asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement indicating what changes are in prospect deriving from EEC regulations concerning the protection of plant names, such as Maris; and if he will make a statement on the effects of such changes.

There are no EEC regulations governing protection of plant names. The change that is in prospect stems from a decision reached by the Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) which is the international forum for this purpose and of which the United Kingdom is a founder member. Under the UPOV decision the United Kingdom's Controller of Plant Variety Rights, and the equivalent authorities in all other member countries, will no longer approve new varietal names containing any prefix or suffix denoting origin. However, neither this international convention nor our own legislation in any way prevents British plant breeders from adding a trade mark or trade name to any approved varietal name. This change is relevant to our membership of the EEC only in the sense that EEC directives require a plant variety to be known under the same name throughout the Community. By implementing the UPOV decision, to which all other countries concerned are subscribing, we shall therefore be safeguarding the entry of British-bred varieties to the enlarged market of the Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will review the present regulations governing the sale of poisonous plants and seeds; and whether he will make a statement.

The sale of agricultural and horticultural seeds is governed by the Seeds Regulations 1961, but none of these seeds is poisonous in the normal sense and the regulations do not deal with any possible toxicity. There are no regulations which govern the sale of poisonous seeds of plants as such. In the past, some imported necklaces have been made from seeds which could be harmful if chewed. Responsibility for the safety of such goods is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what forces he estimates will be required to handle the protection of the North Sea oil rigs.

Adequate forces exist for their protection, but I am keeping the situation under constant review in consultation with the other Government Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the proposal of Professor John Erickson, details of which are in his possession, that the North Sea Environmental Command be established.

I have already written to the hon. Member. We have not yet received Professor Erickson's suggestions.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps he is taking to enlarge the Navy deep diving unit.

There are no present plans to enlarge the size of the Deep Trials Unit, which is the Ministry's research facility for experimental deep diving, but this unit will continue its research into diving to greater depths and prolonging stay under water. There are, however, plans to provide a vessel for deep diving operations with an improved capability which, it is hoped, will be ready before the end of the decade.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many vessels have been engaged directly or indirectly in maintaining the Beira Patrol; and how many tons of oil they have used over the last annual period for which figures are available.

It is not the practice to give details of operational deployments. The way the Beira Patrol operates has varied to meet changing circumstances. In any event no valid attribution of fuel consumption can be made because the ships concerned would have been engaged on other duties had there been no requirement for them to carry out the Beira Patrol.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate of the school population in the London borough of Brent has been made by her Department for the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76; what factors have been taken into consideration which would lead to any decrease; and if she will make a statement.

The estimated pupil population in maintained primary and secondary schools in Brent is projected to rise from 44,100 in January 1973 to 45,900 in 1974, 46,900 in 1975 and 47,600 in 1976.Increases are expected in pupil numbers in all age groups except primary 5-plus where a marginal fall is expected, reflecting the annual decline in births in England and Wales in recent years. In general, the trends in pupil numbers projected for Brent are similar to those projected for England and Wales as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the criteria applied for the sanction of minor capital works; and if she will list the points of failure to comply with the criteria in the application made by the London borough of Brent.

In allocating resources for minor capital works in 1975–76 my right hon. Friend paid particular attention to the needs both of those authorities whose school populations were expected still to be increasing rapidly in 1976 and of those with large numbers of small old primary schools requiring improvement projects too small to qualify for the major programme. The increase in the school population in the London borough of Brent is likely to be slower by 1976 than in previous years and entirely due to the secondary sector; the need arising from this growth has been catered for in major building programmes. The authority has only one old primary school eligible for the primary improvement programme and not yet included in a programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total allocation of funds for minor capital works for the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76, the percentage decrease in the two final years, and the reason for it.

As my right hon. Friend said in her answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks) on 11th December—[Vol. 866, c. 186.]—she hopes soon to make an announcement about the resumption of approvals of educational building work. It would be premature to say anything more in advance of that announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from the Derbyshire Schools Camping Association regarding the effects of imposing value added tax charges on schoolchildren who go to camp under its auspices; and what reply she has made.

I replied on 13th December to the two letters the Secretary of State has received on behalf of the association.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the present position in the industrial dispute at Kodak Limited, Hemel Hempstead.

The dispute at the Kodak processing plant at Hemel Hempstead is part of a wider issue involving claims for recognition from a number of unions affiliated to the TUC. My conciliation officers have been closely involved in efforts to secure a settlement. Following their intervention the parties agreed that discussions should continue under an independent chairman. From these discussions a number of points have emerged which I understand are currently being considered by the parties. My officers are maintaining close contact with the situation with a view to finding a basis for a resumption of normal working.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were in employment

					Monthly Index of Average Earnings	General Index of Retail Prices
September 1967—September 1968	…	…	…	…	7·8	5·9
September 1968—September 1969	…	…	…	…	7·9	5·1
September 1969—September 1970	…	…	…	…	13·0	7·0
September 1970—September 1971	…	…	…	…	10·8	9·9
September 1971—September 1972	…	…	…	…	14·0	7·0
September 1972—September 1973	…	…	…	…	13·1*	9·3
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on road and rail freight prepared for his Department by transport consultants Llewelyn-Davis, Weeks, Forestier-Walker and Bor; and if he will make a statement.

I have done so today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the energy efficiency of the Channel Tunnel; and if he will estimate the number of passenger miles per gallon achieved by the average cross-channel ferry, the average cross-channel hovercraft and the number of passenger miles per gallon likely to be achieved by the average Channel Tunnel train.

At June 1971 there were 18,700 male and 9,700 female employees in employment in Pembrokeshire. The corresponding figures for June 1972 were 21,400 and 9,500. Information for June 1973 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the percentage increases in average earnings and in the cost of living, for the latest available 12-month period; and what are the same increases for each of the preceding five years.

The following are the percentage increases:

It is not possible to make precise comparisons where so many variable factors are involved. It is, however, clear that the replacement of oil-fuelled vessels by an electric railway and the associated diversion to long-haul rail of air and road freight traffic will make possible substantial economies in oil consumption.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will give, for the years 1950, 1960, 1970 and the latest year for which figures are available, the number of passenger miles and the number of miles covered by British Rail trains;(2) if he will give, for the years 1950, 1960, 1970 and the latest year for which figures are available, the number of train drivers employed by British Rail, the total labour costs to British Rail of train drivers at 1973 prices, the average number of miles and the average number of passenger miles per train driver, and the average number of miles and the average number of passenger miles per £1,000 of the labour costs of train drivers at 1972 prices.

Figures of passenger miles and miles covered by British Rail trains for the years requested, together with figures of train drivers employed on freight and passenger work in 1950 and 1960, are all available in the published reports of the British Transport Commission and the British Railways Board. The other details requested are a matter for the railways board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in how many of the cases of 405,245 vehicles in the GLC area being reported for failing to exhibit a current road fund licence these vehicles were found to be without insurance and roadworthiness certificates; in how many of these cases prosecutions ensued; and with what results.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the difficulties created by the present fuel shortage and the continuing problems, he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent British canals can and should be developed for industrial transport.

It is the responsibility of the British Waterways Board to keep under review the potential development of commercial usage of its waterways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimated cost of building the National Library in Bloomsbury; and what consideration has been given to the possible economies in building on another site.

As the design has not yet been finalised it would be misleading to give a current estimate of cost. As the Library is to be built in Bloomsbury the second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to announce his decision on the Manchester Piccadilly-Victoria underground railway scheme; and if his decision will be first announced to the House of Commons.

I cannot at present add to my answer of 11th December to the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks).—[Vol. 866, c. 112.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement before Christmas concerning the revised rate support grant for Welsh local authorities.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the comments submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the Director General of UNESCO on the preliminary report by him (SC/MD/35) on the recommendations by the last General Conference of UNESCO proposing an international instrument on the status of scientific research workers; and whether he will make a statement.

Comments are still being received and collated for submission to UNESCO. When they have been submitted I will consider how best to make them known in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he can yet say whether it is the intention of the Government to renew their acceptance of the European Convention on Human Rights and the right of individual petition and to ratify the two United Nations Human Rights Covenants.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State informed my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish) on 10th December, Her Majesty's Government intend to renew their acceptance of the right of individual petition under Article 25 of the European Convention on Human Rights for a further period of two years from 14th January 1974. Our adherence to the convention itself is not subject to any limitation in time. We are continuing to study the possibility of ratifying the United Nations Covenants on Human Rights, but I cannot yet give a date for ratification.—[Vol. 866, c. 28–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who are the members of the Crown Agents equity investment advisory panel; and to which financial companies, if any, they are attached.

I have asked the Chairman of the Crown Agents to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the appointment of Sir Desmond Plummer as Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, including his qualifications for this appointment, his experience in any appointment connected with horse-racing or betting, his other appointments and business holdings; whether he will have to give full time to this appointment on the same basis as Lord Wigg when he held the appointment; what salary he will receive; and how this compares with that paid to Lord Wigg.

My right hon. Friend invited Sir Desmond Plummer to undertake the chairmanship of the Horserace Betting Levy Board because he believed that his administrative ability and experience of public affairs admirably equip him for the work. He does not regard a previous appointment connected with horseracing or betting as an essential qualification for this post; nor is he aware that Sir Desmond has any business interests that could be considered in any way incompatible with it. The appointment will be for three days a week, as in the case of the present chairman. The salary is for determination by the Levy Board itself, subject to my right hon. Friend's approval, and no recommendation has yet been made to him on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Commissioner of Police into the activities of ex-Commander Drury with Mr. J. Humphreys and his allegations of bribery and corruption within the force; and whether he will place a copy of this report in the House of Commons Library.

The Commissioner cannot yet say when the investigation being conducted into Mr. Humphreys' allegations under Section 49 of the Police Act 1964 will be completed. The reports of such investigations are confidential, but I will inform the hon. Member of the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether the prisoners who, on 2nd November 1973, had been wholly segregated for one year and 10 days from contact with other prisoners were so segregated on the authority of the Secretary of State; whether any conditions are enforced regarding the maintenance of some form of human contact; what consideration has been given to means by which such segregation could be avoided; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what information he has as to the trend in the number of prisoners segregated under Rule 43 at their own request and for good order and discipline during the last five years; and whether, for any of the last five years, he has any figures of the numbers segregated under Rule 43;(3) what he expects to be the duration of the research he is proposing into the operation of Rule 43 of the Prison Rules; what types of information it is intended to collect; and whether it will include study of ways of reducing the use of Rule 43;(4) how many of the persons segregated under Rule 43 on 2nd November 1973 were segregated from contact with other prisoners except at periods allocated for exercise; how many of those so segregated were so at their own request; and how many for good order and discipline.

Only one prisoner had been wholly segregated for one year and 10 days. He had been segregated on the authority, renewed every month, of the board of visitors of the prison. Contact with other prisoners is not enforced, but he is seen frequently by the governor, medical officer, prison welfare officer, chaplain and at regular intervals during the day by prison officers. Transfer to another prison was tried in the hope that he would give up his insistence on total segregation from other prisoners. It failed. The alternative is transfer to a unit in one of the prisons that offer special régimes for prisoners under the rule, but there is no reason to suppose that he would be any more co-operative in those conditions.The research being put in hand will investigate the motives of prisoners who insist on segregation of one degree or another; the attitude of other prisoners; possible changes to reduce the need for segregation; and the special support needed by those prisoners who, whatever new measures may be possible, remain insistent upon segregation. The research is being arranged in phases over a period of between two and three years.The specific information asked for about trends over the last five years and the current degree of segregation is not available. But recording procedures and methods of collecting information on a permanent basis are being changed and this should enable trends in the use of the rule to be identified more readily in the future. The research should disclose detailed information about current variations in degrees of segregation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that during a recent trial Leonard Briggs was permitted to keep his passport, that he claimed he had arrangements with the police on a corrupt basis, that he escaped arrest and fled the country, and that files containing statements from missing witnesses were lost, whether he will move to appoint a Select Committee of senior Privy Councillors to investigate all aspects of this and related matters.

No. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the allegations made by Mr. Briggs are already being fully investigated. Mr. Briggs was not under arrest when he failed to appear on the second day of his trial last month. He had been on bail since his arrest in September 1972, and the conditions of his bail were entirely a matter for the court, which did not require the surrender of his passport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Acts so as to prohibit the sale of ornamental daggers to children, in view of the facts laid before him by the right hon. Member for East Ham, North.

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that there are sufficient grounds for Government legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the practice among young people of sniffing toxic glue which can damage health; if he will introduce legislation to ban the sale of this commodity to young people; and if he will make a statement.

I share the hon. Member's concern at this dangerous practice, and I urge all who care for or work with young people to warn them against it. A ban on sales, which would have to apply to a wide range of domestic products, would not be practicable or justified, in view of the small number of people who misuse them. I shall, however, continue to seek an acceptable solution to the problem.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total yield of Customs duties on imports from Commonwealth countries in each of the last three years; and what effect he anticipates in 1974 following the 40 per cent. adjustment towards the EEC's common external tariff as envisaged in the recent import duties orders.

The yield of Customs protective duties on goods imported under Commonwealth preference arrangements in the last three financial years was:

	£ million
1970–71	1·3
1971–72	2·4
1972–73	11·8

Figures of the yield in the last three financial years on all imports from Commonwealth countries, including those goods not entitled to entry at preference rates, could not be extracted except at a disproportionate cost. The figures quoted relate to goods liable under the Import Duties Act 1958 and do not include receipts from revenue duties. No quantitative estimate has been made of the effects of the anticipated adjustments towards the EEC common external tariff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the tax relief granted on employers' contributions to occupational pension schemes for each since 1960; what has been the tax-free income to these funds yielded by their investments during each of these years; and what have been the notional premiums applicable to employees in the Government sector for each of these years.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the net overall effect on Government revenue from the tax changes referred to in his answer of 15th November 1973, column 211–12.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will ask the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to change its policy of refusing to sell houses to tenants, some of whom have occupied the same house for 10 years and are now anxious to become owner-occupiers.

The present policy is currently under review.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications in what percentage of orders of crossbar telephone exchange equipment from private manufacturers by the Post Office there is a delay in delivery.

58 per cent.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telecommunications how many people are waiting for telephones because of the unavailability of telephone exchange equipment.

88,682, a reduction of about 57,079 in the past six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Petroleum Industrial Training Board regarding the expansion of further education facilities in Scotland.

The recent report of the Interdepartmental Working Party on Education and Training for Offshore Development concluded that there was insufficient information about demand for and supply of education and training in relation to the employment of various categories of craftsmen, technicians and operators employed in offshore activities. The report recommended that the Petroleum Industry Training Board should, in consultation with the Department of Employment and the Education Departments, undertake further studies of this matter. It is hoped that these consultations will take place in the near future with a view to the necessary studies being put in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he is making of education and training for oil rig and platform design and construction.

My Department is playing a full part with other Departments concerned to ensure that design and production by industry of offshore installations is not hampered by lack of appropriate facilities for education and training.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps designed to achieve a coordinated machinery for coping with the total problem of deprived children to avoid further fatalities; and if he will make a statement.

The guidance we have issued to local authorities and others concerned with the difficult problem of child abuse recommends a co-ordinated system of local interdisciplinary committees for the organisation of protective measures as well as the management of actual cases. The further guidance I hope to issue early in the new year will again emphasise the importance of effective machinery of this kind in coordinating skilled intervention in suspected and diagnosed cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the total number of disabled learner drivers in England who were involved in accidents for 1970–71, 1971–72 and 1972–73, as at 30th September of each respective year, in which motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic gearbox and electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, were involved.

This information cannot be provided without a disproportionate use of resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total number of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic gearbox, and electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, which were on issue in England on 30th September 1973.

Approximately 13,000, 4,500 and 1,800 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total number of disabled drivers who were killed or injured, for 1970–71, 1971–72 and 1972–73, as at 30th September of each respective year, in which motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic gearbox and electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, were involved; and if he will list the number of learner drivers in each group.

An analysis in the detail requested could not be made without a disproportionate use of resources. The number of disabled drivers of three-wheelers from the Department who were killed was as follows:

	1971	1972	1973
3-wheelers with manual gear change	6	6	2
3-wheelers with automatic transmission	0	0	3
Electrically propelled 3-wheelers	0	0	0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total number of accidents reported in England in the year ended 30th September 1973 in which motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic gearbox and electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, were involved.

3,091, 1,563 and 260 respectively. The figures include minor incidents such as damage caused by scraping a gatepost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total number of persons, other than invalid tricycle drivers, in England, who were killed or injured in 1970–71, 1971–72 and 1972–73 as at 30th September of each respective year, in accidents involving motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic gearbox and electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively; and if he will state, for each group listed, the number of instances in which the invalid tricycle involved was driven by a learner driver.

The numbers of third parties killed in accidents involving three wheelers provided by the Department were as follows:

	1971	1972	1973
3-wheelers with manual gear change	3	0	2
3-wheelers with automatic transmission	0	0	3
Electrically propelled 3-wheelers	0	0	0

The Department's accident records do not separately identify learner drivers or incidents where a third party is injured.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he held discussions with the National and Local Government Officers Association on the transfer of local health authority staff arising out of National Health Service reorganisation; and why no decisions on the results of these meetings have yet been issued.

There has been regular consultation with the Staff Side, on which NALGO is represented, on all aspects of National Health Service organisation which affect staff. I met representatives of the association on 29th November for a discussion of all matters currently of concern to the staff of the merging services, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the letter I wrote to them after the meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the extent to which the rates of pay for nursing staff at mental subnormality hospitals in the West Midlands are competitive with the wages which the same people can obtain in industry.

No. The pay of nursing staff in the National Health Service is a matter for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council which negotiates on a national basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Attendance Allowance Board has now given further consideration to the provision of attendance allowance for patients receiving dialysis treatment at home.

I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that, in the light of a recent decision of the Chief Commissioner—C.A. 15/73, a copy of which I have placed in the Library—that, as a matter of law, it would be open to the board to regard a pattern of three long sessions of dialysis a week as sufficient to meet one of the night requirements, the board has reconsidered the position. Each case must of course be considered on its own facts, but where, in any case, the facts establish a pattern of dialysis for three nights a week this will be regarded as meeting the medical requirements for payment of attendance allowance at the lower rate. I understand the consequence of this to be that the great majority of those on home dialysis will now be eligible for the allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount of grants made by the Rowntree Family Trust, up to the latest date for which information is available, in respect of congenitally handicapped children in each region and each local authority, respectively.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 10th December 1973; Vol. 866, c. 60], gave the following information:I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to him yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will arrange for registered disabled persons not in possession of Invacars to be issued with a badge which would indicate their disability and need for preferential treatment in the supply of petrol; and if he will issue a statement requesting garage proprietors and other motorists to recognise the particular difficulties of the disabled in getting about.

I have been asked to reply.The oil companies have asked petrol retailers to give preferential treatment at the present time in the supply of petrol to those groups of people, including disabled persons, to whom the use of a car is essential. If petrol rationing should be introduced, special arrangements have already been made to give priority to disabled drivers in that context.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that refuse disposal by the Cosford RDC and the sewerage scheme at Shottisham do not halt as a result of lack of fuel.

I have been asked to reply.The disposal of refuse and the operation of sewerage schemes are both priority uses for the purposes of the present oil allocation scheme. If the local authority should experience any difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of fuel for either of these activities it should approach its local DTI regional office.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what technical reasons led him to fix the 50 mph speed limit; and, in particular, whether he took into account the position of diesel and petrol injection engines and vehicles designed to cruise at an economic speed of 60 to 70 mph.

The speed limit of 50 mph was selected as one which offered a reasonable saving in fuel consumption by reducing wind resistance, consistent with the performance of the modern motor vehicle. Whilst some vehicles may be designed to provide the maximum efficiency at a speed in excess of 50 mph these form only a very small proportion of the 13 million passenger vehicles currently on the road.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ensure that village halls when used for charitable functions or welfare work will be allowed electricity for heating.

The Electricity (Heating) (Control) Order 1973 (S.I. 2092) which came into operation on 13th December exempts public halls to the extent necessary for the maintenance of the health of any person who is ill, disabled, infirm, pregnant, under the age of 5 or over the age of 60. I regret that in the present situation there is no scope for further relaxation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the average transfer price arranged by British and Anglo-Dutch companies for crude oil derived from the Middle East and shipped to affiliates in the United Kingdom and other EEC markets.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will have prepared, for display in the Upper Corridor Lobby and for publication as a Green Paper, a series of charts on energy supply and utilisation patterns for the United Kingdom similar to those prepared for the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy of the United States Congress, Document No. 5270–01947, "Understanding the National Energy Dilemma".

I have not seen the charts referred to, but I am obtaining a copy and shall study them. I shall consider publishing a statement on energy when the current uncertainties have cleared a little. I do not think that a partial publication in the meantime would be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from United Kingdom producers about the present shortages of oil-based yarns; and whether he will make a statement.

I am aware of the concern in the textile industry about the supply of synthetic fibres derived from oil. We are in close touch with the producers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new companies have begun operation in the Northern Region since August 1972; and how many he expects will begin operations in 1974.

The Department is aware of 30 manufacturing firms new to the region which employ more than 10 people and have begun operations in the Northern Region since August 1972. It is not possible to foresee the number that may come forward in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in view of the current shortage of motor fuel, he will take steps to curtail the repetitive testing of motor vehicles; and, in particular, if he will discourage the bringing into use of new motor vehicle testing tracks and especially that at RAF, Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, by Chrysler Limited.

Extended testing is essential to the production of safe, reliable and economical motor vehicles, but I am sure that vehicle manufacturers will make all possible economies in carrying out their testing programmes.Chrysler Ltd. does not visualise that its test facility at Bruntingthorpe will be in full use earlier than mid-1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in the Concorde test flying programme, how much fuel in gallons Concorde aircraft are expected to consume up to the attainment of a certificate of airworthiness.

The British Aircraft Corporation currently estimates that its development flying will consume about 6 million gallons of fuel up to the award of a certificate of airworthiness. This represents 0·7 per cent. of the estimated consumption of aviation fuel in the United Kingdom over the same period. Consumption in the first six months of 1974 will be kept down to less than 1,300,000 gallons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about supplies of paraffin.

Supplies of standard grade paraffin should generally be available throughout the country to meet users' needs within the current level of allocation. There are at present, however, local shortages of premium grade paraffin, most of which has to be imported from the Continent, and action is being taken to even out these imbalances.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what circumstances regional development grants are available to nationalised industries.

Grants will be made to nationalised industries which engage in qualifying activities, including construction activities, on the same basis as private industry, except in one respect. Those industries whose principal activities are not included in the qualifying activities as defined in the Industry Act that is, all except coal and steel—will not be paid grant on assets which they provide in the course of such non-qualifying activities. Thus, for example, grant will not be paid to an electricity board towards the cost of an electricity cable or to the British Gas Corporation towards the cost of a gas main which these bodies provide on their customers' premises.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has yet advised the Civil Aviation Authority of the amount of its initial debt under Section 7(3) of the Civil Aviation Act 1971; and, if so, what is the amount and on what basis it was calculated.

The Civil Aviation Authority has been notified that the aggregate amount of its initial debt as from 1st April 1972 was £27,639,718. This amount was calculated after consultation with the authority on principles designed to produce a valuation representing as fairly as possible the worth to the authority of the assets less the liabilities transferred to the authority on that date. Accordingly, the net book values of the fixed assets were, in general, increased to allow for changes in the relevant price levels since they were purchased, after reductions to allow for accelerated depreciation policies now being adopted by the authority and for the exceptional obsolescence which had been suffered by certain items of technical equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ascertain at how many service stations on the M6 diesel was available for sale to lorry drivers between the hours of 18.30 and 19.30 on 10th December.

I have been asked to reply. At five stations out of a total of 10.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up a working party to give further study to protecting the future of small rural schools in Wales.

The future development of primary and nursery education in rural Wales is under close consideration in the Welsh Office. It is hoped to publish a Welsh education survey on the matter in the latter part of next year.