit, as part of EEC policies; and what has been the cost of subsidised exports to third countries.

COMMUNITY EXPENDITURE
EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL GUIDANCE AND GUARANTEE FUND—GUARANTEE SECTION
Million units of account
						1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
I. Public and private storage
Beef	…	…	…	…	…	—	250·3	438·3	350·8	239·6
Skimmed milk			…	…	…	1·2	(-16·3)	50·4	449·9	250·1
Wine	…	…	…	…	…	6·6	25·9	36·4	43·3	37·2
II. Withdrawal Compensation and buying in
Fresh fruit and vegetables				…	…	5·4	44·3	48·5	165·9	104·5
III. Export refunds
Beef	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	55·5	144·2	135·7	114·2
Milk and milk products				…	…	328·1	342·0	328·5	694·4	1,237·0
Wine	…	…	…	…	…	0·4	0·1	0·3	1·6	1·1
Fresh fruit and vegetables				…	…	25·1	16·7	28·3	41·9	31·0
Notes:
(1) Figures have been taken from EAGGF annual reports.
(2) Figures for "skimmed milk" are given in section I because those for "milk powder" are no separately available.
(3) Figures for "fresh fruit and vegetables" are given in sections II and III because those for "fruit" are not separately available.
(4) Figures for "milk and milk products" are given in section III because those for "milk powder" and "butter" are not separately available.

The United Kingdom percentage contributions to the Communities' Budget and therefore to these costs for the years covered by the table were as follows:

1973	8·8
1974	11·0
1975	13·6
1976	16·3
1977	19·2

For Budget purposes in those years, £1 equalled 2·4 units of account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what agreement has been reached in the European Council of Ministers about the future of levy abatement arrangements for imports of beef from Botswana.

The Council of Ministers agreed, in December 1978, to extend the levy abatement arrangements for the import of beef from Botswana until the expiry of the Lomé Convention in March

The United Kingdom contributes to the Budget of the European Communities as a whole rather than to its individual parts. The costs to that Budget of the measures in question since accession are given in the table below which should be read in conjunction with the notes. Figures for export refunds for "milk and milk products" have been given, since figures for milk powder and butter are not separately available.1980. This will enable the import into the Community in 1979 of 17,360 tonnes of boneless beef from Botswana, free of duty and with 90 per cent. abatement of the variable import levy. Import of a further 2,895 tonnes of boneless beef from Botswana will be possible on the same terms in the first two months of 1980.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many camp sites there were under the control of the Forestry Commission in 1978;(2) what was the revenue and profit of each camp site under Forestry Commission control in 1978, 1977, and 1976;(3) how many holiday cabins the Forestry Commission owned in 1978;(4) what was the occupancy rate of the Forestry Commission holiday cabins throughout the period April to October in 1978, 1977 and 1976;

Information is given in the following tables. Figures are not

			Revenue	Surplus	Occupancy
Financial year to 31 March		Number	excluding interest		April-October
Holiday cabins
1978–79	…	103	Not yet available for year		93 per cent.
1977–78	…	75	£95,000	-£7,0000*	92 per cent.
1976–77	…	47	£34,000	£12,000	—
Camp sites
1978–79	…	35	Not yet available for year		—
1977–78	…	35	£686,000	£126,000†	—
1976–77	…	28	£534,000	£121,000	—
* After taking account of net current expenditure of £25,000 for projects not fully operational.
† After taking account of net current expenditure of £40,000 for projects not fully operational.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for combating plum pox and encouraging certification schemes for planting materials; and if he will make a statement.

Following the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice on 24 May 1978—Vol. 950, c. 624–5.]—several discussions have been held with the National Farmers Union and the Nuclear Association Ltd., and both organisations have welcomed in principle suggestions put forward by officials of my Department. As a result my right hon. Friend, the Minister, has proposals for two new grant schemes.The two schemes are intended to encourage the production and use of certified fruiting plum material, following the difficulties experienced with compensation payments for the destruction of suspect stock which, as I indicated in my earlier reply would be discontinued after 1978. Under the first of the two schemes, nurserymen would be able to claim up to 25 per cent of the cost of capital improvements needed to enable them to grow fruiting plum trees for certification, examples would be the cost of clearing diseased or suspect stock, preparing ground and buying such capital items as mother trees. The second scheme would make grants available to owners of commercial orchards who planted at least 10 certified plum trees under approved

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will take steps to increase the range of stationery available to Members and their secretaries from the Serjeant at Arms' stationery stores within existing stock and space limits.

The range of stationery stored in the Serjeant at Arms' store is reviewed from time to time by the Services Committee and, if my hon. Friend has any particular item in mind, the Committee would certainly be prepared to consider it.

asked the Lord President if he will submit to the Top Salaries Review Body the information that hon. Members need to have their salaries raised to £11,788 per annum to restore their purchasing value to October 1964 and that, whereas former hon. Members have had an 81·4 per cent. increase in their pensions, hon. Members' salaries have only increased by 63·3 per cent.; and when he expects to rectify these discrepancies.

The Government have submitted information to the Top Salaries Review Body on a variety of matters relevant to its deliberations, including the effects of inflation on Members' salaries. As to future action on Members' salaries, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 18 January 1979—[Official Report, Vol. 960, c. 822.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and men in each branch of the Royal Naval, Army and Royal Air Force reserve are employed in the Home Civil Service and at the Ministry of Defence, respectively.

The only information readily available relates to members of the Regular Reserves among non-industrials employed in the Ministry of Defence:

Royal Navy/Royal Marines	49
Army	92
Royal Air Force	74
Women's Services	12

I understand that similar information in respect of other Ministries in the Home Civil Service is not held centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the transfer to him of the shares of International Military Services Limited is to take place.

The shares of International Military Services Limited were transferred to my right hon. Friend on 24 January 1979. Legislation will be introduced, as soon as parliamentary time permits, to provide statutory authority for my right hon. Friend in the exercise of his continuing functions in respect of the company.

asked the Secretary of Stte for Defence if he will make a statement on the mine counter-measures vessels construction programme.

An order has been placed today with Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Ltd. for the construction of the third of the Hunt class of mine counter-measures vessels to be built by that yard for the Royal Navy. The vessel will be called HMS "Cattistock".An order has also been placed today with Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Ltd. for the construction of two further Hunt class MCMVs. The ships will be called HMS "Cottesmore" and HMS "Middleton".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will amend section 29 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974, relating to the defining of a trade dispute, to exclude disputes which are intended to be primarily political or designed mainly to coerce the Government as distinct from an employer.

No. Political strikes as such are not included in matters specified by section 29 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 which defines a trade dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is prepared to amend section 1 of the Employment Protection Act 1975 to clarify the terms of reference of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service and bring them into line wih the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in UKAPE v the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

No. I understand that the case may yet go to a higher court and it would not be appropriate for me to comment before the final outcome is known.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will amend the recognition provisions of the Employment Protection Act 1975 to provide that the majority view of workers as expressed in a ballot under section 14 of the Act shall be paramount in deciding which of several unions should be recognised for the purpose of a collective bargaining unit under the Act;(2) whether he is prepared to amend the statutory immunity provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Acts 1974 and 1976 so that the special privileges accorded trade unionists would not be available for action taken in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute but in conflict with an arbitration award.(3) whether he is prepared to amend the statutory immunity provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Acts 1974 and 1976 so that the special privileges accorded trade unionists would not be available for action taken in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute during the currency of a subsisting agreement;(4) whether he is prepared to amend the statutory immunity provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Acts 1974 and 1976 so that the special privileges accorded trade unionists would not be available for action taken in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute in conflict with established procedural agreements accepted by both sides of industry;(5) whether he is now prepared to amend section 13 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974, as amended by section 3 subsection (2) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Amendment) Act 1976, relating to the statutory immunities of trade unionists from liability for actions undertaken during the continuance of a trade dispute, and section 14 to ensure that the privileges accorded workers are only available for the infraction of contracts of employment and not commercial contracts generally;(6) if he will set up an inquiry to discover what legislative changes would be necessary to ensure that a trade union would act responsibly over wage and salary claims and in its general approach to the public;(7) if he will consider seeking to set up a Select Committee of the House of Commons to examine the effect of restrictive practices of labour on the economy, to what extent workers have been intimidated by the operations of the closed shop and the effect of trade union statutory immunity upon the United Kingdom economy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will amend schedule 1, paragraph 6(5) to the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 as amended by section 1(e) of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Amendment) Act 1976, relating to the dismissal of a worker who refuses to join a union, to make the provisions of both Acts conform to article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In the Government's view the provisions specified in the question already conform to article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the countries within the European Community which extensively operate a closed shop and those which do not.

There are, as far as the Government are aware, no figures available on the total number of employees covered by closed shops—however defined—in any country within the European Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to provide by statute for compensation to be payable to a worker who has been dismissed from his employment for failing or refusing to join a trade union where the works are covered by a closed shop agreement.

Provision is currently made in the legislation for compensation to be paid in respect of any employee who genuinely objects on grounds of religious belief to being a member of any trade union whatsoever.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have been dismissed for refusing to join a trade union since the introduction of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 in industry and by public or local government authorities, respectively.

The information is not available. Employers are under no obligation to inform the Government when or why they dismiss or propose to dismiss individual employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many closed shop agreements have been introduced since the inception of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 in nationalised industries or by public and local government authorities, respectively.

Information about closed shop agreements is not available. The parties to collective agreements of any kind are under no obligation to inform the Government when such agreements are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees subject to closed shop agreements have joined trade unions since the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 was introduced; and what proportion of the total work force they constitute in industry and in public or local government authorities, respectively.

The information is not available. Neither employers nor trade unions are under any obligation to give the Government details of those who become members.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is prepared to amend the statutory immunity provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Acts 1974 and 1976 so that the special privileges accorded trade unionists would not be available for action taken in contemplation or furtherance of a trade dispute by pickets who are neither members of the union nor the firm involved in the dispute or who are acting contrary to the express instructions of the union involved or who conduct secondary picketing outside the premises of a company in no way engaged in the dispute.

No. The Government believe that the most effective way of ensuring that picketing is conducted responsibly is by seeking agreement on a voluntary code of conduct. Accordingly, without prejudice to whatever else may emerge from the current consultations on picketing, we are working as quickly as possible towards the production of an agreed code of practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he is prepared to amend section 15 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974, referring to peaceful picketing, to make provision for laying of regulations covering a code of practice to be adopted by pickets defining the number of workers to be engaged in a picket by relation to the size of the work force involved, those eligible to form such a picket and for methods of identification;(2) whether he is prepared to amend section 15 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 relating to peaceful picketing, to provide that it is illegal for pickets to demand or receive money as a condition of entering into premises or to demand subscriptions to a union for such purposes or to impose any restraint or restriction on the workers' personal freedom;(3) whether he is prepared to amend section 15 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974, relating to peaceful picketing, to make provision for laying of regulations covering a code of practice to be adopted by pickets and for fines and attachment of earnings in the event of a breach of the code;(4) whether he is prepared to amend section 15 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974, relating to peaceful picketing, to make provision for laying of regulations covering a code of practice to be adopted by pickets to limit picketing by strikers to the premises of the employers involved in the dispute as opposed to general or secondary picketing in view of the disproportionate damage sustained by industry and the public.

My right hon. Friend has currently no plans to amend section 15 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974. However, as the Prime Minister told the House on 16 January 1979—[Vol. 960, c. 1549.]—steps have been taken to expedite the Government's general consultative exercise on picketing which was launched in October 1978. Whatever else may emerge from the consultative exercise, the Government aim to work as quickly as possible towards the production of an agreed code of practice on picketing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, having regard to the difficulties recently experienced with secondary pickets, he will now consider introducing legislation to make secondary picketing illegal.

I have no plans to introduce such legislation. I refer the hon. Member to the Attorney-General's statement to the House on 25 January and to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) today.—[Vol. 961, c. 706–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to lay orders to implement section 3(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; what consultations he has made to this end; and what conclusions he has drawn.

I understand that the Health and Safety Commission is actively considering this matter, though work is at an early stage. It will consult interested parties in accordance with its normal procedure before putting forward its proposals for regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trade unions or safety representatives have made representations to factory inspectors that employers are not carrying out their obligations under the Safety Representatives and Committees Regulations 1978; what enforcement action has been taken; and in how many cases it has been reported by employers that the recognised trade union has not yet appointed safety representatives.

I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that Her Majesty's inspectors of factories meet representatives of trade unions, safety representatives and employers on many occasions. No central record of representations made during such meetings or elsewhere about the operation of the safety representatives and safety committees regulations is kept. The information sought is therefore not available. No enforcement action has yet been taken by inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he can now indicate the probable publication date of his survey of unemployment in West Cornwall; if he will outline his plans for circulating copies of the report to local authorities, industrialists, trades unions and other contributors; and if he will ensure that copies reach the three hon. Members representing West Cornwall.

The report of this study is in the final stages of preparation and I hope very soon to make it publicly available. I plan to send copies of the report to interested bodies and individuals in West Cornwall, including hon. Members representing the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps the Government take to monitor the outcome of productivity deals under their pay policy and, in the case of the miners' 36½ per cent. 1978 pay award, what proportion of this award was in respect of productivity; and what has been the percentage increase in output per man in the last six months for which figures are available compared to the equivalent period in 1977.

The provision in the White Paper "Winning the Battle Against Inflation" (Cmnd 7293) for self-financing productivity schemes makes clear that schemes must be demonstrated to be self-financing before any payments are made and that payments should continue only if regular checks confirm that the scheme is still self-financing. It is the responsibility of the negotiators to ensure that these conditions are met.The new earnings surveys show that between April 1977 and April 1978 there was an increase in the average weekly earnings of all full-time manual men aged 21 and over employed in the coal-mining industry—excluding overtime and the effects of absence—of £19·4–28·2 per cent. There was an increase of £11·5 in the payment by results element and the National Coal Board advises that this can be attributed to its productivity scheme. It also advises that the output per man shift in the 41 weeks since the start of the financial year shows an increase overall of 4 per cent. and at the face of 10·5 per cent., compared with the corresponding period in the previous year. For the last 13 weeks the increase was 6 per cent. overall and 11·5 per cent. at the face. The National Coal Board considers that these results are better than they appear since the earlier downward trend in productivity prior to the introduction of the scheme has been reversed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to amend section 19 of the Social Security Act 1975 either to apply it to both a striker and his family, or to provide for the attachment of trade union funds where benefits have been paid by his Department for the support of the families of strikers who are members of a particular union involved in a trade dispute.

I have been asked to reply.Section 19 of the Social Security Act 1975 disqualifies a striker for receiving unemployment benefit in certain circumstances, and the disqualification, where applicable, extends to the striker's personal benefit and to any increases of benefit for his dependants. I assume that the hon. Member seeks to apply this provision to supplementary benefit also. The answer to both parts of the question is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is considering amending the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956 to 1976 to give the Director of Fair Trading authority to proceed with an inquiry where he has grounds for believing that an unregistered agreement is being operated.

I have been asked to reply.As I said on 16 January in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker), my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection intends to introduce at the earliest convenient opportunity an amendment to the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976 to strengthen the powers of investigation of the Director General of Fair Trading. The object of the amendment would be to enable the Director General to require information where it appeared to him that there were grounds for believing that an unregistered agreement was being operated, and remove the requirement at present in the Act that the powers can be exercised only if "he has reasonable cause to believe" that an agreement exists. This change has been necessitated by a ruling of the Court of Appeal in 1969 which heavily circumscribed the Director General's scope for action. The proposal has been the subject of consultation with interested bodies, which have raised no objection.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why the fuel discount scheme is confined to electricity users, and gas users are excluded.

On average low income groups spend a higher proportion of their income on electricity than on other fuels and since 1973 electricity consumers have been particularly hard hit by the increase in fuel bills.There are also good administrative reasons for linking any scheme to a fuel bill and almost everyone uses electricity. Users of all types of fuel who are eligible can use the £5 payment part of the scheme towards the cost of any bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to prevent the picketing of direct fuel supplies from Avonmouth docks, essential for industry in Gloucestershire.

I understand that diesel fuel supplies are now moving freely from Avonmouth docks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to establish an inquiry into the proposal to build the new town hall at Southwark in view of the widespread opposition to this development.

I am considering this proposal and will make a statement later.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has undertaken an inquiry into the problems of condensation, damp and mould and the freezing of water tanks resulting from roof and loft insulation; and what representations have been received by his Department on this subject.

The joint working party on heating and energy conservation in public sector housing has recently examined the problem of condensation in domestic pitched roof spaces. The results were published in domestic energy note 2. We have not carried out a specific study into the problem of freezing water tanks; we have advised local authorities to insulate the tanks and pipes in the roof space at the same time as they install insulation, and we require insulation grant applicants to do the same.No representations on these issues have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the amounts paid in grants for house insulation since inception of the scheme; and if he will list details of schemes in operation in other EEC countries in £ sterling equivalents.

These statistics are not yet available. I have information on the following schemes in the EEC—at January 1978 prices: