asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will arrange for an exhibition relating to the information resources available to Government and business at the British Library of Political and Economic Science, and the services available from the Library, to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

Yes, I have arranged with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 26th February to 9th March.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will now make a statement about the Hardman Report on the dispersal of Government Departments.

Sir Henry Hardman has completed his review and is about to submit his recommendations as a basis for ministerial discussion and decision. As I informed the House on 24th October, it will be fully informed of the Government's decisions when they are made.—[Vol. 843, c. 264.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many personnel, in what categories, were employed at the Royal Navy Spare Parts Distribution Centre, Eaglescliffe, on 1st January 1972 and 1st January 1973; and how many and in what categories are expected to be employed there on 1st January 1974.

Personnel employed or expected to be employed are as below:

		Non-Industrial	Industrial
1st January 1972	…	310	542
1st January 1973	…	319	553
1st January 1974	…	322	539

If the hon. Member requires a more detailed breakdown within these categories, I should be grateful if he would write to me.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many personnel and in what categories have been asked and will be asked to transfer from the Royal Navy Spare Parts Distribution Centre, Eaglescliffe, to other locations.

There have, of course, been some routine movements of mobile grades of staff between establishments. No one, however, has yet been asked to transfer from Eaglescliffe in the context of the proposal referred to by my predecessor on 10th and 18th May 1972 regarding the possible move of computer facilities and part of the inventory management element. Nor is there any intention to make such requests in the immediate future.—[Vol. 836, c. 328; Vol. 837, c.150–1.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he expects to publish the Leitch Report on preferred purchasing for defence procurements.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 1st February.—[Vol. 849, c. 449–450.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many steel jobs were lost within the United Kingdom steel industry between January 1966 and December 1972.

Precise information about job losses is not available, but an indication of the net charge can be obtained by comparing the levels of employment over the period. Between January 1966 and November 1972, the latest date for which information is available, the number of employees in the iron and steel industry decreased by 71,000. The figure is provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average earnings in all Remploy factories for men and for women.

The severely disabled men employed by Remploy currently earn on average £19·40 for a 40-hour week. The comparable figure for women is £15·42.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average earnings in Remploy factories outside furniture and bookbinding.

The severely disabled men employed by Remploy in trades other than furniture and bookbinding currently earn on average £19·16 for a 40-hour week. The comparable figure for women is £15·40.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total wages and salaries bill in Remploy; and what proportion of it is paid to disabled.

For 1971–72 the total wages and salaries bill was £9,284,089, of which £5,720,000 or 61·6 per cent. represented the wages of the 7,369 severely disabled employees engaged on production; who in addition received travelling allowances amounting to £172,000. There were also 190 other severely disabled employees in administrative, technical and clerical grades whose wages or salaries cannot be identified separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the amount of the Government subsidy to Remploy factories.

The amount was £6,071,000 in 1971–72, including £669,000 capital grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Football League and the Professional Footballers Association regarding the imposition of value added tax on professional football; what estimate he has made of the effects of a 10 per cent. VAT on the football clubs, and Third and Fourth Division clubs, in particular; and if he will make a statement.

None. I am always willing to meet representatives of the league and the players, but questions of value added tax are primarily for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I expect professional sport to be covered by the comprehensive study of the effect of value added tax on sport which the Sports Council has in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to draw to the attention of local authorities Road Note 39, recommendations for road surface dressing; and if he will stress the need for local authorities to adopt the recommendations to reduce damage to vehicle windscreens when new surfaces are laid.

Road note 39 was sent to every highway authority in the country when it was published last November. It contains comprehensive instructions about the technique of surface dressing, and if carefully followed the operation provides a safe, effective and economic restoration of the surface of a road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions with the Salop County Council have been undertaken with a view to major improvement on the A483 between Gobowen and Oswestry; when such improvements are expected to take place; and if, in view of the unsatisfactory state of the road, he will make a statement.

The improvement of A483 Oswestry to Gobowen has been included in the plans for the A5 improvement, following consultations with Salop County Council. It is too early to say when any works will be carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he sent a circular to local authorities requesting them to make more land available for house building.

Circular 102/72, issued on 17th October last year, asked local planning authorities to release more land for housing in areas of pressure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to erect crash barriers on the dual carriageway sections of the A2.

It is not general policy to provide central barrier on dual carriageway all-purpose trunk roads. Some lengths of these roads are such that the provision of central barrier as a special case is justified. The Swanscombe cutting on the A2 comes within this category and approval has been given; arrangements for installation are in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had about the marking of log books of vehicles which have been written off; and what conclusions has he reached.

Discussions have been held with representatives of the repair trade, motor insurers and the police. I have concluded that such a measure would not be justified on road safety grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many vehicles have been written off in the Greater London Council area during the past 12 months;(2) how many written off vehicles were resold to the public during the last 12 months in the Greater London Council area.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects a final EEC decision about maximum permitted lorry weights.

All nine member States are agreed on the need for an early decision, but it would be pure speculation on my part to predict when one might be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will take steps to limit the number of cars in urban areas in view of the increasing damage to people and the environment caused by heavier traffic.

Traffic restraint measures in urban areas are best designed and implemented by the responsible local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to announce his decisions in respect of the schemes submitted in April 1972 by the West Riding County Council for replacement of the Dutch River Bridge and construction of inner relief roads at Goole.

Later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Transport and Road Research Laboratory has given advice specifically on the shape of the proposed new roundabout at the Angel, Islington, now being considered by him.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much grant in aid the Sports Council will receive next year; and how this compares with previous years.

Grant in aid to the Sports Council in 1973–74 will be £5 million, subject to Parliamentary approval. Central Government provision for sport in previous years was as follows:

1969–70	…	£1·73m
1970–71	…	£2·53m
1971–72	…	£3·26m
1972–73 (estimated out-turn)	…	£3·68m

The figures for 1969–70 to 1971–72 include Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise with the appropriate United Nations authority, as a matter affecting human rights, the treatment of political prisoners in South Vietnam.

No. The agreement signed on 27th January provides, in Article 8(c), for the question of captured and detained civilian personnel to be dealt with by the two South Vietnamese parties in direct talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is now able to announce an increase in the United Kingdom contributions to the United Nations Development Programme for 1973.

My right hon. Friend has now been able to make available a further sum of £500,000 to increase our pledge for 1973 to £8·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers of people now freed from immigration control as a result of extending patriality to all persons with either grandparent or parent having been born in the United Kingdom and if he will list the Commonwealth countries concerned and give the figures relating to each.

Freedom from control has not been extended to people with a grandparent born in the United Kingdom. About 5 million Commonwealth citizens are patrial under the Immigration Act 1971 because their father or mother was born here: nearly all of them live in Australia, Canada or New Zealand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women at present residing in the United Kingdom have husbands who are stateless; and how many of these have been admitted to the United Kingdom.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, in the last three years, were the respective numbers of aliens entering the United Kingdom to take up employment for a period of 12 months or longer and the numbers of alien workers who had the restrictions on their remaining working in the United Kingdom removed.

The figures are as follows:

(a) foreign nationals admitted for 12 months for employment:
1970	…	…	…	24,590
1971	…	…	…	21,804
1972	…	…	…	18,979

(b) conditions cancelled in respect of foreign nationals in employment:
1970	…	…	…	8,457
1971	…	…	…	8,618
1972	…	…	…	7,284

Conditions are normally cancelled after four years in approved employment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the circumstances under which he proposes to exercise his discretion to grant applications made under the terms of Schedule 3 of S.I., 1972, No. 2061.

Any such application for registration as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies will be examined carefully to establish whether the applicant satisfies the statutory requirements, and a decision whether to grant it will be made in the light of all the relevant circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the present arrangements between the United Kingdom and other members of the European Economic Community for United Kingdom citizens, including those who have no right of entry to the United Kingdom, to exercise in relation to other member countries rights comparable to the rights proposed for nationals of those other member countries in Part V of House of Commons Paper No. 81, published 25th January 1973.

The arrangements described in Part V of HC 81 derive from our obligations under the EEC Treaty and relevant subordinate legislation. These obligations are also binding on other member States, which admit United Kingdom nationals on broadly the same basis. Only those within the definition of United Kingdom national in the Treaty of Accession have the right of free movement in other Community countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the penalties at present imposed in cases of drivers found guilty of motoring offences causing death by dangerous driving and driving with blood alcohol above the prescribed limit in the light of cases brought to his attention.

I have been asked to reply.Maximum penalties are kept under review. Sentences imposed are a matter for the courts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what parity has been declared to the International Monetary Fund in respect of sterling at the time the January 1973 United Kingdom contribution to the EEC budget was made; and what is the equivalent of this parity in EEC units of account.

The parity of sterling remains that declared in November 1967, namely £1=2·13281 grammes of fine gold; this is equivalent to £1=2·40 units of account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown of anticipated United Kingdom receipts from the EEC budget for 1973.

About three-fifths of the United Kingdom's receipts from the 1973 budget are likely to take the form of payments by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (FEOGA) to the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce in respect of its activities in implementing the common agricultural policy in the United Kingdom. The other major item will be receipts in respect of Community contributions from the European Social Fund for United Kingdom schemes for training, resettlement and rehabilitation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown by percentage of those parts of the EEC 1973 budget to be used for non-agricultural purposes.

The figures as as follows

	per cent. (Rounded)
Research and Investment (Euratom)	1
European Social Fund	5·5
Administration and contingencies* Food Aid	9·5
Reimbursement to Member States (10% of duties and levies)	6
Expenditure from earlier years to be financed by the Six alone	4
Total	27
*including an element for Euratom which has not yet been approved by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state when he proposes to implement EEC Directive 69/335 on the raising of capital, published on pages 29–37 of Part II (Taxation) of the HMSO volumes of European Communities Secondary Legislation.

Yes. The necessary legislation will be included in this year's Finance Bill and the operative date will be 1st August 1973. On and after that date the existing stamp duties on the authorised capital of companies and on issues of loan capital will no longer be levied. Instead duty will be charged in accordance with the EEC directive on, broadly, the value of contributions to share capital, at the rate of 1 per cent. Credit will be given for companies' capital duty paid in respect of unissued share capital.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in view of the financial distress being suffered by owner-occupiers who were forced to leave their homes because of intimidation in Northern Ireland, he will now expedite the publication of the findings of the working party which was set up by him some time ago.

I am aware of the urgency of the underlying problem, but I am not yet in a position to comment on the report of the working party, which is now being considered.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will now give a date for the start of the STD system in the Western Isles.

I am asking the Post Office to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the up-to-date position concerning the provision of television relay station facilities to serve the Morpeth area; and when the public in this area can expect to receive improvement in television reception.

The BBC and IBA hope to open a UHF relay station at Morpeth in 1974 which will improve television reception in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a circular to local authorities on the need to ensure that secondary school pupils are instructed on the dangers of alcohol.

The Consultative Committee on the Curriculum is currently considering all aspects of health education, including the abuse of alcohol, and I shall decide what advice might be given to schools when I receive its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give the date of publication of the Kilbrandon Report on devolution in Scotland.

I understand that the Commission on the Constitution hopes to complete its report in the early summer of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will commission a report evaluating the case for a central Scottish airport; and if he will make a statement.

No. Airport location is primarily the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry but, in the context of the planning application for the extension of Edinburgh Airport, I indicated on 26th January that I was satisfied that there were conclusive arguments against re-examination of a central Scottish airport proposal at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what rent rebates or allowances are payable in Clydebank to a married couple with two children and a gross household income of £25 and £30, respectively, at standard rents of £1·75, £2·25 and £2·75 per week, respectively.

I understand that a council tenant in Clydebank whose household income exceeds £21 a week is not entitled to a rebate under the rebate scheme operated at the moment by Clydebank town council. There is no provision for allowances to private tenants under that scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what rent rebates or allowances are payable under the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1972 to a married couple with two children and a gross household income of £25 and £30, respectively, at standard rents of £1·75, £2·25, and £2·75 per week, respectively.

The following is the information:

Gross Household Income		Rent
		£	£	£
		1·75	2·25	2·75
£25	Rebate/Allowance*	54p	1·04	1·44
£30	Rebate/Allowance*	—	19p	59p
*After the proposed increase in needs allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's policy with regard to the provision of accident services, on whether the public should be encouraged to go to general practitioners with minor injuries rather than to hospitals and on the types of injuries which should preferably be dealt with by hospital accident units; and whether the Department will organise a campaign to inform the public of its policy.

The primary rôle of hospital, accident and emergency services is to treat seriously ill and injured patients. People with minor injuries and ailments should go to their own doctor if possible rather than direct to a hospital; he can best decide whether hospital treatment is needed. This message is included in the leaflet "Help your Doctor" which is made available by the Department to all general practitioners. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend. The Department has also provided a poster for display in accident and emergency departments, and, in addition, two television fillers are in course of production.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of hypothermia were recorded in each London borough in the last three years for which figures are available; how many deaths were recorded in each London borough in which hypothermia was a contributory factor; and what percentage of such cases and deaths were of persons over pensionable age.

The only available information relates to deaths during 1971 where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate. These were as follows:

DEATHS IN 1971 WHERE HYPOTHERMIA WAS MENTIONED ON THE DEATH CERTIFICATE
London Borough	Persons all ages	Males over 65 and Females over 60
(a)	(b)	(c)
Brent	5	5
Camberwell	1	1
Chelsea	1	1
Croydon	1	1
Ealing	2	2
Enfield	4	4
Fulham	2	2
Hackney	1	1
Hammersmith	1	0
Hampstead	1	0
Haringey	1	1
Havering	2	1
Hendon	1	1
Hillingdon	3	3
Islington	3	2
Kensington	1	1
Kingston upon Thames	3	2
Lambeth	8	5
Paddington	1	1
Poplar and Bethnal Green	2	2
Richmond upon Thames	1	1
St. Marylebone	2	2
St. Pancras	5	5
Stepney	2	0
Stoke Newington	1	1
Sutton	1	1
Waltham Forest	3	3
Wandsworth	3	3
Newham	2	1
Westminster	4	3
Total	68	56
	(100%)	(82%)

There were no deaths recorded with mention of hypothermia in the London boroughs not included above.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the definition used by his Department of the medical condition known as hypothermia.

The term hypothermia may be taken to indicate an abnormally low body temperature. My Department has not issued advice as to a precise quantification of this but I understand that a temperature of 35ÖC (95F) or below is generally accepted and used by the medical and nursing profession as indicative of hypothermia.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will undertake an urgent review of the available evidence on hypothermia.

The available evidence on hypothermia is kept under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the amount of savings to be disregarded on assessing entitlement to supplementary benefit was last increased; and whether he has any proposals for a further increase in the near future.

The present rules for the treatment of savings and other capital were fixed in 1966. We are keeping them under review, but have no immediate proposals for change.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the definition of pneumoconiosis now used by those making awards of industrial injury benefit; how it may be diagnosed and whether he will make a statement.

For the purpose of benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act pneumoconiosis means

"fibrosis of the lungs due to silica dust, asbestos dust or other dust and includes the condition of the lungs known as dust-reticulation".

Diagnosis is the responsibility of the pneumoconiosis medical boards who reach their conclusions after considering all the evidence including the occupational history and the results of radiological and clinical examinations. This statutory definition is currently being reviewed by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the definition of emphysema used by those making awards of industrial injury benefit; how it may be diagnosed; and whether he will make a statement.

Emphysema is not a disease prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Act and is not defined in the Act, although in certain circumstances the effects of emphysema may be taken into account in assessing the extent of disablement from pneumoconiosis. It may be diagnosed by means of radiological and clinical examinations, including tests of lung function. The pneumoconiosis review being undertaken by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council includes consideration of what special provision, if any, should be made for disablement due to other respiratory conditions found in the presence of pneumoconiosis in assessing the extent of disablement due to the disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of people known to be suffering from chronic bronchial asthma.

The number of people suffering from chronic bronchial asthma in England and Wales is not known. However, during 1971 there were 1,198 deaths attributed to asthma, and it is estimated that about 35,000 discharges from National Health Service hospitals were of in-patients who had been treated for asthma.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue a standard information card for use by patients with a colostomy, ileostomy or ileal conduit to facilitate the prescription of their personal requirements.

My Department recognises the special needs of these patients and is considering how best to issue a standard information card.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of criticism of the report, Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled, produced as a result of Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, he will take steps to ensure that future issues of this report are com- prehensive; and if he will make a statement.

So far as I am aware, the two reports presented so far have been well received by people interested in equipment aids for the disabled. The reports are comprehensive in that they cover work being carried out by or on behalf of any Minister of the Crown as required by the terms of Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will expand future issues of the annual report on Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled so as to promote co-operation and the avoidance of duplication of effort by research workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will improve the provision of information in the Report on Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled, so as to assist research workers, and disabled persons and their representatives;(2) if he will ensure that future issues of the Report on Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled will contain the names and addresses of individual researchers in charge of the research and development work reported so as to reduce the possibility of work being duplicated.

Most of the work in this field sponsored by Government is funded through my Department and the communication network already allows for the interchange of information. Many researchers are also in contact with similar workers overseas and, so far as commercial constraints permit, manufacturers Provide information about their own developments. Such collaboration is encouraged and, when desirable, clinical and engineering assistance is provided.Precise duplication of effort seldom if ever occurs, but researchers privately engaged on work for the disabled are at liberty to approach my Department for views about the value of their work in relation to work going on elsewhere.The report is designed to cover investigations which are proceeding, but these will not necessarily result in the marketing of new items of equipment. Even successful research is often long-term and new devices must be thoroughly tried and tested before being made generally available. The value of the report to the disabled themselves and their representatives is to indicate what researchers are striving to achieve rather than to point to equipment which is or will be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will have included in future issues of the Report on Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled information on work not specifically for the disabled, but the result of which is likely to benefit such people.

It is not possible to predict the practicability of harnessing research spin-off in other areas for the benefit of disabled people until its application in this context has been considered. When, following indications of potential benefit for disabled people, Ministers pursue research to this end, it will feature in the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the article, Co-operating to Improve Aids for Disabled, published in "Social Services" on 6th January 1973, a copy of which is in his possession, which stated that a central register of research and development in the medical engineering field would be of value to all concerned with a view to minimising duplication of effort, he will take appropriate action.

My Department has a coordinating role in the medical engineering field, recognises the need to discourage unprofitable duplication, as distinct from complementary extension of research and development activity and welcomes approaches from researchers accordingly. It is, however, not considered desirable to stultify initiatives when the special interests and enthusiasms of individuals prompts them to examine a particular subject even though work in a similar field is in progress elsewhere. Research and development work is sponsored by the Department only to the extent that it is hoped to supplement existing knowledge.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider increasing the resources, both in finance and staff, made available for producing issues of the reports on Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled.

Funds and staff resources for the production of future reports will continue to be made available in whatever degree may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider the publication of the report of the group set up to review services, problems and needs and to identify research gaps in the field of aids, appliances and equipment for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what gaps were found by the group established to review services, problems and needs and to identify research gaps in the field of aids, appliances and equipment for disabled people, referred to in paragraph 6 of the 1970 Report on Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled and in paragraph 4 of the 1971 issue;(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the group established to review services, problems and needs and to identify research gaps in the field of aids, appliances and equipment for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

The report of this departmental fact-finding group is an internal document, and is not in a form suitable for publication. The gaps identified included the lack of suitable aids to meet the full range of needs of disabled people; inadequate information about what is available; uncertainty about the boundaries of responsibility of different authorities for the provision of aids; insufficient financial resources; and, most serious of all, insufficient staff trained and experienced in the assessment for, and the use of, aids. As my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply on 9th August last to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten), these raise very wide implications for policy and action which my right hon. Friend is now considering and on which he hopes to be able to announce progress from time to time.—[Vol. 842, c. 517.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the individuals and organisations consulted in connection with the work of the group established to review services, problems and needs and to identify research gaps in the field of aids, appliances and equipment for disabled persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will indicate the number of individuals and organisations in the following categories: (a) hospital consultants, (b) general practitioners (c) members of the remedial professions, (d) nurses, (e) social workers, (f) users of aid and their families, (g) technologists and engineers, and (h) others, consulted by the group referred to in paragraph 6 of the 1970 report on Research and Development Work on Equipment for the Disabled and in paragraph 4 of the 1971 report.

In the course of their inquiries, members of the group either collectively or individually consulted informally a large number of bodies and persons, but comprehensive information of the kind requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange that the family income supplement is payable when the family is dependent on the wife's earnings.

No. Supplementary benefit is available to a low-income family if the husband is unable to work because of illness, or is unemployed and registering for full-time work.

asked the Secretary of State for 'Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied that there are adequate arrangements within his Department to bring to the attention of British manufacturers tenders arising within EEC countries for contracts of a value in excess of £100,000; and which section of his Department undertakes this service to industry.

Yes. The commercial staff of the Diplomatic Service in the Community countries as elsewhere is continuously seeking out information about export opportunities large and small, public and private, which are judged to be of interest to British firms. This intelligence is passed by the quickest appropriate means to my Department, which disseminates it selectively through the computerised Export Intelligence Service. Where a tender is very short dated the details are communicated by telephone or telex to the interested firms. Our entry into the Community should increase the opportunities for British exporters. My Department is monitoring the Official Journal of the European Communities and also other sources for information on large public works contracts in order to disseminate the resulting information through the Export Intelligence Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will specify the steps the EEC Commission has taken, and is proposing, to exempt small companies and firms from the rigid application of Article 85 of the Rome Treaties; and to what extent these measures are paralleled in the United Kingdom.

The European Commission considers that the general prohibition in Article 85 does not apply to agreements between firms whose size and combined share of the market is too small to have an appreciable effect on trade between member States. The Commission has also granted a block exemption for specialisation agreements where the participating firms are small or medium-sized.There are no parallel measures in our domestic legislation, which applies only to agreements that include certain specified types of restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what licences have been issued by his Department for prospecting for oil in the Minches and off the west coast of the Western Isles.

Five exclusive production licences—which permit exploration as well—covering areas in the Minches are currently in force, but no such licences have been granted for areas to the west of the Western Isles.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrialists have visited the available advance factory at Blaenau Ffestioniog in the company of his officials; and whether he will assign an individual civil servant to be responsible for the letting of this factory.

Officials have accompanied industrialists to the premises on three occasions. In addition, the factory has been suggested to 46 other industrialists. It would not be practicable to assign full responsibility for letting the factory to any one officer in my Department but the resources of the office for Wales—including those in the North Wales district office—will continue to be used in making every effort to find a suitable tenant.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who are the Scottish-domiciled persons holding statutory appointments within his patronage, giving in each instance the designation of the post and the salary payable.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to discontinue the collection of German and Japanese assets in this country under the provisions of the relevant legislation and the orders made there under.

Pending consideration of legislation to repeal the relevant provisions of the German and Japanese enemy property legislation, I have directed the Administrators of German Enemy Property and Japanese Property and the Custodian of Enemy Property to cease the collection and sequestration of German and Japanese enemy assets in this country and to reassign their interests in such assets to the persons who would have been entitled to them but for the operation of the Acts.I have also directed that German assets which are at present held by the administrator or custodian shall be returned to the persons entitled to them. But this would not apply to any assets which have already been paid into the Consolidated Fund.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take in relation to retail poultry prices.

We are keeping in close touch with producer and trade organisations concerned with poultry meat. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that price increases made by retailers since the beginning of the year are in line with the higher prices they are having to pay to obtain supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes in United Kingdom legislation will be necessary as a result of the EEC directives 72/159 and 72/160 of 17th April 1972.

Statutory Instruments will be needed to provide further help, by means of new grant arrangements, for the modernisation of certain farm businesses; to make some changes in the Farm Capital Grant Scheme; and to amend our farm structure schemes. The necessary instruments will be laid before Parliament in due course.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the provisions of the Counter-Inflation Bill which relate to farm rents.

1 would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Oswestry (Mr. Bilien) on 1st February.—[Vol. 849, c. 455.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what premia will be paid in the United Kingdom for denaturing of wheat.

These will be as follows, respectively for admixture—mixing wheat with substances, such as dyes or fishoil, to make it unsuitable for human consumption—and for incorporation into animal feedingstuffs:

		Admixture		Incorporation
		£/ton	ua/m ton	£/ton	ua/m ton
February	…	7·26	15·47	6·79	14·47
March	…	7·37	15·69	6·90	14·69
April	…	7·47	15·91	7·00	14·91
May/July	…	7·57	16·13	7·10	15·13

These amounts are in each case 0·47/ ton (1 uq/m ton) less than those in the original Community of Six. The main element in these premia is one designed to bring the price of wheat down to that of barley at intervention levels and is equal to this difference in the Community basic intervention prices at Duisburg. Since in the three acceding States this margin is not the same, their premia have been adjusted.