asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will relieve the works of living artists from VAT.

No, but I shall continue to keep the coverage of value added tax under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now take steps to relieve women's institutes of liability for VAT on their members' subscriptions.

I am aware of the excellent work done by women's institutes and have considered carefully the requests for relief from VAT. I have concluded, however, that it would not be right to amend the relevant legal provisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why value added tax is charged on cesspool emptying services by a local council and not on other services provided by the environmental health office.

Most local authority activities are caried out in pursuance of their statutory obligations and are outside the scope of VAT. Where, however, they supply goods or services which are comparable with taxable supplies made in the private sector by way of business —for example, cesspool emptying for a charge—their supplies are taxed in the same way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to raising the level of turnover below which VAT registration is not required.

The legal provisions relating to VAT are kept under continuous review. I have no plans at present to alter the level of turnover below which registration is not required.Mr. Tierney asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make an exemption order from VAT of subscription charges paid by members of the National Federation of Women's Institutes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 10th June.—[Vol. 874, c. 421.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make an exemption order from VAT on payments made for meals and accommodation at youth hostels.

I regret that I am unable to make the concession suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to review the findings of his Budget Statement in the light of economic trends in recent months.

The Budget judgment is under continuous review. My right hon. Friend has consistently maintained the need for this in the present uncertain economic situation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give a repayment rate for 3 1\2 per cent. War Loan stock at par sufficiently distant as not to affect materially the present value of the stock in such a way as not to vary the terms but at the same time to ensure the ultimate repayment of the loan.

No. To do so would amount to altering the terms of issue. There are other important objections. The sums involved in redeeming War Loan and other undated stocks are so large that fixing a redemption date would have serious implications for the policies of the Government of the time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of forms P11D submitted by employers to provide the Inland Revenue with details of the benefits received by their employees (a) in respect of the first year after form P11D was introduced in 1948 and (b) in the most recent year.

Information for the first year after the introduction of the form P11D is not available. The most recent year for which figures can be given is 1972–73; up to April 1974 approximately ¾ million forms P11D had been received for this year. This figure includes forms for directors but excludes forms showing a nil return.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the additional cost to ratepayers in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1974–75 in consequence of increased fuel, postal, telephone, and electricity charges and other price increases announced in the Budget.

The increases in coal, electricity, postal, telecommunications and rail charges to which my right hon. Friend referred in the Budget are forecast to yield about £900 million in 1974–75 and the increased steel prices about £280 million. I have no information on the cost to ratepayers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy towards fiscal drag.

The Government's policy is to do as much as economic circumstances allow to mitigate or offset the effects of fiscal drag.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the underlying rate of inflation in the British economy measured as an annual rate of inflation; and how this compares with the same rate one year ago.

The all-items RPI figure for April 1974 showed an increase of 15.2 per cent. on the figure for April 1973. This compares with an increase between April 1972 and April 1973 of 92 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any proposals for a tax credit system.

I cannot add at this stage to what my right hon. Friend said in his Budget Statement.—[Vol. 871, c. 312.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will include in his autumn Finance Bill proposals imposing an excess profits levy on the profits of oil companies.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion, but I cannot anticipate the statement of Government policy promised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy in the debate on offshore oil on 2nd April.— [Vol. 871, c. 1111.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received that a top marginal rate of taxation on earned income of 83 per cent. lowers output on investment and asking him to change his proposals in this regard; and what replies he has sent.

I have received some representations to this effect. As my right hon. Friend said in his Budget Statement—[Vol. 871, c. 322]—he thinks it right that the heaviest burdens should be placed on the broadest backs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the extra annual amount of taxation that smaller businesses will have to pay under the new system of corporation tax compared with the old system in spite of the relief given by the 40 per cent. rate for the past, and the proposed 42 per cent. rate in the future.

I am afraid that there is no information available which makes possible a useful estimate of how much more tax will be payable by small companies—that is, companies qualifying for relief under Section 95 of the Finance Act 1972—under my right hon. Friend's Budget proposals than would have been payable if the system in force before April 1973 had continued. However, small companies as a group, considered together with their shareholders, would have borne less tax with the 40 per cent. illustrative: rate than they would have done under the old system, and it is unlikely that, as a group, even with a rate of 42 per cent. they will pay more.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was his Budget estimate of the revenue he will receive from the excise duty and value added tax on petrol in the current financial year; and what revenue he received from this source in the previous financial year.

The Budget estimate of hydrocarbon oil duty in 1974–75 on light oils, mainly petrol, was about £1,130 million. The estimate for VAT on road fuel was about £105 million. It is provisionally estimated that in 1973–74 receipts of duty on light oil were about £1,100 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the Budget has had on building society funds; if the Wessex Permanent Building Society has informed him that it is raising its rate to 11¾ per cent.; if he will list those societies which have intimated that they do not wish to use the recent offer of Government help to keep interest down; and if he will make a statement.

The net inflow of funds to building societies has shown a substantial improvement since the Budget; this together with the short-term loan facility arranged by the Government has enabled the societies to offer a welcome increase in commitments for new mortgages. 163 of the 344 eligible building societies, representing 87 per cent. of the assets of those eligible, have accepted some loan assistance, and this carries the obligation not to announce an increase in mortgage rates for a month after acceptance. The Wessex Permanent Building Society was not one of these, and had no obligation to report to the Government any proposed change in mortgage interest rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to return to a fixed parity for sterling; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no such intention at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the administrative arrangements for the taxation of companies and individuals with an address in the Isle of Man.

I am always prepared to consider suggestions for improving the administration of the tax system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has given consideration to increasing the annual limit of 5 per cent. on increases in equity dividends in light of the current rate of inflation; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have not come to any decision on the future of dividend controls. This will need to be considered not only in relation to our intention to review the Price Code and to end the statutory controls on pay but also in the context of the Government's general policy towards industrial investment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any further works of art have recently been accepted in lieu of estate duty under the provisions of Section 34 of the Finance Act 1956.

Yes. Two paintings, namely, "A Shooting Party at Meggernie" by Richard Ansdell, and "Portrait of Isabella, Countess of Sefton" by Thomas Gainsborough, and a drawing, "The Story of William Tell" by Josef Anton Koch, have been accepted. The total cost borne by the National Land Fund after allowing for relief from estate duty and capital gains tax is £116,550. An announcement on destination will be made by the Minister for the Arts in due course.

Miss Richardson asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ensure that the public are at all times fully consulted in the drawing up of plans for their survival after nuclear attack.

Local authorities prepare plans to provide and maintain essential public services in the event of a nuclear attack and it is for them to judge what consultation is needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the nature of any amplification of his published statement of 1st June which he made to intermediaries and on the strength of which—when conveyed to them—the Price sisters and others ended their hunger strikes; and what account he took at the time of other Irish prisoners in Great Britain claiming political status.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assurances, if any, were given to Lord Brockway, the hon. Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard) and Mr. Devlin as to the circumstances in which, and date when, the Price sisters might be transferred to Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement on the position of the Price sisters.

On 1st June I issued a statement, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, designed to set out my considered view of the position. My hon. Friend, the Member for St. Pancras, North (Mr. Stallard), Lord Brockway and Mr. Devlin asked to see me on 5th June. They sought to clarify that part of my statement which read:

"I believe it would be possible and reasonable for them"—

the Price sisters—

"to serve the bulk of their long sentences near their homes".

I told my hon. Friend and his colleagues that there was no question of negotiation; that I could not and would not change or go beyond my statement in any way; and that I could not deal with the Price sisters in isolation. In this context I explained that the time scale I had in mind when I made my statement of 1st June was a transfer to Northern Ireland in the course of this year, during which period, as I had stated on 19th March and again to the House on 23rd May— [Vol. 874, c. 600]—a move from Brixton would in any event become necessary. I made it clear that such a transfer would inevitably be subject to there being no great outbreak of violence or deterioration in the security situation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communications he has had from the various sections of the fishing industry regarding the damage to trawling gear caused by the activities of oil companies in the North Sea, particularly regarding the fouling of nets upon fixed pipelines on the sea bed; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations about damage in the vicinity of North Sea oil operations, though not about the fouling of nets on pipelines.My Department maintains liaison with United Kingdom offshore oil operators to minimise the possibility of damage to fishing gear from oil drilling and associated operations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the current position with regard to the proposed new fish quay at North Shields and the Government's commitment to grant aid for this project.

I understand that the Port of Tyne Authority is at present in consultation with the new metropolitan district of North Tyneside following local government reorganisation as the scheme is to some extent dependent on their cooperation. Certain statutory consents are also necessary. We await further information before deciding, having regard to the need for constraint on public expenditure, whether to grant-aid the scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will set out in tabular form the number of pig slaughterings for each month since January 1973.

The following is the information up to and including April 1974, the latest whole month for which figures are available:

Pig Slaughterings, United Kingdom				'000 head
1973
January	…	…	…	1,422 (a)
February	…	…	…	1,166
March	…	…	…	1,176
April	…	…	…	1,420 (a)
May	…	…	…	1,131
June	…	…	…	1,103
July	…	…	…	1,402 (a)
August	…	…	…	1,133
September	…	…	…	1,248
October	…	…	…	1,535 (a)
November	…	…	…	1,198
December	…	…	…	1,147
1974
January	…	…	…	1,468 (a)
February	…	…	…	1,240
March	…	…	…	1,258
April	…	…	…	1,520 (a)
(a) 5-week months

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the control of potato wart disease in gardens and allotments.

The need to control potato wart disease has long been recognised in Great Britain, and it has been a notifiable disease for some 70 years. The discovery that some potato varieties are immune to the disease has helped to keep it very much in check, but when it does occur it is extremely persistent. It is therefore in the interests of all who grow potatoes—in gardens and allotments as well as on a commercial scale—for crops to be kept free from the disease.The latest measure for control of the disease is the Wart Disease of Potatoes (Great Britain) Order 1973. This makes different provisions for gardens and allotments from those applying to farms. On farms, when wart disease is found no potatoes at all may be grown on infected land, nor may plants be removed for transplanting elsewhere. In addition, in a surrounding safety zone only immune

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing parity for all public service pensioners.

It is estimated that the immediate annual cost of introducing parity for all public service pensioners, including the Armed Forces, would be about £200 million.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will introduce legislation to give the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (1) the power to enforce his decisions, (2) the right to be approached directly by citizens, and (3) the right to provide the complainant with a copy of his report and to publish the same.

No. Apart from the constitutional objections to the first suggestion, the proposed legislation would weaken the parliamentary nature of the present system and the role of individual hon. Members in relation to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will extend his freeze on gas price increases in Scotland's case until such time as the present differential in domestic gas prices between Scotland and England is eradicated.

No. The request to British Gas to refrain from seeking a price increase for the time being related to counter-inflation policy, not to tariff formulation, which is a matter for the corporation. I am asking the Chairman of British Gas to write to the hon. Member about the level of domestic prices in Scotland.

Ewing asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many exploration licences to search for fossil fuel have been granted in respect of the land mass in Scotland.

Five licences are in force permitting exploration for petroleum.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the power stations built in Wales.

A list of all publicly-owned power stations in England and Wales is shown, region by region, in Table 6 of the CEGB Annual Report 1972–73 Volume 2 (Statistical Digest and Detailed Accounts). A copy of this publication is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the average output per manshift from the United Kingdom mining industry during the latest period of seven weeks for which figures are available; and what was the figure for the corresponding period of 1973.

Average output per manshift overall for National Coal Board mines for the seven weeks ending 1st June 1974 was 43·47 cwt. The figure for the corresponding period of 1973 was 46.62 cwt.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the expenditure in the most recent convenient year on support for combined cadet forces at (a) independent schools, (b) direct grant schools, (c) maintained secondary schools, and (d) other establishments.

In 1973–74 the total cost of the Combined Cadet Force was about £18 million. The force is based on 274 schools and it is not possible to attribute a proportion of cost to each school or, therefore, to any group of schools. However, I shall write to my hon. Friend giving him the numbers of each type of school as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost to the taxpayer in a full year of paying for potential officer cadets at independent schools in the most recent convenient year.

In 1973–74 the cost of grants towards school fees in respect of pupils at independent schools who were holders of Service scholarships was a little under £30,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates to be the total annual disbursements paid by his Department to independent schools.

There are no regular payments from Defence Votes direct to schools, as distinct from payments to individual parents and scholars, or payments to the Combined Cadet Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many potential officer cadets his Department is paying for at independent schools.

The parents of 136 holders of Service scholarships who are pupils at independent schools are at present receiving grants towards their school fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT (a) the independent schools,(b) the maintained secondary schools, and (c) the direct grant schools at which his Department makes arrangements for the education of potential officer cadets.

Scholarships are not awarded at particular schools. Any boy at any school which offers A-level courses may be awarded a Service scholarship. Besides the 136 scholarship holders at present attending independent schools, another 23 attend direct grant schools, and a further 205 attend other types of school.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what average proportion of each of the following ranks completes 37 years' reckonable service and is discharged at that rank, (a) private, (b) corporal, (c) sergeant, (d) staff sergeant, (e) W.O. Class II, (d) W.O. Class I, (g) captain, (f) major, (i) colonel and (k) major-general.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average length of service, on retirement or prematurely voluntary retirement, in Her Majesty's Forces for each of the following ranks, (a) private, (b) corporal, (c) sergeant, (d) staff sergeant, (e) W.O. Class II, (f) W.O. Class I, (g) captain, (h) major, (i) colonel and (k) major-general.

I regret that the relevant figures are not readily available and that to analyse individual records for this purpose would entail a disproportionate amount of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what programme of visits and demonstrations has currently been made for the Royal Naval field gun crews.

Three Royal Naval field gun crews will participate in the Royal Tournament next month. In addition, a number of training sessions are open to the public and a Royal Naval display team which tours the country also organises field gun competitions. I shall write to the hon. Member giving further details.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will set out in tabular form the terminal grants payable at present to the following personnel, private, corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, W.O. Class II, W.O. Class I, captain, major, colonel and major-general, on the basis of completing reckonable service for (a) 22, (b) 25, (c) 29, (d) 33 and (e) 35 years; and what will be the equivalent figures after the proposed pay increases have been implemented.

The figures set out in the table below are taken from the 1973 and

Terminal Grants
			Reckonable Service (years)
Rank		Pension Code	22	25	29	33	35
			£	£	£	£	£
Private	…	1973	1,827	2,019	2,274	2,529	2,658
		1974	2,046	2,259	2,547	2,832	2,973
Corporal	…	1973	2,220	2,454	2,763	3,075	3,228
		1974	2,475	2,733	3,081	3,426	3,597
Sergeant	…	1973	2,472	2,730	3,075	3,420	3,591
		1974	2,757	3,045	3,429	3,816	4,008
Staff Sergeant	…	1973	2,649	2,925	3,297	3,666	3,849
		1974	3,048	3,366	3,792	4,215	4,428
W. O. Class II	…	1973	2,718	3,012	3,408	3,801	3,996
		1974	3,117	3,453	3,903	4,350	4,575
W. O. Class I	…	1973	2,835	3,159	3,588	4,020	4,233
		1974	3,342	3,720	4,221	4,725	4,974
							34 years maximum)
Captain	…	1973	3,621	3,987	4,470	4,956	5,076
		1974	4,050	4,452	4,992	5,532	5,667
Major	…	1973	4,248	4,701	5,307	5,913	6,063
		1974	4,770	5,280	5,961	6,642	6,813
Colonel	…	1973	6,504	7,224	8,184	9,144	9,384
		1974	7,029	7,800	8,826	9,852	10,107
Major-General	…	1973*	—	10,392	11,592	12,792	13,092
* The 1973 code remains applicable senior officers for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received the views of the TUC relating to means designed to increase day release and block release facilities for young persons under the age of 18 years; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend recently met the TUC Education Committee and had a useful exchange of views on this subject. He has invited it to prepare a statement of its views as a basis for further discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is ready to make a statement about the report of the committee of inquiry into the education of the visually handicapped.

Yes. The most far-reaching recommendation was for "a national plan" for special schools and other educational services for the visually handicapped. It was envisaged that planning would be carried out within each region and merely co-ordinated at the centre, and I believe that there is great scope for regional planning. My Department hopes to promote regional conferences in the first half of 1975 at which LEAs will be invited to review with the voluntary bodies concerned the needs of all types of handicap, including visual, within their region. The recommendations in this report will no doubt be taken into account, including the need for further systematic experiments with the education of visually handicapped children in ordinary schools.On curriculum development and research, the Schools Council has agreed that project directors should be asked to bear in mind the special needs of visually handicapped pupils when preparing materials, and provision has already been made for the materials of two projects to be adapted for partially-sighted pupils. The council has also agreed to support a project, starting in September 1974 at Birmingham University, in training the visual perception of the partially sighted and of blind children with some residual vision. The National Foundation for Educational Research will start at the same time, with practical assistance from the Birmingham Research Centre, a study of forms of educational provision for visually handicapped children, with special attention to questions of integration in ordinary schools.I have decided to accept the recommendation that teachers—other than existing teachers of the partially sighted —who wish to make a career in teaching the partially sighted should be required to obtain a further teaching qualification through a full-time or a part-time course. This will place teachers of the partially sighted in the same position as teachers of the blind, the deaf and the partially hearing. Discussions are being held with the bodies concerned about the training facilities to give effect to a compulsory training requirement. My Department will issue in due course a circular about the arrangements for this and about action arising from other recommendations which were addressed to Government Departments.I should like to pay tribute to Professor Vernon and her committee for their work in producing this report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many trained teachers for autistic children are at present in post; how many are in training; and if he will make a statement.

Information is not collected in this form. No teachers are trained exclusively for work with autistic children, who are in many cases educated alongside those with other handicaps. At present about 690 teachers are attending one-year courses of in-service training in the education of the handicapped. On some courses it is possible for a student to make a specialist study of autism and some consideration of the subject is given on most.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the hon. Member for Melton may expect a reply to his letter of 5th April regarding the replacement of the primary school in Bottesford, Leicestershire.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary wrote to the hon. Member on 25th April. As he seems not to have seen the letter I am sending him a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce details of the major capital building programme for schools in Cornwall for 1974–75 and 1975–76, respectively.

Circular 8/74, which sets out the procedures to be followed for the major school building programme during the period 1st July 1974 to 30th June 1975, was issued on 12th June. Allocations of resources will be notified to local education authorities shortly. Arrangements for the period following 30th June 1975 have yet to be decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated number of people working on shift work arrangements in (a) Birmingham and (b) the West Midlands.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the working population is estimated to be employed in firms employing less than 1,000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 10 persons, or such other convenient groups for which estimates are available; and what are the estimated total numbers in each group.

Information is not available precisely in the form requested. However, an anlysis has been made relating to the units in the census of employment. These units are either complete individual addresses, such as single shops, offices or factories, or are parts of these addresses. They are therefore somewhat more numerous and on average smaller than firms, which generally comprise either a complete address or more than one address. The census of employment relates only to employees and does not include other members of the working population, namely, employers and self-employed persons, the unemployed and members of Her Majesty's Forces. The following table shows employees in all industries and services except agriculture and private domestic service in Great Britain at June 1973:

Size range of employees		Total of employees in size range (000's)	Percentage of total employees
l to 9	…	2,475	11.3
10 to 49	…	4,384	20.1
50 to 99	…	2,182	10.0
100 to 199	…	2,351	10.8
200 to 499	…	3,277	15.0
500 to 999	…	2,382	10.9
1,000 and over	…	4,771	21.9
Total	…	21,823	100.0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are available in training centres for the blind in the West Midlands Metropolitan Area; how many are attending such centres; and how many are awaiting admission.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that in the West Midlands Metropolitan Area there are 45 residential and up to six non-residential places available in one training centre for the blind; 39 of the places are currently occupied and no one is awaiting admission.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the percentage increase in earnings negotiated by representatives of his conciliation department for employees of BP at Grangemouth; whether this increase is in conformity with counter-inflation legislation; and whether the arbitration body which is to examine outstanding claims in the Grangemouth dispute will be bound by the terms of such legislation in reaching its conclusions.

It is estimated that the improved shift allowance agreed between BP management and the Transport and General Workers Union for implementation from September 1974 represents an increase of about 4 per cent. on current earnings and conforms with the Pay Code. However, it is the Government's intention to abolish the statutory pay controls and any subsequent arbitration award would not be bound by counter-inflation legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on what date the decision to close the Factory Inspectorate office in Swindon was made.

No final decision has yet been taken on the future of the Swindon district office of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate. In order to test recommendations which have been made for the reorganisation of the inspectorate a trial scheme is to be set up for a period of six months. During this time inspection will be carried out under an area director whose office will be at Slough. Teams of inspectors will be responsible for particular industries and one of these teams will operate from the Swindon office during the experimental period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his practice to consult the hon. Member whose constituency is affected when it is intended to close a Factory Inspectorate office.

If it is decided later to close any of the existing district offices of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate consideration will no doubt be given to the hon. Member's request for consultation. It is, however, too early to give him a definite undertaking as, assuming that the Health and Safety at Work Bill reaches the statute book this summer, reorganisation of the inspectorate will be a matter for the proposed commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the concern felt by trade unionists in Swindon at the decision to close the Factory Inspectorate office in Swindon and move its functions 50 miles away to Slough; and if he took this concern into account in reaching his decision.

It is encouraging to find that the trade unions in the hon. Member's constituency are anxious to maintain close contact with the Factory Inspectorate. I am aware of their concern, but one of the main objects of any reorganisation will be to improve communication and to provide more knowledgeable and expert advice for all concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultation was undertaken by his Department with employers and trade unions before the decision was taken to close the Factory Inspectorate office in Swindon.

As no final decision has yet been taken on the future of the Swindon district office no consultation with employers and trade unions in the hon. Member's constituency has so far been considered necessary. Local opinion will be taken into account and the possibility of consultation can be considered when the results of the trial scheme for setting up an area office at Slough are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how safety in industrial establishments will be affected in the Swindon area by the decision to close the Factory Inspectorate office in Swindon and move its operations to Slough.

By setting up well equipped area offices we hope that we shall be able to introduce the new and better methods of inspection that we are studying at the moment. One of our objectives is to ensure that experienced inspectors with an intimate knowledge of a particular industry are available throughout the area. We hope that this will go a long way towards achieving a higher standard of safety in Swindon and elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what additional travelling time and cost will be involved in closing the Factory Inspectorate office in Swindon and moving its functions to Slough.

It is difficult at this stage to estimate the effects of new methods of inspection on the travelling time and the cost of running the Factory Inspectorate. These will depend on a number of factors that we propose to study during the trial schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied that experiments like the one involving the closing of the Factory Inspectorate office at Swindon are consistent with the needs for safety evidenced by the recent disaster at Flixborough.

Yes. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that our proposals should provide more effective methods of dealing with major hazards, including those of the chemical industry. We hope that each area office will be able to provide much of the necessary expertise locally to deal with the sort of situation the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now reverse the decision to close the Factory Inspectorate office at Swindon.

I hope that in view of my replies to his other Questions the hon. Member will accept that there is no need for my right hon. Friend to reverse a decision which has not yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of canals were cleared and reopened during 1973.

I understand that seven miles of British Waterways Board canal was reopened for navigation in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory provisions precluding a regional water authority from spreading the cost of sewerage and water supply services over the entire region instead of charging each district with individual costs.

The interpretation of legislation is a matter for the courts, but it is possible that individual water authorities, in exercising their discretion to fix charges, may regard themselves as precluded by statutory provisions such as Section 30(4) of the Water Act 1973 from spreading the cost of water services over their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the estimated effects on public expenditure of the proposals in the consultation paper on Reform of Housing Finance.

The effects on public expenditure will depend in part on the rate fund contributions which will be for local authorities to determine. However, the Government's determination to see a higher level of new building by local authorities means that subsidy support for local authority housing from central Government funds is likely to increase.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities engaged in or authorising road works designed to bring it about that warning notices to drivers are not left in position overnight or at weekends especially when they are not then applicable and the road is clear.

Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual, a comprehensive code of practice for signing, guarding and lighting of road works, will be published at the end of this month. Among other things this amplifies existing guidance on the need for adjustment of signs as circumstances alter—for example, overnight and at weekends. A copy of the manual will be sent to every highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the future of the toll bridge at Selby.

This is a privately owned toll bridge and I cannot comment on its future. Congestion which now occurs there should be partly relieved by the completion of the M62 motorway from North Caves to the Ml at Loft-house. Further relief would be afforded by a bypass road for Selby, but I cannot forecast when a decision on this will be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards are employed to ensure that maps used by his Department in the public consultation process are accurate and up to date.

My officials are well aware of the importance of up-to-date and accurate maps. However, in view of an error in a current display all staff concerned are being reminded of this point.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting period to take a driving test for England and Wales as a whole as compared with the waiting time for London and the Home Counties.

On 24th May, 20.6 weeks for England and Wales and 26.4 weeks for the Metropolitan Traffic Area, which includes parts of the Home Counties bordering on Greater London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures are being taken to reduce the waiting period for driving tests in the Home Counties.

The scheme for recruitment of additional driving examiners is being supplemented by a special drive to fill vacancies in London and the Home Counties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications there were to become driving examiners in the first quarter of 1974.

Two thousand five hundred and sixty-seven.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of those applying to become examiners in the first quarter of 1974 were accepted; and what percentage of those accepted qualified.

The selection process comprises an interview and, for those reaching the required standard at interview, a special driving test. During the first quarter of 1974 about 42 per cent. of those who applied were accepted for interview. Of these, 673 were interviewed, 117 went forward to the special driving test and 79 passed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in order for his Department to prepare the noise contour map for the M6 motorway at Perry Beeches and Great Barr, Birmingham, what estimate was made of the density of traffic flow for 15 years ahead as required by the regulations; and how this estimate relates to the saturation level of traffic flow at this location.

One hundred thousand vehicles per day. This is saturation level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to obtain information about current schemes in Vancouver and other major Canadian cities for the disposal and recycling of waste and litter, with a view to their application in the United Kingdom.

Yes. I am anxious to receive information about important new developments from any source on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what financial and other assistance his Department is giving to local authorities to assist in the establishment of recycling plant and to encourage its maximum use.

Capital expenditure by local authorities on the collection, treatment and disposal of waste currently falls to be decided in the locally determined sector. Financial assistance towards revenue expenditure is made available through the rate support grant arrangements. Where a local authority decides to adopt a policy of profitable reclamation of materials from waste, having secured a steady and reliable outlet for the reclaimed materials, it is hoped that it will do all it can to harness the apparent willingness of voluntary organisations and individual members of the community to co-operate in such a policy. This is particularly important at a time of public expenditure restraint.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make an announcement outlining the electoral arrangements for London borough councils following the expiry of the present term of office of councillors elected in 1974.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the London Boroughs Association and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many qualified architects are employed by the Property Services Agency; what was the proportion of the contracts let by the Property Services Agency in 1973 which was designed wholly or mainly by those architects; and what proportion was designed by consultant architects.

There were 411 architects on the staff of the Property Services Agency at 1st June 1974. Information on the proportion of the work in contracts let in 1973 which was designed by PSA architects is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate effort. It is estimated that during 1973 rather more than half of all architectural design work was carried out by consultants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present total staffing establishment of the Property Services Agency of his Department; whether he will set out in tabular form the number of persons in each Civil Service grade; and whether he will give the equivalent figures for each year since the Property Services Agency was first established.

	1st October 1972	1st April 1973	1st April 1974
Chief Executive (2nd Permanent Secretary)	1	1	1
Deputy Secretary	4	4	4
Undersecretary	14	14	13
Executive Directors	11	11	13
Administration Group
Assistant Secretary	22	23	26
Senior Principal	21	21	27
Principal	71	73	79
S.E.O	169	168	193
H.E.O	478	490	496
Administration Trainee	5	4	7
Executive Officer	997	1,015	1,063
Clerical Officer	3,199	3,275	3,222
Clerical Assistant	1,552	1,581	1,458
Typing Grades	1,170	1,165	1,077
Science Grades	29	32	23
Professional and Technical Grades
Directing Grades	38	40	36
Superintending Grade	137	148	152
Principal P. and T. O.	571	565	589
P. and T. O. I.	1,734	1,781	1,842
P. and T. O. II	2,435	2,393	2,426
P. and T. O. III	3,130	3,178	3,202
P. and T. O. IV	2,407	2,439	2,072
Other Technical and Drawing Office Grades (including students)	1,315	1,195	951
Office Keeper, Paper Keeper and Messenger grades	556	540	554
All Other Grades	857	794	748
Totals	21,023	20,949	20,264

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many chartered surveyors and how many quantity surveyors are employed by the Property Services Agency.

There are 770 chartered surveyors on the staff of the agency, of whom 320 are quantity surveyors. Other quantity surveyors in the agency's staff number 539.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many building workers are employed directly for maintenance work by the Property Services Agency; and what were the equivalent figures for each of the last 10 years for the various departments which the Property Services Agency replaced.

14,562 on 1st April 1974; the equivalent figures at 1st April

The agency employs staff in over 200 Civil Service grades. The following tables show the total staff in post, subdivided into the main staff groups, in each year since the agency was established on 1st September 1972:of each of the years from 1966 were as follows:

1973	…	…	…	15,527
1972	…	…	…	17,109
1971	…	…	…	18,941
1970	…	…	…	21,566
1969	…	…	…	22,847
1968	…	…	…	24,050
1967	…	…	…	23,855
1966	…	…	…	24,000

For 1965 and 1964 the comparable statistics are not available but the numbers are estimated at 24,900 and 26,400 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of the work, identified separately as new construction and maintenance, carried out by the Property Services Agency in 1973; and how much of it was outside the United Kingdom.

Expenditure in 1973 was £251·2 million on new construction and £172·6 million on maintenance, of which overseas expenditure was £28·6 million and £44·7 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation he has had with local authorities regarding the financial consequences of increasing the establishment of weights and measures staff, as envisaged in the Prices Bill legislation.

My officials are discussing with local authority associations the implications for local authorities' staff of the measures in the Prices Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the cost of, and the number of, additional Weights and Measures staff required by local authorities fully to implement the proposed requirements of the Prices Bill.

No estimate has yet been made, and this would be primarily for the local authorities. Much depends on the number and type of orders made under the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has given financial sanction to the London borough of Waltham Forest for the expenditure of £1·98 million for the purchase of 106 units of accommodation at Kings Head Hill, E.4, from Royco Developers at a cost approaching £19,000 per unit.

Approval for the purchase of this housing scheme has been given. I cannot comment on the financial statistics cited by the hon. Member since the negotiations are not yet completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the concern of the parents of the children of Uphall School, Ilford, which adjoins the Laporte chemical complex and where oxidation of cyclohexane is carried on, whether he will have discussions with the firm over a possible resiting of the works.

I do appreciate my hon. Friend's concern, but the course of action he suggests is in the first place a matter for the Redbridge Borough Council, as both local education and planning authority, to consider. It will no doubt take into account the advice given on problems of this sort in the Department's Circular 1/72.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all the local authorities which have not completed definitive footpath maps for their areas; and what action is being taken to encourage those local authorities which have not done so to complete such maps.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 12th June 1974; Vol. 874, c. 1604], supplied the following information Local authorities (Column 1) who have not completed their definitive footpath maps for paths of their areas (Column 2):

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made to the Government of France about their atmospheric nuclear tests in the Pacific Ocean, in order to protect the interests of British subjects in the area.

I asked the French Ambassador to call yesterday and expressed to him Her Majesty's Government's deep regret that the French Government had decided to carry out a further series of atmospheric nuclear tests in the Pacific this year. I told him that we were glad to note that this was to be the last such series and expressed the hope that when it is complete the French Government would then see no obstacle to acceding to the Partial Test Ban Treaty. In the interests of the inhabitants of British Dependent Territories in the area we shall carry out radiological monitoring of these tests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the United Nations Decolonisation Committee.

The previous Government did not co-operate in any way with the United Nations Special Committee of 24. The present Government have reviewed the situation and have decided to establish a broad measure of mutual co-operation with the Special Committee of 24. When invited the United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations will normally be glad to take part in meetings of the committee and its sub-committees at which United Kingdom non-self-governing territories are discussed. Her Majesty's Government will provide the committee direct with up-to-date information on recent developments in these territories—hitherto supplied to the United Nations Secretary-General—and will do their best to respond to any request for further information. Her Majesty's Government believe that United Nations visiting missions can in appropriate circumstances make a useful contribution to the process of self-determination and will be ready to discuss proposals to this end further with the committee, whilst retaining, as administering Power, the ultimate right to decide in each case whether a particular mission is desirable in the light of all the relevant factors, not least the views of the locally-elected Government of the territory concerned. I have no doubt that this new and positive approach will be warmly welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, from figures available to him from international sources, he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT a comparison of the numbers of smaller businesses in each of the EEC countries based on the most convenient figures in the records available to him.

The following figures, which for purposes of comparison are the most recent and comprehensive available from immediate sources, are taken from national censuses conducted between 1965 and 1969. They relate to manufacturers only and show, for certain employment ranges in each EEC member State, the approximate numbers of establishments and, therefore, include subsidiaries of larger firms. No reliable figures are available generally for firms employing fewer than 10 people or for non-manufacturers.

	0 to10 employees	11 to 99 employees	100 to 499 employees
United Kingdom	31,600	37,900	11,000
		10 to 99 employees	100 to 499 employees
Italy	…	32,000	5,500
France	…	50,000	7,700
West Germany	…	33,000	9,400
Netherlands	…	8,500	1,300
Belgium	…	12,200	1,600
Luxembourg	…	165	23
Republic of Ireland	…	1,581	316
Denmark	…	0 to 50 employees: 17,900