asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is aware that on 31st October 1973 the average national wage for men was £40 per week and £23 per week for women; and whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list giving the number and grades of all types of teaching staff and other types of employees coming within her ministerial responsibilities who fall below these amounts of weekly pay, stating what rates these employees were receiving on this date.

The information could not be produced without undue expenditure of effort and time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make financial arrangements to ensure the retention in Great Britain of the manuscript copy of Thomas Heywood's play "Tom a Lincoln", which has just come to light.

If the manuscript is offered for sale, public collections, drawing on their own acquisition funds and such other funds as are available to them, will be able to bid against private and overseas buyers. If the manuscript is bought for export the case will be considered under the usual procedure governing the proposed export of such items.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Association of Education Committees has completed its inquiry into violence and truancy in maintained schools; and, if so, what are its conclusions.

My Department collaborated with the Association of Education Committees and other interested parties in preparing a questionnaire on violence and indiscipline in schools, which was sent by the association to local education authorities in January, together with its own questionnaire on school attendance. The two investigations are separate and the latter one is the responsibility of the association. Over 60 per cent. of local education authorities replied to the violence and indiscipline questionnaire and analysis of their replies has now been completed. The main findings of the survey are as follows:

(1) The number of pupils in schools involved in incidents was proportionately very low, although noticeably greater in secondary than in primary schools.

(2) About 60 per cent. of the responding authorities thought that there had been no significant increase in misbehaviour.

(3) Over three-quarters of responding authorities thought that boys were more involved in misbehaviour than girls.

(4) There were proportionately three or four times as many incidents reported in the more densely populated areas.

(5) The average size of primary and secondary schools involved in incidents was greater than the national average size for these schools.

(6) Much of the vandalism affecting schools had occurred out of normal hours.

(7) Social problems related to home and community influences, in particular marital break-up or domestic tension, were the factors mainly blamed for misbehaviour.

(8) Better co-operation and communication, both within school and between schools and their local communities, were the remedies most often mentioned. Following these in order of frequency of mention came sound pastoral care arrangements, leadership and concern on the part of the head teacher and senior staff and good supporting social agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will obtain and list in the OFFICIAL REPORT under the headings of the relevant local authorities the names of those schools with staff shortage where pupils were attending for less than normal hours for the week ended Friday 26th October, together with the number of pupils concerned in each school and within each authority.

No. Some schools had a half-term holiday that week. In any case, though my right hon. Friend naturally keeps a careful watch on the situation she is reluctant to put on local education authorities the burden and expense of day-to-day reporting in a matter such as this, which falls within their own responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the independent schools in the area of the Manchester Education Authority, indicating those which are not recognised as efficient.

The following schools are "registered"; those "recognised as efficient" are marked with an asterisk:

• Manchester.
• Amberleigh Preparatory School, Chorltoncum-Hardy.
• ^*Chetham's School of Music, Manchester 3.
• ^*Convent of Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Manchester 21.
• Didsbury Jewish Day School, Manchester 8.
• Manchester and District School for Jewish Handicapped Children, Manchester.
• ^*Moor Allerton School, Manchester 20.
• Norman House Preparatory School, New Moston, Manchester.
• Oaks College, Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
• St. David's Preparatory School, Didsbury.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the independent schools in the area of the Lancashire Education Authority, indicating those which are not recognised as efficient.

The following schools are "registered"; those "recognised as efficient" are marked with an asterisk.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish a table showing educational expenditure as a proportion both of the national gross domestic product and gross national product over the years 1965–66, to 1972–73, inclusive.

The information sought is as follows:

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AS A PROPORTION OF GDP AND GNP FROM 1965–66 TO 1972–73.
	GDP Per cent.	GNP Per cent
1965–66	5·3	5·2
1966–67	5·6	5·6
1967–68	6·0	5·9
1968–69	6·0	5·9
1969–70	6·2	6·1
1970–71	6·3	6·3
1971–72	6·5	6·4
1972–73	6·7	6·6

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to receive the report of the Working Party on the Provision of School Transport and other matters; and if she will make a statement.

I have just received the report, and will make a statement as soon as I have been able to study its findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will immediately consult local education authorities about the adverse effects on education of teachers who find it impossible to secure residential accommodation within reasonable travel distance of their schools at rents or prices which they can afford; and whether she will make a statement.

I know that some teachers, like other workers, have difficulty in obtaining suitable accommodation. Local education authorities may and do help them in various ways. My Department keeps itself broadly informed of developments, but this is a matter best tackled locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received on the level of contributions paid by teachers to their superannuation fund; and if she will make a statement.

Representations have been made by the teachers' associations, orally in the working party on teachers' superannuation and by letter to right hon. and hon. Members, that the teachers' contribution should be reduced from 6·75 per cent. to 6 per cent. on the grounds that, consequent upon the Government Actuary's valuation of the teachers' superannuation scheme (England and Wales) for 1966–71, the supplementary contribution is to be reduced by 1 per cent. and the new entrant contribution by 0·3 per cent.The supplementary contribution is payable only by the employers. Both teachers and employers would have expected the latter to bear any increase and they should therefore receive the full benefit of any reduction.Although the new entrant contribution is shared between teachers and employers the agreement of June 1972 embodied in the working party's report was that the teachers share should be 6·75 per cent. and the employers should bear the balance, at present 7·45 per cent. Strictly, therefore, any reduction should fall first to the employers. The local authorities have offered to share the 0·3 per cent. reduction equally with the teachers, so reducing their contribution from 6·75 per cent. to 6·6 per cent. On 5th November the teachers rejected this offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she proposes to take to implement those recommendations in the Report on Education and Training for Offshore Development which are addressed to her Department.

The Government's general acceptance of this report was announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Employment, on 5th November.—[Vol. 863, c. 57–8.]I accept the recommendation that, to meet the increased demand for petroleum engineers, provision of appropriate post-graduate and post-experience courses should be concentrated in one or two centres in the United Kingdom. I have sought the advice of the University Grants Committee and understand that it is discussing this recommendation in the first place with Imperial College, London, and the University of Aberdeen.Imperial College is offering an under-graduate course in petroleum engineering for the first time in this academic year, supplementing a long-standing post-graduate course in the same subject. Aberdeen University proposes to establish a new chair with special emphasis on petroleum geology and technology. The University Grants Committee accepts that it is important to involve the offshore industry in discussion of the content of courses designed to meet its needs at the centres.The University Grants Committee has accepted the report in principle and has agreed to send copies to universities drawing their attention to passages in the report relevant to them.I am also drawing the report to the attention of the research councils involved and am inviting them to take account of the needs of the industry when they allocate their resources for post graduate student awards.The further education service also has an interest in, and a potential contribution to make to, several of the report's recommendations, including the establishment of a centre in drilling technology and a study of education and training for rig and platform design and construction.

	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74
Sold to other nations (other than as scrap)	3*	3	1	—	—
Sold for scrap (including sale to foreign nations)	19	27	21	16	1
* Includes one sold for commercial use.

In addition eight ships have been sold in the United Kingdom in this period for commercial use. There are no ships awaiting decision as to their future.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what percentage of officers in each of the three Services has been commissioned from the ranks; and what percentage in each Service comes from Headmasters' Conference public schools and from other independent schools, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available without disproportionate effort. The only figures that are available are that in the period from 1st January 1970 to 31st December 1972 the percentage of officers commissioned from the ranks was 27 per cent. of all commissions in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, 32 per cent. in the Army and 28 per cent. in the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will state the level of parachute pay for all parachutists under an immediate liability for parachute service, and the percentage supplement of private soldier's pay which was represented by parachute pay, in World My Department will play its full part, with other Departments and the Petroleum Industry Training Board, in helping to implement these recommendations.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many of Her Majesty's ships have been sold to other nations, sold for scrap, or were still lying tied up awaiting his decision as to their future in the years 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and to the nearest figure in 1973.

The figures are as follows:War II, in 1964, in 1971 and in 1972; and if he will recommend an early review of the rate.

The rate of parachute pay is assessed by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body, like all other rates of Service pay, additional pay and allowances. At the most recent regular review, which was in April 1972, the Review Body recommended an increase in the rate of parachute pay to 44 pence a day. The next regular review is due in April 1974.

COMPARISON OF DAILY RATES (DECIMAL) OF BASIC PAY AND PARACHUTE PAY FOR A PRIVATE CLASS 1 BAND 1 (NON-TRADESMAN) COMMITTED TO LESS THAN 6 YEARS' SERVICE (SCALE "A").
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
	Basic Pay (a)	Parachute Pay	(3) as a percentage of (2)
Year	£	£
1940	0·10	0·10	(See note(b))
	Plus (See note (b))
1964	2·23	0·37	16·6
1971	3·26	0·37	11·3
1972	3·54	0·44	12·4

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what rôle he expects the Manpower Services Commission to play in improving the training and placing in employment of coloured school leavers in the Inner London area; and if he will make a statement.

I expect that the commission itself will wish to consider this matter when it is set up.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present waiting list and length of wait for admissions to the Hillingdon Industrial Rehabilitation Unit.

On 22nd October there were 106 people on the waiting list; and the expected length of wait between application and entry varied between seven and eight weeks depending on the disablement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions of company directors there have been for breaches of salary restraints under phases 1 and 2 of the incomes policy.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give details of the latest employment situation in the Birmingham travel-to-work area, with particular reference to male and female unemployment, the number of school leavers still unemployed, the number of registered vac- ancies, and the number of those training and retraining for jobs; and how these figures compare with a month and a year previously.

The general employment situation for the Birmingham area continues to improve. There has been a considerable reduction in those out of work over the past year. The employment situation for young people is most encouraging, for last month there were eight unfilled vacancies for each boy registered as unemployed and 12 vacancies for each girl. I am particularly glad that school leavers of immigrant origin are now finding more opportunities in training at craft level. Following are the detailed figures:

	Brimingham travel-to-work area
Numbers unemployed	Males	Females
October 1973 (provisional)	13,018	2,291
September 1973	14,220	2,770
October 1972	22,119	4,017
Percentage rates of unemployment
October 1973 (provisional)	3·2	0·9
September 1973	3·5	1·1
October 1972	5·5	1·6
School-leavers unemployed
October 1973 (provisional)	62	35
September 1973	284	121
October 1972	403	210
Unfilled vacancies
October 1973 (provisional)	8,636	6,092
September 1973	8,490	5,575
October 1972	2,265	2,128

The vacancy figures relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.Information is not readily available about the numbers of people training or retraining in the course of their employment, which is where the bulk of industrial training takes place.

Numbers on Government training courses
October 1973	704
September 1973	649
October 1972	372

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what reasons have been advanced for the proposed EEC regulation on a survey of the structure and distribution of earnings of employees in commerce, banking and insurance.

As indicated in the preamble to the draft regulation, the Commission regards the proposed Community survey as the appropriate means of obtaining internationally comparable information needed by the Commission for discharging functions under Articles 2, 3, 117, 118, 119, 120 and 122 of the Treaty of Rome.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects the tripartite talks between London, Belfast and Dublin to take place.

The Government have indicated their willingness to issue invitations for a tripartite conference to take place within a month after the formation of a Northern Ireland Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has made to ensure that the supply of oil is adequate for Northern Ireland industry; to what extent Northern Ireland industry depends on fuel oil; and if he will make a statement.

Fuel oil is the predominant source of energy for Northern Ireland industry including the generation of gas and electricity. Attention is being given to Northern Ireland's needs in the planning referred to in the statements made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on 24th October—[Vol. 861, c. 1254–6.] and 5th November—[Vol. 863, c. 611.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration is given by Government Departments and agencies to North Wales when locating research projects.

The claims of all areas, including North Wales, are fully taken into account by the Government when the location of research projects is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects Professor Graham Rees to complete his report on public transport in Wales.

I understand that this report to the Welsh Council should be complete by the spring of 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many bilingual nursery schools are functioning in Wales at the present moment.

In January 1973, the latest date for which information is available, there were 47 maintained nursery schools in Wales. These are not classified on the basis of the language of instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last had discussions with the National Coal Board.

I am in close and regular contact with the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will compare the amount of Government aid granted by the Federal Republic of Germany, France and the United Kingdom to their respective computer industries over the past three years and projected aid already announced or scheduled; and what is the percentage share of national companies in their domestic markets for the last year for whch figures are available.

Direct comparison of the United Kingdom, French and German support programmes is very difficult and any attempt to give a brief summary of the positiion would cause confusion. I would therefore refer my hon. Friend to the memoranda provided by my Department to the Select Committee on Science and Technology and published in the appendices to the minutes of evidence for the 1972–73 Session —ref. 97-vii—a copy of which I am sending to him. As far as projected United Kingdom aid is concerned, the Government have announced support of £25£8 million of the launching aid type for ICL's research and development programme in the period October 1973 to September 1976. The Government's contribution to other measures of support to the industry is currently anticipated to be in the region of £3 million per annum. The computer industry is also expected to benefit from the microelectronics support scheme under which expenditure of up to £10 million is anticipated up to 1978–79.Official figures showing the shares of domestic markets held by French and German national companies are not available on a comparable basis to those set out for the United Kingdom market in the memoranda referred to above, but ICL is generally accepted as the only European company which holds a share of its domestic market on a par with that of IBM.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what monitoring arrangements exist to ensure that shipments of oil believed to be en route to the United Kingdom are not diverted elsewhere or re-exported.

Arrangements have been made with the companies for the provision of information on shipments to the United Kingdom and for monitoring the re-export of oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many directors and how many other officers of companies have been disqualified from acting in that capacity under Section 188 of the Companies Act 1948 during each of the years during which that section has been in operation; and what proportion of each such disqualification has been for one, two, three, four and live years respectively.

The information available to the Department shows that 149 orders have so far been made under Sec- tion 188 of the Companies Act 1948. Of these, disqualification for two years was ordered in six cases, for three years in 20 cases, for four years in 16 cases and for five years in 107 cases. The yearly figures are as follows:—

1948	nil
1949	nil
1950	1
1951	4
1952	2
1953	4
1954	5
1955	3
1956	1
1957	8
1958	2
1959	5
1960	4
1961	6
1962	5
1963	5
1964	13
1965	7
1966	6
1967	6
1968	10
1969	6
1970	13
1971	14
1972	13
1973 (to date)	6

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will formulate plans designed to ensure that the restrictions which limit the importation of British motor cars into Japan are matched by corresponding restrictions on the importation of Japanese motor cars into the United Kingdom.

There are no quantitative restrictions on the import of motor cars into Japan from this country. The import tariff of 11 per cent, on Japanese motor cars entering Britain is higher than the duty of 6·4 per cent. on British motor cars exported to Japan As the motor industry is well aware, I am always prepared to take up with the Japanese Government any official trade barriers which can be shown to be restricting sales of British motor cars in Japan.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will formulate plans designed to ensure that the conditions governing British investment in Japan are liberalised to the same extent as those governing Japanese investment in the United Kingdom.

As a result of the Japanese Government's latest capital liberalisation measures, which took effect on 1st May, foreign investment in almost all Japanese industries has been decontrolled and it is now possible, with a few exceptions, for Birtish companies to invest up to 100 per cent. in new or existing companies in Japan. We shall continue to urge upon the Japanese authorities the importance we attach to removing their remaining controls including those in the field of distribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress he has made in preparing a scheme to improve the credit terms available for sales of British equipment and services for the development of United Kingdom offshore oil and gas resources.

We recognise that United Kingdom suppliers can be at a disadvantage over credit terms in supplying this important new market. The problem arises because overseas suppliers to the United Kingdom Continental Shelf have access to loan finance at preferential interest rates from their national export credit institutions, but no such assistance is available to United Kingdom firms.Accordingly my Department is now ready to provide, under Section 8 of the Industry Act, interest relief grants at 3 per cent. per annum on credit obtained to finance contracts for the provision of British goods and services for the construction of fixed offshore installations used in the development of hydrocarbon resources on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. To qualify, orders for goods and services must have been placed on or after 1st October 1973. These grants will help to create fair competition in this market. Details of the scheme are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the increase in psittacosis, he is now prepared to restrict the importation of psittacine birds.

We have reviewed the risk to the health of humans and birds but do not consider it sufficient to justify the introduction of import controls.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the difficulties experienced by milk producers and producers of pig-meat in view of rising costs, especially of feeding stuffs; and what plans he has to assist them.

I have nothing further to add to the reply given to the Question from the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 16th October.—Vol. 861, c. 94–6.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the prices paid for milk to producers in 1955 and 1973 respectively; what were the average retail prices in those years; and what was the average price of feeding stuffs to milk producers in those years.

The following is the information requested:

Year ended 31st March	Averate net price for milk received by wholesale producers in United Kingdom p. per gallon	Average cost of dairy feed-stuffs in Great Britian £ Per ton	Average retail price of ordinary pasteurised milk p. per pint
1955–56	15·4	34·1	2·9
1972–73	20·2	50·5	5·3
1973–74 (forecast)	21·7	56·3	5·5
		(April to September only)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to allow the near family of deceased agricultural tenants in England and Wales to have the right to be granted secrity of tenure by the Agricultural Lands Tribunal.

I have no proposals for amending the legislation on security of tenure for tenant farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to establish an inquiry into the operation of the London commodity markets dealing in food.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what financial assistance is being given to the International Cocoa Organisation to enable it to establish its headquarters in London.

As the House was informed in June, Her Majesty's Government invited the International Cocoa Council to establish its headquarters in London. Moreover we offered to assist it financially to do so. The council accepted our invitation and since August, when the International Cocoa Organisation moved to London, it has been provided with rent-free temporary office accommodation. We are currently engaged in negotiations to acquire the lease of premises at 22 Berners Street. Upon assignment of this lease to my Department it is my intention to sub-lease the three upper floors of the building to the International Cocoa Organisation for which it will pay the current fixed rent until it is reviewed in 1977.The total cost of the temporary accommodation and the acquisition of the lease together with the associated legal expenses and the cost of altering the premises will be of the order of £150,000. My Department will be presenting a Supplementary Estimate in due course to cover this expenditure. Pending the approval of the estimate any expenditure will be met out of the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he can yet say what was the total number of civil servants in post on 1st October 1973.

Yes, about 695,100. This compares with 693,341 on 1st July 1973 and 701,790 on 1st July 1970. The detailed figures for 1st October 1973 with the usual analysis will be available in a week or so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that since the Government's announcement on measures to conserve fuel the heating appliances in the Palace of Westminster and the ancillary buildings were excessively heated during warm weather and what action he has taken or intends taking to reduce the use of fuel in these and other Government offices in Westminster and other areas.

At the request of Members the temperature throughout the Palace of Westminster and its ancillary buildings is maintained at 20° C throughout the year though it may take a little time to adjust when outside temperatures fluctuate. The Property Services Agency has already taken measures which should save 10,000 tons of fuel in the Government estate this year and is continuing to seek economies in accordance with the recent statement by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.—[Vol. 861, c. 1254–651.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will request Mr. George Dobry, QC, to include in his current review of development control the proposals put forward by the City of London Solicitor to the Town and Country Planning Association's summer school, a copy of which has been sent to him, and, in particular, that relating to lay inquiry inspectors.

I have not yet received a copy of these proposals. Mr. Dobry has, of course, seen Press reports of the Royal Town and Country Planning Institute's summer school and will give full consideration to Sir Desmond Heap's proposals when he has received them.

has invited the views of organisations and of the public on matters relevant to his terms of reference which are:

(i) To consider whether the development control system under the Town and Country Planning Acts adequately meets current needs to advise on the lines along which it might be improved, bearing in mind the forthcoming redistribution of planning functions between local authorities and the new system of structure and local plans.

(ii) To review the arrangements for appeals to the Secretary of State under the Planning Acts including the rights of appeal and the handling of appeals in the Department of the Environment, and to make recommendations.

It will be helpful if any persons with views to put forward will write to the Development Control Review, Room P2/123, Department of the Environment, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 3EB not later than 23rd November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the second part of the report of the working party on odours.

I expect to receive the second part of the report towards the end of 1974. The working party's finding will be incorporated in a handbook of technological advice for public health departments and persons engaged in trades giving rise to odours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps local authorities are required to take to ensure proper treatment of caravan dwellers and to require standards on sites licensed by the authority; and if he will consider issuing a desired code.

Local authorities can attach conditions to the licences they issue for caravan sites. In deciding what conditions to attach they must have regard to any model standards specified by the Secretary of State. Model standards were specified in 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that all licensed caravan sites for permanent residence should be owned by local authorities.

No. Local authorities already have powers under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 to provide such caravan sites and, where existing sites are not being run satisfactorily, to take them over in the interests of the caravan users.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state for each year from 1969 to 1972, and to the latest convenient date in 1973, what were the amounts devoted by local authorities in England and Wales for loans for home ownership, and the numbers of mortgages granted.

The information requested is as follows:

LOANS TO PRIVATE PERSONS FOR HOUSE PURCHASE ENGLAND AND WALES
Year	Number of Loans	Amount Lent
		£ thousands
1969	19,096	42,156
1970	44,103	118,343
1971	47,174	126,682
1972	45,202	132,927
1973 (First 3 quarters)	43,477	211,445

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT accidents and injuries that have taken place on the A617 Chesterfield Road north and south up to the Mansfield borough boundary from 7th March 1963 to the latest available date.

Statistics of road accidents and casualties in local areas are a matter for the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will review the requirements which have to be met before a pedestrian road crossing is sanctioned.

Yes. I am doing so now.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of town halls and similar municipal buildings which are under construction or which have been approved in principle; and what is the cost in each instance, following the reconstruction of local government in England and Wales.

This information is not available as, since 1st April 1971, my right hon. and learned Friend does not approve individual schemes for municipal offices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the estimated cost to each new local authority of the staff changes, retirals, new appointments, additional staff, etc., following the recent reconstruction of local government in England and Wales.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the licensing and registration of vehicles will be centralised; and if he will make a statement.

The first vehicle work to be centralised will be the first licensing and registration of new vehicles with effect from 1st April 1974. The starting date has had to be deferred by three months to ensure the completion of preparations for centralisation. I am asking local authorities for their continued cooperation in working to the new timetable. Arrangements will be made to inform vehicle owners and others in good time before they are affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in Great Britain on student visas have extended their stay for more than five years and then claimed United Kingdom citizenship.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the police are authorised to move CD cars parked in contravention of waiting regulations; and, if so, how many such cars were removed to police compounds in 1972 in the Metropolitan Police area.

The police are empowered to remove any vehicle parked in contravention of a statutory prohibition or restriction. The information requested in the second part of the Question is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made during 1973 with the introduction of non-custodial penalties, both those involving community service and involving attendance at day-training centres, and with the provision of probation and bail hostels.

Experiments with community service by offenders are in operation in six probation and after-care areas and with day training centres in three areas. Another experimental day training centre will open later this month.Six probation and after-care committees have agreed to undertake further experiments with bail hostels for men. One hostel is expected to open before the end of the year and premises have been acquired for a second. A limited experiment began in London with places in an after-care hostel for women on bail.A further 28 probation and after-care committees have been invited to provide probation hostels for adult offenders. One hostel has been opened and two more are expected to come into service before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the negotiations with the Police Federation on the question of a special payment for Metropolitan Police officers.

Police pay is a matter in the first instance for the Police Council which, I am sure, will consider the question of police pay differentials for London in the light of the Price and Pay Code for stage 3 of the Government's counter-inflation policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the numerical increase in the size of the police force in Great Britain since June 1970; and what was the increase during the preceding three years.

In England and Wales, 7,505 and 4,056 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the 1972 figures for indictable offences known to the police in England and Wales in the following categories: crimes of violence against the person, sexual offences, and other offences; what percentage change over the 1971 figure the total figure represents; and what was the 1972 percentage clear-up rate.

The following is the information:

Offences recorded as known to the police in England and Wales 1972
Violence against the person	52,432
Robbery and assault with intent to rob	8,926
Sexual offences	23,505
All other offences	1,277,099
Total	1,361,962

The number of offences recorded as known to the police in England and Wales in 1972 was 3·5 per cent. greater than in 1971, after adjustment of the 1971 figure to allow for changes in legislation and recording practice. The number of offences cleared up in 1972 expressed as a percentage of those recorded as known was 41·1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will detail the principal items in the expenditure of £483,993 incurred by the Royal Commission on the Constitution.

The principal items in the estimated gross total expenditure incurred by the Royal Commission on the Constitution are:

	£
Salaries and Wages	217,061
General Administrative Costs	36,195
Accommodation and Services	174,980
Publications	49,759
Stationery and Office Equipment	5,998
Total	483,993

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps, including seeking international collaboration, to end the anonymity of Eurobond buyers by obtaining agreement on abolishing the system of unregistered bearer certificates in respect of Eurobonds.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an undertaking not to impose value added tax on books.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to impose value added tax on books.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many value added tax inspectors were originally planned to represent the full establishment; and what is the size of the shortfall.

There are no "inspectors" as such. Planning was on the basis that personal calls to check value added tax returns would be included in the duties of approximately 3,500 to 4,000 staff by 1st April 1974. About 3,400 are at present in post. The deployment of value added tax staff is continuously under review in the light of experience of the tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average percentage increase in the price of imported commodity goods into Great Britain over the last year; and what he estimates, on the basis of international comparisons with France, Germany and other EEC and non-EEC countries, would have been the increase if, respectively, Great Britain had had a fixed exchange rate or stayed within the collective European float.

On the basis of United Kingdom import unit value index numbers, published monthly in Trade and Industry, the average percentage increases in prices of imported commodity goods were as follows:

	Percentage increase* (based on period July 1972 to August 1973 expressed at an annual rate)
Food, beverages and tobacco	38 per cent.
Basic materials	37 per cent.
Fuels	35 per cent.
Total "non-manufactured" goods	37 per cent.
* Detailed information for August 1972 was not published.

The second part of the Question refers to hypothetical situations, the effects of which cannot be quantified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of Schedule D and E income tax was remitted in the tax years 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972-–73 and to date in 1973–74; and if he will list separately the principal reasons for remission under Schedules D and E.

The table below gives figures of tax remitted or written off as irrecoverable for accounting years ended on the last Friday in October. Later figures are not available, and records are not kept on a tax year basis. The amounts of Schedule A and B included cannot be separated out but they are not likely to be significant. Interest on unpaid tax and PAYE tax deducted by employers

SCHEDULE E REMISSIONS
£ thousand
		A/C 70	A/C 71	A/C 72
Remissions:
Hardship	…	86	160	368
Equity	…	23	2	9
Miscellaneous: amounts recoverable not sufficient to justify costs of proceedings, etc.		101	116	127
Amounts irrecoverable:
Insolvency (including composition)	…	183	155	229
Miscellaneous: taxpayer gone abroad or untraceable, etc.	…	169	195	232
Total	…	562	628	965

SCHEDULE A, B AND D REMISSIONS
£ thousand
		A/C 70	A/C 71	A/C 72
Remissions:
Hardship	…	4	13	29
Equity	…	482	553	815
Miscellaneous: amounts recoverable not sufficient to justify costs of proceedings, etc.		1,925	1,819	3,558
Amounts irrecoverable:
Insolvency (including composition)	…	561	877	2,680
Miscellaneous: taxpayer gone abroad or untraceable, etc.	…	4,048	5,414	7,306
Total	…	7,020	8,676	14,388

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of households own, respectively, their own home, other real estate, a farm, business or professional practice, or a car; what percentage own any liquid assets, corporate stock, and life assurance; and what are the comparable figures, according to available international information, for the United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Sweden.

In Great Britain, in 1972, 47 per cent. of private households were in owner-occupied homes and 55 per cent. had regular use of one or more cars. There is no information on the percentage of households owning real estate, a farm, business, professional practice, liquid assets, corporate stock or life assurance.However the following information is available which bears on some of these points:(

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount of tax due to the Exchequer which currently remains uncollected; and what are the comparable figures for each of the last five years.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value in terms of 1946 prices of, respectively, personal property incomes, employment incomes and State benefits at 1946, 1952, 1958, 1964 and 1970; what was the percentage increase in real terms at 1946 prices in each category during each six-year interval; and what was the value of the increase per recipient in each of these categories during each of these periods at 1946 prices.

Estimates revalued at 1946 prices are not available.Estimates in respect of 1946 are as follows:

	£ million
Personal sector receipts of rent, dividends and net interest	1,284
National insurance benefits and other current grants paid by the central government	608
Income from employment	5,758

Source: Central Statistical Office data bank.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total value of tax reliefs on life assurance contributions for each year since 1960; and, for each of these years, what was its average value to persons taking out such insurance with incomes, respectively, of less than £1,000, £1,000-£2,000, £2,000-£5,000, £5,000-£10,000, and over £10,000 per year.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual yield in the first year of operation of the 15 per cent. surcharge on investment incomes of over £2,000 a year; how much of this was paid by those with incomes of, respectively, less than £1,000, £1,000-£2,000, £2,000-£5,000, £5,000-£10.000, and over £10,000 per year; what would the yield have been if the 15 per cent. surcharge applied to investment incomes over £1,000 per year; and what would have been the breakdown by these income levels of payment of this extra surcharge.

No investment income surcharge has yet become payable, and the bulk of the liability for 1973–74 will fall due in 1974–75 after the amounts of investment incomes have been determined. The information requested is therefore not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage change over the previous year in wage and salary costs per unit of output in manufacturing for each year since 1960 in the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, West Germany, Italy Netherlands, Sweden and Japan for each year since 1960.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain the present arrangements for guaranteeing official sterling balances.

The Sterling Agreements expired on 24th September.My right hon. Friend sent a message on 6th September to signatories of the Sterling Agreements undertaking to continue to guarantee certain official sterling reserves for a further period until 31st March 1974. In broad terms, the guarantee will be available to holders who maintain in their reserves the minimum sterling proportions set for the purposes of their Sterling Agreements or who hold amounts obtained by applying those minimum sterling proportions to actual reserve holdings on 24th September. An upper limit to the amounts covered by the guarantee is set by reference to the level of holdings on 24th September.The guarantee is given at a rate of £1 equals $2·4213, which is the average of the exchange rate at noon on the three working days up to and including 6th September. The guarantee will be implemented if the average of daily rates for sterling in terms of U.S. dollars throughout the six-month period is below the guarantee rate. Any settlement will be in sterling and the amount will he calculated on the basis of the difference between the guarantee rate and the average rate.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement on his policy towards the most appropriate methods for the consideration by the broadcasting authorities of complaints about radio and television programmes.

I have nothing to add to what I said in the debate on 3rd May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland were being taught in classes of over 30 in each of the years between 1945 and 1972.

This information is available only from January 1967, as follows:

NUMBERS OF PUPILS IN CLASSES OF OVER 30 IN EDUCATION AUTHORITY AND GRANT-AIDED SCHOOLS
January	Primary	Secondary
1967	453,099	79,893
1968	457,369	87,399
1969	464,041	101,721
1970	466,222	104,740
1971	453,556	110,446
1972	438,796	112,693

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many policemen and policewomen left the force in each of the years between 1969 and 1972.

The number of officers who voluntarily resigned from Scottish police forces in each of the years 1969 to 1972 inclusive was as set out in the table below.

Year	Policemen	Policewomen
1969	396	65
1970	351	70
1971	220	49
1972	232	60

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many policemen and policewomen retired in each of the years between 1969 and 1972.

The number of officers who retired from Scottish police forces in each of the years 1969 to 1972 inclusive was as set out in the table below.

Year	Policemen	Policewomen
1969	193	1
1970	68	2
1971	159	1
1972	121	1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing central Government expenditure and identifiable local authority expenditure, in each of the past 20 years, devoted to the clearance of industrial dereliction.

The following table shows expenditure on schemes carried out by local authorities in Scotland which were completed in each calendar year since 1960 and the amounts of Government grant paid towards the net cost of rehabilitation schemes in each financial year since 1960.

Year	Local authority expenditure (including Government grant) £	Financial Year	Government grant £
1960	—	1960–61	25,841
1961	37,000	1961–62	5,822
1962	5,000	1962–63	28,884
1963	73,000	1963–64	41,217
1964	138,000	1964–65	348,364
1965	310,000	1965–66	376,818
1966	417,000	1966–67	432,316
1967	853,000	1967–68	358,090
1968	228,000	1968–69	301,887
1969	358,000	1969–70	514,867
1970	793,000	1970–71	769,150
1971	1,404,000	1971–72	498,720
1972	863,000	1972–73	600,995
1973 (to end September	288,000	1973–74 (to end Sept.)	239,916

The figures are not directly comparable year by year, as grant payments do not keep in step with expenditure. Information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the mortality rate attributed to legal abortion in each of the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

Nil, because no deaths attributed to legal abortion were registered in Scotland in the years 1968 to 1972 inclusive. From information in death certificates and notifications under the Abortion Act 1967, however, it is known that legal abortion was associated with a few deaths, numbering one in 1969, three in 1971, and two in 1972, although it was not the underlying cause to which the deaths were assigned in the death certificates.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will permit individual schools to be designated for teacher-shortage payments.

The selection of schools for designation is a matter for education authorities. Each authority must, however, keep within the quota of posts allocated to it under the scheme approved by the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will seek to amend present satutory provisions to enable persons leaving school to do so on their sixteenth birthdays rather than being retained until the subsequent official leaving date.

I do not propose to do this at the present time. There are arguments for and against the idea and I have decided that the matter should be reviewed in a year or so in the light of experience of the recent raising of the school leaving age.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will sanction the building of a second high school—or at least four-year school—to serve the needs of Hawick and district.

Roxburgh Education Authority has sought my views on proposed changes in the provision of secondary education that would involve alternative forms of new building in Hawick. I am considering these proposals, one of which was received only at the end of last week. I shall let the hon. Member know the outcome.