asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will specify for each camp used by Ugandan Asians what costs of conversion were incurred; and what use is now being made of each.

The accommodation formerly occupied by the Ugandan Asians consisted of 14 Services camps, a DHSS sanatorium and part of a students' hostel. The conversion costs paid for by the Home Office incurred at the time of the emergency, together with the use now being made of the accommodation, is as follows:new workshop and office accommodation for the RAF Marine Craft Unit at Falmouth; and what plans he has regarding transferring the unit in the foreseeable future.

The new workshop and office accommodation for No. 1102 Marine Craft Unit was opened on 31st May 1974. The total cost was £28,250. I have no plans to transfer the unit from Falmouth.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated annual cost to public funds of the RAF Helicopter SAR Unit which is to be based at RAF Manston from September 1974.

The direct annual operating cost is estimated at approximately £202,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many RAF and civilian personnel will be employed by the RAF Helicopter SAR Unit which is to be based at RAF Manston from September 1974.

The estimated size of the unit will 31 RAF personnel, of whom 27 will be based at Manston. There will be no civilians.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the military need for the proposed RAF Helicopter SAR Unit to be based at Manston from September 1974; and if he will make a statement.

As I made clear to the hon. Member in my letter of 11th June, the military requirement is based upon several considerations, including the amount and nature of the military flying which is expected to take place in peacetime in the southern part of the North Sea and upon the pattern of military aircraft movement across the Channel and North Sea in times of tension.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what military training is provided for members of the Indonesian armed forces by Her Majesty's Government.

A small number of Indonesian officers are attending training courses in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces operate joint patrols or co-operate with members of the Indonesian armed forces in other ways along the border dividing Malaysia and Indonesian Kalimantan.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces are at present serving in Indonesia; and on what assignments.

One officer is on a staff training course; and two officers are attached to Her Majesty's Embassy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of sales made by or through the influence of his Defence Sales Department for the year 11th May 1966 to 10th May 1967 and each subsequent year.

There are no figures available for the period 11th May 1966 to 10th May 1967. Records are maintained on a financial year basis and the figures of total estimated defence exports in recent financial years have been as follows:

				£ million
1966–67	…	…	…	152
1967–68	…	…	…	165
1968–69	…	…	…	214
1969–70	…	…	…	227
1970–71	…	…	…	235
1971–72	…	…	…	242
1972–73	…	…	…	257
1973–74*	…	…	…	400
The defence sales organisation is responsible for assisting industry in the promotion of exports of defence equipment but it is not possible to state what proportion of the total orders have been obtained by or through its influence.
>* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the average total weekly sum paid out in wages and salaries to all civilian employees in Chatham Dockyard in 1973;(2) what was the total weekly sum paid out in wages and salaries to all civilian employees in Chatham Dockyard for the week ending 1st June 1974.

The average total weekly sum paid in gross—that is, before statutory deductions—wages and salaries to all Ministry of Defence civilian employees in Chatham Dockyard in the 1973–74 financial year was approximately £300,000. A typical figure for a current week is approximately £330,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many wives of Service men living with their husbands on service and not being entitled to a Service vote at the last General Election could only cast their votes in a constituency different from that of their husbands.

The information is not available. There are, however, about 150,000 Service wives who are not entitled to be registered as Service voters.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what medical complaints prevent a student from taking up a place on a teacher training course.

At present active pulmonary tuberculosis or psychiatric illness is a bar to entry to teacher training courses and epilepsy to entry to specialist courses of physical education. Any other medical condition is considered in the light of its severity and the particular circumstances of the individual student concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is yet in a position to give details of the authorised school building programme for the county of Cheshire in the current financial year.

The 1974-75 school building year runs from 1st July 1974 to 30th June 1975. Circular 8/74, issued by my Department on 12th June, sets out the procedures to be followed for the major school building programme for this period; allocations of resources will be notified to local education authorities shortly. Minor works resources for 1974–75 were allocated during April. The Cheshire authority's allocation is £980,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current average annual cost of educating a student in a polytechnic and in a college of education.

In 1972–73 financial year, £1,008 and £612 at 1973 survey prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average annual cost of an undergraduate and postgraduate place in English, Welsh and Scottish universities, indicating any difference according to faculty.

In 1972–73 the average annual recurrent cost of a student in universities in Great Britain was £1,302 at 1973 survey prices. Reliable figures of the difference in costs between postgraduates and undergraduates or between different faculties are not available: nor are separate figures for English, Scottish and Welsh universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current average annual cost of educating a pupil at the nursery, primary and secondary levels in England, Wales and Scotland.

The estimated average recurrent cost per pupil in maintained schools in England in 1972–73 financial year was as follows:

	Cost per pupil £
	1973 survey prices
Pupils aged under 5	159·7
Primary school pupil (excluding under-5s)	124·0
Secondary school pupils	222·4

Questions regarding similar costs for Wales and Scotland should be addressed to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the building of a replacement for Rawcliffe-in-Snaith Primary School will be included in the 1974-75 starts programme.

The procedures for authorising the start of major school projects in 1974–75 are outlined in my Department's Circular 8/74, issued on 12th June. Resources for major school projects to meet basic need for additional places will be allocated to local education authorities in the form of lump sum authorisations, and it will be for authorities to submit lists of the major projects they propose to build within their allocations. The Rawcliffe project includes a substantial basic need element and will be eligible for inclusion in the local authority's list.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what now is his estimate of the national pupil-teacher ratio for each of the years from 1975 till 1981.

On the basis of current plans for teacher supply, and having regard to the latest projections of pupil numbers, it is likely that the pupil-teacher ratio in maintained schools in England and Wales will improve from about 21:1 at present to perhaps 17:1 by 1981. Precise estimates of the ratios for the intervening years cannot, however, be given since the rate of progress will depend upon factors not at present predictable.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding proposals for an oil trunk pipeline running from the East Shetland Basin to Teesside or to some other destination outwith Scotland.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will bring forward proposals further to extend the time allowed for the completion of work eligible for 75 per cent. improvement grants in areas where delays have now been caused by the industrial dispute in the cement industry.

No. The Government do not believe that any further concession beyond that announced on 30th April— [Vol. 872, c. 440–1.]—in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Accrington (Mr. Davidson) is justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount of accommodation will be vacated by his Department when the lease of Princes House is terminated.

It is assumed that the property referred to is Princes House, Kingsway, London WC2. Negotiations are proceeding with the lessors for the vacation of this property by the Department in order that it may be modernised by the lessors and relet to the Department. The area of the accommodation held is 37,000 sq. ft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that persons whose property is blighted by proposed railway developments are entitled to serve blight notices on British Rail.

Blight notices can already be served in certain circumstances on various public authorities including British Rail under the provisions of Sections 192 to 207 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971. These provisions have recently been extended by Part V of the Land Compensation Act 1973. It is also possible to acquire by agreement property that will eventually be needed for a development scheme before it reaches the stage when the provisions can apply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can give an assurance that it remains Government policy to preserve the green belt around Brentwood and Ongar and that he will have this in mind in hearing future planning appeals.

Yes, but we must, of course, consider all appeals on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Standing Consultative Committee on Housing last met; and whether a date has been fixed for the next meeting.

This committee last met in October 1972. No date has been fixed for a further meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total production of bricks, of all kinds, for each of the last 10 years; and what estimate he has made of the level of production in 1974.

The figures for the total production in Great Britain of bricks of all kinds for each of the last 10 years, 1964–1973, are as follows:

					Millions
1964	…	…	…	…	7,954
1965	…	…	…	…	7,868
1966	…	…	…	…	7,072
1967	…	…	…	…	7,208
1968	…	…	…	…	7,465
1969	…	…	…	…	6,734
1970	…	…	…	…	6,062
1971	…	…	…	…	6,541
1972	…	…	…	…	6,938
1973	…	…	…	…	7,183

In the first four months of 1974 brick production was running at an annual rate of 5,500 million. Production was reduced during this period as a result of short-time working early in 1974 and the low level of private housing starts. It is not at present possible to provide firm estimates of total production in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that sufficient bricks will be available at the end of this year to prevent bottlenecks in the house building programme.

I have no reason to think that the supply position on bricks at the end of this year will lead to bottlenecks in the house building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form the level of stocks, production and deliveries of bricks for each of the last 12 months.

The levels of stocks, production and deliveries of bricks of all types in Great Britain for each of the 12 months from May 1973 to April 1974 inclusive were as follows:

			Millions
	Stocks	Production	Deliveries
1973:
May	174	663	684
June	166	630	639
July	154	552	565
August	155	547	545
September	178	587	564
October	213	665	630
November	278	622	553
December	362	446	362
1974:
January	348	410	424
February	333	390	406
March	386	508	455
April	453	519	451

These figures are not seasonally adjusted. The figures for May 1974 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that the removal from the general rate of sewerage charges, and their collection by local authorities on an agency basis, has produced a situation detrimental to registered charities, since hitherto charities have qualified for mandatory and discretionary relief on the total rate demand including the sewerage element; and if he will take action to correct this situation.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary ot State for the Home Department whether he has given the Price sisters a date when they can expect to be transferred to Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave yesterday to Questions by the right hon. and hon. Members for Ashford (Mr. Deedes),

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the name of the holding company through which his Department proposes to secure a majority participation in Kearney and Trecker Marwin; and what will be the stake of Kearney and Trecker Corporation following the injection of State funds.

The detailed provisions to implement the arrangements agreed for the reorganisation of Kearney and Trecker Marwin Limited are in preparation. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when all the information he requests is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will clarify the position where under the provisions of the Finance Bill a person resident and ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom is assessed on his emoluments in respect of duties performed wholly outside the country as to (a) the allowance for tax purposes of the costs incurred by him and his family in travelling from his home in this country to the place where he performs his duties and (b) the possibility of his being assessed or receiving a benefit if the costs of such travel are met by his employer.

Under the general tax law no relief is due to the employee for the expenses referred to, and if met on his behalf by his employer they are taxable as pay for the job. The application of these rules to foreign earnings, of course, a matter which there will be an opportunity to discuss in Committee on the Finance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the yield in a full year from the excise duty on motor fuel, and from the motor vehicle tax, respectively, in respect of duty paid in England and Wales.

The yield in 1974-75 from vehicle excise duty is estimated to be £455 million for England and £25 million for Wales. The yield of the hydrocarbon oil duties on motor fuel is estimated to be £1,465 million for the United Kingdom. I regret that separate estimates for England and Wales have not been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional annual revenue would be produced by an increase of lp on the duty charged on a gallon of petrol.

An increase in duty of lp on a gallon of petrol and derv would produce about £58 million additional annual revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the amount of income tax expected to be raised from the taxpayers resident in the Isle of Wight in the current financial year.

It is regretted that the information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in future legislation, he will provide special relief for single persons who are also householders.

I regret that such a relief as my hon. Friend has suggested would not be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional annual revenue would be produced by an increase of 2p on the duty charged on a packet of 20 cigarettes of average weight.

About £77 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional annual revenue would be produced by an increase of l0p on the duty charged on a bottle of spirits.

About £11 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional annual revenue would be produced by an increase of 2p on the duty charged on a pint of beer.

About £210 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the decision was taken not to exempt from VAT the subscriptions paid by the National Federation of Women's Institutes.

These subscriptions are subject to value added tax under the relevant provisions of the Finance Act 1972, and I am satisfied that it would not be right to amend the law.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons remain on rent and rates strike in the Province.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a Question from the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 12th June.—[Vol. 874, c. 583–4.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will make a statement about the discussions on the future of European development aid held by the EEC Council of Ministers on 13th June.

The Council considered the question of a Community contribution in response to the United Nations' proposed emergency measures for the countries hardest hit by the oil crisis, and referred a final decision to the Council of Foreign Ministers on 25th June. It considered the principle of the Community provision of aid to non-associated developing countries, and I hope that acceptance of this principle will be confirmed at the next meeting of the Development Council in July. The Council also discussed my own request for a worldwide approach to the distribution of Community aid, but reached no conclusion. I expect to raise this matter again at the next meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what proportion of the total expenditure so far committed to food subsidies will be received by households with incomes on and below the average household income for the latest figure available.

On the evidence provided by the Family Expenditure Survey it is estimated that the proportion will be almost one-half.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will request the Price Commission to investigate the justification for the imposition of a surcharge of £2·50 per ton on fertilisers delivered to the Isle of Wight.

If the hon. Member will let me have full details of any surcharge which he feels may breach the Price Code I will gladly consider whether it is a matter for investigation by the Price Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will ask the Price Commission to look into the increase in the cost of special sweets for diabetic persons.

The Price Commission is already looking into a number of specific complaints in this field to which I have drawn its attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will make an order to keep the present limit below which small silver articles are exempt from hallmarking for a further period beyond 1st January 1975, in view of the risk that the additional work otherwise caused might exceed the assay offices' capacity.

My right hon. Friend intends to make such an order as soon as possible after 1st January 1975, when the relevant provisions of the Hallmarking Act 1973 come into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for an independent analysis of all accident report forms filled in by disabled drivers of motor invalid tricycles with manually-operated gearbox, motor invalid tricycles with automatic transmission, electrically-propelled invalid tricycles, respectively, which were involved in accidents, in Scotland, for the years 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, as at 31st March of each respective year, to establish the incidence of accidents caused by mechanical or design faults where the driver may have been killed, injured and/or blamed for what occurred.

I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by an analysis of this sort for the reasons explained by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services in reply to a similar Question on 13th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the accident report form filled in by disabled drivers includes details of how the accident was caused, whether the driver was killed or what injuries he sustained and whether he held a provisional licence, and also if he will make available copies of the form to disabled drivers' representatives.

The answer to the first part is "Yes". As to the second part, copies of the specimen form can be supplied, but my hon. Friend will understand that information concerning an individual case could not properly be disclosed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make arrangements for the Minister of Sport to convey the support of the House to the Scottish football team in respect of the forthcoming World Cup competition; and if he will make a statement.

I am sure that all Members of the House will wish to join in expressing support for the Scottish football team taking part in the World Cup competition.My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State in his capacity as the Minister responsible for sport in Scotland sent the team, on my behalf, a message of good wishes before they left Scotland, and he will be attending the match against Zaire. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister expects to attend the match against Brazil, and I propose to be present at the match against Yugoslavia. 1 understand also that my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment, who has responsibility for sport, intends to be present at the matches with Zaire and Brazil.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the courses for which grants are available under the Students' Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 1971.

A list of the main groups of full-time courses for which students' allowances are granted is published annually in the Scottish Education Department's "Guide to Students' Allowances". I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the original decision that the East Birmingham Hospital should be administered by a joint committee of the Birmingham Area Health Authority (Teaching) and the Solihull Area Health Authority is to be fully implemented.

The future arrangements for the management of health services in the Birmingham and Solihull areas are under consideration by the West Midlands Regional Health Authority in the light of the views of the two area health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the outcome of a special meeting called by the West Midlands Regional Health Authority to deal with a complaint raised by the Secretary of Solihull Area Local Medical Committee about general hospital facilities in Solihull.

The special meeting of the West Midlands Regional Health Authority referred to by my hon. Friend was held to consider the future management arrangements for the overlapping health services in the Birmingham and Solihull areas. The particular complaint referred to was in fact received after the special meeting had been held.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that, by reason of the earnings rule for pensioners, earnings above a certain level are both deducted in full from the pension and subjected to income tax, resulting in an effective tax rate of £1.33 in the £, she will make proposals for ending this situation.

Where a pensioner has earnings above a certain level, there is under the earnings rule a pound-for-pound deduction from his pension in respect of these additional earnings; but as his total income does not go up as a result of these earnings he does not of course pay any additional tax overall. More generally, I would remind my hon. Friend of the substantial relaxation in the earnings rule which will come into effect as from 22nd July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount of Government money has been allocated to dental research in each of the past five years; and what plans exist to increase this research work in the near future.

It is not possible to provide overall figures for Government expenditure on dental research. Expenditure by my Department in the five years was as follows:

1969–70				£23,000
1970–71	…	…	…	£56,400
1971–72	…	…	…	£120,800
1972–73	…	…	…	£115,000
1973–74	…	…	…	£114,200

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further representations she has received from the Association of Parents of Vaccine Damaged Children; if she will now consider some type of interim payment for vaccine-damaged children in advance of the report of the Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury; and if she will make a statement.

No further representations have been received from the Association of Parents of Vaccine Damaged Children since my right hon. Friend and I met its chairman on 6th May. As I explained at that meeting, the Royal Commission on Compensation and Civil Liability is considering the question of compensation and we must await its views. I understand that the association is submitting evidence and my Department will be doing so as well.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she has studied the evidence in the Doctor regarding gluten-free diet and multiple sclerosis; and if she will make a statement on her policy towards this matter;(2) when she anticipates that the Advisory Committee on Border Line Substances will report;(3) if, in view of the possible delay in the report of the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances regarding gluten- free bread and multiple sclerosis, she will reconsider her decision not to allow general practitioners to prescribe this diet on the National Health Service.

The question of gluten-free diet and multiple sclerosis and the article in the Doctor is being referred to the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances. I am sure the committee will report as quickly as possible. I would not be justified in anticipating its findings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what diagnosis has been made of the gastric affliction which was widespread last summer in the Gosport and Fareham areas and known locally by various names including "the Fareham bug"; and what steps are being taken to prevent a recurrence this year.

The diagnosis was "acute non-bacterial gastroenteritis". The cause of the illness is not known and consequently no practical measures can be taken to prevent its recurring. However, no recurrence of the disease has been reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish an estimate of the eventual annual cost of offering increments to national insurance pensions for deferred retirement which would bear a fair actuarial relationship to the amount of pension forfeited, bearing in mind the current level of interest rates.

It is estimated that by the end of this century the annual cost of these increments, at current values, would be of the order of £25 million more than the cost of the increments provided for in the Social Security Act 1973. This estimate assumes that pensions will be increased in future in line with national average earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now institute a fresh study of the potential for administrative reform in regard to the method of payment of national insurance pensions, including as a particular aim the introduction of easier and quicker methods of effecting changes in the rates of benefits; and if she will undertake to publish the findings.

I cannot at this stage add to my reply to the hon. Member on 9th April.—[Vol. 872, c. 96-7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the largest amount of benefit that can be drawn through membership of the State earnings-related pension scheme by men and women contracted in throughout the life of the scheme; and what would be the corresponding amounts if full compensation were allowed for changes in the value of money since their contributions were made.

For people reaching minimum pension age and retiring on 5th April 1974 the maximum graduated pension payable is £1·63 a week for men and £1·35 for women. On the assumption that their total graduated contributions for each of the income tax years since April 1961, the date of the introduction of the graduated pension scheme, were revalued at 5th April 1974 to take account of changes in the General Index of Retail Prices, the pensions payable would be £2·25 for men and £1·88 for women.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present patient-doctor ratio in the Ince constituency; and how this compares with the average in the Manchester Regional Health Authority, the Northwest, and nationally.

The latest available ratio of patients to general medical practitioners—unrestricted principals—in the three medical practice areas lying wholly or partly in the Ince parliamentary constituency is 2,782. Comparative ratios are: for the North Western Regional Health Authority's region 2,500; for Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire 2,483; for England 2,398.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special payment schemes exist which are designed to encourage doctors to stay in, or move to, areas of special need in England and Wales.

Doctors who by moving into a shortage area add to its manpower can be paid an initial practice allowance during the first few years to help them set up in practice. Where an area continues to be short of doctors for some time, all the doctors in the area receive a designated area allowance which is paid at a higher level in the more seriously affected areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of radiant portable LPG heaters imported for each of the past five years by country of origin.

The information is not available, as this type of heater is not separately distinguished in the trade statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now recommend the establishment of a Royal Commission to review and report on the level of wages paid by British-owned firms to their locally recruited employees in former British colonies and in particular to compare such wages with those being paid by British-owned firms in the Republic of South Africa.

No. The Fifth Report of the Expenditure Committee on the wages and conditions of African workers employed by British firms in South Africa recognised that South Africa was a special case. I agree with this view.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about EEC negotiations under GATT Article XXIV: 6.

As I mentioned to the House on 10th June, I am glad to be able to say that agreement under GATT Article XXIV: 6 has now been reached between the Community and the United States of America over the tariff concessions called for as a result of Community enlargement. Negotiations are continuing with other countries. As soon as the new tariff rates have been finalised I will have a copy put in the Vote Office and the Library, and details will in due course be published in "Trade and Industry". Most of the tariff changes will come into effect on 1st January 1975, and the United Kingdom transitional tariff will be modified accordingly.The United Kingdom has played a major part in helping to reach this successful result, which we very much welcome. This will remove an obstacle which was threatening to hold up the start of the substantive GATT multilateral trade negotiations in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his policy towards present proposals for the extension of the runway at the Leeds— Bradford airport.

No new proposals for the extension of the runway at Leeds—Bradford have been put to us, but on matters of this kind we would seek the advice of the Civil Aviation Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list, giving the mileage or lengths of motorway in use, under construction, motorway schemes confirmed by the Secretary of State and those made by the local authority and submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation, respectively, as at 31st March 1974;(2) if he will list, giving the mileage in respect of each, those trunk motorways or lengths of motorway in preparation, firmly programmed, under construction and those motorways or lengths of motorway in use, respectively, as at 31st March 1974.

The information is as follows:

Motorways in Preparation
			Mileage
Castleton to Coryton	…	…	8·2
Coryton to East of Miskin	…	…	5·2
			13·2

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is now in a position to make a statement on the creation of a rural development agency in Mid-Wales to co-ordinate and further support the agricultural, industrial, tourist and forestry activities of the area.

I am giving urgent consideration to this matter and will make my views known as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the organisations in Wales to which he wrote on 1st June 1974 inviting their comments on the document "Devolution in the United Kingdom".

The list is as follows: Welsh Counties Committee; Council of the Principality; Confederation of British Industry (Wales); Trades Union Congress (Wales); National Farmers' Union (Wales); Farmers' Union of Wales; Welsh Council of Labour; Conservative and Unionist Associations (Wales Area); Liberal Party of Wales; Plaid Cymru; Communist Party (Welsh Committee).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what acreage of sugar beet has been ploughed up on account of the dry weather; and what is the expected impact on sugar supply and prices.

Of the 484,500 acres of sugar beet for which contracts were signed, 481,000 were planted and the British Sugar Corporation at present estimates that not less than 460,000 acres, 6,000 less than last season, will be harvested. The corporation forecasts that production will be between 85 per cent. and 90 per cent. of the average of the last five years, that is to say between 785,000 and 830,000 tons (white sugar equivalent). Last season's crop produced 948,000 tons, of which 886,000 tons were sold in the United Kingdom.The reduction in output will increase import requirements in the year beginning 1st October 1974; but it is too early to judge the prices that will have to be paid for Commonwealth sugar after the expiry of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement at the end of the calendar year or for the additional supplies that will be needed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the current price per ton for sugar bought under (a) the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, (b) the free market price and (c) the price paid under the special arrangements accorded to the United Kingdom as members of the European Economic Community;(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT (a) the quantity of sugar due to be delivered annually to the United Kingdom, and the agreed price per ton, under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement, (b) the actual quantity delivered and the price paid, in 1971, 1972, 1973 and to the latest period in 1974, and (c) the quantity and price of sugar purchased from the European Economic Community in order to make up any shortfall and protect sugar stocks.

The Commonwealth Sugar Agreement requires its exporting members to supply 1,710,500 tons annually but provides that, in certain circumstances, some of the shipments may be delayed until after the end of the year. Subject to this provision, the full quantity was supplied in each of the years 1971, 1972 and 1973. 518,192 tons have been shipped so far in 1974, including 106,630 tons carried forward from 1973.The agreed prices per ton paid under the agreement, which relates to bulk raw sugar, basis 96° polarisation, f.o.b. and stowed in the country of origin, have been as follows:

	1971	1972 and 1973	1974
	£	£	£
Australia	43·50	50	50
West Indies and Guyana	46·50	61	61*
Other countries	46·50	57	571†
*and Fiji.
† excluding Fiji.

It was agreed earlier this year, however, that a supplementary payment should be made in respect of the sugar supplied in 1972 at the rate of £22—£11 in the case of Australia—per ton of sugar shipped in 1974.Today's world free market price for raw sugar for prompt shipment is £242 per ton c.i.f. United Kingdom ports, equivalent to about £222 per ton f.o.b. Caribbean area; and for white sugar is £276.50 per ton f.o.b. European ports.It is believed that United Kingdom importers have purchased about 95,000 tons, nearly all in the form of white sugar, from other member States of the EEC for arrival in the year ending 30th September 1974. Due to the tight supply situation which has developed in the Community during the current crop year, the purchase prices ex factory have in general been up to about 70 per cent. higher than the intervention price for white sugar applicable in the United Kingdom under the Community's common agricultural policy. This price, on the basis of which sugar refined from home-grown beet and imported Commonwealth raw sugar is sold, is at present £2·90 per ton for bulk granulated sugar ex factory or refinery.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing total United Kingdom milk production for each of the first four months of 1974 and comparing these figures with production during the same period in 1973.

Total sales of milk through Milk Marketing Schemes in the United Kingdom for the first four months of 1973 and 1974 were:

				million gallons
			1973	1974
January	…	…	228·05	219·09
February	…	…	210·89	201·48
March	…	…	248·68	232·75
April	…	…	267·70	263·98

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet prepared to announce an extension of time before enforcing the new swill regulations which come into effect at the end of June.

In the light of the review referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 1st May —[Vol. 872, c. 475.]— and of the views of interested organisations, an announcement was made on 3rd June. This was to the effect that the Agricultural Departments appreciate that some swill feeders or collectors may be prevented by factors outside their direct control from complying fully by 1st July, 1974 with the Diseases of Animals (Waste Food) Order 1973. The Agricultural Departments are, therefore, prepared to treat such cases sympathetically by the granting of individual temporary exemption certificates for up to six months.Before granting a certificate the Departments must be satisfied that all efforts are being made to bring the premises in question up to the full standards required by the 1973 order as quickly as possible, that the existing plant is capable of processing waste food to the required temperature standard—one hour at 100°C or equivalent authorised method—and that in general the construction, management and operation of the processing or holding premises are such that those premises do not present a significant disease risk to susceptible stock. Premises which do not comply with these basic requirements represent an unacceptable health risk and will not be granted temporary exemptions. From 1st July 1974 all other provisions of the 1973 order will apply in full.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the local authorities are adequately prepared to handle the additional quantities of swill which will become their responsibility at the end of this month.

Local authorities already dispose of large quantities of household and catering waste, including waste food. Any increase resulting from unlicensed waste food users discontinuing their swill rounds should not pose particular problems.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can now make a statement on his consideration of the decision taken in the 1974 Price Review regarding the lime and fertiliser subsidy.

My right hon. Friend has not yet completed his review of the matters arising from the Annual Review.