asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to call a convention of all representatives of the Ulster community and of the Westminster Parliament to devise an acceptable formula of democratic power sharing.

Until my present round of urgent discussions with political leaders in Northern Ireland is completed I prefer not to commit myself to a particular course of action.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bankruptcies have been notified in the farming industry during the past year; what analysis his Department has made of the causes; and if he will make a statement.

I would prefer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 23rd May to my hon. Friend the Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Huckfield)—[Vol. 874, c. 213.]—It is not practicable to analyse the cause of each bankruptcy. Since there is such a wide variation in net income between farms of a similar size and type of business, such analyses would serve little purpose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farming establishments exist using the battery cage system; and how often each is the subject of a routine inspection by a member of the State Veterinary Service.

We estimate the number in Great Britain to be between 40,000 and 50,000. Welfare inspections are made on a random rather than a routine basis. Complaints are always investigated.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will improve the standards required by the codes of recommendations for the welfare of livestock and poultry; and if he will make them mandatory.

Though no amendments are immediately in prospect the hon. Member may be assured that we will not hesitate to propose improvements to the welfare codes where, on the advice of the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, we believe them to be justified. We consider that in the present state of scientific knowledge it would be wrong to make the codes enforceable at law.

asked the Minister of of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many research projects on the subject of stress in animals kept in intensive systems have been undertaken by his Ministry directly or by the Agricultural Research Council since the publication of the Brambell Report.

My Department has not undertaken work specifically on stress, but 14 studies and investigations into animal behavioural patterns or production systems could throw light on stress factors. I understand that the Agricultural Research Council is currently conducting 22 research projects on stress and that 13 other projects may also prove to be relevant. The total extent of such research by the ARC since 1965 is not readily assessable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total value of payments made to date in cheese subsidy, identifying separately the figure for British cheeses and that for imported cheeses.

By 19th June £287,801 had been paid on cheese made in the United Kingdom and £319,400 86p on imported cheeses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many more manufacturers and importers have been identified as eligible for cheese subsidy since 5th June.

Between 5th June and 19th June a further seven manufacturers and 19 importers had been identified as eligible to claim the subsidy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there has been any increase in the number of manufacturers of White Stilton cheese registered as claimants for subsidy since 5th June; and how much money has so far been paid.

By 19th June a further three manufacturers had been registered as claimants for subsidy on white Stilton. Records of the amount of subsidy paid on individual cheeses are not being maintained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of slaughterings of fat steers for each month since January 1973.

The information requested is given below. It should be noted that slaughterings of fat steers were unusually low in 1973, being approximately 100,000 head less during the period January-May than in the corresponding period in 1970, 1971 and 1972.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of slaughterings of dairy cattle for each month since January 1973.

Figures are not available to show the numbers of dairy cattle slaughtered, or the numbers of dairy cows. The nearest equivalent series is that for cows and bulls, although these figures include cows and bulls from the beef breed herd. The monthly statistics since January 1973 are as follows:—

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of the lime subsidy and the fertiliser subsidy during the last year of operation.

In the financial year ending 31st March 1974 the cost of the fertilisers subsidy was £14·6 million and that of the lime subsidy £4·5 million. Claims are still being received in respect of fertilisers delivered up to the closing date of 31st May; the lime subsidy is available until 31st July 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now relax the restraint on the payment of dividends.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General gave on 13th June to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Taylor).—[Vol. 874, c. 600.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage fall in the value of the pound since May 1968.

It is estimated that between May 1968 and April 1974, the latest date for which statistics are available, the internal purchasing power of the pound fell by 381 per cent. This estimate is based on the change in the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds VAT was lifted from the linear scanner recently installed at a Worcester hospital; in particular whether the grounds were different from those applying to other diagnostic medical equipment bought from charitable funds; and whether he will now permanently lift VAT from all medical equipment.

The relief from value added tax followed the remission of import duty by virtue of a duty-free direction issued under Section 6 of the Import Duties Act 1958. I have under consideration the suggestion contained in the last part of the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional annual revenue would be produced by an increase of 1 per cent. on VAT.

About £240 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in his forthcoming Green Paper on a wealth tax the comparative rates of direct taxation in those countries whose comparative rates of capital taxation are to be detailed in the Green Paper.

I shall consider the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, in each of the last 10 years, the total remittances made in the form of taxation, duties and other imposts by the nationalised industries to the Exchequer.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table showing in each of the last 10 years the public debt liability of each of the nationalised industries, the interest paid on that debt and the amounts of any capital divident payments made by nationalised industries to the Exchequer;(2) if he will publish a table showing in each of the last 10 years the debt write-offs that have been granted to each of the nationalised industries.

I shall let the hon. Member have replies to his Questions as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the details of REP payments to private industry are readily available but those to nationalised industries are not; and if he will publish the details of REP payments to the nationalised industries in each of the last 10 years.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional annual revenue would be produced by an increase of 1p on the standard rate of income tax.

At 1974–75 income levels an increase of 1p on the basic rate of income tax would yield about £300 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional annual revenue would be produced by an increase of £5 on road tax.

If the £5 increase applied to all vehicles other than tractors currently bearing duty at £5 and motor cycles, the additional yield from vehicle excise duty in 1974–75 would be £80 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of building societies.

As at 19th June, 1974, there were 441 building societies registered in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in connection with the Government's proposals in the 1974 Finance Bill for taxing foreigners

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered the document sent to him by the Group of Sport-Supporting Pools, entitled "Submissions concerning the Report of the Inter-departmental Working Party on Lotteries" (Command Paper No. 5506); and if he will make a statement on his policy towards it.

The information is shown in the table below.

The document deals mainly with matters that are the concern of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I have, however, noted the representations about pool betting duty, and I am meeting a deputation from the Group of Sport-Supporting Pools on 27th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional annual revenue would be produced by an increase of 1p on the duty charged on a pint of beer.

About £110 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received from the hon. Member for Macclesfield concerning the imposition of VAT on subscription charges to the National Federation of Women's Institutes.

Four; on behalf of members of the Institutes at Alderley Edge, Nether Alderley and Warford, Marton and Kettleshulme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to introduce further legislation to prohibit the public display of indecent matter.

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave to similar Questions by a number of hon. Members on 9th May.—[Vol. 873, c. 563–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take with regard to illegal immigrants who have revealed themselves since 11th April 1974 but who are not eligible under the terms of the amnesty announced on that date.

Where a person applies under the terms of the announcement which I made on 11th April and is found to be ineligible to benefit, his case is considered in the light of all the relevant circumstances. It is not possible to generalise about the way in which such applications are dealt with, but each case is very carefully considered on its individual merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have now identi fied themselves as a result of his recent amnesty; and whether he can now make a more accurate estimate of the total number of illegal immigrants covered by his amnesty.

Up to 17th June 667 people had applied for indefinite leave to remain under the terms of the announcement which I made on 11th April. It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the number of illegal entrants eligible to benefit under the announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants who entered the country illegally have applied for indefinite leave to remain as a result of the statement of the Home Secretary in the House of 11th April 1974; how many of those applying have been found to be ineligible for leave to remain; and what steps he has taken or intends to take in respect of those found ineligible.

Up to 17th June 667 people had applied for indefinite leave to remain under the terms of the announcement which I made on 11th April. Many applications are still being examined. Sixty-seven applicants have so far been found to be ineligible and their cases will be considered and the appropriate action taken, depending on the relevant circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to reintroduce the Safety of Sports Grounds Bill.

My right hon. Friend cannot at present add to the reply which he gave on 18th March to a Question by the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Money).—[Vol. 870, c. 32.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Home Office and the Foreign Office in countering abuses of immigration control.

The Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office work very closely together in immigration matters. If the hon. Member has a particular matter in mind I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to make it an offence for members of foreign secret police organisations to conduct operations in Great Britain.

No. But prompt action would be taken if there were evidence of unlawful activity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now allow battery-operated record-players for educational purposes to be used in dispersal prisons.

This is already allowed if there is a valid educational need which cannot be met by facilities in the education centre of the prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, as part of a Government Bill on electoral law, he will introduce a Bill to amend the Representation of the People Act so as to (a) enable electors who are absent on holiday to vote by post, and (b) to enact the proposals in Clause 3 of the Representation of the People (No. 2) Bill, relating to the amendment of incorrect electoral registers.

No. The first of these proposals is one which the Speaker's Conference of 1965–68 rejected; the second is under consideration by a working party, set up on the recommendation of the Speaker's Conference in the last Parliament, which is concerned with the whole question of improving the register.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce legislation allowing staggered regional voting at General Elections.

A factual study has been made of the precedents, but I have not as yet any plans to introduce such legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress he has made with his plans for tackling urban deprivation.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering recommendations from the urban deprivation unit. Thereafter he will be discussing them with his colleagues.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set up a committee to consider the extent of any relationship between the continual portrayal of violence on cinema and television screens and the crime rate.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy on civil defence and public survival after a nuclear attack; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 23rd May to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Preston, South (Mr. Thorne).—[Vol. 874, c. 228–9.] The need for a statement will be considered in the context of the Defence White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters he received in May from women, granted alimony by court order, who had not received payment, asking for a change in the system; and what replies he sent.

One. The gist of the reply was that the Government will consider this matter in the light of the report of the Committee on One-Parent Families.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of British hotels and boarding houses has fire safety certificates; and what action he proposes to take against those without certificates.

On 31st December 1973 about 60 per cent. of the hotels and boarding-houses in England and Wales had applied for fire certificates under the Fire Precautions Act 1971; about 13 per cent. had been inspected; and about 1 per cent. had received certificates. The enforcement of the Act is a matter for the fire authorities, who are taking steps to deal with hotels and boarding-houses which have not yet applied for certificates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase the penalties for the unlawful killing of deer.

We intend to review the level of penalties for offences relating to deer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Independent Broadcasting Authority since taking office.

My right hon. Friend has recently discussed a number of broadcasting topics with the Chairman of the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in considering applications to reside in Great Britain by the husbands and fiancés of British women or of women with a right of abode here, he will distinguish between applications by those who are already married, those who are contemplating marriage and already have a genuine personal relationship, and those who are contemplating marriage but do not as yet have any such personal relationship.

I do not think that what my hon. Friend has in mind would be workable, although I have studied his suggestions with care. I hope to announce the conclusions of my review of the prob lem in the near future, but I regard the present degree of sex discrimination and potential hardship as very telling considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government have taken for the reconvening of the Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law.

This is a matter for consultation between the leaders of the parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now in a position to announce his proposals for changes in the way that complaints against the police are handled.

No, not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Hampshire on the events at Portsmouth Polytechnic on the evening of Friday 17th May, when police protection was provided for a visiting speaker.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 24th May.—[Vol. 874, c. 305.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied as to the general probity of Special Branch officers; and if he will make available any general rules governing their standards of conduct.

I have full confidence in the general probity of Special Branch officers, as of the police service as a whole. Special Branch officers are subject to the same rules of conduct as other police officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that community relations and urban aid projects in Great Britain benefit from the EEC action programme for migrant workers and their families.

We are urgently considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment how the scheme agreed by the Council of Ministers on 10th June can be applied to the benefit of such projects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from chief constables on the increase there has been in requests for policemen to attend at football grounds to deal with crowd control during the last three months, and in the arrangements which have been made to meet this demand.

Chief officers of police are well aware of the need to control crowds at football grounds, and no indication has reached us that they have found difficulty in meeting the requests made to them. My right hon. Friend does not think that special reports are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children have been admitted to penal establishments in Yorkshire in the last 12 months.

None. But if, as I understand, the hon. Member has in mind young persons between the ages of 14 and 16 remanded to penal establishments, Thorp Arch remand centre received 626 in the year ended 31st May 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of defendants found not guilty in the magistrates' courts received costs in 1973; and how this compares with the previous two years.

I regret that this information is not available. I am exploring the possibility of obtaining some information for future years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the warning he is sending to importers, wholesalers and retailers in regard to the selling of imported aerosols containing vinyl chloride monomer; and if he will place copies of the appropriate circulars in the House of Commons Library.

While there is no evidence that such aerosols are manufactured in this country or imported, importers, wholesalers and retailers are being warned through their trade associations not to sell them because they may carry a carcinogenic risk. Individual letters were sent to the associations concerned, and I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Working Party on Street Offences and Vagrancy will have completed its report; and if he will make a statement.

The working party has made substantial progress with the preparation of a consultative document which it is hoped to publish later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present complement of inspectors now engaged in enforcing the regulations on the use of live animals for experiments; and how far short this is of the full establishment.

The inspectorate under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 is currently at its full establishment of 14.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what grounds and for what purpose he licensed the recent experiment in which over a two-month testing of 60 rats six were found to prefer alcohol to water.

My right hon. Friend did not issue a licence for this experiment which was carried out in Finland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the figure of 71,600 more Commonwealth citizens and foreign nationals admitted to the United Kingdom than left it in the first three months of 1974 compares with the same period in 1973; and whether he will make a statement.

The corresponding figure for 1973 was 58,648. As compared with 1973, the higher net balance inflow in the first quarter of 1974 was of nationals of EEC countries with lower figures for other foreign nationals and Commonwealth citizens.Conclusions about the scale of entry for settlement cannot be drawn from the net balance figures, particularly where those figures relate only to parts of years.For ease of comparison the figures are recorded in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of his discussions about strengthening the law or procedure concerning demonstrations by paramilitary organisations in British cities.

My right hon. Friend has no further statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what arrangements are made for the storage of used ballot papers and counterfoils following parliamentary and local government elections; and what security arrangements are made to prevent unauthorised persons from viewing such papers;

Ballot papers and counterfoils for parliamentary elections must be sealed by the returning officer and sent by him to the Clerk of the Crown who is required to retain them for one year. They are kept in conditions of security in the Public Records Office and may only be opened on the order of the House of Commons, the High Court, or county court or an election court.Ballot papers and counterfoils for local government elections must be sealed by the returning officer and sent by him to the proper officer of the council who is required to retain them for six months and is responsible for their security, subject to the directions of the council. The sealed packets may be opened only on the order of a county court or an election court.At the end of the prescribed period these documents must be destroyed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many cases are known to the Department of persons being arrested for debts due to local authorities or other public bodies where the debt had already been paid, in each of the past 10 years;(2) how many persons have been held in custody or arrested before being brought before the magistrates on warrants issued for debts to local authorities and to other public authorities in each of the last 10 years;(3) how many persons have been arrested for debts owing to local authorities and other public authorities in the United Kingdom in each of the past 10 years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many charities have had their registration withdrawn in each of the last 10 years;

The Home Office does not keep this information, as my right hon. Friend has no responsibility for the day-to-day work of the commission. I suggest that my hon. Friend should approach the commissioners direct.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to give women who are the subject of sexual assault the right to non-disclosure of their names in resulting court proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 17th June.—[Vol. 875, c. 39.]

asked the Attorney-General if he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions, with a view to prosecution under the Race Relations Act, the Anti-Immigration Standing Committee, following the telegram sent by it to the Prime Minister announcing its intention to urge British people who consider race relations policy to be contrary to their interest and well-being to defy the law.

I have consulted the Director of Public Prosecutions, who has advised that, on the evidence which has been sent to him, there is no reasonable prospect of a conviction under Section 6 of the Race Relations Act 1965. I agree with his advice.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will consider amending the Legal Aid Scheme so that disablement benefit and sickness benefit are in future disregarded in assessing income of applicants.

Disablement benefit is disregarded by the Supplementary Benefits Commission in assessing the disposable income of an applicant for legal aid to the extent of a maximum of £2 a week. Attendance allowance, constant attendance allowance and exceptionally severe disablement allowance, which are increases in the basic disablement pension, are already excluded in full. My noble Friend has no proposals at present to amend the regulations to allow for sickness benefit to be disregarded in assessing the income of applications. In accordance with Rule 4(a) of the schedule, £104 of an applicant's income is always disregarded.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to stop people from being held in custody or imprisoned for debt in England and Wales.

Following the recommendation of the Payne Committee on the Enforcement of Judgment Debts, imprisonment for civil debt was abolished by the Administration of Justice Act 1970, except for maintenance payments and debts due to the Crown. My noble Friend has no proposals for legislation to change this situation.These provisions do not apply to rates, which are not a debt but a statutory liability.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what report he has received regarding Ferguslie Park, Paisley.

I am aware of the problem in this locality and of the progress of the Community Development Project which is being undertaken there by Paisley Town Council. Representatives of the council are to meet my Department on 25th June to discuss further action.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what school building projects have been postponed in the Western Isles as a result of restrictions on expenditure.

The reductions in capital expenditure in 1974–75 announced by the previous administration in December 1973 do not affect any school building project in this area apart from any nursery building project that may start later as a result of the six months' deferment of the nursery education programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the proposed increase in student hall rents is higher at Glasgow than in the other Scottish universities.

Universities are autonomous bodies and make decisions on the level of residence fees without ministerial endorsement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce amending legislation to the Land Compensation (Scotland) Act 1973 to provide for home loss payments to displaced owner-occupiers and tenants where the building has been declared dangerous under a dean of guild warrant as a result of improvement work on or demolition of adjacent properties by the local authority.

I do not know of any cases where a Dangerous Buildings Order has been placed on a building as a result of the activities of the local authority in an adjacent property. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind perhaps he would write to me with the details.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when leave will be given to commence construction of a major heart unit at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.

The construction of a coronary care unit at Ninewells has already been authorised. Tenders will soon be sought with a view to a start later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding a public inquiry into the cost of construction of Ninewells Hospital, Dundee; and if he will make a statement.

No such representations have been received in 1974. Previous representations received from time to time about aspects of the Ninewells situation have included proposals for a public inquiry. I shall consider the need for an inquiry once the relevant construction works have been completed and the outcome of the recent arbitration has been fully reviewed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of the Environment and the Department of Employment regarding the regulation of employment practices and subcontracting in the construction industry.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Secretary of State for Employment at Blackpool on industrial relations on 17th May represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Secretary of State for Employment on industrial relations, at Blackpool on 17th May, represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Secretary of State for Employment on industrial relations at Blackpool on 17th May represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Secretary of State for Employment at Blackpool on 17th May on the subject of industrial relations represents the policy of the Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether the speech made by the Secretary of State for Industry in London on 18th May regarding the performance of British industry represents Government policy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 18th June—[Vol. 875, c. 201.]—to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual expenditure of each of the three Services on recruiting; to what extent this expenditure is incurred on advertising in each Services for (a) officers and (b) other ranks; and what in each case is the approximate expenditure on advertising per recruit.

I will write to the hon. Member, but in the meantime I would refer him to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington and Ellesmere Port (Mr. Bates) on 10th April.—[Vol. 872, c.200.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many submarines and other British naval vessels have been ordered by foreign Governments since 1964.

According to official records, 115 new vessels have been ordered, of which nine were submarines.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the total value of defence imports in the financial years 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73; and what is the provisional figure for 1974.

The total value of imports of defence equipment was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make available to the amenity groups presently studying the Lymington River and environs the hydrographic services of his Department, and any information in his Department's possession concerning the river.

Information concerning this area is available on Admiralty Chart No. 2040, published this year, and in the "Channel Pilot". Copies of a larger scale survey are available on request from the Curator, Hydrographic Department, Taunton. If the hon. Member would write to me specifying any further services that he has in mind, I will consider what assistance can be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in considering the desirability of a national school leaving date for all 16-year-olds.

My right hon. Friend will shortly be considering the views of local authority and teachers' associations on a proposal to set an early leaving date in the summer term for those pupils who are not at present eligible to leave until the end of the term. Some associations advanced the possibility of a single annual leaving date for all pupils and these comments will be taken into consideration also, but this was not the suggestion put for consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider extending the duties of the proposed Health and Safety Commission to cover the shipping industry.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Bill applies in respect of persons at work in Great Britain. Its scope can be extended beyond Great Britain by Order-in-Council. The health and safety of those employed in the shipping industry is covered by the existing Merchant Shipping Acts which are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Trade. Where appropriate, regulations applying to the shipping industry can also be made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Bill. The Health and Safety Commission will normally be responsible for the enforcement of regulations made under the Bill, but it could arrange for this function to be exercised by a Government Department such as the Department of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether increases in pay in accordance with threshold agreements may be treated automatically as increases in pay for occupational pension purposes and may be included in the appropriate figure for pensionable pay on the next scheme date.

It is for the administrators of occupational pension schemes to decide what is pensionable pay under their scheme rules within Inland Revenue limits.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the social action programme of the European Community.

The EEC social action programme was adopted by the Council of Ministers in its resolution of 21st January 1974. This resolution was published in the Official Journal of the Communities (NOC 13 of 12th February) which is available in the Library and in the Vote Office.Within the framework of this programme the Commission has submitted nine proposals, three of which were, in a modified form, agreed by the Council on 10th June. These related to European Social Fund assistance for migrant workers and for handicapped workers, to an action programme for the handicapped and to the setting up of Community safety and health committees. A draft directive on mass dismissals was also considered at the Council meeting but detailed discussion was deferred.The other five existing proposals, which have yet to be considered by the Council, are (1) a draft directive to implement equal pay;(2) a draft recommendation to achieve in the Community the principle of a standard 40-hour working week by 1975 and of four weeks' annual paid holiday by 1976;(3) the establishment of a European Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions;(4) the establishment of a European Vocational Training Centre;(5) a draft directive on the protection of workers' rights in the event of changes in the ownership of undertakings.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what research is currently sponsored by his Department into the problems of the storage of non-disposable radioactive waste; what is the expenditure involved in annual terms; and if he will make a statement;(2) what research is currently sponsored by his Department into the problems of the storage of non-disposable radioactive waste; what is the expenditure involved in annual terms; and if he will make a statement.

Extensive research on the storage and disposal of radioactive waste is being done by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and also by British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. which is responsible for the reprocessing of nuclear power station fuel. Total expenditure this year, excluding indirect supporting work, will be about £500,000, of which some £100,000 will be met from the nuclear energy Vote. The rate of expenditure is planned to increase significantly as the two organisations proceed with development programmes designed, among other things, to demonstrate the routine conversion of fission product wastes into a solid form convenient for long-term storage or ultimate disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many licences have now been issued for oil exploration in the Minch and off the west coast of the Western Isles.

Three licences are in force in the Minch. No licences have been granted for areas off the west coast of the Western Isles.

asked the Secretary of of State for Energy if he will list as a percentage of the standard domestic tariff the cost of off-peak electricity to the domestic consumer, for each year since 1950 up to and including the latest announced increases.

The information requested is not readily available. I am looking into the question and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Government White Papers and Acts of Parliament relating to housing and rent from 1900 to the present day.

A list of Acts of Parliament relating to housing and rent has been prepared by the Department's library, and I am sending a copy to the hon. Lady. A list of White Papers would take appoximately five days to compile and prepare. I do not regard this as justifiable public expenditure. But for the information of the hon. Lady, White Papers from 1900–1964 are listed in various volumes of "A Breviate of Parliamentary Papers" by P. and G. Ford and from 1900–1949 in the "General Index to Parliamentary Papers" compiled by the House of Commons Library and published in 1960 by HMSO. Subsequent papers are listed in Government Publications, published daily, monthly and annually, with five-yearly circulations. A selective bibliography on housing covering official publications 1944 to date is also available from the Library, and I am sending the hon. Lady a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the number of housing units which the Birmingham District Council forecasts for completion in the next two financial years;(2) if he will make a statement on the number of housing units which the Birmingham District Council forecasts for completion in 1974.

I would suggest that my hon. Friend should obtain any detailed figures he needs directly from the Birmingham District Council. I am in touch with it about its programme and I know that it is hoping to increase it substantially and is taking active steps to that end. I shall, of course, do all I can to help.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the estimated number of houses he expects to be completed in 1974;(2) if he will make a statement on the estimated number of houses forecast by local authorities to be completed in 1974.

It will take time to reverse the disastrous trend we inherited in new housebuilding, which produced record lows in 1973 in provision by local authorities. There are, however, encouraging signs that local authorities are responding to the initiatives we have taken to expand their housebuilding programmes and I expect to see a marked improvement in the numbers of local authority houses built and started this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the allocation of funds for the capital programme of the Severn-Trent Water Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make additional funds available to the Severn-Trent Water Authority for sewerage works to enable it to meet the needs for priority housing schemes by the district councils in the area of the West Midlands Metropolitan County Council; and if he will make a statement.

I have now determined the allocation between the water authorities, including the Severn-Trent Water Authority, of that part of this year's water services capital programme which had been held in reserve. The allocation has been decided primarily on the basis of the best estimates made available to the Department by the water authorities of their requirements to service new housing development in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to send the reply, promised in acknowledgment notes on 15th May and 10th June to the letter sent to him on 27th April by the hon. Member for Hazel Grove, concerning the effects of planning proposals on residents in mobile houses on the caravan site at Crookiley Wood Farm who were threatened with eviction on 18th June.

I am sorry I have not been able to reply earlier to the hon. Member's letter of 27th April about the caravan site at Crookiley Wood Farm, Ashton Road, Bredbury, because we have been awaiting information from Stockport Metropolitan Borough, which is the responsible authority. I shall be replying shortly when I have considered this information. Meanwhile, the residents in the mobile homes can be assured that any notice to quit cannot be acted upon until a court order has been granted and in granting such an order for possession the court has power to suspend its execution for up to 12 months at a time and also to reduce or to extend such suspensions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the time normally set for pelican pedestrian crossings on stop and caution lights for traffic;(2) what interval was permitted for pedestrians to cross the pelican crossing at Coteridge, King's Norton, Birminghan, when its installation was agreed.

There is no set time because signal phases are varied to suit individual site requirements. Within the advice recently issued to local authorities the timings can range from 5–10 seconds for the stop signal and from 7–18 seconds for the flashing amber signal. I am writing to the hon. Member about the four Pelican crossings at Coteridge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average price of building land per acre in the South-West Region on the following dates, 1st October 1973, 1st January 1974, and 1st March 1974.

The estimated average price per acre of land with planning permission for housing was £18,780 in the South-West Region in 1973. Figures are not available for particular dates nor are regional figures available for periods of less than a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many county councils have produced transport plans and programmes at the request of his Department.

All county councils have been asked to prepare applications for transport supplementary grant, but they are not due to submit them until mid-July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if there is a requirement upon county councils to ensure public participation or consultation in the preparation of transport plans and programmes made in response to instigation from his Department.

The structure and local plan system provides a suitable statutory framework for public participation and consultation which enables transport policies to be set in their wider context. Local authorities are free to carry out additional consultations as they wish.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of improvement grants provided between June 1970 and February 1974 in each of the regions of the country.

The totals of grant approvals for local authorities, housing associations and private owners are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Misselbrook Committee on the construction industry to report to him; and whether the report will be made available to the House.

The Working Party on Self-Employment and Associated Issues submitted a report on self-employment on 28th May. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend and copies have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, due to the fact that following an accident on 14th December 1972 at Rayners Lane Station it was stated at the coroner's inquest that the motorman concerned had been found to have a blood alcohol level of 91 milligrams per cent. and also that the Railway Inspectorate report on the accident did not include any reference to this fact, he will ensure that evidence concerning the alcohol factor should always be taken into account at an inquiry applicable to London Transport in the same way as it is in respect of British Railways accidents.