asked the Secretary of State for Industry what recent discussions have taken place in Brussels about the dumping of special steels in the United Kingdom from other European Economic Community States.

The concept of dumping between member States is not recognised by the Common Market treaties but discussions about alleged discriminatory pricing and about overproduction of special steels are continuing. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, is awaiting advice from the industry before replying to the further letter he received from Commissioner Davignon last month.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his Department has studied the consultant's report to the National Economic Development Council about the extent of unfair competition against the special steel industry of Sheffield; and whether he will now make a statement on this report and any consequent representations that he has made to Commissioner Davignon of the Commission of the EEC.

The report, which was made last August, was concerned with the reasons why imports are taking a larger share of the domestic market for certain special steels. It was carefully studied by my Department which is working closely with the NEDO iron and steel sector working party about the issues it raises. My right hon. Friend is also in touch with Commissioner Davignon, who has responded sympathetically to his request for measures to secure a more orderly Community market for these products. We have offered Government help to the Sheffield industry under our various schemes for encouraging industrial investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the progress of the industrial strategy.

The Government are pleased with progress on the industrial strategy to date. At the NEDC meeting on 7 February, all parties to the industrial strategy reaffirmed their commitment to continuation of the tripartite approach to halting and reversing our industrial decline. The Government welcome this confirmation of support for the industrial strategy and regret the Opposition's failure to understand its importance to the CBI and TUC.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the current financial performance requirements for British Leyland.

The National Enterprise Board's financial duty in relation to British Leyland is to secure in 1981 a rate of return, before interest and taxation, of 10 per cent. on the capital employed in British Leyland. In the years prior to 1981 the National Enterprise Board is required to maintain progress towards that objective.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will seek a meeting with the chairman of British Leyland.

I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what estimates his Department has made of the number of people likely to be employed in each of the next five years in British Leyland.

None. Manpower levels are a matter for the company to determine from time to time after consultation as appropriate with employee representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on future employment in British Leyland in the light of its corporate plan.

We have not yet received BL's latest corporate plan or the NEB's recommendations. My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position before the Easter Recess to place in the Library the NEB's report to the House on BL.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to meet the chief executive of British Leyland.

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman and chief executive of British Leyland frequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many factories in the Lancashire textile industry were closed; and how many new factories were opened during 1978.

In the combined area of Lancashire and Greater Manchester, 19 textile factories closed in 1978, and according to the best available information, four were opened.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what public money has been made available to International Computers Ltd. to facilitate its expansion in South Africa.

None other than that which is available to any exporter.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what further steps he proposes to encourage in dustrialists to generate new jobs in industry in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The Government will continue to make full use of appropriate fiscal incentives, of direct financial assistance and of the National Enterprise Board and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Development Agencies.

asked the Secretary of of State for Industry if he is satisfied that industry is able to raise funds for expansion on sufficiently attractive terms to stimulate new investment.

I am satisfied that the Government's measures of direct support for industry are making a substantial contribution to stimulating new investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his estimate of the loss of output throughout British industry in January, as a result of the various strikes and industrial disputes experienced throughout Great Britain in that month.

On the basis of early reports from industry it is estimated that about 10 per cent. of normal manufacturing production may have been lost in January as a result of the transport dispute. Some of the loss is likely to be made good with the return to normal conditions. It is not thought that any other dispute in January has significantly affected manufacturing production as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish that part of the British Steel Corporation's corporate plan which relates to future employment.

I refer the hon. Member to the Corporation's planning document "Prospects for Steel" which was circulated to Members of Parliament on 26 April 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many sector working parties last year achieved the output objectives, home-market objectives and overseas market penetration goals that they set themselves and how many failed to do so; how many have revised these targets downwards for the coming year; and what purpose has been achieved by the setting of these targets.

In general the sector working parties' objectives were set in terms of the performance which might be possible by 1980 or by later years, in accordance with the essentially long-term nature of the strategy. They are not set annually for periods one year ahead. These objectives are intended to be ambitious yet realistic, and to provide a framework within which sectoral strategies can be developed. As the international and macro-economic environment within which SWPs operate changes and performance to date is measured, SWPs are free to reassess and modify the objectives previously adopted. In their latest reports seven SWPs have done so, five downward and two upward.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why, in the light of the fact that his Department is the most important customer of Lucas Aerospace, Sir Anthony Part was allowed to join the board of that company on leaving his Department; who authorised this; and if he will make a statement.

A copy of the rules governing the acceptance of outside business appointments by civil servants is in the Library; Sir Anthony Part's appointment was approved in accordance with those rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will hold an inquiry into the system of approvals for senior members of his Department to join industrial firms on retirement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what advice is given to retiring senior civil servants joining companies with which they have had close working relations.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 676], gave the following information:Like any other civil servant, a senior officer who, with the consent of the Government, joins a company with which he has had official contact, is reminded on leaving the Civil Service that he may not divulge information obtained in the course of his official duties. The Government's consent may include further conditions for example in relation to the individual's future participation in dealings with Government or with competitor firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what estimates his Department has made of the number of people likely to be employed in each of the next five years in the British Steel Corporation.

This is a matter for the Corporation. The Government's approach was set out in the White Paper "British Steel Corporation: the Road to Viability"—Cmnd. 7149.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he is satisfied with the current level of industrial output.

I welcome the fact that manufacturing output is recovering from the effects of the road haulage dispute and that there appear to be good prospects of making up some of the production lost.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he intends to take to help the steel industry to resist further import penetration, in the light of the most recent report of the National Economic Development Council iron and steel sector working party.

We are supporting action by the Commission to secure more orderly marketing of steel within the Community and to restrain disruptive imports from third countries, and we are encouraging improved productivity and competitiveness of the British steel industry. We have, for example, offered help to the special steels industry under our various schemes for encouraging industrial investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will make a statement on the extent to which and in what ways his Department was involved and took steps to prevent the closure of Lucas Aerospace Ltd., Liverpool (Broad Green);(2) what steps he has taken directly to prevent large scale redundancies at Lucas Aerospace (Broad Green).

I refer the hon. Member to my supplementary answer to the question today from the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the names of the firms, the amounts and the dates he made payments of compensation under the Aircraft and Shipbuilding Industries Act; and when he expects final registrations completed and payments made.

Payments of compensation are made on behalf of the Government by the Bank of England within about two weeks of the announcement of a compensation settlement or of payments on account.The settlements announced to date are as follows:

	Date	Amount (including any payment on account) £000
LISTED SECURITIES
Robb Caledon Shipbuilders Limited	24.6.77	1,739
John G. Kincaid & Company Limited (preference shares)	24.6.77	118
UNLISTED SECURITIES
Barclay, Curie & Company Limited	5.7.78	15,000
Clelands Shipbuilding Company Ltd.
The Goole Shipbuilding and Repairing Co. Ltd.
Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Limited
Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Limited
Smith's Dock Company Ltd.
Swan Hunter Training and Safety Company Limited
Hawker Siddeley Aviation Limited	15.8.78	60,000
Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Limited
Austin & Pickersgill Ltd.	16.8.78	14,000
George Clark and NEM Limited	1.11.78	1,940

My right hon. Friend announced payments on account on 25 January, 21 April, 18 July and 23 November 1978 in reply to questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett) and Kingswood (Mr. Walker). The total amounts paid in respect of the companies for which compensation remains to be determined are as follows:

	£000
British Aircraft Corporation (Holdings) Limited	40,000
Scottish Aviation Limited	1,050
Brooke Marine Limited	650
Cammell Laird Shipbuilders Limited	400
Hall Russell & Company Ltd.	650
Hawthorn Leslie (Engineers) Ltd.	550
John G. Kincaid & Company Limited	2,250
Scott Lithgow Limited	750
Scott Lithgow Drydocks Limited
Vickers Shipbuilding Group Limited	8,450
Vosper Thornycroft (UK) Limited	1,350
Vosper Shiprepairers Limited
Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Limited	2,250
Yarrow (Training) Limited

I cannot say when the remaining cases will be resolved. One has been referred to arbitration by the stockholders' representative. Negotiations are proceeding in the other outstanding cases and it is not possible to say whether these cases will be settled by negotiation or arbitration.

ask the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now ensure that the giving of Government financial assistance to private industry, except where this is a statutory entitlement, will now be made conditional on the signing of planning agreements, in the light of the importance placed on planning agreements in the joint statement by the Trades Union Congress and the Government of February 1979.

Government policy remains as stated in the White Paper, "The Regeneration of British Industry", and during debate on the Industry Bill 1975 by my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many planning agreements have been signed to date; and with whom.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply of my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 13 November 1978 [Vol. 958, c. 55.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will seek to introduce legislation to enable him to make payments to small firms which have found it necessary to obtain professional advice to reply to questionnaires circulated by his Department.

The Bolton committee in its report on small firms—Cmnd. 4811—considered this idea but concluded that the suggestion should not be taken further. The Government are continuing with their efforts to reduce the burden of form-filling on small firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to draw up ways to further research and development in biotechnological processes which can be exploited by British industry before major competitors from other countries dominate this field.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 618], gave the following information:While acknowledging the potential importance of biotechnology, I am satisfied that research and development, both on behalf of United Kingdom industry and within industry itself, can be advanced satisfactorily under existing arrangements. A favourable attitude towards work in this area is already being taken by relevant funding bodies, including the chemicals and minerals requirements board of this Department. In view of the already considerable activity among United Kingdom industrial companies, I see no need for further measures at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement about Government assistance to Dunlop Ltd. following the refusal of the Industrial Development Advisory Board to support proposals for financial assistance to that company's tyre business; and whether he will ask the Industrial Development Advisory Board to make a final statement to Parliament of its advice.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 676], gave the following information:Discussions are continuing between my Department and Dunlop. The Industrial Development Advisory Board has still to give its final advice on firm proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will publish for each year from 1970 the numbers of mature students in higher education, and the proportion they formed of total student numbers;(2) what are her estimates for the proportion that mature students will form of total student numbers in higher education in each of the next 10 years.

For the purposes of higher education planning, mature students are defined as home entrants to higher education aged 21 and over. On this basis, the information is as follows:

	Mature home entrants (000's)	As percentage of all home entrants to HE
1970–71	27·3	21·0
1971–72	29·2	21·6
1972–73	28·1	20·8
1973–74	29·6	22·0
1974–75	30·5	22·4
1975–76	31·4	22·6
1976–77	33·0	23·5
1977–78	33·8	24·6
(provisional)

Numbers and proportions of mature students over the next 10 years will depend at least in part on the outcome of the general review of higher education policy initiated by the discussion document, "Higher Education into the 1990s", published in February 1978. One of the models described in that document referred to the future possibility of more systematic opportunities for recurrent higher education for mature students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will publish in the Official Report a list of works of art and museum objects accepted in lieu of tax which are currently on loan from national collections to premises accessible to the public which are privately owned, in accordance with note (1) of her reply to the hon. Member for Warley, East, Official Report, c. 169–70; and whether she will specify in that list the provenance of the individual objects, the national collections from which the loans have been made, and the dates from which the loans commenced.

Negotiations on a number of items are taking place but none has as yet been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether any works of art and museum objects listed in her reply to the hon. Member for Warley, East on 7 February, as accepted in lieu of tax but not yet allocated to museums (Official Report, c. 171–2), have since been allocated; and, if so, whether she will specify them, together with the names of the recipient institutions and the relevant wishes, if any, of executors.

In the reply given to my hon. Friend, the Member for Warley, East, on 7 February, nine works of art and museum objects were described as having been accepted in lieu of tax but not yet allocated to a museum or gallery. None of these has since been allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will publish in the Official Report a table showing (a) the number of places she has allocated on the teachers' panel of the Burnham Committee to each organisation, (b) the membership in relevant posts of the respective organisations, including any to whom she has refused representation, (c) the extent to which any organisation represents a separate part of the teaching profession, and (d) any other factors which have influenced her decision on the representation of any group.

(a) The new composition of the teachers' panel of the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee is as follows:

No. of Seats
National Union of Teachers (NUT)	16
National Association of Schoolmasters/Union of Women Teachers (NAS/UWT)	6
Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association (AMMA)	4
National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT)	2
Secondary Heads Association (SHA)	1
National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education (NATFHE)	1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied that the present differential between salaries in the London music colleges and other institutions of higher education should be continued.

My right hon. Friend recognises that an anomaly exists, but does not propose to anticipate the findings of the Central Arbitration Committee which, I understand, is currently considering a claim made under schedule 11 to the Employment Protection Act 1975 on behalf of certain teaching staff at the Royal College of Music.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) when she anticipates that the first batch of Chinese students who come to the United Kingdom as a result of the agreement that she reached during the course of her visit to China in 1978 will commence their studies;(2) whether she will make a statement about the arrangements that have been made for the financing, distribution and care of the Chinese students coming to the United Kingdom as a result of the agreement reached during the course of her visit to China in 1978.

Some aspects of the arrangements are still being discussed with the Chinese authorities and a delegation of senior academic staff from this country under the leadership of Sir Harry Pitt is at present in China with a view to assessing the relative standards of British and Chinese courses.Meanwhile the British Council has received a number of applications from research students and undergraduates for admission in 1979–80 and has made approaches to university departments on behalf of the research students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now update her estimate, given in her survey "Discretionary Awards 1975–76 to 1977–78", that it would have required increased expenditure of £6 million to maintain the 1975–76 discretionary grants position.

I regret that this is not possible. The estimate which the hon. Member refers to was derived from information about the intentions of local education authorities obtained in the special survey of discretionary awards undertaken in 1977. The survey has not been repeated nor has my right hon. Friend any plans for a further survey.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost of education during 1978: and how this compares with 1973.

At constant prices, expenditure on education in Great Britain was about £8·1 billion in 1973–74 and £7·95 billion in 1977–78. The estimate for 1978–79 is just under £8·1 billion. Capital expenditure this year will be nearly £700 million less than in 1973–74, mainly because of the prospective fall in the school population, but over the same five years the number of teachers in schools has risen by nearly 40,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the reference to a minimum wage of £44·50 in paragraph 17 of the White Paper "Winning the Battle Against Inflation" (Cmnd. Paper No. 7293), was intended to be a minimum for all adult males or a minimum for higher grades of adult male workers to which he made reference in his answer to the hon. Member for Thurrock (Dr. McDonald), Official Report, 7th February, columns 185–86.

The Governments provisions to help the low-paid are intended for the benefit of all such workers, whether male or female and whatever their grade.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce legislation to extend maternity pay to mothers of adopted children.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the performance of the various training boards that come within his jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement.

I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is proposing that the review recently undertaken by the Manpower Services Commission of its special programmes will be published or otherwise circulated to scheme sponsors.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that its recent review was essentially an internal operation to help it prepare recommendations about the future size and shape of special programmes and the conditions under which they should operate. Decisions about the operation of special programmes in 1979–80 will be announced shortly.The Commission intends to publish a statement covering progress during the first year of operation of the programmes which ends on 31 March 1979.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to ensure that the closest partnership exists between local authorities, employers and voluntary bodies sponsoring schemes under the youth opportunities and special training employment programmes; and if he will make a statement.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of jobs lost in manufacturing industry between the years 1970 and 1978.

Precise information about job gains and job losses is not available but an indication of the net change can be seen by comparing the levels of employees in employment at different dates. Between June 1970 and June 1978 the number of people employed in manufacturing industries in Great Britain fell by 1,003,000. The figure used for June 1978 is provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to bring into force the provision for partial suspension of sentences contained in the Criminal Law Act 1977.

The implementation of section 47 will place additional administrative burdens on prison staff and may, at least in the first instance, increase the number of short term receptions into prison. However, the Government will be keeping the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with the London taxi trade on its applications for increased fares.

Representatives of the London taxi trade were informed by the Home Office on 3 January that the Government were prepared to agree to an increase in London taxi fares which takes account of the recommendations of the Price Commission and is based on the increase in cab operating costs, with an allowance for increased earnings consistent with the Government's earnings guidelines. After consideration and further talks with the Home Office, the trade suggested modifications to the Government's proposals. These are now the subject of discussions between it and the Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek the permission of the parties referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Barking (Miss Richardson), Official Report, Vol. 961, c. 273, to publish the correspondence regarding the clauses in the county council Bills currently before Parliament.

A considerable amount of correspondence is involved. I shall seek the views of the parties concerned on its disclosure and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what proportion of the cases sent for trial on indictment the accused has been committed for trial by the magistrates without consideration of the evidence.

There is every reason to suppose that the procedure under section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967 is used for the great majority of committals for trial, but national statistics are not available on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the dates for local government elections in 1980.

The ordinary day of election of councillors in 1980 will be Thursday 1 May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place a copy of "The Governor's Handbook "in the Library.

I understand that the Library already contains a copy, supplied by its author.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cost of production of "The Governor's Handbook"; and what is the total cost so far of this production from the time it has been met out of public funds.

Production expenses have been met from public funds since 1968. The last complete reprint in 1976 cost £776. I regret that information for previous years is not available in Home Office records.

asked the Lord Advocate, with reference to the recent parliamentary answer that it is illegal to vote twice in a referendum, whether he will institute prosecutions for incitement to commit an electoral offence against any person or body who urges and

HOLDINGS IN WALES BY FORM OF TENURE (a) NUMBERS, (b) TOTAL AREA
		1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
		Number	Number	Number	Number	Number	Number	Number	Number
Wholly owned	…	18,502	18,383	17,716	17,239	17,457	16,749	17,232	17,383
Wholly rented	…	10,614	9,735	8,744	8,446	8,417	7,504	7,160	6,857
50% or more owned	…	4,541	5,028	4,970	4,741	4,584	5,369	5,312	5,083
50% or more rented	…	2,527	2,151	2,591	2,462	2,354	2,831	2,896	2,673
TOTALS	…	36,184	35,297	34,021	32,888	32,812	32,453	32,600	31,996
		Hectares	Hectares	Hectares	Hectares	Hectares	Hectares	Hectares	Hectares(000s)
Wholly owned	…	705·6	723·3	722·1	714·7	727·6	689·0	695·5	716·1
Wholly rented	…	414·5	376·1	355·0	354·2	353·7	318·0	302·7	299·1
50% or more owned	…	240·9	262·9	263·5	267·4	259·5	306·4	319·3	311·2
50% or more rented	…	145·3	135·8	151·7	152·5	152·1	181·1	185·2	174·8
TOTALS	…	1,506·3	1,498·1	1,492·2	1,488·8	1,492·9	1,494·4	1,502·7	1,501·3

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that fly-fishing

Any allegations of irregularities in connection with voting in a referendum which are reported will be carefully considered with a view to prosecution.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the total of public money granted to the Tri-ang Toy Company.

Since May 1975, when Airfix Industries acquired a controlling interest in the company, £3,275,000 has been advanced to Triang Pedigree Ltd by way of share capital, loan and grant, under the provisions of section 7 of the Industry Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the number of units and the total acreage of (a) tenanted farms and (b) owner occupied farms in Wales in each of the past 10 years.

The information, which is available in the form requested only for the years 1970–77, is given in the following table below:interests are represented on the Gwynedd National Park Committee to which he makes appointments.

The persons I appoint to national park committees are chosen for their individual capacity to reflect a variety of interests having regard to the wide national purposes for which the national parks were designated. I am always prepared to consider names put to me by any interested body.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has given to the Sports Council for Wales on the possibility of its underspending its 1978 budget.

None. The Sports Council for Wales fully understands the

*ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND IMPROVEMENT, WALES
£ million at 1978 Survey Prices
				1976–77	1977–78	1978–79†	1979–80
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MOTORWAYS AND TRUNK ROADS
1.	Planned expenditure	…	…	70·2	61·4	48·0	51·8
2.	Actual expenditure	…	…	66·9	46·0	—	—
3.	Estimated expenditure	…	…	—	—	43·6	51·8
4.	Shortfall	…	…	3·3	15·4	4·4	—
5.	Shortfall as percentage of 1	…	…	(4·7%)	(25·1%)	(9·2%)	—
LOCAL AUTHORITY ROADS
1.	Planned expenditure	…	…	33·5	25·9	26·5	32·0
2.	Actual expenditure	…	…	30·9	24·6	—	—
3.	Estimated expenditure	…	…	—	—	26·0	32·0
4.	Shortfall	…	…	2·6	1·3	0·5	—
5.	Shortfall as percentage of 1	…	…	(7·8%)	(5·0%)	(1·9%)	—
* including lighting installation
†Based on Command 7439

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to publish his estimate of the number of persons entitled to vote in the referendum in Wales.

I hope to make this information available on 20 February.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to ensure the necessary support for Air Wales for that company to consolidate and expand its air services in Wales.

Decisions about the development of this company's services are a matter for the commercial judgment of the operator concerned. My right hon. and learned Friend has already accepted for transport supplementary grant a measure of revenue support for the service between Cardiff and Hawarden.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing actual or estimated expenditure in Wales and the expenditure planned, all at 1978 survey prices, and the shortfall or excess as a percentage of the planned budget for (a) motorway and trunk construction and (b) local authority road construction for 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for purchase grants for the Welsh museum services for 1979–80.

Subject to the approval of Parliament the purchase grant for the National Museum of Wales will be £598,000 in 1979–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will accord to HARP members in Birmingham the same benefits under the current electricity discount schemes as are available to council tenants of other housing authorities.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Bar (Mr. Rooker) on Wednesday 14 February.—[Vol. 962, c. 576–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the total stocks of coking coal held in the United Kingdom for the latest date for which figures are available.

Total stocks of carbonisation coal at 23 December 1978—the latest date for which figures are available—were 5·85 million tonnes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) under the "Plan for Coal", how much of new productive capacity has been scheduled to produce coking coal;(2) how much (

I am asking the chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member with the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many British coal mines produce (a) under 50,000 tons per annum, (b) 50,000 to 1,000,000 tons per annum, (c) 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 tons per annum, (d) 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 tons per annum and (e) over 2,000,000 tons per annum;(2) of the 223 mines producing hard coal in the United Kingdom, how many in (

I have asked the chairman of the National Coal Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in furtherance of his Department's energy conservation policy, what study has been made of the energy conservation system at West Wickham swimming pool in the London borough of Bromley, under which heat which was previously extracted from the main pool to the atmosphere is now reclaimed and recirculated: and what steps he will take to make use of the benefits of this scheme in other public buildings.

Theoretical calculations indicate that the heat pump system installed at this swimming pool should produce substantial energy savings but as the system has been in use for only a very short time it is too soon yet for any realistic evaluation to be made of the cost effectiveness of the system.The advantages of heat pumps in this and other areas of application are well understood and a lot of research is being done in this country by both Government and the private sector, as well as internationally under the auspices of the EEC and IEA.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in any contingency plans he is making for petrol rationing in an emergency, he will give special consideration for disabled drivers.

Yes. But no proposals for rationing are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what study he has made of the use of fluidised bed combustion process in the design of new power stations.

My Department is associated with the National Coal Board, Babcock and Wilcox, Combustion Systems Ltd., and the Central Electricity Generating Board in studies on the application of pressurised fluidised bed combustion to power generation mounted in response to the recommendations in "Coal Technology", the report of the R & D working party of the coal industry tripartite group published in May last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what support is being given to coal liquefaction as a result of the recommendations in "Coal Technology", the report of the research and development working party of the Coal Industry Tripartite Group, published on 24 May 1978.

I have today signed a contract with Sir Derek Ezra, chairman of the NCB, under which the Government will provide to the NCB up to two-thirds of the cost of design studies, technical support and evaluation of bids for the construction of two 25-tonne per day pilot plants. The total cost of this first phase of the work is estimated to be £1·2 million and the Government's contribution will be up to £800,000.This support relates to pilot plants aimed at the production of chemical feed-stocks and the full range of transport fuels, using the NCB's liquid solvent extraction and supercritical gas solvent extraction processes described in the tripartite group report.The full design study phase will last about 18 months, when a further agreement will be considered for the construction phase, estimated to cost £30 million. If that phase is initiated the Government are prepared to contribute up to £20 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of defence in 1978; and how this compares with 1973.

Table 2.1 of the 1979 Public Expenditure White Paper—Cmnd 7439—shows, at 1978 survey prices, a forecast out-turn for the 1978–79 defence budget of £6,872 million and, at the same price base, a final out-turn for 1973–74 of £7,039 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total area of training ground at Catterick Camp; if it is intended to increase or reduce the present acreage for military training; and if he will make a statement.

The military training areas in Catterick garrison total about 18,000 acres. A reduction in our land holding is not contemplated and we have no plans at present to increase it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the framework of safety conditions which have been agreed with the staff associations and trade unions at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, Aldermaston as these apply to the active area at the establishment.

The framework of safety conditions consisted of agreed general principles designed to establish common practices and facilitate detailed discussions between building managers and local representatives of the work force on the resumption of work in the active areas. It mainly concerns: improved control over access to the active areas; the maintenance of high standards of checking and good house-keeping; the evolution of agreed working procedures including the use of protective clothing; the need for extended training; and the provision of adequate monitoring and health physics arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice is available from his Department for intending tourists concerned about the present state of medical facilities in Malta.

We understand that if tourists have the misfortune to be taken ill or meet with accidents, urgent treatment can be obtained from the medical facilities available in Malta. We know of no reason to advise intending tourists against using them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on British interests and the situation in Iran.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 12 February to my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Mr. Moonman).—[Vol. 962, c. 439.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many members there are of the resirual mission in Salisbury, Rhodesia; and in what circumstances the Government would be willing to strengthen that mission.

There is at present one official in Salisbury, with two supporting staff. The level of our representation there is kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom Government will submit their observations within the time limits specified by the European Commission of Human Rights in connection with the application against the use of proportional representation voting in Northern Ireland during the European Assembly elections because of previous failures to respect such time limits.

The European Commission of Human Rights has not notified Her Majesty's Government of such a complaint. If one is lodged and Her Majesty's Government are asked for observations, these will be submitted within time limits agreed by the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will direct the Prices Commission to examine whether the further increase of three pence and four pence a gallon in petrol prices is justified; and whether he will make a statement.

The selection of individual firms for investigation is a matter for the Price Commission which announced on 15 February that price increases notified by the Esso Petroleum Co Ltd and BP Oil Ltd were to be investigated. My right hon. Friend has no present intention of directing the Price Commission to undertake an examination of petrol prices in general.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list, on a regional basis, the number of slaughterhouses which are to close as a result of their inability to comply with EEC regulation 177 which became operative on 11 May 1978.

I think that the hon. Member has in mind the Slaughterhouses (Hygiene) Regulations 1977, many of the provisions of which came into operation on 11 May 1978. Other provisions, which could involve appreciable structural changes, will become compulsory only on 11 November 1980 for slaughterhouses in operation before 11 May 1978. The regulations apply to all slaughterhouses in England and Wales and do not arise from an EEC obligation. The previous hygiene regulations had served since 1958 with only minor amendment and the objective of the 1977 regulations was to raise standards in the interests of hygiene and public health. Slaughterhouses have been declining in number for some years for various reasons; my Department does not receive returns indicating the reasons for closures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage of agricultural land now farmed by (a) companies, (b) owner/farmers and (c) tenant farmers.

According to the June 1977 census 55·7 per cent. of agricultural land in England and Wales is farmed by owner-occunpiers and 44·3 per cent. by tenant farmers.I regret that no figures are available about land farmed by companies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated sugar beet acreage for 1979; and if he will publish figures for each of the past three years.

It is estimated that some 215,000 hectares of sugar beet will be grown in 1979. In the past three years the areas recorded in the agricultural returns at 1 June in each year were:

	'000 hectares
1976	206
1977	202
1978 (provisional)	210

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he envisages to deter EEC member States from limiting sugar production during the present world surplus.

I assume that the hon. Member meant to ask what action we envisage to encourage EEC member States to limit sugar production during the present world surplus. In preliminary discussion of the Commission proposals for CAP prices for 1979–80 my right hon. Friend has already argued for a reduction in sugar prices. He also firmly supports the Commission's proposal for a further reduction in the maximum quota for sugar to 120 per cent. of the basic quota.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether steps are being taken within the EEC to ensure that the Community joins the new International Sugar Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The EEC has already declared its willingness to join the International Sugar Agreement if suitable terms can be negotiated. An informal exploratory meeting between the Community and a working group on accessions set up by the International Sugar Council took place on 15 December. Further discussions are likely to be held which will, I hope, lead in due course to the negotiation of terms on which the Community will be able to accede to the Agreement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will specify the powers possessed by any member State of the European Economic Community to fix the value of its own green currency.

The formal position is that green rate changes must be the subject of a Commission proposal and must be approved by the Council with a qualified majority vote. But it is an accepted convention that green rate changes are primarily a matter for the individual member State concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the light of the fact that a number of Neapolitan canners have broken contracts with the United Kingdom and quantities in excess of half a million cartons of canned tomatoes have not been supplied at contract prices, if he will take steps to identify the losses incurred by British importers and distributors, and ensure that adequate compensation for them will be deducted from the British contribution to the EEC subsidy regime.

No. This is a contractual matter between buyers and sellers and not one in which it would be right for the Government to intervene.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the text of a letter dated 12 February from the Minister of State, Treasury, to the hon. Member for Hitchin, dealing with matters raised in Standing Committee on the Banking Bill.

The following is the text of the letter:Treasury ChambersParliament StreetSW1P 3AG12 February 1979Ian Stewart Esq MPHouse of CommonsLondonSW1A 0AADear Ian,BANKING BILLIn Standing Committee on the Bill, I promised to consider a number of points; and I am writing now to let you know the results.We are making some amendments for Report stage as a result of our discussions and I deal with these first, insofar as they need comment. On Schedule 1, we are doing some tidying-up, and the Letchworth Garden City is now covered. Water authorities are no longer considered to come within the scope of the Bill so have been deleted. The police authorities are covered by the revised paragraph, so no longer need a separate entry. The paragraph also covers miscellaneous bodies such as Joint Crematorium Boards and National Parks.We are also proposing to add stockbrokers to Schedule 1. So far as other professions are concerned, we would propose to exempt them by regulations under clause 2(1), if they should indeed be within the scope of the Bill. You will recall that the question of solicitors was raised. The circumstances in which solicitors may hold money for their clients are of considerable variety and complexity; and we have concluded that in order to provide certainty on the point there should probably be a specific exclusion for them under 2(1).Turning now to some of the general questions raised on clause 1, you raised the question of the Bill's impact on the inter-company market. As you know, the Bill seeks to regulate the acceptance of deposits by persons carrying on a deposit-taking business. The definition of a deposit in clause (1) has necessarily been drawn in wide terms. It would cover the taking of repayable monies by one company from another, whether the transaction was effected directly or through brokers and whether or not it was evidenced by notes, provided that the lender was not a recognised bank or licensed institution or a connected company. This would not in itself make the borrowing company subject to the prohition in sub-section (1). That would depend on whether it was a deposit-taking business under sub-sections (2) and (3). Insofar as its activities were not financed to any material extent out of the proceeds of deposits, it would not be a deposit-taking business; and, even if it were not excluded on this ground, it would still not be regarded as a deposit-taking business if it satisfied both the conditions in sub-section (3). The first of those conditions is that it should not hold itself out to accept deposits on a day-to-day basis. A company which entered the market to obtain a sum of money and then withdrew would not fall foul of this condition; but a company which told a broker that it stood ready on a continuing basis to take all deposits offered would (in that remote contingency) be caught. The second condition in subsection (3) addresses itself to what transactions take place in fact. It is largely a test of frequency (although it is also concerned with the extent to which a transaction may be atypical by reference to the normal activities of the borrower). Thus a company which borrowed occasionally on the inter-company market (or the market for fixed-interest securities) would not be accounted a deposit-taking business. How frequently it could borrow in these ways before needing to be licensed as a deposit-taking institution or to curtail such activities is a matter for interpretation by the Bank of England and, in the last resort, by the courts. A mechanical test of frequency would be too rigid and anomalous in its effects.It follows that the Banking Bill would not put an end to the inter-company market. It would, however, discourage the development of a market in which some participants borrowed from others on a significant and systematic basis. This is desirable on prudential grounds since it is difficult for ordinary trading companies to reach a proper appreciation of the risks involved in lending through this market to companies with which they have no business relationship; and in some circumstances it may also make monetary policy more effective and remove a grievance not unreasonably expressed from time to time by the banking system.Partly in this connection, you asked whether companies could discuss with the Bank the implications of the legislation, when it is in operation. The Banking Supervision Division of the Bank of England would always be willing to discuss with interested persons whether their present activities or a proposed course of action might bring them within the scope of the legislation. I do not consider it necessary to provide for any formal procedures in this respect. Presumably any persons who felt that the pursuit of a particular activity might be adjudged to make them a deposit-taking business within the meaning of the Bill would also consult their legal advisers. In the last resort, of course, a final decision in the matter would lie with the courts.John Moore also raised the question of back-to-back lending. The principle behind this is that a company deposits money with a bank (or some other institution) and the borrower (or a company connected with the borrower) lends a similar amount of money to another party named by the depositor. The definitions in clause 1(3) and (5) of the Banking Bill are such that borrowing by way of back-to-back loans should not be affected by legislation.In order to be subject to the provisions of the Bill a person has to accept a deposit in the course of carrying on a deposit-taking business. The definition of a deposit excludes loans made by recognised banks and licensed institutions, by persons in the business of lending money (such as overseas banks which need no deposit-taking authority here) and by connected lenders. Moreover, a company would not be accounted a deposit-taking business provided that it did not hold itself out to accept deposits on a day-to-day basis and in fact took deposits only on particular occasions.Back-to-back loans are complex in nature and the occasions on which any one company might borrow by this means are infrequent. Even where such borrowing fell within the definition of a deposit, the company in question should have little difficulty in demonstrating that it was not a deposit-taking business as the funds were received only on a particular occasion. On this basis back-to-back borrowing by comparies generally—like their borrowing through fixed-interest securities on the capital market—will be unaffected by the passage of the legislation.I turn now to the more detailed points raised on the Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received concerning tax allowances for lone parents to cover child care costs; what replies he has given; and what is his policy on this matter.

When I met representatives of the National Council for One-Parent Families and of Gingerbread on 25 January, I took note of their representations about tax relief to cover child care expenses of lone parents. The general issue of tax relief for child care expenses will need to be considered in the forthcoming Green Paper on taxation of the family, in the light of any other proposals which could affect the relative treatment of lone parents and two-parent families.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report information available to the latest possible date bringing up to date the series of tables and related information given in reply to the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans), Official Report, 5 February 1976, c. 709–17.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report factors which he estimates as having an effect on the rate of inflation.

The rate of inflation is the outcome of a number of complex processes. Immediate causes include increases in exchange rates and interest rates and variations in profit margins. But these factors are themselves rooted in previous inflationary experience, and so a straight-forward assignment of inflation to particular cases is an over-simplification. Fiscal and monetary policy can also have an impact on inflation, mainly through the exchange rate and the pressure of demand. The various factors influencing the rate of inflation can move in opposing directions. Last year, for example, the rapid rise in unit labour costs was mitigated by generally favourable movements in commodity prices and food prices, and by a relatively high exchange rate. It cannot be expected that these factors will continue to operate so favourably; hence the importance of achieving moderate pay settlements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is normal practice for firms to agree with the Inland Revenue at the beginning of the financial year as to whether or not they will make tax rebates to striking employees during the strike period; and whether, if so, a firm can alter these arrangements during the course of a financial year.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the tax revenue that would be lost if all overtime and bonus payments were made free of income tax.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to be able to reply to Question No. 40 of 14 February tabled by the hon. Member for Edinburgh West; and if he will publish the reply in the Official Report.

An answer will be given today to Question No. 40 of 14 February and it will be published in the Official Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in tabular form the year-on-year increases and the year-on-year percentage increases in the single and married allowances and age allowances, single and married, since 1973–74.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chanceller of the Exchequer what the cost would be to the Exchequer in a full fiscal year if the flat rate retirement pensions under the national insurance scheme were to become tax-free payments.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report 14 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 570], gave the following information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will clarify what is meant by the term "satisfactory balance of payments" in paragraph 32 of Cmnd. 7439; and, in particular, whether and on what scale it is assumed that (a) the current account and its components, namely, non-oil trade, oil trade and invisibles, are in deficit or surplus and (b) whether the capital account is assumed to be in deficit or surplus.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 637], gave the following information:In making the three illustrative projections for 1977–82 it was assumed that the balance of payments on current account should be in surplus at the end of the period. The projections were therefore constrained to produce current account surpluses in the range £0 billion to £1 billion in 1982, and private expenditure was varied until a balance in that range was achieved.In each case the surpluses on invisibles and oil trade, the latter the result of the increase in North Sea oil production, are partly offset by a deficit on goods other than oil. The projections were not carried through to a detailed construction of the external capital account, but the assumption is that the capital account is in rough balance so that the current account surplus is sufficient for some repayment of official foreign debt.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish estimates of the public sector deficit consistent with table 7 of Cmnd. No. 7439, in £ billion for 1977–78 and 1978–79 and as a percentage of gross domestic product.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 637], gave the following information:The public sector financial deficit consistent with table 7 of Cmnd. 7439 and on the same price basis as that table, is estimated at £6·0 billion in 1977–78 and £6·2 billion in 1978–79. In each year the estimated public sector financial deficit is equivalent to 4 per cent. of gross domestic product at market prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for every £100 spent by the Government on each person resident in England, how much was spent on each person resident in Scotland for each of the years from 1960 to 1978; and if he will publish a table giving the relative figures and percentages for each year for each of the following subjects: the National Health Service, social work, education, arts, sport, housing, rents, local government, rate support grants, planning, water, new towns, the countryside, buses, roads, ferries, airports, passenger subsidies, land tenure, tourism, fire service, courts and administration of the criminal and civil law.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 569], gave the following information:The table below gives estimates of identifiable public expenditure per head

in Scotland and England for 1973–74 to 1977–78, consistent with those in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) on 17 January 1979—[Vol. 960, c.