asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many British trade fairs and exhibitions will be officially sponsored by his Department in overseas countries in the next 12 months; and where they will be located.

Five British trade exhibitions are planned to be held in Geneva, Jakarta, Sao Paulo, Stuttgart and Tel Aviv. In addition there will be 10 exhibitions in the continuing programme of events at the British Export Marketing Centre, Tokyo. These events form a small but important part of the total trade promotion programme of the British Overseas Trade Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps designed to ensure that mobile shops are not forced to stop trading in rural areas due to increased transport costs.

I realise that mobile shops fill a social need in some rural areas. I have received no evidence of special difficulties being faced by this sector of the retail trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his policy towards the giving of policy guidelines to the Civil Aviation Authority on traffic rights to British independent air carriers.

The licensing of airlines by the Civil Aviation Authority is dealt with under the Civil Aviation Policy Guidance of February 1972. We have this under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to ban the use of supply ships belonging to United States companies and United Kingdom subsidiaries of United States companies from servicing oil rigs in the North Sea.

No. I know of no grounds for such a prohibition, which would impede the development of essential resources and run counter to the policy of non-discrimination in shipping matters favoured by successive United Kingdom Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, when considering the Maplin project, whether he will consider the possibility of discussing with the British Transport Docks Board the 600 acres of reclaimed land at Southampton for the new Europort of the United Kingdom.

The review I announced on 21st March—[Vol. 870. c. 1334–40]—will reappraise air traffic forecasts to 1990 and determine how this traffic might be handled, taking account of the noise and other environmental implications. It will not be concerned with the seaport which is being considered separately by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the further evidence made available to the United States Senate on the subject of the cargo doors of DC10 aircraft of the type that recently crashed near Paris and of the fact that at least one British airline is still flying such aircraft, if he will make a further statement about the safety of DC10 aircraft using airports in the United Kingdom.

I am advised by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for British airworthiness standards, that it is satisfied with the safety measures taken by Laker Airways, the only British operator of DC10 aircraft. The safety standards of foreign airlines are the responsibility of the State of registry but I am assured by the airlines concerned that they are applying all the necessary safety precautions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of goods is imported in the raw material state, then exported, and then imported in the finished product; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not available; it is probable, however, that only a small proportion of total imports is represented by the flow of goods concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the total of public money given to the hotel industry by way of grants in the past four years; and what degree of public control there is over such grants.

Payments under Part II of the Development of Tourism Act 1969 amount to £40,717,149 for the four years to 31st March 1974. The conditions of eligibility are specified in the Act itself. Discretionary grants were also given by the national tourist boards in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of that Act, and by the Highlands and Islands Development Board under the provisions of the Highlands and Islands Development (Scotland) Act 1965. Payment under these schemes is not confined to hotel projects and separate figures are not available. The accounts of all these boards are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General and are laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will outline how many overseas Governments are involved in the sale and disposal of cocoa and/or coffee on the world market.

There are Government-sponsored agencies in most of the major coffee and cocoa-producing countries which are concerned with the guaranteeing of prices to producers or with the sale and disposal of their crops.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will outline the countries producing copper outside the United States of America and indicate the percentage interests held by foreign Governments in their domestic producers.

Many countries have mine production of copper. In addition to the United States of America, those whose annual production in 1972 exceeded 100,000 tons are (in alphabetical order):—

• Australia
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Japan
• Papua and New Guinea
• Peru
• The Philippine Republic
• Poland
• South Africa
• The USSR
• Yugoslavia
• Zaire
• Zambia.

I regret that the information requested in the second part of the Question is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent commodity prices for metals are being exploited by Governments abroad who are forming or attempting to form producer cartels.

I have been asked to reply.There is no current evidence of damaging restrictions. Prices on the London Metal Exchange are determined in free market conditions. Where producer price agreements for metals exist these are in the interests of both producers and consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade to what extent the price of copper, zinc and tin has led to the use of substitute materials in the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.Where technically possible substitute materials have been increasingly used in place of copper, zinc and tin for some years. The process is likely to increase if metal prices remain at their present high levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what estimate he can give of the total size by turnover or other indicator of the contraceptive industry in the United Kingdom, if possible broken down into different types of contraceptive.

Sales of ovulation inhibitors—the so-called pill, used mainly for contraceptive purposes—by United Kingdom manufacturers in 1973 were valued at £3·6 million. No other information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce legislation to implement the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships.

The United Kingdom has signed the 1973 convention and expects to ratify it as soon as practicable. Application of the convention's provisions poses a number of problems to which my Department is currently seeking solutions with the shipping industry and other interests concerned. The introduction of legislation to implement the convention will be considered in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the value of imports at current prices in each of the years 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973 broadly classified under the following heads: (a) fuel, (b) food, (c) raw materials (other than fuel or food). (d) industrial equipment and machinery, and (e) consumer goods (not food); and if he will show the percentage variation from each year to the next.

Following is the information:—

1969
	£ million	Percentage
	(cif)	change
Fuel*	907	0·6
Food†	1,746	2·2
Raw materials (other than fuel or food)‡	1,253	3·7
Industrial equipment and machinery §:
Transport equipment (less cars)	317	18·1
Other	1,065	11·1
Consumer goods (not food)║	451	6·2

1970
	£ million	Percentage
	(cif)	change
Fuel*	945	4·2
Food†	1,858	6·4
Raw materials (other than fuel or food)‡	1,362	8·7
Industrial equipment and machinery §
Transport equipment (less cars)	213	—32·9
Other	1,323	24·1
Consumer goods (not food)║	535	18·6

1971
	£ million	Percentage
	(cif)	change
Fuel*	1,247	31·9
Foodt†	1,968	5·9
Raw materials (other than fuel or food)‡	1,271	—6·7
Industrial equipment and machinery §:
Transport equipment(less cars)	279	31·3
Other	1,394	5·4
Consumer goods (not food)║	759	41·8

1972
	£ million	Percentage
	(cif)	change
Fuel*	1,242	—0·4
Foodt†	2,101	6·8
Raw materials (other than fuel or food)‡	1,323	4·1
Industrial equipment and machinery §:
Transport equipment(less cars)	343	22·9
Other	1,652	18·5
Consumer goods (not food)║	1,134	49·4

1973
	£ million	Percentage
	(cif)	change
Fuel*	1,727	39·1
Food†	2,714	29·2
Raw materials (other than fuel or food)‡	1,965	48·5
Industrial equipment and machinery§
Transport equipment(less cars)	479	39·5
Other	2,412	46·0
Consumer goods (not food)║	1,742	53·6
* Section 3 of the Overseas Trade Statistics
† Section 0 (including live animals).
‡Sections 2 and 4.
§ Remainder of Sections 7 and 8 after deduction of "consumer goods" (see ║ below).
║ Selected headings in Sections 7 and 8 (finished manufactures) including cars and other mainly consumer goods.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of shipbuilding exports in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and if he will give comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years.

Figures for ships and boats up to 1971 appear in Volume 1 of the appropriate Annual Statement of Overseas Trade; and for 1972 and 1973 in the respective December issues of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics. Prior to 1970 re-export figures were recorded separately and should be added to exports for comparability with later years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many property companies failed to make annual returns between 23rd October 1969 and the latest available date.

The information required is not available. When registering newly incorporated companies it is not possible for the Registrar to identify them by particular activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about trade with the United States of America in confectionery and about the United States of America confectionery quota.

We have useful and increasing export trade with the United States of America in confectionery, but since 1972 this trade has been subject to quantitative import restrictions. I view with great concern the possibility that these restrictions, which are, in our opinion, contrary to GATT, might be retained in the 1974 Sugar Bill currently before Congress. We have brought to the attention of the United States administration our strong dislike of the restrictions, and the administration itself has indicated its opposition to them in testimony provided by the State Department on 19th February. At our instigation the European Community has recently had consultations with the United States under Article XXIII of the GATT at which our point of view was registered. I hope that these representations will prove to be effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will urgently initiate a viability study for the Employees Enterprise Action Committee, which is negotiating with Beaverbrook Newspapers concerning the future use of the Albion Street building and plant in Glasgow where the Scottish Daily Express, the Scottish Sunday Express and the Glasgow Evening Citizen were published, with a view to establishing whether the Government might offer financial assistance towards the starting up of a new newspaper operating from the same premises.

I have been asked to reply.Officials of my Department are in touch with the action committee about a feasibility study.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is intending to proceed with Littlebrook D power station.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing the need for this station.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a White Paper on fuel and energy policy.

I shall certainly wish to keep the House informed about the Government's strategy for energy, but cannot at this stage anticipate what form this will take.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the electricity board regarding domestic tariffs ; and with what result.

My right hon. Friend had discussions with the Chairman of the Electricity Council before my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer made his Budget Statement concerning electricity prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of the additional direct cost of net oil imports by the United Kingdom in 1974, assuming an average price of $78 per ton for both crude and products, and expressed as a percentage of total 1972 exports and imports, respectively.

I am not aware of any basis for the figure of $78 per ton as an estimate of crude and product prices in 1974. Nor do I think it helpful to relate the extra cost of oil imports in 1974 to the total cost of exports and imports in 1972. My noble Friend the Minister of State has quoted an estimate of £3,800 million as the probable cost of oil imports in 1974 at the latest prices, and also stated that this represented an additional burden of £2,600 million per annum compared with the pre-October 1973 price levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will provide an estimate of the value on current prices of the coal reserves remaining in Yorkshire and in the Selby coalfield.

The latest estimate made by the National Coal Board of proven economically workable reserves in Yorkshire, made a year ago, was 1,200 miilion tons This estimate is being reviewed to take account of changed circumstances. No realistic estimate can yet be given for the Selby field as further exploratory work is required to establish the full size of the economically workable reserves.The average realisation price for Yorkshire coal was £6·80p per ton in January 1974. The price of Yorkshire coal was increased by about 48 per cent. on 1st April.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of recoverable reserves and of likely output by 1980 in respect of each oil or gas field so far discovered in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the capital investment cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of each kilowatt of additional generating capacity.

This is a matter for the board and I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member giving its latest estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, following his Department's sponsorship of the recent Oil North Exhibition in Northern England, he will propose holding similar ventures in Scotland to assist Scottish industry to reap the industrial benefits of Scotland's oil.

I will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he intends to introduce legislation to ensure that all recoverable waste is recycled for industrial use.

The Government recognise the importance of securing the maximum economic recovery of waste materials and are considering how to improve the co-ordination of activities in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on his consideration of legislation to increase the recovery of waste paper.

I am aware of the concern felt in some sectors of the paper industry because of the current high demand for waste paper, and my officials are in close touch with both users and collectors. I am not, however, considering any specific legislation to increase recovery at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will take steps to assist the motor car industry, in view of the adverse balance of trade in cars with other member countries of the EEC.

The car industry is a major contributor to the United Kingdom balance of payments and its total exports greatly exceed total imports of vehicles and components. My Department is in regular contact with the car industry on ways of improving this performance still further.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many tons or lengths of large steel tubes have been imported for the North Sea oil operations during each of the past three years; what are the diameters of such tubes; and what are the names of the exporting countries.

Information about the use of imported steel tubes is not available. The Overseas Trade Statistics (73.18) record imports for all purposes of steel tubes with an internal diameter exceeding 152mm. The table below gives tonnage of imports of such tubes by country of origin.

IMPORTS INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF SEAMLESS AND WELDED TUBES AND PIPES OF IRON (OTHER THAN CAST IRON) OR STEEL EXCEEDING 152MM IN INTERNAL DIAMETER
'000 tonnes
Country of Origin	1971	1972	1973
Germany, Western	1·8	28·9	132·7
Italy	10·5	0·4	39·0
Netherlands	5·9	5·3	21·5
Belgium	0·2	1·0	7·4
Other European countries	4·0	6·7	6·5
U.S.A.	2·5	0·9	23·2
Japan	31·7	61·9	81·7
Other countries	0·2	0·1	0·8
All Sources	56·8	105·2	312·8

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if his Department has liaison arrangements with the Department of the Environment as to the zoning of sufficient land for storage and warehouse purposes, adjacent to motorways.

The zoning of land adjacent to motorways is the responsibility of the local planning authorities whose development and structure plans require the approval of the Secretary of State for the Environment. I am satisfied that there are effective liaison arrangements between the two Departments on such matters, at all appropriate levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many vessels were on order at British shipyards at the most recent date for which figures are available; what was the estimated value of these contracts; and if he will give comparable figures for the same date in each of the previous 10 years.

The information is as follows:

MERCHANT VESSELS OF 100 GROSS TONS AND OVER ON ORDER IN UNITED KINGDOM SHIPYARDS
(£m.)
			Number	Value
31st December:
1963	…	…	286	281
1964	…	…	306	316
1965	…	…	321	343
1966	…	…	254	267
1967	…	…	180	230
1968	…	…	233	401
1969	…	…	285	588
1970	…	…	336	737
1971	…	…	256	678
1972	…	…	220	643
1973	…	…	375	1,402

Information on naval vessels cannot be given for security reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his policy in relation to industrial development certificates in the Market Harborough area; and, in particular, if he will confirm that no industrial development certificate is required for a light industrial unit there of less than 15,000 sq. ft. in extent.

An industrial development certificate is not required at present for the industrial floor space to be created by the development in question, together with any other industrial floor space created or to be created by a related development, which does not exceed, so far as Market Harborough is concerned, 15,000 sq. ft. Each application for an industrial development certificate is considered on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give a general direction to the British Steel Corporation to give priority to manufacturers requiring steel for goods intended for export.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling (Mr. Stanley) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will introduce a bill to make exclusion clauses in contracts for services unenforceable.

The report of the Law Commissions on this matter is expected later this year. We shall then consider urgently what action is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will take action to control the prices of imported commodities and raw materials.

While there are some exceptions, prices of imported commodities and raw materials are already subject to the Price Code after first sale into the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will examine regional variations in bread prices, such as the extra 1p per loaf traditionally charged west of the River Conway to cover a bridge toll no longer payable; and seek to eliminate such anomalies.

I am aware of the regional variations in bread prices and that prices tend to be higher in remote rural areas. This is a factor we shall need to examine in implementing the price regulation provisions of the Prices Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will ascertain and publish how many officers are employed in each of the local weights and measures authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.

This is a matter for the local weights and measures authorities, but I am asking for the information to be held centrally in my Department. This will take a little time to gather.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will undertake a special study of the relatively higher prices of foodstuffs and fuels in rural areas to ascertain whether special measures should be introduced to hold down prices in those areas.

The Government's first priority must be the restraint of price increases. This is being pursued by measures of general application which, as a package, are intended to bring relief to all areas. I am, however, considering whether special measures are necessary in remote areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will publish a table showing price movements of the following foodstuffs in Great Britain in 1973, and if she will compare these price movements with those of the same foodstuffs in (a) the EEC as a whole, and (b) the rest of the world for the same period: wheat, beef, pork, butter, sugar, milk, eggs, and animal foodstuffs.

Information which is readily available is provided in the following table. For some commodities representative "world" prices and average prices for the EEC as a whole are not available. In these cases price quotations on important markets have been included.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will state her policy towards the use by retailers of butter coupons in connection with promotional discounts.

I welcome all reductions in food prices, including the special offer by a leading supermarket chain which is currently helping low-income families by effectively doubling the value of the butter coupons.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what estimate she has made of the additional labour force which will be required to enable her Department, the Price Commission and local authorities to fulfil their new responsibilities under the Prices Bill; and what will be the aggregate additional cost to the Exchequer and ratepayers, respectively.

The explanatory and financial memorandum published with the Bill includes such estimates as are possible. The additional cost, if any, to local authorities would depend on the number of orders made under the Bill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ban the import of pâté de foie gras.

I know of no present evidence to justify such action.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outlook for milk prices to the farmer, bearing in mind new fertiliser prices and the Government's policies towards subsidies for producers and consumers.

Producer returns for milk depend primarily upon the guaranteed price determined by the previous administration, and are not affected by the consumer subsidies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much revenue would accrue if the existing cost of a dog licence were trebled; and whether he will consider taking such action.

Assuming that the number of licences remained unchanged the answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question would be about £2 million more in Egland and Wales; i.e., £3 million in all. On the second part I would refer him to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to the Hon. Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Evelyn King) on 21st March 1974.—[Vol. 870, c. 136–7.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of concern among farmers that present policy gives no guarantee of a floor to the price of beef; and if he will make a statement on the Government's position on this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 3rd April 1974.—[Vol. 871, c. 388–9.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect upon beef production he estimates the present level of slaughtering in the breeding herds will have.

The effect of the current levels of cow slaughtering on future beef production will depend on the replacement plans of individual producers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether research at the Burnham Laboratories on the cultivation of Pacific oysters which have no close season indicates that all the year round oysters are a commercial possibility;(2) what progress is being made in oyster cultivation research at the Burnham Laboratories.

A major part of the oyster research programme is devoted to making an economic assessment of the growing-on of Pacific oysters seed produced in British hatcheries. Disease control studies are also undertaken. These investigations provide some hope that, with further refinement, culture all the year round of Pacific oysters may prove to be a commercial possibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will increase the amount of foreign labour for the hotel and catering industry so as to help overcome the present staff shortages.

Following consultations my Department informed the industry at the beginning of March that certain relaxations would be made in its work permit arrangements for the current year.The quota of permits for men is being kept at 5,000. Its allocation has been made more flexible by the reservation of 1,600 permits for establishments which have not previously qualified for an individual quota or which can justify an addition to their existing entitlement.The two years previous experience required for hotel domestics has been reduced to one year.Employers no longer have to advertise their vacancies before permits are issued and the procedure for checking the availability of local labour has been speeded up. I hope that these measures will help the industry to deal with its staffing difficulties and to continue its efforts to become more attractive to British workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will hold an investigation into the movement of workers away from firms and companies in Moray and Nairn into oil-related industries.

The Department of Political Economy at Aberdeen University is already carrying out a study into the economic and social impact of North Sea oil developments. While the development of oil-related industries in the area has caused difficulties for some local firms, the impact in Moray and Nairn has also included a welcome fall in unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of days lost through strikes in the British shipbuilding industry in the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years.

Following is the available information:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: UNITED KINGDOM, SHIPBUILDING AND MARINE ENGINEERING*
					Working days lost in all stoppages in progress
1973†	…	…	…	…	267,000
1972	…	…	…	…	796,000
1971	…	…	…	…	563,000
1970	…	…	…	…	410,000
1969	…	…	…	…	192,000
1968	…	…	…	…	356,000
1967	…	…	…	…	153,000
1966	…	…	…	…	31,000
1965	…	…	…	…	165,000
1964	…	…	…	…	152,000
1963	…	…	…	…	103,000
* Order X of Standard Industrial Classification 1968 (1970–1973). Order VII of Standard Industrial Classification 1958 (1963–1969).
† Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the ratio of days lost in strikes per 1,000 men employed in the most recent annual period for which figures are available, under the following heads: shipbuilding, mining, engineering, car manufacturing, and all manufacturing industries; and if he can provide comparable figures for each of the previous ten years.

Following is the available information:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: UNITED KINGDOM
		Working days lost per 1,000 employees*
	…	1973†	1972	1971	1970	1969	1968	1967	1966	1965	1964	1963
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering	…	1,450	4,300	2,900	2,050	1,000	1,800	750	150	750	700	450
Coalmining	…	275	32,700	175	3,050	2,700	125	225	225	750	500	550
Engineering	…	700	1,450	650	750	450	550	200	125	175	150	100
Motor Vehicles‡	…	4,250	2,750	6,150	2,150	3,100	1,800	1,000	650	1,650	850	650
All Manufacturing Industries	…	750	1,000	800	750	475	425	175	100	225	175	100
* These rates are calculated on estimates of employees in employment which prior to 1971 were based on counts of national insurance cards and from 1971 were based on the annual censuses of employment. The census-based employment figures are somewhat lower and this gives rather higher incidence rates. For example, the rates for 1971 for shipbuilding and marine engineering, engineering, motor vehicles and all manufacturing industries, respectively, if based on card count figures, would have been 2,800,600, 6,100 and 750. The rate for coal mining would have been the same.
† Provisional.
‡ Prior to 1970 includes cycles.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were employed in British shipbuilding and ship-repairing establishments at the most recent date for which figures are available; how many shipbuilding workers were unemployed at the same date ; and if he will give comparable figures for the same date in each of the previous 10 years.

The latest monthly estimate of employment is for January 1974 and is shown below with that for January 1973. Earlier figures are shown at June each year because of discontinuities in the series, the effects of which have been estimated at that date in the years concerned.

SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP-REPAIRING IN GREAT BRITAIN
		Employees in employment	Unemployed who last worked in the industry
June 1964	…	147,800	9,958
June 1965	…	152,400	5,063
June 1966—
(a)	…	153,100	3,962
(b)	…	153,700
June 1967	…	152,300	7,939
June 1968	…	149,500	7,878
June 1969—
(a)	…	144,000	6,884
(b)	…	153,200
June 1970	…	156,200	7,607
June 1971—
(a)	…	159,400	7,797
(b)	…	152,700
June 1972	…	148,800	9,953
January 1973	…	145,900*	9,027
January 1974	…	146,100*	6,356
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employers in the Basildon constituency are not employing the 3 per cent. quota of disabled persons without a permit.

None in the area covered by the Basildon employment office; but information is not available for Basildon constituency as such.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the failure of the Pay Board to answer letters from hon. Members within one calendar month, he will dismiss the chairman.

No. The chairman of the board is responsible for ensuring that Members of Parliament receive replies as quickly as possible. It would not be practicable to lay down a rigid time limit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the Employment Agencies Act will come into force.

As the hon. Member may know, various regulations need to be made before the Act can come into force. Preparation of these is proceeding and I hope to be able to start consultations with interested bodies on them fairly soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the prescribed limits of exposure to vinyl chloride of workers in the chemical industry; if he is satisfied that existing regulations in this respect are sufficient; and if he will make a statement.

There are no prescribed limits of exposure to vinyl chloride in the United Kingdom. In general the Factories Act 1961 requires protective measures to prevent injury to health from all dust and fume and an acceptable standard of hygiene control is assessed in the light of current medical knowledge and of threshold limit values as published in my Department's Technical Data Note No. 2.The published threshold limit value for vinyl chloride is 200 parts per million. This was set when acro-osteolysis was recognised as the main specific hazard from exposure but it is not now thought appropriate because wider risks including carcinogenicity have very recently been identified as associated with the industrial use of vinyl chloride. The experiments which first drew attention to these greater risks have been negative at 50 parts per million but further consideration is necessary before this figure could be put forward as a hygiene standard.Medical advisers of my Department have started work on an epidemiological study among those who have worked with vinyl chloride in this country and are in close touch with those conducting a similar study in the United States of America. In the United Kingdom only one worker exposed has been identified as having suffered the rare form of liver tumour associated with vinyl chloride, although the substance has been widely used for some 30 years. Further experiments are in progress and medical advisers are being kept informed of their results.Inspectors of factories have made extensive inquiries at the six factories where vinyl chloride is processed in this country. They report very great activity by these firms in making improvements in environmental control, and this progress indicates that 50 parts per million is an attainable level in existing plant.I am satisfied that the Factories Act 1961 provides sufficient powers to enforce suitable control measures for this substance.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average waiting time for placement by registrants with the Professional and Executive Register in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent.

It is not possible to quote an average time as this varies greatly according to the supply and demand position and to individual circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied that the Professional and Executive Register is fulfilling the purpose for which it was established; and if he has any plans for expansion or other alterations.

Yes. PER in its first year of operation has been well received, and has been increasingly used by both employers and those seeking appointments. No fundamental changes are envisaged, but improvement, development and expansion are the continuing aims.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many professional and executive registrants have been placed, broken down by years, and what approximate percentage this is of the total United Kingdom executive placements.

Placings by PER in its first year of operation totalled 8,064. There are no strictly comparable figures for earlier years, but the placings figures of the old P & E service for the five years up to the end of 1972 are as follows:

1972	…	…	…	…	10,153
1971	…	…	…	…	12,359
1970	…	…	…	…	12,704
1969	…	…	…	…	11,624
1968	…	…	…	…	10,608

There is no reliable information on the total annual number of United Kingdom executive placements, but it is estimated that PER placings account for roughly 5 per cent. of all such engagements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total annual cost of the Professional and Executive Register broken down for each year of its existence; and what were the total fees received from employers.

The estimated cost of PER in its first year of operation is £2,580,000. Fee paying, although introduced on 1st June 1973, did not become fully operative until 1st November 1973. To date income from fees is £696,000, and is currently running at an annual rate of £l·2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what proportion of total average weekly expenditure is accounted for by butter and margarine, shown separately, among pensioner households, households with three or more children, and households with a weekly income of under £20, £20 to £50. and over £50, respectively:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will set up a committee of inquiry into the possibility of fire risk in all

The following information is from the Family Expenditure Survey. It is not possible to distinguish separately convenience foods as defined by the National Food Survey.schools built in any form of prefabricated construction; and if he will make a statement.

No. The fire risk in schools is kept under continuous review by the Department in consultation with local education authorities and the advisory bodies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the estimated cost of promoting a national campaign to eliminate functional illiteracy.

No such estimate has been made.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the sums of money spent by each Government Department on insertions in newspapers; and what papers they were in the last quarter for which he has information.

The information as requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. However, in the financial year 1973–74 the total amount spent on newspaper and magazine advertising undertaken by the Central Office of Information on behalf of other Government Departments was £8,205,500. During the period January-March 1974, the following newspapers were used:>

• Daily Newspapers
• Daily Express
• Daily Mail
• Daily Mirror
• Daily Telegraph
• Evening News
• Evening Standard
• Financial Times
• Glasgow Daily Record
• The Guardian
• The Times
• Sun

• Sunday Newspapers
• Glasgow Sunday Mail
• News of the World
• Observer
• People
• Sunday Express
• Sunday Mirror
• Sunday Telegraph
• Sunday Times

Supplements to the

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state how many units of housing accommodation are owned by his Department at North Weald; and how many are at present unoccupied.

There are 39 married quarters for officers and 186 for other ranks at North Weald; 15 officers' quarters and 55 other ranks' quarters are vacant at present. The former are to be disposed of and 52 of the latter will be occupied shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the granting of planning consent to garage a heavy goods vehicle in a residential area constitutes a major change of use; and whether it then becomes a commercial or light industrial zone.

If planning consent has been granted then the presumption is that a change of use of the building or land concerned was involved. But this would not affect the allocation of the land in the development plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what public funds are being paid to the National Federation of Women's Institutes in the current financial year.

The National Federation of Women's Institutes will receive £9,500 from the development fund and £6,000 from the Department of Education and Science in the current financial year. The two grants together are expected to amount to no more than 10 per cent. of the federation's total expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider recommending the use of mobile flashing hazard warning systems for cars and heavy goods vehicles; and if he will introduce measures to avoid multiple accidents.

I believe the most effective method of making vehicles more conspicuous in fog is the fitting of high intensity red rear fog lamps. Flashing red or amber rear lights would be much less penetrating and would risk confusion with turning or braking signals.On the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Lady to my replies to the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris) on 19th March.—[Vol. 870, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce regulations to make rear mud-flags on road vehicles and lateral mud-flaps on large lorries compulsory.

No. Experiments by my Department's Transport and Road Research Laboratory have shown that neither mudguards nor mudflaps can trap spray which is thrown out sideways between the tyres and the road surface, while side protection presents problems for the cooling and accessibility of brakes and tyres. Research is nevertheless continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for how long he intends to maintain the present freeze on rents.

The present standstill on rent increases runs to the end of 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to widen public understanding of the procedures for and effects of compulsory purchase orders, in particular the position and rights of the individuals; and if he will make a statement.

As announced in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) on 25th March—[Vol. 871, c. 37.]—I have begun the issue of a series of booklets specially designed to give guidance for those who are, or may be, affected by public works. They deal in particular with the rights of individuals and the benefits they may be able to obtain. People who are anxious to know about their entitlement to compensation or to be rehoused can get the booklets at their local council offices or citizens' advice bureaux.Local authorities have been specially asked to give the earliest and fullest possible information about the reasons for making an order and its effect, including the justification for resorting to compulsory purchase and information about rehousing. I am not aware that there is any widespread misunderstanding of the procedures but if my hon. Friend has any evidence of this I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to the new authorities urging them to allow rate relief to charities and sports clubs; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 5th April 1974 to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Rossi)—[Vol. 871, c. 456.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement on the membership of the Welwyn Hatfield Committee of the Commission for the New Towns.

Appointments to the committee are made by the Commission for the New Towns with my right hon. Friend's approval. We are studying proposals made by the commission and shall be in touch with it in due course. We do not expect to make any announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the delays in the holding of public inquiries into aspects of the planning process, what proposals he has to expedite such procedures.

These delays are attributable to the backlog of planning appeals and in this connexion I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 3rd April 1974 to the hon. and gallant Member for Winchester (Rear-Admiral Morgan-Giles).—[Vol. 871, c. 363].

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will review the present arrangements for authorising disabled persons to drive, particularly the amendment to Regulation 8, whereby medical practitioners are asked to provide a certificate of competence.

Applications for licences for disabled drivers are always treated as sympathetically as possible. The recent amendment to regulations to which the hon. Member refers does not have the effect which he implies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans with respect to the proposed relief road around, and to the east of, Broadway, Worcestershire.

Hereford and Worcester County Council is the highway authority for this scheme. It will no doubt consider it for inclusion in its transport policies and programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now give the date upon which construction work will start on the Wickham Market bypass on the Al2 trunk road.

No. I am now reviewing the priority of this scheme within the programme in the light of the funds likely to be available over the next few years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for planning registers to be made available for inspection by section in each local authority office of the district council to which the section relates, and not only at a district council's planning office, and further to maintain part I registers for separate localities in order to allow full public participation in planning.

Planning registers are required by statute to be kept by the new district planning authorities at their offices. However, there is provision enabling sections of the register to be kept at convenient places within the district, and district planning authorities have been urged to take advantage of this provision, which can apply to both Parts I and II of the register. Because circumstances will vary from district to district it was not possible to make this a statutory requirement. I accept, however, that easy access to the register is essential if the public are to be adequately informed of planinng proposals and I am sure that the authorities will have this very much in mind in adopting arrangements suited to their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the age at which concessionary fares for young people are permitted by transport undertakings in Scotland; and if he will take steps to ensure that transport undertakings under his jurisdiction apply concessionary fares to coincide with the minimum age for leaving school.

My Department does not collect this information. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey) on 3rd April. —[Vol. 871, c. 1235–6.]