asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the latest assessment of Harrier's suitability and availability for service with the Royal Navy.

I cannot add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 19th October.—[Vol. 843, c. 436–7.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Harrier aircraft have had their throttles modified to enable the pilot to re-start the engine in flight after bird ingestion; when the modification was first suggested by the Directorate of Air Safety; and what will be the total cost of the programme.

Twenty-eight Royal Air Force Harriers have so far been fitted with the manual fuel control system which can, under certain conditions, help in restarting the engine after bird-ingestion. The case for this modification was first identified in July, 1970. The total cost for Royal Air Force aircraft is in the order of £500.000.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Royal Air Force aircraft were involved in accidents with birds in the nine months up to 30th September; and what was the effect of these collisions.

Twelve aircraft, three of which were destroyed and the others moderately to severely damaged. There were no casualties or injuries to the crews.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what further action he has taken with foreign Governments over the possible purchase of land in their countries on which to build married quarters.

The foreign countries where married quarters are required are mainly in north-west Europe, particularly Germany. The recommendation by the Defence and External Affairs Sub-Committee that we should consider renegotiating the relevant NATO agreement with a view to purchasing land in those countries on which to build married quarters is now being examined. Any action to be taken with the Governments concerned will depend on the outcome of this examination.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for a through-deck cruiser.

Our plans remain to order the first through-deck cruiser early next year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is satisfied that the mobile equipment available for security purposes in Northern Ireland has proved adequate; and if he will make a statement.

The vehicles used by the Army in Northern Ireland have fulfilled the requirements expected of them, although changes are, of course, made whenever the requirements alter.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many British Service men have been killed or injured in Northern Ireland since 1st January, 1972, and how many civilians are known to have been killed or injured in clashes with British Service men in Northern Ireland since 1st January, 1972.

Between 1st January, 1972, and 24th October, 1972, the Army—including the Ulster Defence Regiment—have had 111 killed and 506 wounded.I am afraid that it is not possible to state with certainty the number of civilians killed or injured in clashes with British Service men, in view of the IRA's efforts to conceal their casualties.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the instructions for the wearing of steel helmets by troops in Northern Ireland.

Commander Land Forces has issued guiding instructions to his subordinate commanders on this subject. However, it must be left to the individual commanding officers to decide according to local situations whether or not steel helmets should be worn. Generally, soldiers on static guard or riot control duties tend to be more heavily protected than, for example, those engaged on some foot patrols, for whom speed of reaction and quickness of movement are often of paramount importance.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposals for the improvement of barrack accommodation in the British Army of the Rhine.

It is estimated that the cost of improvement of single barrack accommodation will be £80 million to £90 million. We are currently concentrating on a first phase estimated to cost £30 million or so. These barracks—some of which date from the nineteenth century—are the property of the Federal German authorities, whose agreement to and co-operation in their modernisation has been sought and readily given.

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he expects a satisfactory conclusion to negotiations over improving pay scales and conditions for industrial civil servants employed by the Ministry of Defence;

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a progress report on negotiations concerning improved pay scales for industrial civil servants employed in Ministry of Defence establishments.

The issue of industrial Civil Service pay has been referred to arbitration by the two sides of the Joint Co-ordinating Committee for Government Industrial Establishments. The arbitration tribunal, under the chairmanship of Professor G. Thomason, had its hearing yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen were murdered in the execution of their duty in the periods 1900 to 1964 and 1964 to the present day.

From 1964 to 1971, the latest year for which statistics are available, nine police officers were murdered while on duty in England and Wales. The figure for the years 1946 to 1963 is 11.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why it took his Department until 13th October to write to the hon. Member for West Ham, North to advise him that his letter of 28th September enclosing a communication from Mr. H. Perry of Odessa Road, London E.7, regarding illegal parking had been forwarded to the acting chief constable of Sussex; and whether he will expedite such sterotyped formal acknowledgment letters in the future;(2) why it took his Department until 13th October to send a formal acknow- Corresponding statistics for earlier years are not available, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the figures given in Appendix 3, Table 4, of the Report of the Royal Commission on Capital Punishment, 1949–1953, which contains an analysis of the victims of convicted murderers sentenced to death in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many patients discharged from Broad-moor or similar establishments have committed further acts of violence.

I regret that comprehensive figures are not available. I am sending my hon. Friend such information as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the number of males and females who have been released on parole from Her Majesty's prisons during each of the past four years; and how many have been recommitted to prison.

Following is the information as regards prisoners serving determinate sentences in England and Wales:ledgment letter to the communication dated 30th September from the hon. Member for West Ham, North regarding his responsibility for traffic congestion in Sugar House Lane, London, E.15; and whether he will take action to ensure that such stereotyped formal acknowledgement letters are sent more expeditiously in the future.

The hon. Member's letters were formally acknowledged on 29th September and 2nd October respectively. There was no undue delay in subsequently sending him the interim replies to which he refers. Their purpose was to let him know that inquiries were necessary before final replies could be sent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain why it took until 12th October for the hon. Member for West Ham, North to receive a reply to his communication dated 22nd September regarding his responsibilities for Mr. V. C. Davis and his stolen car; and whether he will take action to expedite such replies in the future.

I have seen the hon. Member's letter to the Commissioner of Police, and the Commissioner's reply which explained the nature of the inquiries which had been necessary. There was no unreasonable delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the the Home Department when the hon. Member for West Ham, North may expect to receive a reply to his letter of 30th September regarding the problems and difficulties being created by the influx of Ugandan Asians into Great Britain in general and the London Borough of Newham; and whether he will give a detailed reply to the earlier communications sent to him by the hon. Member on 5th and 18th September.

I replied to the hon. Member's letter of 30th September on 24th October. The hon. Member's letters of 5th and 18th September were answered on 29th September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 9th October to reply to the communication sent to him under date of 18th August, 1972, enclosing a petition from a number of constituents in West Ham, North, protesting against the entry of Uganda Asians; what information contained in this reply could not have been sent within days of receipt instead of weeks; and whether he will expedite replies from his Department in the future.

I attach great importance to prompt replies being sent by the Home Office. The correspondence from hon. Members about the expulsion of Asians from Uganda has been very large, and I am sorry that I have not dealt with all of it as speedily as I would have wished.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he first received a request from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, requesting an investigation into a constituent's complaint, for which he is responsible, about the police in Forest Gate; why by 21st October, 1972, the hon. Member had received no reply other than formal notes stating the matter was receiving attention; when he can expect to receive a substantive reply; and whether he will expedite such investigations in the future.

The hon. Member's letter was received on 8th August. He was told on 16th August that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis had been asked for a report. He was told on 22nd September that the investigation into the complaint had not been completed. The Commissioner informs me that it is likely that the report of the investigation will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 1964. A substantive reply will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible. In view of the thoroughness with which complaints against the police are investigated, inquiries may sometimes take a long time to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many estate agents have been committed to prison or fined during the last 20 years for fraudulent conversion of moneys entrusted to them by members of the public.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of known mugging offences which have taken place in the Metropolitan Police area for the last 12 months; what is the number of convictions; and if he will make a statement.

There is no agreed definition of "mugging". The most relevant figures are those for offences of robbery or assault with intent to rob. The total number of these offences recorded by the Metropolitan police in 1971 were 2,727 and 1,561 in the first six months of 1972. A total of 880 persons were found guilty of robbery or assault with intent to rob in 1971, the latest period for which figures are available. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has arranged for special measures to be taken in those areas where the problem is most serious.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to increase the establishment of police; and what advice he has given to police authorities to have more manpower allocated to foot patrol work.

Establishments are kept under review. But the important thing is to maintain and increase the strength of forces. The strength of the police in England and Wales increased by nearly 2,000 in 1970, over 3,000 in 1971 and over 2,300 in the first eight months of this year, to a total of 99,198 on 31st August last. Deployment of each force is a matter for the chief officer of police, who is best able to judge the particular needs of his police area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what provision is made on the National Police Computer for the consolidation of all active area criminal warrants/wants in one regional criminal activity data bank with capability to retrieve all facets of case history;(2) what provision is made on the National Police Computer for cross-indexing the criminal data bank so it may be accessed by, respectively, subject's name, alias, nickname, vehicle licence number, vehicle identification number, street name and residence number, and report number of arrest/criminal identification number;(3) what provision is made on the National Police Computer for response within 10 seconds to information needs of the officer in the street;(4) what provision is made on the National Police Computer for information to district officers and intelligence officers on movements of organised crime subjects;

These Questions appear to be based on some misunderstanding of the purpose of the police national computer. This computer system is designed to provide operational support by giving police over the whole country access to central records within a matter of minutes. It is not designed for dealing with police administration or local crime or vehicle accident statistics, or for exploring the sociological aspects of crime, which are referred to in some of the Questions.The information to be stored is broadly the same as that already held at the central and regional criminal record offices; it will include details of stolen motor vehicles, an index to the main fingerprint collection, records of wanted and missing persons and the criminal names index. There will also be a limited amount of information from motor taxation records and, at a later stage, comprehensive central records of disqualified drivers and persons subject to suspended sentences. The feasibility of storing other information, for example about methods of operation, is being explored.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has studied the Longford Report on Pornography, a copy of which is in his possession; and what plans he has to deal with the problems specified in the report.

I have seen the report of this privately commissioned study, the chief object of which, I understand, was to stimulate discussion. I have already made it clear that I am against more censorship and that I doubt the value of attempting to redefine the offence of obscene publication; but that I share the widespread public concern about indecent public advertisements and displays and am considering whether further action can be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received to ensure that the viewpoint of the Police Federation is heard at the Prime Minister's resumed talks with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry on wages and prices; what action he has taken or is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I have myself seen representatives of the Police Federation. I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department where Mr. Muhammad Ali Fazal, now residing at Bishopthorpe Palace, was born; what citizenship or citizenships he possesses or is entitled to claim; and on what grounds he was admitted to the United Kingdom for settlement.

The information available to me is that Mr. Fazal was born in Uganda and holds a British passport. He was admitted to this country under the emergency arrangements which have been made after the Government of Uganda's expulsion decree.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ascertain from the Chief Constable how many people have been prosecuted for speeding on the A45 between Thurlaston Roundabout and the Coventry boundary during the past 12 months.

Statistics of motoring offences on particular roads could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the detection rate in the Metropolitan Police area for burglaries from dwellings and walk-in thefts from dwellings, respectively.

The numbers of offences of burglary, and theft in a dwelling, cleared up in 1971, expressed as percentages of the offences recorded in that year are as follows:Burglary (and aggravated burglary) in a dwelling:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

The security forces continue to act vigorously and successfully against terrorism and there have been fewer shooting and bombing incidents this week than in recent weeks, particularly in Belfast. Despite the disturbances in Protestant areas of Belfast last week, the great majority share our determination that peace and prosperity should return to Northern Ireland. The security forces will continue to assist the civil authorities to counter terrorism and acts of violence from whatever quarter they arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she can now give the year when building will commence on the new school to replace the old Fitzwilliam Junior Mixed School at Swinton, Mexborough.

No, Sir. A proposal to replace this school in or after 1975 is one of 51 replacement projects recently submitted by the West Riding local education authority. My right hon. Friend hopes to announce early in 1973 whether or not building work can start in 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children have been unable to find primary school places in Bolton this year and have become classed as late infants.

My information is that all children reaching statutory school age have been found primary school places in Bolton this year. The education authority also admits children the term before their reach their fifth birthday.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the pupil/teacher ratio in primary schools in Bolton, including and excluding floating teachers.

On the basis that the term "floating teachers" means "all teachers in the employ of the local education authority for the purpose of primary school education who are not on the establishment of a particular school" the answer is 29·8 and 30·3 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many qualified teachers are at present unemployed; and how many of these qualified at colleges of education this year and are seeking their first posts.

This information is not available, but my right hon. Friend has no reason to think that there is any substantial unemployment among qualified teachers seriously seeking posts and ready to go where the jobs are.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she now expects the Quirk Report on Speech Therapy will be published; when she expects to implement the recommendations of this report; and if she will make a statement.

The committee's Report, made jointly to my right on. Friends the Secretaries of State for Social Services, for Scotland and for Wales and myself was published on 17th October. Professor Quirk and his committee have made a thorough examination of the problems facing the speech therapy services and we are most grateful to them for the work and thought which have resulted in this wide-ranging report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will give the number of immigrant children entering the London Borough of Newham since July; and to what extent consideration is being given in her Department to the need to spread immigrant children to schools in areas where there is no immigration problem.

I understand from the Newham local education authority that since the beginning of July, 366 immigrant children of school age have entered the borough, of whom 118 were refugees from Uganda. The Uganda Resettlement Board hopes to persuade refugees to avoid areas where the social services including education, are already under strain, but it cannot direct them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will give details of the time taken since his entry into this country of Ralph Fadojutimi, now of Stratford, London, E.15, as a student at public expense; what educational grants he has received since entering Great Britain; and what degrees or qualifications he has obtained.

Information of this kind about an individual student is not collected by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the waiving of the three-year residential qualification for educational grants being made by the Ugandan Resettlement Board for immigrant Asians will apply to all persons at present and those who have applied in the past for the grants without a three-year residential qualification

The invitation extended by my right hon. Friend to local education authorities to waive, in the exercise of their discretionary powers, normal residential requirements for the award of grants refers solely to Ugandan Asians, and their dependants, who were ordinarily resident in Uganda on 4th August 1972, and who entered the United Kingdom on British passports. Students satisfying this definition may be either already attending a course of study in this country or newcomers whose education in Uganda has been interrupted by expulsion and who wish to pursue their studies in institutions of higher or further education here.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the rule and regulation concerning the financial grants and awards to suitably qualified students undertaking a first degree or designated comparable course at a university or college in the United Kingdom of a three-year United Kingdom residential qualification is being applied to the Ugandan Asian immigrants; under what statutory authority these regulations may be waived; and whether British-born citizens will also be granted the same privileges.

Awards to Uganda Asians who entered the United Kingdom on British passports, and their dependants, are made by local education authorities under their discretionary powers, and not under statutory regulations. The arrangements which govern the grant of discretionary awards are in all cases a matter for the local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is aware of the concern felt by British born applicants for education grants who have been refused such grants, who now find that Ugandan Asians are receiving these grants; and whether she will see that all applicants are treated on an equitable basis.

No such representations have been made to my right hon. Friend. Local education authorities have been asked, when exercising their discretionary powers, to treat Asians expelled from Uganda on the same basis as those who satisfy normal residence requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number of British born qualified students awaiting entrance into universities who have been refused admission due to lack of places; how long on average such applicants have to wait; and whether immigrants including the Ugandan Asians are being granted preference in obtaining admission into universities over British born applicants who have been waiting for several years.

University admissions are the responsibility of individual universities, and the information requested is not available in my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the consumer protection bodies she consults when she is seeking the opinion of consumers on matters covered by her Department.

My Department is not concerned with the sale or purchase of goods or services in the commonly accepted sense. I consult local education authorities and other interested bodies in education matters as I judge appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what records he has of the number of families in Wales evicted by private landlords since 1970 and up to the latest convenient date.

Private landlords are not required to notify the Government when families are evicted, and I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what guidance he has given to local authorities in Wales on the subject of the eviction of council house tenants.

Circulars were issued on 31st October, 1966, and 26th September, 1967. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Security informed the House on 2nd October last, it is hoped to issue further guidance at the turn of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many families have been evicted by local authorities in Wales since 1970 and up to the latest convenient date.

Local authorities are not required to notify the Government when families are evicted, and I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities in Wales of providing temporary accommodation for homeless families.

I understand that this expenditure, which is entirely the responsibility of county and county borough councils, is estimated to be about £56,000 in 1971–72 and £57,000 in 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in the case of compulsory purchase occasioned by redevelopment, he will seek to ensure that any legislation based on the document, Development and Compensation—Putting People First, Command Paper No. 5124, will enable an owner-occupier so affected to purchase a similar property in an equivalent area.

Market value compensation with disturbance payments under the present code, coupled with the new proposals in Paragraphs 36–47 of Cmnd. 5124, will enable many more displaced owner-occupiers to purchase equivalent accommodation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons are estimated to be in receipt of exclusively unearned income in excess of £5,000 per year; how many in receipt of combined earned and unearned income in excess of £5,000 a year; and how many in receipt of exclusively earned income in excess of £5,000 per year.

About 15,000, 325,000 and 45,000 respectively, counting the joint earnings of a married couple as one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking the £ sterling at 100 in March, 1970, what its value is at the latest available date.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 100p in March, 1970, its value in September, 1972, the latest date available, is estimated at 83½p. This estimate is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index between 1970 and 1971 adjusted by movements in the General Index of Retail Prices for the months at the beginning and end of the period. If the estimate were to be based solely on movements in the General Index of Retail Prices the corresponding figure would be 82½p.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the real value of wages compares with their value in March, 1970.

Between March, 1970 and August, 1972 (the latest period for which data are available) the index of average earnings rose by 29·4 per cent. and the general index of retail prices rose by 20·8 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will propose that a man, whose wife is a registered disabled person, should be allowed to set the charge for a part-time housekeeper, for example £1·76 for four hours by a county council home help, against income tax.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion but there are serious difficulties in the way of providing tax relief for expenses of this kind. No doubt she is aware that an additional personal allowance of £100 is given where a wife is totally incapacitated and there are young children in the home.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made by the Churches regarding the possible effect of value added tax on church buildings and on church charities; and what is his latest estimate of the increased costs likely to be borne by them.

I saw the Churches Main Committee which represents the main denominations in May and recently the Deputy Chairman and officials of the Customs and Excise Department have discussed with the Committee the possible effects of value added tax on churches and church charities. The Committee's representations are still being studied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the 1973 Budget of the European Economic Community is accounted for by the additional costs arising from the enlargement of the Community, and by European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund appropriations, including Mansholt Reserves reinscribed from earlier years, respectively.

The draft Budget for 1973 was sent to the European Parliament earlier this month, and will be published in due course in the Offical Journal. In the draft Budget (which was drawn up on the basis of a Community of ten member States) about 500 million units of account (mua) is attributed to enlargement. Appropriations for the Guidance section of FEOGA amount to 285 mua, plus a further 45 mua which is subject to decision by the Council of Ministers. There is also a separate re- inscription of 25 mua in this section. Appropriations for the Guarantee section amount to 2,977 mua. The Council of Ministers decided this year not to include provision in the 1973 Budget for what are called the Mansholt reserves (which will amount to about 438 mua); these are noted as authorised expenditure, should there be any need for a call up.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current European Commission Budget estimate for the European Communities for 1973 to 1975.

I understand that these estimates will shortly be presented to the European Parliament. I will ensure that they are placed in the Library at that time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now bring up to date the contributions that Great Britain will have to make to the European Communities in the five years beginning 1st January, 1973; and if he will further update Table 2 on page 24 of the July, 1971 White Paper, Command Paper No. 4715, the United Kingdom and the European Communities, taking into account changes in the value of money and other relevant considerations.

I will consider this, but in any case all the relevant information is not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent the practice is prevalent of Commonwealth immigrants claiming tax relief for their legitimate and illegitimate children remaining in the countries of their origin; and if he will make a statement about what proof is needed in the way of birth certificates and upkeep costs of these children by the father before these tax reliefs are granted.

I do not consider such an investigation is called for. In reply to the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's Answer to his Question of 24th October.—[Vol. 843, c. 213.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many car accidents are estimated to be caused each year by a driver's sudden blackout or death due to heart disease; and in how many of these cases death is caused to a third party.

This information is not available in the form requested. Evidence collected by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory suggests that well under ½ per cent. of accidents follow drivers being taken ill suddenly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had with British Rail concerning the proposed closure of the railway freight services to Southampton Docks.

The British Railways Board are not required to consult me about proposals to withdraw rail freight services, but only to satisfy me that they have given adequate notice and publicity for their proposed closure. This they have done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council houses were offered for sale in Hartlepool in 1970, 1971 and to the latest available date in 1972; what were the average price levels for two- and three bedroomed houses for each of these years; and by what test were the increases made.

One council house was sold in 1970, 18 in 1971 and 28 between 1st January and 31st May, 1972. Average prices ranged from £2,500 in 1970 to £4,500 in 1972. They are based on current market value as advised to the Council by the District Valuer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grants he has made available to the county borough of Hartlepool for the removal of oil from the beaches and drains during the past two years; and how many applications he has received.

One application for grant has been made by Hartlepool County Borough Council in the past two years in respect of the removal of oil from their beach. I understand that the council have since recovered these costs from an industrial undertaking so that no grant is called for. Grant is about to be paid to Hartlepool County Borough Council on the cost of purchase of reserve materials and equipment for beach clearance. Only one other claim from this authority has been received and that was met in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the fact that, as a share of the nation's total production of goods and services, Great Britain's fire losses are the greatest of any major industrial country, if he will draw the attention of all those concerned with commissioning, designing and building industrial buildings to the magnitude of the problem of fire losses.

The latest available figures show that, on the basis of cost per head of population, there were six countries with worse fire losses than the United Kingdom. However, no one concerned with this problem can be complacent about it and estimates of the cost of fire losses, which receive considerable publicity in the technical and national press, are published by insurance bodies. I welcome this opportunity of drawing attention to the advisory services of the Fire Research Station and the fire authorities which are already extensively used by industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will mount a campaign drawing attention to those aspects of structural fire protection which can minimise fire spread and subsequent damage.

Part E of the Building Regulations 1972 requires structural precautions against fire when buildings are erected, altered or extended or there is a material change of their use. These regulations are concerned to set a minimum standard in the interests of public safety but they also contribute towards reducing property loss. The principles of these mandatory requirements are well known but I welcome this opportunity to draw further attention to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains his policy that there should not be any material variation from the pattern of basic organisation structure being discussed, for five years after implementation, which for this purpose is assumed to be in 1973–74, and that this will apply to the size of the railway network.

The Railways Board have no plans for any material variation in the proposals for re-structuring their field organisation, to which I gave my approval on 27th July.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of contraventions of the 1957 Balfour Assurances on the export of animals for slaughter which have been brought to his attention in the current year.

The contraventions of the Balfour Assurances reported to my Department this year came from a number of sources, but all related to slaughter which were then re-exported to France. This breached the Balfour Assurances in more than one respect, and a considerable number of animals were involved.With the co-operation of the Belgian authorities new safeguards have been agreed, and these should prevent such contraventions in the future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he remains satisfied that live animals are not subjected to unnecessary cruelty in transport when being exported abroad; and how he satisfies himself that the animals are killed in a humane way in accordance with the code of practice recommended by the Balfour Committee.

I am satisfied that, in general, exported animals are not subjected to unnecessary cruelty while being transported. The Governments of the countries to which live animals are exported for slaughter have all given undertakings that they will ensure that this is carried out humanely and in accordance with the recommendations of the Balfour Committee. We rely on their co-operation to ensure that these undertakings are fulfilled.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of abattoirs of export standard in the United Kingdom which are not working to full capacity at this time.

There are 63 slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom approved for export. I am unable to say how many of these are working to capacity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now seek powers substantially to increase the cost of dog licences to deter ownership among those not prepared to care for their pets.

Powers are already available under the Local Government Act, 1966, but no changes are envisaged in the licensing arrangements while my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is engaged in the consultations he is commencing with the local authority associations on dog problems generally, including the control of strays.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the consumer protection bodies he consults when he is seeking the opinion of consumers on matters covered by his Department.

Which consumer organisations we consult depends on the subject under consideration. The following organisations have been consulted by my Department in the recent past:

• Consumers' Association.
• British Standard Institution (Women's Advisory Committee).
• European Union of Women (British Section).
• Good Housekeeping Institute.
• Housewife's Trust.
• National Council of Women.
• National Federation of Consumer Groups.
• National Federation of Women's Institutes.
• National Union of Townswomen's Guilds.
• Scottish Women's Rural Institutes.
• Women's Group on Public Welfare.
• Women's National Commission.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he is satisfied that permitting commercial netting in Northern Ireland in freshwater portions of rivers is in the interests of salmon preservation; if he will give the figures for the commercial catch of salmon netted in Lough Neagh over the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Commercial netting for salmon in fresh water in Northern Ireland is limited by Statute to two rivers and Lough Neagh. I have no reason to believe that the continued existence of these three exceptions to the general prohibition of salmon netting in fresh water is detrimental to salmon preservation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take further steps to control the grey squirrel menace, in view of the Government's policy to encourage tree planting in 1973.

It is for occupiers to control pests on their land, but my right hon. Friend has recently taken enabling powers under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1972, to permit the use of new techniques for control of grey squirrels. Organisations concerned are now being consulted on the safeguards that will be required, and I hope that it will be possible to lay the necessary order early in the new year.

asked the Attorney-General what writs have been taken, or other action initiated, against him to claims for interest by United Kingdom holders of Rhodesian Government stock issued before the unilateral declaration of independence or in relation to claims for the return of capital invested in such of those stocks as have matured since the unilateral declaration of independence; and whether he will make a statement.

No process initiating legal proceedings against the Attorney-General claiming interest on Southern Rhodesia Government stock or the return of capital invested in such stocks has been served. Proceedings have been brought seeking the determination of the High Court on the question whether a person claiming to be interested in Southern Rhodesia 6 per cent. stock 1976–1979 and interest thereon may present a petition of right in England under Section 20 of the Colonial Stock Act 1877. The judgment of the High Court on this question is awaited.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will arrange for the payment to all industrial civil servants of the same travel and subsistence allowance as that paid to Members of the House of Lords; and, on this basis, what the payments would be.

No. The circumstances of the two groups are totally different.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what plans he has to alter the contracts for the supply of hardware and software to the Royal Air Force Stock Control and Management Information System project; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry of Defence is still planning to complete transfer to the new computer system in December, 1974, using ICL computers and associated equipment. The approach hitherto involved producing a new and complex software package to control the realtime computer system and data transmission network with its 600 on-line terminals. This software was being undertaken by Dataskil Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of professional and technical people unemployed in Scotland to the nearest available date; and how this compares with the previous 24 months.

Following is the nearest available information, the figures being compiled quarterly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take to reduce evasion of the Equal Pay Act by employers and employees following the report of the Office of Manpower Economics.

The Office of Manpower Economics found very little evidence of employers or employees deliberately taking action designed to circumvent the Act. My right hon. Friend will, however, keep the situation under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements the Government are making to ensure that authoritative information and advice are available to help people in the United Kingdom prepare for forthcoming membership of the European Communities.

A detailed review has been conducted by Departments, under my chairmanship, to ensure that authoritative information and advice are available to all concerned notably those in industry, business, agriculture and the professions.As a result of this review departmental programmes have, where necessary, been intensified by the provision of more information material and facilities for answering inquiries both centrally and locally. In addition a Checklist and Guide to key sources of information is being published today for distribution with appropriate publicity. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.It is hoped that this special effort will both ensure the ready availability of authoritative information and advice and bring it to the attention of those who need it to prepare for Community membership.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of increased investment of British money into the European Economic Community and of European Economic Community funds in Great Britain during the past two years.

I have been asked to reply.Figures for the last two years for which information is available are:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will quantify the legislative output of the European Community in 1971, showing separately the number of regulations issued by the Council of Ministers and by the Commission, and the number of directives and decisions.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he has received from the Norwegian Government on their proposal to extend Norway's fishing limits; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no such communication. I have however noted the reports which have appeared in the Press about the new Norwegian Government's intentions regarding fishing limits and I am seeking further information.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made, and when was the date on which they were last made, to the United States Government requesting the lifting of the prohibition by the State of Florida on the opening of British banks there.

Her Majesty's Government have received no representations about any prohibition as described by my hon. Friend, and have themselves made none to United States authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give a list of the numbers of Kenyan Asians and other Commonwealth citizens from each of the Commonwealth countries who would be able to claim entry into Great Britain if treated on the same basis of passport holders and stateless persons as that applied to the Ugandan Asians.

I would refer the hon. Member to the figures of persons with no citizenship of other countries who are subject to immigration control circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT of 23rd October with my reply on that date to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes).—[Vol. 843, c. 768–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware of the desire of the Kenyan Government to expatriate British-born and British passport holders now deemed as Kenyan Asians and non-Kenyan citizens; and whether he will arrange discussions with the Kenyan Government to discuss these matters and to ensure that these citizens are given the same right of entry into Great Britain as the Ugandan Asians.

We have had no indication from the Kenyan Government that they wish to expel such British nationals. In August, 1972, President Kenyatta said that people of all races were welcome to live in Kenya in harmony. At the same time machinery already exists to allow for the controlled entry into Britain of United Kingdom passport holders of Asian origin resident in Kenya, who wish to come to this country. I see no need, therefore, to arrange discussions or to modify existing arrangements for admission to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during his recent summit conference, he discussed with the countries of the enlarged European Economic Community the possibility of each of these taking an equal quota of the Ugandan Asians; and with what results.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to his Question on 24th October.—[Vol 843, c. 246–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Peru to ensure that British interests in Peruvian Corporation are protected; and what replies have been received.

Her Majesty's Ministers have made it clear to the Peruvian Government that they are concerned about that Government's treatment of the Peruvian Corporation Limited, and that they expect the Government to settle its differences with the company in a way which will be fair to the British interests involved. Her Majesty's Government are keeping in touch with the Peruvian Government and the Company.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government will consider the recoupment to the British taxpayer of the cost of the damage done in the United Kingdom by cross-border raids into Northern Ireland by the Irish Republican Army by taking a claim for compensation against the Government of the Republic of Eire to the International Court of Justice.

Although the United Kingdom has accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Irish Republic has not. Accordingly, irrespective of whether a claim for compensation of this nature would be justified under international law, the International Court of Justice would have jurisdiction over such a claim only if the Irish Republic agreed to accept the jurisdiction of the Court for this purpose.