asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an early statement on the extension of the existing rate of improvement grants for housing.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 18th March to the hon. Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Mr. Corrie).—[Vol. 870, c. 49–50.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the economic effects of the three-day week have been on Scotland.

It is too early to make a full assessment, but the three-day week resulted in a substantial increase in unemployment, short-time working, loss of wages and loss of production. Now that the Government have got industry back to full-time working, we are making every effort to minimise the consequences to the Scottish economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the policy of the Government for holding down freight charges to the Scottish islands; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Argyll (Mr. MacCormick) on 18th March.—[Vol. 870, c. 48.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will call in the application for planning permission to build houses above the Kirklee line, Glasgow, in view of the new energy situation.

In view of discussions taking place in Glasgow between the corporation, the passenger transport executive and the developers, I do not think that this would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many professionally qualified economists and statisticians are employed in the Scottish Office; and what is their Civil Service status.

The information is as follows:

Grade	Number
Chief Economic Adviser (Under Secretary)	1
Senior Economic Adviser	1
Economic Adviser	3
Senior Economic Assistant	3
Economic Assistant	1*
Chief Agricultural Economist	1
Principal Agricultural Economist	3
Agricultural Economist	1
Assistant Agricultural Economist	4
Economists	18†
Chief Statistician	1
Statistician	7‡
Senior Assistant Statistician	6§
Assistant Statistician	3
Statisticians	17||
* Vacancy.
† Including 1 vacancy.
‡ vacancy.
§ 2 vacancies.
║ Including 3 vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to give a decision on the application by Ayr County Council to industrialise the area between Stewarton and Irvine.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a commission to examine and advise upon teacher supply in Scotland.

No. I do not consider that there is any significant contribution that a commission could make.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute a review into the administration of education in Scotland.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Brown).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate has been made of the cost which would be incurred in restoring the vandalised houses in the Ferguslie Park housing scheme in Paisley to a habitable condition.

I understand that the town council estimates that it will cost on average about £800 a house to rectify the damage caused by vandals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for dealing with conditions in the Ferguslie Park housing scheme in Paisley.

This is a matter on which the town council must take the initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authority houses in Paisley are presently untenanted.

581 houses in the Ferguslie Park area and small numbers elsewhere in the burgh which are unlet awaiting repairs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated loss of revenue to the Paisley corporation arising from its inability to let local authority houses in the Ferguslie Park housing scheme.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses owned by Paisley corporation are uninhabitable due to vandalism.

166, all of which are to be demolished.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any plans to preserve the houses which are still habitable in the Ferguslie Park housing scheme in Paisley.

It is for the town council to decide what action to take to deal with the houses in Ferguslie Park.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between his Department and the Paisley corporation on the problems of the corporation's Ferguslie Park housing scheme.

The council's proposals for the treatment of the scheme were discussed informally by the burgh engineer with officials of the Scottish Development Department in the autumn of 1971. The scheme is the subject of a community development project exercise, and in this context there are regular and continuing consultations between the town council and the various Government Departments involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to amend the Scottish law on divorce.

Successive Governments have taken the view that, because of the social and moral questions involved, divorce law reform is a matter more suitable for legislation introduced by a private Member than for Government legislation. This Government are willing to consider giving drafting assistance to any private Member who brings forward a measure which is on generally acceptable lines.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is able to announce progress on the Auchinleck health centre project.

Fresh tenders for the construction work are now being invited.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many doctors employed in hospitals in Scotland are not members of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland or the Medical Protection Society;(2) how many general practitioners practising in Scotland are not members of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland or the Medical Protection Society;(3) how many dentists practising in the National Health Service in Scotland are not members of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.

The information requested is not readily available, but I understand that virtually all doctors and dentists practising in the National Health Service in Scotland are members of a defence union or society.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many claims by by patients for damages on grounds of neglect against doctors working in hospitals in Scotland have not been proceeded with or have failed on the ground that the doctor was not a member of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland or the Medical Protection Society.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many claims by patients for damages against general practitioners on the grounds of neglect have not been proceeded with or have failed because the doctor has not been a member of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland or the Medical Protection Society.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many claims by patients for damages against dentists on the grounds of neglect have not been proceeded with or have failed on the grounds that the dentist was not a member of the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.

As regards dentists working in hospitals, none. As regards general dental practitioners, the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now set up an inquiry into teachers' conditions in Scotland.

The main teacher organisations are currently pursuing a claim for improved conditions of service in the Scottish Teachers Service Conditions Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now set up a full-scale inquiry into the working conditions of teachers and pupils in local authority schools in Scotland.

The main teacher organisations are currently pursuing a claim for improved conditions of service in the Scottish Teachers Service Conditions Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider proposing that the ferry services to the islands should be an extension of the road system.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to a similar Question by the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Stewart).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what latest discussions he has had with the Council of Ministers on a European energy policy.

None, Sir, since we took office. My right hon. Friend is looking forward to a discussion at the next Council of Ministers meeting on 1st and 2nd April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Tanzania concerning the arrest of John Miles, a British citizen travelling in Tanzania and held by the authorities there since 9th January.

Representations about the detention of Mr. Miles were made by the High Commission in Dar-es-Salaam when it first heard that he had been detained. These representations have been repeated on numerous occasions, and on 13th March the High Commissioner was informed that a decision on whether Mr. Miles should be charged would be taken very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what charges Mr. John Miles, late of the Kenya Police, is detained in Tanzania; what representations have been made on his behalf; and what replies have been received.

Mr. Miles is being detained under the provisions of the Tanzanian Preventive Detention Act. He has not yet been charged. As soon as the High Commission in Dar-es-Salaam heard of his arrest, it made representations to establish the reasons for his detention and has continued to do so. The High Commissioner was told on 13th March that a decision on whether or not to charge Mr. Miles would be taken very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has given to the British Embassy in Chile concerning the sanctuary and political asylum of persons in physical danger by reason of their political associations.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Harlow (Mr. Newens) and Darlington (Mr. Fletcher) on 18th March.—[Vol. 870 c. 82.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the ILO conventions fully operative in the United Kingdom, but not fully operative, or only partially operative, respectively, in Hong Kong.

The following list indicates the International Labour Conventions that have been ratified by the United Kingdom Government and shows the extent to which these conventions have been applied in Hong Kong.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set up a committee to inquire into the working of the law dealing with the breathalyser test.

I am looking into the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce his decision in relation to Crab Lane, Blackley, Manchester.

I hope to write to the council and the objectors about this compulsory purchase order very shortly, and I shall keep my hon. Friend informed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will alter the criteria for determining the rate support grant to ease the position of the domestic ratepayer in local authority areas, such as Bedfordshire, which face a large expansion in school population.

My right hon. Friend has already announced his rate support grant decision for 1974–75, subject to parliamentary approval of the rate support grant order. He has, however, said that he will undertake a thorough review at the earliest possible time of the grant distribution system in time for the 1975–76 settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make the owner and driver of lorries parked overnight in residential areas liable to a fine.

Local authorities already have power to ban overnight lorry parking on roads in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will recommend a scheme for the salvage of bottles, tins, paper and other scarce commodities.

I very much hope that the new local authorities will give early consideration to the implementation of such schemes as may seem appropriate in their areas. For their part, the Government are also giving renewed attention, in the context of future legislation, to the ways in which reclamation of materials for re-use might be encouraged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to preserve ancient properties on the west side of Whitcomb Street, London W.C.2.

My right hon. Friend has added Nos. 3–13 Whitcomb Street to the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest because of the arched brick-vaulted cellars beneath. This will ensure that the case for retaining them is given due weight in the proposals now before the Westminster City Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to grant students in university and college administered halls of residence the status of tenants, so that they may enjoy the same protection as others who benefit from the rent freeze.

Granting tenant status would not of itself affect the situation, since the rents standstill applies to all those who are covered by the Rent Act, whether tenants or not. I do not think it justifiable to widen the scope of the standstill so as to give preferential treatment to students.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his intentions in regard to the future of the Maplin project.

The Government have announced their intention to reappraise the value of certain major development projects, and this will include the Maplin project. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade will be making a statement shortly about this reappraisal. In the meantime, I shall authorise no further work at Maplin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will abandon the plans for constructing the third London airport project at Maplin in Essex.

As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Sir B. Braine) today, the Government have announced their intention to reappraise the value of certain major development projects, and this will include the Maplin project. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade will be making a statement shortly about this reappraisal. In the meantime, I shall authorise no further work at Maplin.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will abolish the present 50 mph speed limit on motorways and revert to the former 70 mph limit on these roads.

I cannot add to my reply on 18th March to the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. McLaren).— [Vol. 870, c. 24.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how long he proposes that the speed limit of 50 mph be continued.

Until the fuel situation permits the restoration of the 70 mph limit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement on the decision of the public inquiry into the future of the former Hythe School of Infantry buildings.

The public inquiry into the application for listed building consent to demolish these buildings was held on 13th, 14th and 15th February. I shall announce my decision on the application when I have received and considered the inspector's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has studied the letter of 15th March from the chief executive of the Northamptonshire County Council pointing out that the decision announced in his letter of 14th March prescribing a flat rate of domestic relief will result in rises of between 30 and 68 per cent. for these ratepayers; and whether he will receive a deputation of county councillors to discuss the matter.

The county council's letter is being considered. I or one of my colleagues will be prepared to receive a deputation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the expenditure of the Department on research and development of electric battery-operated vehicles.

My Department has made a financial contribution of £165,000 since 1969 to British Railways Board work on the development of a viable sodium sulphur battery. It has also provided about £37,000 for a study of the market potential for battery-operated vehicles by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory and for commissioned research into the iron-air battery. Further work in this field involving an expenditure of about £450,000 since 1967 has been commissioned, mainly by the Department of Trade and Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much derelict land has been made good in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region since June 1970; and what is the estimated acreage of dereliction remaining in the region.

The amounts of derelict land reclaimed in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region in 1970, 1971 and 1972 were 856 acres, 477 acres and 743 acres respectively. Figures for 1973 are not yet available. At the time of the latest survey by local authorities, at the end of 1971, there were 10,544 acres of derelict land in the region regarded as justifying treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to continue the standstill on business rents introduced by the Counter-Inflation (Business Rents) Order 1973.

I am considering this matter and shall announce my conclusions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects Members' accommodation to be available in the Norman Shaw building.

The programme for occupation by Members is as follows:

Upper 1st floor	13th May 1974	15 members.
First floor	28th June 1974	35 members.
Mezzanine floor	12th August 1974	35 members.
Ground floor	30th September 1974	32 members.
Second floor	29th November 1974	11 members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on what date the inspector's report was submitted to his office arising from the public inquiry into the application of the Darlington Borough Council for listed building consent and compulsory purchase order on 5th June 1973;(2) if he will take steps to ensure that a decision is given without delay arising from the public local inquiry held on 5th June 1973 into the application of the Darlington Borough Council for listed building consent and compulsory purchase order in connection with town centre development.

The inspector's report was received on 8th August 1973. I expect to be able to give a decision very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has considered the report of the working group on minimum noise routes; and what action he proposes to take to implement its recommendations.

The working party's report is being considered as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a statement on his plans to increase the present rate of house building in the private sector over the next three months.

The Government are urgently considering ways and means of easing the immediate difficulties in the private housing sector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the starting date of the bypass to Wincanton on the A303: and if he will make a statement.

The inspector's report of the public inquiry held in November last year is still awaited. A statement will be made when this has been received and considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in respect of the requests made to his Department by the hon. Member for Essex, South-East for an interdepartmental inquiry into the economic, social and environmental implications of industrial development in the Thames Estuary, with particular reference to Canvey Island.

We are aware of the anxieties underlying the hon. Member's Question. We do not at this stage envisage such a wide-ranging study as the hon. Member suggests, but we are reviewing the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate for the starting date of the bypass to Frome and Trowbridge; and if he will make a statement.

The timing of this scheme is a matter for the Wiltshire and Somerset County Councils as the highway authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the arrangements that local authorities are making for informing the public about the local ombudsmen; and if such arrangements will include explanatory leaflets being sent to every ratepayer about local ombudsmen.

This will be a matter for the Commissions for Local Administration as soon as they have been appointed. I have no doubt that they will consider the distribution of explanatory leaflets to ratepayers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department's proposals for the nationalisation of building land will imply, or result in, the overriding of planning decisions by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot anticipate the effect of future legislation.

asked the Minister of of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef has been put into cold store by the European Intervention Authority.

Up to 14th March, 152 tons of Northern Ireland beef had been bought and put into store by the Inter- vention Board for Agricultural Produce. No beef has been bought in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take immediate steps to assist the horticultural industry in the situation facing it following the threefold increase in the cost of heating oil for glasshouses which has occurred since last November.

We are considering urgently the effects on the horticulture industry of increases in oil prices, which are not in all cases as proportionately great as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to assist the British glasshouse industry, in view of the steep rise in fuel costs to the industry since October 1973, namely, an average increase in fuel oil prices of 10p per gallon and an average increase in gas oil prices of 12p per gallon together with the abandonment of quantity discounts.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 18th March to the right hon. and learned Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. WalkerSmith).—[Vol. 870, c. 35.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to deal with the situation now facing the Northern Ireland agricultural industry as a result of the rise in the cost of feeding stuffs for livestock.

The problems of high costs of feeding stuffs have affected farmers in all parts of the United Kingdom. We are examining the situation urgently, and my right hon. Friend has already had discussions with representatives of the National Farmers Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his estimate of the output value of the British glasshouse industry for each of the last 10 years; how much has been invested in the industry for each of these 10 years as a direct result of the horticulture improvement scheme; and what has been the annual contribution from public funds for each of these 10 years;(2) what is his estimate of the annual output of the British glasshouse industry

GLASSHOUSE INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
			Value of Output
			Current Values			Constant Values (1968/69–1971/72)
June/May Years			Edible	Non edible	Total	Edible	Non edible	Total
			£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
1964–65	…	…	21,566	19,840	41,406	25,328	23,730	49,058
1965–66	…	…	23,048	20,574	43,622	25,949	23,276	49,225
1966–67	…	…	22,252	21,871	44,123	25,840	23,883	49,723
1967–68	…	…	24,367	23,624	47,991	27,425	24,951	52,376
1968–69	…	…	27,515	24,808	52,323	27,177	25,852	53,029
1969–70	…	…	30,074	24,799	54,873	29,973	25,836	55,809
1970–71	…	…	31,055	25,506	56,561	31,341	25,215	56,556
1971–72	…	…	32,338	26,475	58,813	32,492	24,689	57,181
1972–73*	…	…	36,117	30,212	66,329	33,062	26,692	59,754
1973–74†	…	…	39,985	31,708	71,693	34,568	28,175	62,743
* Provisional.
† Forecast.

ESTIMATED INVESTMENT THROUGH THE HORTICULTURE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME*
			Approved expenditure	Grant payable†
Financial years			£'000	£'000
1964–65	…	…	1,721	574
1965–66	…	…	2,252	863
1966–67	…	…	4,783	1,833
1967–68	…	…	8,294	3,179
1968–69	…	…	9,107	3,491
1969–70	…	…	9,829	3,767
1970–71	…	…	10,972	4,114
1971–72	…	…	9,420	3,297
1972–73	…	…	15,681	6,372
1973–74	…	…	14,030	5,612

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will grant full development area status to Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello.

We are giving urgent consideration to the measures needed to stimulate regional development and employment. In this context we shall be paying full regard to the case for

The information is as follows:upgrading Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello to development area status.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what requests he has had from the motor industry for help in respect of shortages of components or supplies resulting from the three-day week; and when he expects this industry to be back on full production.

There was frequent contact between the motor industry and my Department through the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders during the period of restricted working and particularly with Ford and BLMC. Inquiries made last week by the SMMT indicate that both vehicle and component manufacturers feel that it is not yet possible to make any forecast of output levels with any degree of confidence. However, the major component manufacturers estimated that during the week 11th-15th March output would range from 75 per cent. to 100 per cent. of normal working, with a further improvement during the week 18th-22nd March in the case of companies that are not yet back to normal working levels. The industry, which made great efforts to maintain production during the emergency, is continuing these efforts in order to regain full production as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what tonnage of foundry pig iron was delivered in United Kingdom markets in the financial years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73 and what is the estimate for 1973–74; and what tonnage in each of these years came from the British Steel Corporation, the private sector and from imports, respectively.

Statistical reports no longer distinguish between deliveries of hematite and foundry pig iron to United Kingdom iron foundries. Data on deliveries are not published on a financial year basis. Calendar year data for the British Steel Corporation production are given in the "Annual Statistics for the Corporation" and for United Kingdom production in the "Annual Statistics for the Iron and Steel Industry", copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

HEMATITE AND FOUNDRY PIG IRON
Thousand tonnes
		Deliveries to United Kingdom Market	Deliveries by United Kingdom Producers Private
		Total	BSC	Sector	Imports
1969	…	1,253·9	817·8	329·2	106·9
1970	…	1,328·5	878·1	357·1	93·3
1971	…	952·1	637·2	232·7	82·2
1972	…	856·3	471·1	299·1	86·1
1973	…	948·4*	574·7*	286·3*	87·4*
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the forecast of United Kingdom demand of foundry pig iron for 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77; and what is the estimated tonnage for these years which will come from the British Steel Corporation, the private sector and from imports, respectively.

Forecasts are not presently available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what tonnage of steel scrap has been consumed by the British Steel Corporation in each of the financial years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72 and 1972–73 and what is the estimate for 1973–74; and what is the estimated tonnage of scrap stocks held by the British Steel Corporation at the end of each of these periods;

The tonnages of iron and steel scrap consumed by the British Steel Corporation and the end-period stock levels are not published on a financial year basis. Calendar year data are given in the "Annual Statistics for the Corporation", copies of which are held in the Library of the House.

BSC IRON AND STEEL SCRAP AT STEEL WORKS AND IRON FOUNDRIES
Thousand tonnes
		Consumption	End period stock level	Stock change
1969	…	14,039·1	1,021·2
1970	…	14,587·8	1,099·9
1971	…	12,039·0	1,287·9
1972	…	12,944·3	791·6
1973	…	11,049·4*	656·7*	-134·9*
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in view of the large quantity of glass derived from hotel and household refuse and dumped in local authority tips, if he will encourage local authorities to introduce some form of collection service for glass or solid waste separation so that the cullet may be secured for recycling.

Although the glass industry aims to use more cullet in the manufacture of new glass, and to find new uses for this material, the present demand can be met from existing sources of supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the percentage of total glass produced in the United Kingdom, in any year for which figures are available, which (a) is used for recycling, (b) could be used as a cullet for further manufacturing processes if an agreed specification was reached, and (c) is dumped by local authorities in tips throughout the country.

No precise figures under these headings are available. However, the Glass Manufacturers Federation estimates that in 1971 22 per cent. of glass container production came from recycling and the industry aims to increase this figure by a further 5 per cent., which could be assisted by an agreed specification for cullet. Available estimates relating to dumping by local authorities are so out of date as to be of little guidance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will compare current United Kingdom and European steel prices (Federal Republic of Germany, France and Italy) covering major products.

The following table provided by the British Steel Corporation compares home trade prices in the Federal Republic of Germany, France and Italy with British Steel Corporation prices on 15th March 1974. It does not cover prices charged by United Kingdom private sector producers.

BSC prices = 100
Product	West Germany	France	Italy
Billets	155	129	115
Medium plates	144	145	115
Boiler plates	158	154	119
Beams structural	145	128	139
Steel for reinforcement	155	119	121
Hot rolled strip	126	114	117
Hot rolled coil	131	132	125

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when, and on how many occasions, representatives of his Department have visited a sealed re-circulatory cooling installation in order to decide the benefits to national productivity and the reduction in costs that can result from the use of such cooling systems by industry.

Over the last two years, the National Engineering Laboratory has made four visits to industrial organisations to discuss sealed recirculatory cooling systems.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now extend regional employment premium to service industries.

We shall maintain the existing arrangements for regional employment premium while considering further possibilities for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement about the application of the proposed Newport District Council to control the library service at present operated by the Newport County Borough Council.

The council's representations against the decision of the previous Government are being carefully considered. I am consulting my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. A decision will be notified to the council shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will reconsider the decision in relation to capital programmes for schools in Manchester, and in particular Cravenwood Infants School, Crumpsall, Manchester.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing the school building programmes and giving particular attention to the date from which it will be possible to resume giving approval to school improvement projects. I regret that it is not possible to comment meanwhile on the position of individual local education authorities or projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy towards such boards of trustees of national museums and galleries as intend to implement his proposal to offer refunds of four-fifths of the cost of annual season tickets deciding to admit the public free of charge forthwith, before the end of March, bearing in mind the deterrent effect of charging upon visitors in the meantime.

I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects to receive the Pay Board's report on the pay and conditions of Government scientists.

The Pay Board expects to report in the next two or three weeks on the method and criteria for determining the pay of Civil Service scientists.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the gratuity payable to members of Her Majesty's Forces at the normal age of retirement appropriate to their rank, indicating in each case when they were last increased and what was the previous level.

I take it that the hon. Member is referring to the terminal grant which is paid to Service personnel on retirement, and which is three times the annual rate of retirement pension. The pension varies according to the code, which is adjusted at each pay review, and according to rank and length of service. Examples of the terminal grants payable at the full career point since 1st April last under the 1973 code are as follows:

Corporal	…	…	£3,384
Sergeant	…	…	£3,765
WO1	…	…	£4,449
Captain	…	…	£5,076
Major	…	…	£6,063
Colonel	…	…	£9,384

Rates of pension were previously increased in the 1972 code, effective from 1st April 1972. Rates of pensions under that code were overall about 6½ per cent. below the levels of the 1973 code, because that was the average amount of the 1973 pay increases, but the precise difference varies somewhat by rank.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in the light of the increase in housing costs, he will now increase gratuities available to personnel serving in Her Majesty's Forces on their retirement; and whether he will make a statement.

No, for two reasons. First, the terminal grant paid on retirement is intended, together with the retirement pension, to enable the pensioner to make adequate provision for himself throughout his retirement. This intention is defeated if the whole of the grant is spent at once on a single expensive item such as house purchase. Second, if terminal grants are to remain tax-free, they must be proportionate as now to the amount of full career pension. There are other possible ways to help Service personnel with house purchase difficulties apart from increasing the amount of terminal grants, and my Department is investigating these.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to strengthen the security services supporting the actions of Her Majesty's Forces stationed in Northern Ireland.

We attach importance to giving the greatest possible support to the forces serving in Northern Ireland. High priority is given to the development of the necessary skills and equipment to enable troops to operate effectively with as little risk to their lives as possible. Careful training programmes are drawn up for this purpose, having regard to the need to protect lives at all times.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consensus has emerged from replies to the procurement executive of the Ministry of Defence letter AX/395/017 AX/403/01 of 10th January 1974 concerning possible specification changes to increase potential jet fuel availability; and what action he will take concerning the possible changes listed therein.

Consultations undertaken by my Department have established a consensus that certain departures from the current specifications for jet fuel, which would have the effect of permitting a larger proportion of the crude oil to be used, could be made without detriment to flight safety. Such departures from current specifications do, however, have certain drawbacks. They tend to increase smoke emission and smell and may have some effect on engine life. They are, therefore, conceived as temporary measures.The question of what departures would be acceptable in the longer term is under consideration with other national fuel specification authorities. In the case of fuel used for military aircraft, my Department has, as a short-term measure, so far granted one concession, relating to the aromatic content of jet fuel. Any action concerning the specification for jet fuel used in civil aircraft would be a matter for the Civil Aviation Authority.