asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take action to realign the Lanarkshire Health Board area, so as to take the Kilsyth district out and put it in the Stirling or Falkirk area.

No. I do not think it would be helpful for a health board's area to straddle the boundary between two local government regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding shortage of labour in the north-east of Scotland.

I have received formal representations from only one firm, but am fully aware, from other sources, of the problems of labour supply in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the committee chaired by Lord Birsay which is

TABLE OF RATE INCOME BY NEW REGIONS, COMPILED FROM 1972–73 LOCAL FINANCIAL RETURNS OF EXISTING LOCAL AUTHORITIES (£'000)
Region or Islands Area					Rates other than Domestic Water Rate	Domestic Water Rate	Total Rates Income
					£	£	£
Highland	…	…	…	…	5,119	355	5,474
Grampian	…	…	…	…	14,211	1,066	15,277
Tayside	…	…	…	…	15,620	1,184	16,804
Fife	…	…	…	…	12,614	540	13,154
Lothian	…	…	…	…	33,295	1,179	34,474
Central	…	…	…	…	13,786	646	14,432
Borders	…	…	…	…	2,703	143	2,846
Strathclyde	…	…	…	…	131,624	5,178	136,802
Dumfries and Galloway	…	…	…	…	3,310	327	3,637
Orkney	…	…	…	…	238	26	264
Shetland	…	…	…	…	153	55	208
Western Isles	…	…	…	…	859	53	912
					£233,532	£10,752	£244,284

NOTES:(1) The above figures have been allocated to regions and islands areas on a population basis where the new organisation involves the sub-division of existing local authority areas.(2) Income from the domestic element of rate support grant is not included.

:I understand that the advisory committee under the chairmanship of Lord Birsay hopes to submit a to report to my right hon. Friend towards the end of July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many officials in the Scottish Office are concerned with the level of unemployment in Scotland.

I regard it as a prime objective of all Departments in the Scottish Office to contribute, in their respective fields, to promoting the economic development of Scotland, and thus to the reduction of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total rates bill in Scotland in the last full year; and if this can be broken down into amounts collected from the new regions as they now are.

The total rate income in Scotland for 1972–73 was approximately £244 million. Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made towards the development of onshore facilities on the west coast of Scotland and in the Shetlands to service North Sea oil and gas.

Three service bases supporting work on North Sea oil and gas have been established in Shetland, and the county council is in negotiation with a consortium of oil companies for the establishment of a pipeline and tanker terminal. On the west coast a base is planned at Stornoway to support work in the waters west of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he is making to ensure that additional housing is provided to meet the demand in areas affected by oil developments.

My right hon. Friend gives local authorities every encouragement to build houses to meet needs in areas affected by oil development and they have large programmes under way. To assist them, the Scottish Special Housing Association has been authorised to build 4,600 houses representing direct Government investment of well over £50 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now say when he intends to introduce legislation based on the Clayson Report on licensing laws in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representation he has received regarding the postponement of the Thornton bypass in Fife; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) and from Fife County Council that the Thornton bypass should be allowed to go ahead immediately. He has explained that this is not possible because of the current restrictions on public expenditure but that the scheme will be started as soon as funds can be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants are engaged in studying or preparing proposals for legislation on the questions raised in the Hunter Report.

This is one of the many responsibilities of my Department's Fishery Divisions. The number of staff involved varies from time to time according to the workload.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the existing programme of school building in the Highland area is adequate to meet the increased demand for school places arising from oil-related development.

Yes. The provision of the additional permanent accommodation required is being authorised as needs are established, together with temporary accommodation where permanent building cannot be provided in time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further steps are being taken to assist farmers, in view of the current problems of the industry.

The Government are still considering representations which have been made about decisions taken by the previous administration at the Annual Farm Price Review. So far as beef and pig producers are concerned, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture will be making a statement today about the outcome of the Council of Ministers' meeting this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the salaries of nursery nurses employed in nursery schools under his jurisdiction; and if he will make a statement.

No. The salaries of these nurses are a matter for negotiation by the national joint council for local authorities' services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek powers to extend the improvement grants scheme to cover replacement of lead water pipes to reduce the risk of lead poisoning.

The replacement of existing lead piping can be grant aided where the work is incidental to some other improvement or needed, in the opinion of the local authority paying the improvement grant, for the purpose of making that other improvement fully effective.

SCOTLAND STOCK OF DWELLINGS BY TENURE
Thousands
	Rented from Public Authorities		Owner-Occupied		Rented from Private Owners		Other Tenures		All Tenures
		Per cent.		Per cent.		Per cent.		Per cent.		Per cent
December 1961	695	42·4	434	26·5	376†	22·9	133†	8·2	1,638	100
December 1971*	952	52·1	562	30·8		312	17·1		1,826	100
December 1973*	989	53·4	569	30·7		295	15·9		1,853	100
* The figures for 1971 and 1973 are provisional depending on adjustments in the light of an analysis of the 1971 Census
† Private Rented and Other Tenures are available separately only for 1961

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of public buildings in Scotland believed to be affected by the Scottish Development Department's recent call for buildings built with isolated roof beams made of pre-cast, pre-stressed high aluminium cement concrete, to be professionally examined for fault.

I have no means of making such an estimate. No instances have been reported since the issue of the circular of 7th June. Inquiries made of manufacturers and suppliers suggest that high alumina cement was used only infrequently for pre-cast pre-stressed concrete beams in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many List D schools have closed their waiting lists and

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will set out in tabular form the number of dwellings in Scotland at the end of December 1973 which were owner-occupied, rented from public authorities, privately rented and subject to other forms of tenure, respectively, giving also the total dwelling stock and the percentage represented by each tenure; and whether he will give the equivalent figures for 1951, 1961 and 1971, respectively.

The figures for 1961, 1971 and 1973 are set out in the table below. Figures for 1951 are not available.are declining to accept children who are considered by children's panels to be in need of residential supervision.

Eleven boys' schools and two girls' schools at present have closed waiting lists.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce amending legislation to the Temperance (Scotland) Act 1913 in order to discontinue veto polls.

This is one of the recommendations of the Clayson Committee on Scottish licensing law whose report I am considering.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many agricultural tied cottages there are in Scotland; and how many evictions or attempted evictions have taken place in the last 10 years.

The estimated total number of cottages occupied by hired agricultural workers under their contract of employment is 19,000. Information on evictions from such cottages is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now considered the representations received regarding Rossend Castle, Burntisland; and when he expects to announce his decision.

I have told Fife County Council, the planning authority, that I intend to decide myself the application to demolish Rossend Castle, and I have asked the Council whether it or Burntisland Town Council wishes a public local inquiry to be held. I will write to my hon. Friend when further significant progress has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, from representations made to him, he will alter the methods relating to identification processes in Scottish judicial proceedings.

The Departmental Committee on Criminal Procedure in Scotland, chaired by Lord Thomson, is considering identification procedures among other aspects of criminal procedures in Scotland. Until the committee's report has been submitted and considered I do not think it would be right to consider altering the present procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will obtain and publish information available as to the amount of waste paper collected each year by Scottish local authorities, and as to the percentage of the total amount of waste paper available which is in fact collected.

A survey showed that, in 1972, 85 Scottish local authorities collected 45,725 tons of paper and cardboard. I have no information as to the amount which might be available for collection, but local authorities are encouraged to collect waste paper if they consider that this is worth while. I do not consider that the collection of the information on an annual basis is justifiable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will bring forward law reform measures to allow for obligatory community work as an alternative to imprisonment for offences committed in Scotland.

Experiments on the use of community service orders are at present in progress in England and Wales. I am examining the results of these experiments and will consider whether any comparable provision should be introduced in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the American Secretary of State.

My right hon. Friend and Dr. Kissinger are both at present attending the NATO Ministerial meeting in Ottawa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultation has taken place with the Government of the United States of America concerning renegotiation of the terms of entry into the EEC.

There have been no formal consultations with the United States about our renegotiation, which is a matter between Her Majesty's Government and the other members of the European Community. We are, however, in close and constant touch with the United States Government on matters of mutual interest, and they are well aware of our objectives in the renegotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to make a further statement about the political aspects of future policy on trade with South Africa.

This subject is still under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between the United Kingdom Embassy and representatives of the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry regarding an incident at an airport in Yugoslavia between Yugoslav police and customs officials and an England footballer; and whether he will make a statement.

On the evening of the incident—2nd June—Her Majesty's Embassy telephoned the Yugoslav Foreign Ministry to ask for a full investigation. This request was repeated in writing the following day. The reply of the Foreign Ministry was given to Her Majesty's Ambassador by the Head of the West European Department of the Foreign Ministry at 10 a.m. on 3rd June. I understand it is the wish of all parties that the incident should be regarded as closed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the formation of a development corporation in the Turks and Caicos Islands to permit the participation of the private sector in development of the islands as recommended in the official Outline Plan of 1971.

None. The formation of such a development corporation is a matter for the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about British representation at the European Parliament following the visit to London on 10th June 1974 of Mr. Cornelis Berkhouwer, President of the Parliament.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained to Mr. Berkhouwer, there is no change in our position on this matter. A copy of the statement issued from No. 10 Downing Street following my right hon. Friend's meeting with Mr. Berkhouwer is available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has had any discussions with the Romanian Government concerning renegotiation of the terms of entry into the EEC.

Mr. Gliga, the Romanian Deputy Foreign Minister, visited this country from 5th–8th June. I took this opportunity to inform him of Her Majesty's Government's renegotiation of the terms of entry into the EEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the incident in the Clyde on 15th June when a Russian vessel, the "Eisberg", docked at Glasgow in defiance of advice from his office.

We have drawn this incident to the attention of the Soviet Embassy, and sought assurances that similar incidents will not recur.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for purposes of implementation of the Luxembourg Agreement of the EEC, what criteria are used by Her Majesty's Government to define the "very important interests" of the United Kingdom.

As a result of the Luxembourg compromise the practice in the Community is that decisions in the Council of Ministers are normally taken on the basis of unanimous consensus. There has therefore been no need to define which issues involve Her Majesty's Government's very important interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a statement on British policy at the Law of the Sea Conference in Caracas.

The Government view this conference, which will take place from 20th June to 29th August, as a major landmark in the development of the law of the sea. If agreement can be reached it will pave the way for harmonious and peaceful use of the oceans by the world community for decades ahead.Our main aim at the conference will be to seek a new convention which will be generally acceptable to all States. Negotiation and compromise will be essential and we shall play a full part in seeking the maximum common ground.On fisheries, we have always believed that our interests were best served by narrow limits to national jurisdiction, but with international regulations established by regional fisheries commissions. This attitude has served the interests of our fishing industry as a whole. These considerations remain valid. At the same time, however, we recognise the special position of coastal States arising from the link between the fishing industry and the rest of their economies. We recognise also that there is a growing international demand for an economic zone of 200 miles and that our own fishing industry is increasingly tending to that view. We shall assess the strength of feeling on this issue at Caracas. What we are firmly opposed to is individual States extending their fisheries jurisdiction unilaterally. In this, as in other aspects of the law of the sea, it is essential to proceed by international agreement.Whatever measures may be finally agreed for the control of fisheries, we shall certainly seek to ensure that the freedoms of navigation and overflight are preserved and that existing law on rights to the resources of the Continental Shelf is maintained. These resources include offshore oil which is of vital importance to our economy. We shall seek at the conference to clarify further the limits to a coastal State's rights to explore and exploit these resources. In our view, a coastal State may already claim under present international law sovereign rights over the resources up to the submerged edge of the continental rocks, that is, of the continental margin. We shall seek to ensure that that position is clearly maintained in the new convention.As for the territorial sea, we are prepared to support a maximum breadth of 12 miles, subject to agreement on a satisfactory régime for the transit of straits used for international navigation. Extention of the territorial sea to 12 miles throughout the world would mean that in over 100 straits used for international navigation a present high seas route would cease to exist. This could create serious difficulties for our military and civil ships and aircraft. Defence, as well as commercial, interests are at stake. Accordingly we will work for a new régime which will preserve the freedoms of navigation and overflight and protect vessels in transit from arbitrary interference by coastal States.We attach importance to the work of the conference on marine pollution from all sources; land-based discharges dumping, exploration and exploitation of the sea bed, and discharges from vessels. In our view, the new convention should not spell out detailed regulations, but should establish a framework for other more specialist conventions by setting out general rights and obligations of States. Provisions regarding pollution from vessels must enable the environment to be protected without prejudicing the free movement of ships. In our view this is best done through the stricter enforcement by flag States of the provisions of international conventions, and we shall propose ways of strengthening the link between a flag State and vessels flying its flag.The Government support the principles in the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2749 (XXV) that the resources of the sea bed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction should be the common heritage of mankind and be developed for the benefit of the whole world community, especially the developing countries. We shall aim at an international régime which encourages the orderly development of the resources of the international area in accordance with this objective.On 15th May I chaired a seminar to enable a broad range of interested organisations and individuals to give their views on British policy at the conference. Copies of the report of the seminar have been placed in the Library of the House. I am considering holding a further seminar after the conference in Caracas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government's policy of referring the terms of renegotiation of entry into the EEC to a possible referendum of the electorate will apply to those in the Channel Isles.

I have been asked to reply.Whether to hold a referendum in their territories would be entirely a matter for the authorities in the Channel Islands. The United Kingdom, as the sovereign State, is, however, the signatory to the Treaty of Accession.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will produce a national plan to regulate the number, capacity, and locations of oil refineries in Scotland.

My Department has in hand studies to determine the desirable level and future pattern of oil refinery capacity in the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with regard to safety precautions at atomic energy establishments.

Yes. Rigorous safety precautions are taken both at nuclear installations licensed under the Nuclear Installations Acts and at other atomic energy establishments. The precautions are subject to continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what proportion of electricity requirements in Scotland is provided by nuclear power stations;(2) what were the comparative costs in the last annual period of producing electricity in Scotland by coal, diesel, hydropower and nuclear power, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.Details of generation costs, and of the quantities of units supplied to the two Scottish electricity boards from nuclear generation and other sources, are given in the boards' annual reports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show the total value of agricultural production in 1973 per head of those engaged full-time in the industry; and if he will compare the figure with that for the value of output per head in the coal mining industry also in 1973.

The value of gross agricultural production per head of those engaged full time in the industry is estimated at £6,700 in 1972–73. The value of production per man engaged in coal-mining—excluding opencast mining—is estimated at about £3,300 for the financial year 1972–73.Estimates of net product per head in each industry do, however, provide a more meaningful comparison. Net product—excluding stock appreciation—per full-time man equivalent for agriculture is estimated at £1,985; net product per employee in coal mining in 1972 is estimated at £2,140. Comparative figures for later years are not at present available.

asked the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to how many farmers his Department has issued badger traps; and in what circumstances they are assisting in the clearing of agricultural land of badgers.

I am aware of only one instance in which such a trap has been issued, and it was loaned to the occupier concerned. The Department's policy and practice concerning control of badgers remains as stated in the reply given to the hon. Members for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) and Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 20th May 1974.—[Vol. 874, c. 20–21.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being undertaken to develop fish farming in and around Great Britain.

The Government's fisheries laboratories undertake a great deal of basic research into all aspects of fish farming. In addition, grant aid is given to the White Fish Authority's development work on marine fish farming, and considerable investment into all aspects of fish farming is being undertaken by commercial concerns.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent representations he has received from the British farming industry about the shortage of baler twine; and if he will make a statement.

A few cases of reported local shortages have been drawn to my attention, but I have nothing further to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry on 5th April to the hon. Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Mr. Corrie).—[Ref. Vol. 871 col. 469.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the volume of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces and cut flowers, respectively, imported into Great Britain for each of the last three years for which figures are available.

I have been asked to reply.The answer is as follows:

Thousand tons
		1971	1972	1973
Tomatoes, fresh or chilled	…	160	156	140
Cucumbers	…	25	24	27
Lettuces, including endives	…	12	10	9
Cut flowers	…	1	2	2

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing the hourly and daily rates of pay for the Ulster Defence Regiment with the changes that have taken place since the force was formed.

I shall write to the hon. Member with this information shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the tax-free payments made to the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment receive tax-free bounties in recognition of their training obligation and call-out liability ranging from £25 to £35 a year depending on service. These bounties are payable over and above the normal rates of pay issued in respect of periods of full-time duty and training.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the special allowance of 50p per day now being paid to the Regular Army for service in Northern Ireland is also being paid to the members of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained on 16th May [Vol. 873, c. 519] full-time staff of the Ulster Defence Regiment will get the special payment of 50p a day. Part-timers will receive the special payment if they are called out for more than 14 days, which is the same qualifying period as applies to the Regular Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the members of the security forces receive a medal for service in Northern Ireland; and under what conditions they receive any such award.

A campaign medal—the General Service Medal and Clasp Northern Ireland—has been awarded to members of the Services and certain specifically approved civilian organisations since 14th August 1969. The details of the award are set out in Special Army Order No. 65 issued by Her Majesty's Stationery Office on 8th November 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he hopes to make a statement on the future use of Park Hall Camp, Oswestry.

We expect to be able to make an announcement next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many teaching staff on the Junior Leaders' Course at Park Hall have been advised of impending redundancies and from what date; and whether redundancy payments may be claimed by the teaching staff if alternative employment is secured by them notwithstanding any alteration in the closure plans at Park Hall.

None of the teaching staff at Park Hall Camp has yet been declared redundant or officially notified of impending redundancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to restore the original purchasing power of retirement pensions paid to ex-members of the Armed Forces and to provide protection for them against inflation in the future.

Armed Forces pensions are reviewed annually and increases, related to the rise in the cost of living, are payable from December to pensioners who have reached the age of 55. If they are invalided from the Service or have since become incapacitated there is no age restriction.Men may retire from the Forces with an immediate pension much earlier than from other occupations. We hope that fit Service pensioners will obtain civilian jobs, and that their income from these will help them to keep up with inflation until they reach a normal retiring age.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the adequacy of the current provision for the defence of vessels of the Royal Navy from attack by long-range missiles launched from aircraft, especially when operating in the absence of air cover provided by HMS "Ark Royal" or land-based fighters.

Defence against aircraft-launched missile attack is provided by ship-borne area and point defence missile systems, as well as by air cover from HMS "Ark Royal" and shore bases, and improvements are planned. I am satisfied that these arrangements are adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is yet able to announce a decision about publication of the statistics he collected relating to unjustified absence from school on 17th January 1974; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to give the main findings in about a month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will reintroduce a London weighting for post-graduate grants.

I am considering this as part of the current review of grants for post-graduate students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received asking for the introduction of legislation to lower the school leaving age.

Many letters have been received commenting on various aspects of the school leaving age but know of none in these specific terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the most recent date for which his Department has detailed statistics on expenditure by local education authorities; and if he will take, steps to collect and make available more up-to-date figures.

The most recent returns of expenditure by local education authorities received by my Department relate to the financial year 1972–73. Detailed statistics based on these returns will be published in "Statistics of Education 1973; Volume 5" later this year. It is hoped to include in this volume a summary of expenditure by local education authorities in the financial year 1973–74. based on the returns for that year which should be received in a few months' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the amount of money spent

Financial years*		I.L.E.A.	Manchester	Leeds	Liverpool	Birmingham
		£000	£000	£000	£000	£000
1967–68	…	2,866	1,236	306	1,277	1,434
1968–69	…	6,311	792	1,698	272	2,540
1969–70	…	7,813	1,942	1,235	1,700	3,039
1970–71	…	7,133	709	1,351	1,794	2,004
1971–72	…	8,071	1,647	1,800	875	2,748
1972–73	…	7,037	1,133	1,646	1,972	2,891
1973–74 (to 31st March 1974)	…	940	410	991	200	1,071
* Financial years correspond to building year throughout with the exception of 1973–74 for which the building year was extended to 30th June 1974 under the arrangements announced in December 1973

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the letter received from the Association of Polytechnic Teachers (Trent branch), if he will now hold an inquiry into the development of the Trent Polytechnic following the proposed merger with the College of Education at Clifton.

No. The proposed merger of the Polytechnic and College of Education would necessitate a revision of the development plan for the Polytechnic and no proposals for revision have yet been submitted by the Joint Education committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will include within the terms of reference of the committee inquiring into teachers' pay the question of special allowances in areas of high housing cost outside London.

It will be open to the committee of inquiry to consider any evidence it receives on such allowances and to decide whether to make any recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the on school building programmes in London, Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and Birmingham in the years 1967, 1968 and 1969 and the three years 1971, 1972 and 1973.

Listed below for the period and the authorities in question are the total values, at constant prices as for 1972–73, of major projects for primary, secondary and special schools started in each year.OFFICIAL REPORT the individual current gross incomes of each of the members of the Royal Commission on Incomes on appointment, the salaries and any fringe benefits to be paid to those appointed, and which members will be full time; and whether he is satisfied that the membership of the commission will reflect the national cross-section of incomes.

In accordance with normal practice it will be made clear at the time of appointment whether a member of the Royal Commission will be full-time or part-time and what salary, if any, he is to be paid. Any other payments or benefits will be in accordance with the rules covering service on advisory bodies. As stated in the consultative document published on 10th June, there will be consultations with the TUC, CBI, and other organisations concerned about the composition of the commission. The basis for appointment will be suitability for the job to be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend the prison regulations so that in the case of prisoners refusing to eat it is established that (a) there shall be no attempt at force feeding, (b) they shall be denied the privilege of visitors, and (c) if their fast is fatal they shall be buried within the confines of a prison.

With regard to the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to my reply to the supplementary question from the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 23rd May.—[Vol. 874 Cols. 601–2.] With regard to the second and third parts, the answer is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to impose greater restrictions on the sale of air rifles.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to attract more recruits into the prison service.

The policy and procedures are kept under constant review in order to increase the number of suitable candidates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government assistance has been provided for the North Sea Inshore Rescue Service; what was the nature of his inquiries into the conduct of the service; and what were the reasons for its disbandment.

My right hon. Friend has no responsibility with regard to this service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people wearing berets and dark glasses in the recent IRA funeral procession at Kilburn had their names and addresses taken by the police, and of this number how many (a) gave addresses in the Irish Republic and (b) have since returned to the Irish Republic.

Eight people had their names and addresses taken. None of them gave an address in the Irish Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much under strength are the Liverpool and Bootle Constabulary and the Lancashire Constabulary.

As a result of local government reorganisation, Liverpool and Bootle are now policed by the Merseyside Police, which on 30th April 1974 had 447 vacancies; on the same date the Lancashire Constabulary had 123 vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it took him until 11th June to reply to the letter sent to him on 19th April by the hon. Member for Newham, North-West, concerning immigration; and what was contained in this reply which could not have been sent within a few weeks of receipt of the hon. Member's communication.

A reply to my hon. Friend's letter could have been sent more quickly if we were not under heavy pressure. I regret the delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to encourage the compliance of hotels with the requirements of the Fire Precautions Act 1971.

The enforcement of the Act is the responsibility of fire authorities, but the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council regularly reviews progress. Guidance is issued as necessary to the fire authorities, and additional courses have been provided centrally at the Fire Service Technical College for brigade officers engaged on fire prevention. I take this opportunity of asking all hotel keepers who have not yet applied for fire certificates to do so without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to offer financial help to hoteliers to comply with the requirements of the Fire Precautions Act 1971.

A loans scheme, administered by local authorities under the Fire Precautions (Loans) Act 1973, is available to the proprietors of the smaller hotels and boarding houses, who make up the majority of hoteliers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if public records or documents are in any circumstances destroyed in order to prevent them from being made available for public inspection and research at any future date.

No. Home Office records are dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Acts of 1958 and 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the group television licences available to pensioners living in local authority sheltered flatlets are available to all persons living in sheltered housing groups.

The old persons' homes television licence is not restricted to local authority housing but is available to all pensioners living in accommodation which qualifies for the licence. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, and would like to send me details of it, I should be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to improve television reception in Ceredigion.

The BBC and IBA who are primarily responsible for the extension of coverage of their services tell me that they expect the coverage attained in Ceredigion by the high-power UHF television transmitting stations at Blaenplwf and Preseley to be augmented with a number of low-power relay stations in the Teifi valley. The priorities for additional UHF coverage is a matter on which the Government awaits the report of the Committee on Broadcasting Coverage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a further statement about IRA parades in political uniforms.

No. The hon. Member will have noted the decision of the Attorney-General to sanction prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the earliest date by which all areas of Northern Ireland can expect to receive colour TV.

A date cannot be given. As I said in my answer to the hon. Gentleman on 6th May—[Vol. 873 Col. 50]—colour services in Londonderry will be extended when conditions permit. This is also true of Northern Ireland as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in respect of the contracts with Chile cancelled by Rolls-Royce at the request of the Government, how long the contracts had to run; and what was the estimated outstanding value of the contracts.

The contract did not run for a stated period. Its value depended on the work required by the Chileans under it; this year the company was expecting about £400,000 of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry why he is not paying compensation to Rolls-Royce in respect of its contracts with Chile which it cancelled at the request of the Government.

The Government's request carries with it no obligation to pay compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his policy of countering the activities of multi-national companies extends to the operations of British-led companies of this type which do business in overseas countries.

I am engaged in discussions about policies designed to safeguard British interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the number of people employed in (a) all advance factories in Wales and (b) in the 61 occupied since November 1964.

Information as to (a) is not available, but 67,000 are employed in all our factories, both advance and built to order, and 4,500 in those referred to in (b).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he envisages designed to ensure the proper social use of profits other than in reinvestment.

This is primarily for industry to decide in the light of its responsibilities to society and subject to prevailing legislation, which is kept under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of printing and distributing VAT news to all registered traders, and whether he will restrict its circulation in future to those who write to request it.

The cost of the two issues so far published was roughly £100,000 per issue, or about 8p per registered trader, including postage.It is necessary to keep all taxable persons fully informed about their statutory obligations under VAT. If VAT news were sent, as the hon. Member suggests, only to those who wrote to Customs and and Excise to request it, Customs would be obliged to make other arrangements to ensure that all traders received necessary information; this would considerably reduce any saving that might result from restricting the circulation of VAT news.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Petersfield may expect a reply from him, following her representations to him on behalf of branches of the Hampshire Federation of Women's Institutes on the impact of value added tax on their subscriptions; and what that reply will contain.

I replied on 18th June in a letter explaining that these subscriptions are subject to value added tax under the relevant provisions of the Finance Act 1972 and that I am satisfied that it would not be right to amend the law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing Great Britain's total gold reserves at each fiscal year end since 1960.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the size of United Kingdom gold stocks in 1963 and in each subsequent year.

The information is set out in the following table. The sterling valuation is on the basis of the gold parity; this was £12·5 per fine ounce until 18th November 1967 and £14·5833 per fine ounce thereafter.

Date			Gold Stock in United Kingdom Reserves (in millions of ounces*)	Value (in £ million)
End March:
1960	…	…	70·063	876
1961	…	…	74·952	937
1962	…	…	68·733	859
1963	…	…	69·925	874
1964	…	…	70·238	878
1965	…	…	60·317	754
1966	…	…	58·190	727
1967	…	…	47·915	599
1968	…	…	42·660	622
1969	…	…	42·163	615
1970	…	…	41·957	612
1971	…	…	32·114	468
1972	…	…	21·430	313
1973	…	…	21·344	311
1974	…	…	21·026	306
* All figure rounded to the nearest thousand ounces

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show the various increases in pay on a daily and hourly basis for the RUC Reserve since the force was formed.

Part-time members of the RUC Reserve who are performing probationary training receive annual remuneration of £11. Those who have completed such training receive £15 per annum.In respect of duties additional to those required for qualification for the annual payments, until 1st November 1972 remuneration was paid at the rate of 45p per hour and since that date at the rate of 55p per hour—male—and 53p per hour—female.The pay of full-time members of the Reserve and their pay increases are linked with those for regular constables.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what tax-free payments are made to members of the RUC and RUC Reserve.

Payments are made to all members of the RUC, and to full-time members of the Reserve, in respect of footwear. In appropriate cases, uniform, stockings, rent and plain clothes allowances and detective expenses are paid; and allowances are also paid in respect of the use of private motor vehicles, travelling subsistence and removal. An amount of £45 is paid to constables and sergeants on passing the appropriate RUC promotion examinations.Part-time members of the RUC Reserve receive an allowance in respect of footwear, which is included in the annual bounty; plain clothes allowances and travelling and subsistence allowances are also paid to them as appropriate.All of these payments and allowances are effectively tax free.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many increases in pay have been made to members of the RUC over the last four years; and what are these increases in the terms of the lowest paid members of the force.

RUC pay increases are the same as those awarded to forces in Great Britain. Over the last four years there have been five such increases as shown in the following annual rates applicable to an 18-year-old constable in the service.

Date of pay increase	Revised rate of pay
1.1.70	£900 (previously £830)
1.9.70	£ 966
1.9.71	£1,029
1.9.72	£1,182
1.9.73	£1,281

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the RUC were in full-time service on the 1st June 1974; what is the religious breakdown of the force with regard to Church of England, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptists, and others; and how the numbers of each sect compare with the overall numbers of each sect in the total population of Northern Ireland.

On 1st June 1974, 4,441 members of the RUC were in full-time service. No record is kept of the religion of members of the force and there is no religious bar on entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of Roman Catholics in the RUC Reserve; and what is the total number of persons in the force on 1st June 1974.

The strength of the RUC Reserve at 1st June 1974 was 2,538. No record is kept of the religion of members of the Reserve and there is no religious bar on entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many members of the RUC Reserve are on full-time work with the RUC.

364 on 1st June 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if, in view of the special allowance now paid to members of the Regular Army who are serving in Northern Ireland, he will now pay a special allowance to members of the RUC and the RUC Reserve.

I shall be meeting representatives of the Police Council for the United Kingdom on 20th June to discuss the Royal Ulster Constabulary claim for a special duty allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the increase in strength of the RUC and of the RUC Reserve in the city of Londonderry over the 12 months ending on 31st May 1974.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. McCusker) on 24th May.— [Vol. 874. c. 319.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to prepare an index for the Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths prior to 1922 for Oxford House, Chichester Street, Belfast.

The Northern Ireland General Register Office has a microfilmed index of births from which most pre-1922 births can be traced and a certificate issued. If for any reason a birth cannot be traced in this way an inquiry has to be addressed to the General Register Office in Dublin. The preparation of a complete index of births, deaths and marriages prior to 1922 would cost in the region of £50,000 and it is not considered that such expenditure would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied with the staffing arrangements and number of staff for the Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths in Oxford House, Chichester Street, Belfast.

Owing to recruitment difficulties the Northern Ireland General Register Office, like many other departments, has been short of staff, with a resulting delay to the members of the public in the preparation of certificates, but I am pleased to say that the position has improved considerably in recent weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will arrange for copies of the local register of births, marriages and deaths to be kept for a longer period than one year in the offices of each district council or other registrar's office in Northern Ireland.

It would not be economic to operate on a local basis the system under which registers are microfilmed and certificates issued from the microfilm copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussion he has had with the Dublin Government regarding the future Government of Northern Ireland since the Executive was terminated.

Since I took office I have made a point of keeping in touch from time to time with members of the Dublin Government, but no formal discussions have taken place with that Government on the future government of Northern Ireland since the Executive eased to exist.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if, in the interests of consumer protection, she will make the services of her Department available to the television companies in their negotiations with the Football League in its claim for a 300 per cent. increase in fees for the televising of football matches, in an effort to minimise the inflationary effect of any new agreement.

The price code is, of course, intended to curb the inflationary effect of all price increases. The question whether a price increase meets the requirements of the code is one for the Price Commission, which is always ready to consider any such matter brought before it.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will publish a table showing the percentage increases that have taken place annually in the last five years in British Rail passenger fares in the South-East; and how the total increase compares with the cost of living increase over the same period.

I have been asked to reply.I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what procedures are instituted in order to establish whether or not a widow is cohabiting;(2) what criteria are used for establishing whether or not a widow is cohabiting.

The main criteria taken into account are set out in paragraph 17 of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook, published by the Supplementary Benefits Commission in November 1972, a copy of which is in the Library. If information is received which suggests that cohabitation exists inquiries are made to establish the facts. In the course of these inquiries the widow will usually be interviewed and, in some circumstances, the man. These criteria and procedures apply equally in the supplementary benefits and national insurance fields.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many widows have had their pension withdrawn for cohabiting by the local office and had it subsequently reinstated on appeal in the last year for which figures are available;(2) how many widows have had their widow's pension withdrawn for cohabiting in the last year for which figures are available.

In 1973, 1,146 widows had their national insurance widows' pensions withdrawn for cohabitation. Subsequently, 40 had them restored after appeal to the national insurance local tribunal and one after appeal to the National Insurance Commissioner.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the marital status, widowed, divorced, separated or unmarried, of those women whose books were withdrawn on suspicion of cohabitation between 1969 and 1973; in what age groups they fall, whether 20 or under, 21–30, 31–40, 41–50, and over 50 years of age; and what was their regional distribution;(2) how many widows had their books withdrawn on suspicion of cohabitation between 1969 and 1973.

I regret that, because of the way in which the records are kept, no information is available about those women who lost their supplementary benefit on account of cohabitation. The following information relates to widows who were disqualified for receiving national insurance widows' benefits because of cohabitation:

Nine months ended 31st December 1970	460
Full year 1971	840
Full year 1972	1,140
Full year 1973	1,146
No age or regional breakdown is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what percentage of appeals by widows accused under the cohabitation rule before the Supplementary Benefits Tribunal and the National Insurance Tribunal, respectively, were successful in those cases where the appellants were represented;(2) how many widows in receipt of State benefit and accused of cohabitation were represented at local national insurance tribunals, supplementary benefits appeals tribunals, and appeals to the National Insurance Commissioner between 1969 and 1973; and how many of these representatives were legally qualified.

Statistics analysing representation in appeals against the refusal of supplementary benefit on the grounds of cohabitation are only available for 1973 onwards. The figures do not differentiate between the sex or marital status of the claimant; but, before supplementary appeal tribunals in such appeals, in 1973, of the 149 claimants who were represented 52–35 per cent.—were successful. In 17 of the 149 cases the representative was a solicitor.The only information about representation in appeals against the disallowance of national insurance and industrial injuries widow's pensions on grounds of cohabitation relates to appeals to the National Insurance Commissioner. Twelve appeals were made to the Commissioner in 1973. Two claimants were represented in the resultant hearings, but in neither case was the representative legally qualified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of cases investigated between 1969 and 1973 by Department of Health and Social Security special investigators relate to allegations of cohabitation.

The percentage of cases investigated by special investigators which involved allegations of cohabitation in each of the years in question was:

					Percentage
1969	…	…	…	…	40
1970	…	…	…	…	37
1971	…	…	…	…	38
1972	…	…	…	…	36
1973	…	…	…	…	36

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many officials were dealing with cohabitation allegations as part of their normal fraud detection duties between 1969 and 1973.

Allegations of cohabitation relating to supplementary benefit claimants, including a small number who also receive widow's benefit, are normally dealt with by special investigators who spend about one-third of their time on this work. The average number of these officers in post in each of the years in question was:—

1969	…	…	171
1970	…	…	226
1971	…	…	259
1972	…	…	287
1973	…	…	293

Allegations in respect of widows not receiving supplementary benefit are investigated by inspectors. No detailed information is kept but there are about 2,000 inspectors and they spend about 5 per cent. of their time investigating national insurance benefit fraud of which cohabitation forms a very small part.