asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what Section 13 notices are currently before him in relation to the reorganisation of secondary education in the Inner London area.

Notices were published in January for a girls' comprehensive school in place of the John Howard and Clapton Park County Schools, and in May to enlarge and recognise the Central Foundation Girls' Grammar School and close Bowbrook County Girls School.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made in considering Section 13 notices issued by Birmingham District Education Authority.

Notices of proposals for the reorganisation of 35 existing secondary schools in Birmingham were published on 20th March. The statutory period for objections has now expired and the comments of the Birmingham local education authority on the objections were received yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions he has had with the local authority education representatives and other interested parties on improvements to Belmont School, Harrow, following the ministerial visit on 5th June and the representations he has received from the hon. Members for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes) and Harrow, Central (Mr. Grant).

None. My right hon. Friend is awaiting the outcome of a review of the school's problems, which he understands is being undertaken by the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average annual growth in the primary school population, and the average annual growth in capital expenditure per primary school child, in the periods 1964 to 1968, and 1969 to 1974, in Cornwall, and England and Wales, respectively.

As regards the first part of the Question, between 1964 and 1968 in Cornwall 3·7 per cent. and in England and Wales 2·6 per cent. Between 1969 and 1973 corresponding figures were 3·9 per cent. and 1·9 per cent. Figures for 1974 are not yet available. The reply to the second part of the Question is complex and I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what factors he took into account in fixing the allocation of £900,000 to Lancashire for minor works in 1974–75.

In allocating the resources available for minor works in 1974–75 account has been taken of the needs of both of those authorities whose school population would still be increasing rapidly in 1975 and of those with large numbers of small, old primary schools. The effects of local government reorganisation have also been taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement of his Department's proposals arising from the report on school transport.

Not all the bodies consulted have yet replied to a request for their views on the report of the Working Party on School Transport. When my right hon. Friend has received and carefully considered all their views, he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future expansion of the Scottish universities.

Not at the moment. The future development of the universities, including those in Scotland, is being considered in relation to public expenditure prospects and recent trends in the demand for higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in dealing with the problem of public lending right.

In reply to a Question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Strauss) on 9th May—[Vol. 873, c. 241–2]—I said that the Government intended to introduce legislation on PLR as soon as details had been settled and there was parliamentary time. I expressed the hope that it would be possible to introduce a Bill this year. Discussions on detail are in progress with the various interests concerned in pursuance of that intention.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the progress of his plans to introduce comprehensive education.

Following the issue of Circular 4/74, officials of my Department wrote to all local education authorities asking for information about the successive measures that will be taken to complete the process of reorganising secondary education. This information has been asked for by the end of the year at the latest.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidance to local education authorities as to how, after the proposed extension of comprehensive education to the 16 to 18 age group, a pupil's ability to benefit from a course starting at 16 years should be assessed, in view of a Government statement that this is to be the only criterion for admission.

No. A pupil's ability to benefit from a course, at 16 or any other stage of secondary education, is best assessed by his teachers, who are also in a position to help him make a sound choice from the alternatives on offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to assess the relative merits of selective and comprehensive schooling in terms of the academic achievement and social adjustment of pupils.

Many factors other than the type of school attended influence the performance of pupils. My right hon. Friend is not convinced that it is possible to isolate the effects of one factor sufficiently reliably to draw valid conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue guidance to local education authorities on the need for flexibility in the age of transfer from primary to comprehensive schools in order not to retard the progress of exceptionally intelligent children.

All children should have the opportunity to develop their potential to the full. I would expect local education authorities to try to meet the individual needs of all pupils and the wishes of their parents in administering their transfer arrangements. I do not, however, think that detailed guidance from me is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether he has had any representations from teachers' organisations suggesting that teachers' salaries should become an Exchequer responsibility; and what replies he has sent.

A few local teachers' associations have made this suggestion. I have noted their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to paragraphs 50 to 55, entitled "The Study of Europe", of the communication of the Commission of the EEC relating to Regulation 676/74.

The communication of the Commission to which the hon. Gentleman refers was one of the papers available to Community Ministers of Education at their conference in Luxembourg on 6th June 1974. The conference was not asked on that occasion to endorse the Commission's proposals. The subject matter of the paragraphs referred to is not included in the list of action areas to be studied by a committee of officials set up by the conference to formulate possible schemes for co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has given his consent to the inclusion in the Derbyshire Education Authority's programme of the replacement of the Lakeside County Primary School.

No. This school replacement project is not eligible for approval for the 1974–75 programme under the terms of Circular 15/73.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his consideration of restoring free school milk to children over seven years of age; and if he will make a statement.

Future policy for hit provision of milk for school pupils is still under consideration. I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a further statement about restoring the cuts in the school building programme made by the previous administration.

I cannot yet say when resources will be available for school replacement and improvement projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the future of Whitehorse Manor Junior School in Croydon and in particular indicate when rebuilding will commence.

Under the terms of Circular 15/73 the building project to replace this school is not eligible for a start during 1974–75. I cannot yet say when resources will be available for this type of project.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his estimates of the total cost of granting free school dinners to all children attending (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools, respectively.

If the availability of free meals for all resulted in their take-up by, say, 90 per cent. of pupils in school in England and Wales, the total cost would be £242 million and £172 million, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he hopes to receive and publish the report of the committee of inquiry into the teaching and use of English.

I understand that Sir Alan Bullock hopes to present his committee's report to my right hon. Friend in the late summer or early autumn. It is intended that the report should be published as soon as practicable after that.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received on the subject of restoring the school leaving age to 15 years.

A number of correspondents have expressed this view or have said that it should not have been raised to 16 in the first place.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet had an opportunity to study the anomalies and inequities arising from the raising of the school leaving age; and if he will now make a statement.

At least a full year's experience of the operation of the higher school leaving age will be required before a start can be made on any adequate assessment of its effects. My right hon. Friend will shortly be considering the results of consultation on the limited question of a possible early leaving date in the summer term.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate has been made of the truancy rate among school attenders in their last year at school, namely, between 15 and 16 years old.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 19th June to a Question by the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. MacFarlane).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the position regarding the charging of fees in London education authority maintained schools.

I am not aware of any cause for dissatisfaction in this respect. If the hon. Member has any particular matter in mind he might like to write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a further statement of Government policy on the future of grammar schools.

My right hon. Friend has on a number of occasions made his intention clear to secure the ending of selection for secondary education. This continues to be Government policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has received concerning his policy towards the arts.

The Government's policy for the arts is, despite prevailing economic circumstances, to continue to give additional financial support, in real terms, to the Arts Council, the national museums and galleries and other agencies for the encouragement of the arts. I am frequently encouraged by a variety of interests to increase the budgeted support even further. I take careful note of these representations for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what postgraduate awards or research grants have been made from funding originating in his Department for the study of poverty law; and in which institutions these were tenable.

The Social Science Research Council, which is funded by my Department, has made 40 postgraduate awards and eight research grants since 1972 in the general area of social sciences and the law, and with the Rowntree Memorial Trust has recently established a Centre for Socio-Legal Studies. Many interpretations are possible of how much of this research could specifically be ascribed to the study of poverty law: the hon. Member may obtain details of the subjects of these studies and the institutions in which they are conducted direct from the council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans there are for the development of education for the deaf and partially-hearing child: and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend attaches great importance to the education of children with impaired hearing, in both ordinary and special schools. He has recently initiated discussions aimed at increasing the provision of specially qualified teachers. Other matters include the distribution of special school places and facilities for further education, and these will almost certainly be considered at forthcoming regional conferences as well as by the Warnock Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to safeguard parental choice of denomination and of single sex education under his policy of universal comprehensive secondary schooling.

As was made clear in Circular 4/74, my right hon. Friend will expect local education authorities to consult parents while proposals for reorganisation are being formulated, and to have due regard to parents' wishes in respect of their children's education, for example, at denominational schools where these are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the present replacement programme for schools in Warwickshire; if he will make a statement clarifying which schools will be replaced and when; and which schools, if any, approved for the 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76 programmes will not now be replaced.

Since the issue of the Department's Circular 15/73 there has not been a school replacement programme as such. The recent Circular 8/74 announced that resources for major school projects to meet basic need for additional places will be allocated to local authorities in the form of lump sum allocations for the building year 1974–75. The Bulkington Lane replacement primary school at Bedworth was the only Warwickshire project in the 1973–74 starts programme deferred as a result of Circular 15/73. I cannot yet say what the position will be for 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the modern languages taught in primary and secondary schools in England and Wales apart from French and German, and indicate how many schools provide tutors in each case.

My Department does not collect details of the arrangements made in schools for particular subjects in the curriculum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is yet able to indicate a date for the reinstatement of the primary school replacement programme.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in compensating subsidised theatres for irrecoverable losses they have sustained through the imposition of VAT by means of increasing the overall Arts Council grant so as to permit the council to use its discretion to increase particular subsidies.

I am now able to say that, subject to the approval of Parliament, an addition of £750,000 will be made to the Arts Council's grant in aid for 1974–75, to take account of VAT paid in 1973–74 by the council's clients.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a decision has yet been made on the resiting of the Institute of Cancer Research entirely at Sutton; and whether he will make a statement.

The Institute of Cancer Research is an independent organisation and it is for it to decide whether to proceed with its plan to concentrate its research facilities at Sutton. Its application for special Government assistance towards this project is still under consideration and my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of educational psychologists now employed by local education authorities in England; what is his estimate of the shortfall in this establishment; and if he will make a statement.

In December 1972 there were 650 educational psychologists, including 90 part-timers, employed by local education authorities in England. My right hon. Friend is not committed to achieve a particular ratio of children to professional staff, but looks for a continued improvement in this and other aspects of the school psychological service.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what ruling or opinion he has given in respect of the legality of the proposed religious syllabus referred to him by the chairman of the Birmingham Education Committee.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will examine the effects of the Education (Work Experience) Act 1973 in order to determine how many local authorities are implementing the provisions for pupils under school leaving age to obtain work experience under the Act; and if he will make a statement on his findings.

My Department does not collect details of the arrangements made by individual authorities in particular areas of the school curriculum. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a recent departmental circular on work experience.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the pupil-teacher ratios (a) in primary, and (b) in secondary schools in the Somerset area in 1970 and at the latest available date; and what was the equivalent national average for England in each case.

The information is as follows:

	Somerset	England
January 1970 (All teachers)
Primary schools	28·1	27·5
Secondary schools	17·5	17·7
January 1973 (qualified teachers only)
Primary schools	26·5	25·5
Secondary schools	17·7	17·1

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the teachers' contribution of 6 per cent. of their salaries towards their pension compares with the average in the public and private sectors of employment.

An average figure is not available but the Government Actuary's fourth survey of occupational pension schemes, related to 1971, showed that 64 per cent. of the membership of contributory schemes in both sectors paid less than 6 per cent. and 34 per cent. paid 6 per cent. or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the particular benefits to teachers from their pension schemes.

I am writing to my hon. Friend with the information.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the most recent available figures of income and expenditure for one year for the Teachers' Pension Fund, and state whether these figures take into account income from investment.

For the financial year 1972–73, the latest year for which audited figures are available, income, other than investment income, was £181·2 million and expenditure £88·3 million. These figures are from my Department's appropriation account and will be adjusted in due course for valuation account purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the excess of income from the teachers' contributions over amounts paid out in pensions has been invested; and in what way such investment has been used to the benefit of teachers.

Income from teachers' contributions does not exceed expenditure. Income from teachers' and employers' contributions together exceeds expenditure. Interest is credited to the teachers' superannuation account as though the excess had been invested in long-dated Government securities. This notional investment income and the contribution income together secure future benefits in respect of accrued entitlements to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present percentage yield of moneys related to the Teachers' Pension Fund and the amount at present in such a notional fund.

For the financial year 1970–71, the latest year for which valuation accounts have been prepared, the yield on the balance in the account was a little under 6 per cent. It is likely to be higher in subsequent years as a result of changes in the ways in which new money and some old money in the account are deemed to be invested. The yields in the following three years are expected to be 8¾ per cent. in 1971–72, 9½ per cent. in 1972–73 and 11½ per cent. in 1973–74.The fund had a notional balance of £1,567·7 million at 31st March 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the Teachers' Pension Fund is not administered by a body on which employers' and

	35 years' service				40 years' service
Description of teacher	Salary	Pension	Supplement*	Lump sum	Pension	Supplement*	Lump sum
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1. Trained non-graduate on scale 2	2,688·00	1,177·53	40·92	3,224·92	1,345·75	46·76	3,657·94
2. Trained non-graduate on scale 4	3,228·75	1,390·00	48·30	3,806·83	1,588·58	55·20	4,317·98
3. Trained good honours graduate on scale 3	3,000·00	1,313·42	45·64	3,597·09	1,501·05	52·16	4,080·05
4. Trained non-graduate on scale 5	3,612·00	1,582·39	54·99	4,333·72	1,808·44	62·84	4,915·59
*Supplement payable under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1974. These figures are included in those for pension in the preceding column.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schoolmasters have drawn pensions for five years or more, following retirement at 65, in the most recent years for which figures are available; and what percentage of schoolmasters who retired in that year is represented by this figure.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the pension entitlement of the widow of a schoolmaster who dies during the first five years of his teaching service.

The widow of a teacher who dies in service before having completed five years of pensionable service is entitled to payment of a short-term pension at the rate of the teacher's

Since the fund is notional, with investment restricted to long-dated Government securities, my right hon. Friend sees no need for an administering body of this nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the retiring salaries of teachers who have served for (a) 35 years and (b) 40 years; and what are the pensions payable in each case.

Length of service is only one of a number of factors determining individual teachers' salaries. Following are some examples assuming retirement on 31st August 1974 and continuous service of 35 and 40 years respectively immediately preceding that date:salary immediately before his death. This is paid for three months if there is no child, for four and a half months if there is one child, and for six months if there are two or more children. In addition a death gratuity, approximately equal to a year's salary, is payable to the teacher's estate; this will normally become available to the widow.

asked the Secretary of State for Science and Education, in the light of the raising of the school leaving age, if he is now in a position to announce his policy on the age limit for concessionary fares for school children.

Government policy on concessionary fares is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. There is no connection between the school leaving age and the fares charged by transport undertakings. Local education authorities have power to assist any pupil with reasonable travelling expenses to and from school.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the living conditions, victualling arrangements and leave opportunities for Royal Navy personnel employed in clearance operations in the Suez Canal.

I am satisfied that the well-being of the Royal Navy personnel concerned is receiving every consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were Great Britain's total sales of arms abroad and the income from training military personnel from overseas countries for each year since the Arms Export Sales Department was created; and what were the totals for each of the three years before the department was established.

It is assumed that the reference to the Arms Export Sales Department is intended to be to the Defence Sales Organisation which was set up in 1966. The figures of estimated exports from 1966–67 to date and the three years preceding 1966 are as follows:

			£ million
1963–64	…	…	118
1964–65	…	…	121
1965–66	…	…	128
1966–67	…	…	152
1967–68	…	…	165
1968–69	…	…	214
1969–70	…	…	227
1970–71	…	…	235
1971–72	…	…	242
1972–73	…	…	257
1973–74 (provisional)	…	…	400

Information on the income from training military personnel from overseas coun tries is not available without disproportionate effort

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if in cases of medical discharge from Her Majesty's Forces he will ensure that the nature of the disability is shown on the appropriate discharge paper.

No. The medical records of Service personnel, like those of civilians, are not normally disclosed to third parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for conducting nuclear test explosions in the coming 12 months.

I cannot add to the statement which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made in the House yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many low-level flights have been made over the constitutency of Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles during the past year.

Statistics are not available in the precise form requested. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on operations in Northern Ireland.

The Army, working with the Royal Ulster Constabulary throughout Northern Ireland, has continued to operate against the terrorist from whatever quarter he may come. In past weeks a number of wanted terrorists have been arrested, and further red-handed arrests and finds of weapons and bomb-making materials have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he was consulted by the United States Government before they announced their intention of supplying the Arabs and Israelis with nuclear assistance and if he will raise this matter in the Security Council as a threat to world peace.

The answer to both questions is "No". The United States Government have made it clear that the nuclear assistance which they have provided to Egypt and Israel will be devoted exclusively to peaceful purposes and will be given under binding international safeguards.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the EEC Council of Ministers has acted by qualified majority; and on how many occasions a member country has used the veto contained in the Luxembourg Agreement.

In practice the Council has in recent years only rarely resorted to formal voting procedures, for example, on detailed administrative points in the budget. The question of formal vetoes has not arisen, because the practice of the Council is to continue discussion of questions of policy until there is sufficient area of agreement to enable a consensus to emerge.

asked the Prime Minister how many official speeches he has made since he came to office; and how many of those were to trade union conferences.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has made 10 such speeches, four of which were to trade union conferences.

asked the Prime Minister if he proposes to make an official visit to the USSR.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to pay an official visit to Moscow.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 13th June to the hon. Members for Melton (Mr. Latham) and for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Lewis).—[Vol. 874, c. 1827–8.]

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to make an official visit to the West Midlands.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a visit at present.

asked the Prime Minister whether he now has any plans to visit Edinburgh.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave him on 23rd May.—[Vol. 874, c.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now seek to arrange an official visit to the West German Chancellor.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on 20th June to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes). My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to arrange a further visit.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Canvey Island.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the coordination between the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Employment regarding essential communication equipment to enable severely handicapped children to receive education up to their maximum potential.

I have been asked to reply.Yes. This is primarily a matter for local education authorities but there is appropriate consultation between the Departments concerned, which has been stimulated by the appointment of my hon. Friend as the Minister for the Disabled.

asked the Prime Minister what functions he performs as First Lord of the Treasury.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend performs the same functions as First Lord of the Treasury as his predecessor. He is one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and may act as such in the exercise of any of the functions of the Treasury, although he does not normally do so. He also has a statutory responsibility for determining the salary of certain Ministers; exercises certain powers of patronage; and has various ex-officio functions.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Home Office and the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection in matters of consumer protection.

I have been asked to reply.Yes. The allocation of responsibilities between the two Departments on matters of consumer protection are, however, currently under review following the establishment of the Department for Prices and Consumers Protection.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Secretary of State for Industry at Mansfield on 8th June about State participation in industry represents Government policy.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost).

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now announce the names of the members of the Royal Commission on the Press.

Yes. The Queen has been pleased to approve that the following be appointed members of the Royal Commission on the Press under the chairmanship of the honourable Mr Justice Finer:

• Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson.
• Mr. David Basnett.
• Mr. Geoffrey Goodman.
• Mr. Malcolm Horsman.
• The Lord Hunt, CBE, DSO
• Mr Paul Johnson.
• Mr. John Eilian Jones, OBE
• Professor Oliver McGregor
• Mr. Ian Richardson.
• Miss Eirlys Roberts, OBE

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that horticulturists, nurserymen and owners of commercial greenhouses now find that even with the rebate of 6p per gallon on heavy fuel oil up to the end of June and 4p per gallon until the end of the year, their fuel costs are still 80 per cent. up on last season, if he will take further steps to assist the industry

The subsidy which my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 11th April was never intended to cover the full increases in the costs of fuel which occurred last winter, but to mitigate their sudden effects and give growers time to adjust to the higher energy costs they will have to bear in the future. There have been no changes in fuel prices since my announcement. We have no plans for further support measures for this sector.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the amount of fertiliser exported from the United Kingdom since January 1974.

I have been asked to reply.Four hundred and twenty-nine thousand tonnes in the four months ended April.

asked the Attorney-General if it is proposed to issue warrants against people wearing black shirts in Red Lion Square on 15th June.

asked the Attorney-General what action the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to take against members of the National Front who wore black shirts during the course of the demonstration in London on Saturday 15th June.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to take action against those who wore black shirts in the demonstrations in London on 15th June.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions intends to prosecute members of the National Front who wore black shirts on their march in London on 15th June.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to take action against these who participated in the National Front march in London on 15th June wearing black shirts.

asked the Attorney-General (1) if he is now able to say whether proceedings will be taken against people wearing black shirts in the National Front demonstration held in London on Saturday 15th June;(2) whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has completed his inquiry into the question of National Front marchers wearing black shirts in the demonstration on Saturday 15th June.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to take action against the National Front marchers wearing black shirts in the march in London on 15th June.

asked the Attorney-General whether he can now state the result of his inquiries in relation to those who wore uniforms in the rally at Red Lion Square on Saturday 15th June.

asked the Attorney-General if he has received a report from the Director of Public Prosecutions as to whether any of those attending the demonstration in Red Lion Square on 15th June were wearing uniforms within the meaning of the Public Order Act.

asked the Attorney-General if he has received a report from the Director of Public Prosecutions as to whether any of those attending the demonstration in Red Lion Square on 15th June were wearing uniforms within the meaning of the Public Order Act.

asked the Attorney-General whether action is to be taken against members of the National Front who were wearing black shirts at the demonstration in Red Lion Square on 15th June.

I have already arranged for the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate the reports that a number of persons were wearing black shirts, amounting to uniform for the purposes of the Public Order Act 1936. I am not yet in a position to give a fuller reply.

asked the Attorney-General if he will prosecute the National Front under the Race Relations Act 1965 for a leaflet issued by the Front called "School Students".

I have asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider whether a prosecution would be justified.

asked the Attorney-General what decision has been made by the Director of Public Prosecutions on the question of whether to prosecute members of the National Front for incitement to racial hatred in respect of events at recent meetings in London.

asked the Attorney-General if the Director of Public

Senior Principal Psychologist	…	…	…	…	…	…	£6,300—£7,280 (four scale points
Principal Psychologist	…	…	…	…	…	…	£4,360—£5,775 (eight scale points)
Senior Psychologist	…	…	…	…	…	…	£3,331—£4,162 (six scale points)
Psychologist	…	…	…	…	…	…	£1,819—£2,953 (11 scale points)

The salaries of educational psychologists employed by local authorities are taken from one of two ranges: Range A, £2,568-£3,831–17 scale points—and Range B, £3,555-£6,280–18 scale points. The scale for an individual officer consists of seven scale points determined by the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the payment of threshold agreements once the Pay Board has been abolished and the Pay Code for stage 3 has thus lapsed.

Such payments will continue to depend as now on the terms of the agreement, the nature of which will no longer be subject to statutory control.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek to arbitrate in the dispute between area health authorities and the hospital works officers represented by NALGO.

No evidence has been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions which would justify a prosecution in relation to the events to which my hon. Friends refer.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the salary scales respectively for psychologists employed in the Civil Service and for educational psychologists employed by local authorities.

The Civil Service Psychologist Class consists of four grades:

Discussions between the Department of Health and Social Security and the staff side of the relevant Whitley Council are being held and it would not be appropriate for my Department to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what numbers of graduates leaving universities in the United Kingdom are estimated to have entered private industry, commerce, the public services, teacher training, the professions and the remaining occupations in each of the past 10 years.

I have been asked to reply.The following table—compiled from the annual series "First Destination of University Graduates" published by the University Grants Committee—gives the first known destinations of first degree graduates from universities in Great Britain. The figures exclude graduates who obtained first degrees in medicine, dentistry or veterinary science, and Bachelor of Education degrees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the dates of the traditional wakes weeks and holiday weeks in each of Great Britain's major cities.

There is no established pattern of traditional holiday weeks in most major cities. In Scotland and Yorkshire the main summer holiday is generally observed in the following cities on the dates shown:

• Edinburgh, 1st-12th July.
• Glasgow, 15th-26th July.
• Leeds, 22nd July to 9th August.
• Bradford, 12th-23rd August.
• Sheffield, 29th July to 9th August.
• Halifax, lst-14th July.

There is no similar pattern in the other major cities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what reports he has had from the National Children's Bureau Study of Further Education, Training and Employment of handicapped school leavers and if he will make a statement on his policy towards these reports.

My Department has received and considered the report on handicapped school leavers which was published by the National Children's Bureau in July 1973. The report has been taken into account in so far as it affects the work of the careers service, but its recommendations will require further study by the committee of inquiry which is to examine the education of handicapped children.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what investigations his Department has made into the problems of children leaving schools for the deaf and hard of hearing; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has not specifically investigated the problems of children leaving schools for the deaf and hard of hearing. The Government, however, have undertaken to set up a comprehensive inquiry into the education of handicapped children, including arrangements to prepare them for entry into employment, and it will be open to the committee of inquiry to examine problems associated with the employment of deaf school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current price of coking coal per ton; and how this compares with each of the past five years.

Following is the information requested:

PITHEAD PROCEEDS OF COAL SUPPLIED TO COKE OVENS
			£/ton
1st January 1969	…	…	6·28
1st January 1970	…	…	6·69
1st January 1971	…	…	7·11
1st January 1972	…	…	8·22
1st January 1973	…	…	8·78
1st January 1974	…	…	9·08
1st April 1974	…	…	12·86

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many collieries in the United Kingdom produce coking coal; and what was the total output from these collieries in 1970 and 1973.

Ninety-eight National Coal Board collieries in the United Kingdom produce coal for coking. Disposals of coal for coking from these collieries, plus opencast coal of about 1 million tons, were 24·5 million tons in the financial year 1970–71 and 17·6 million tons in the financial year 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in view of the added financial burden facing households due to increased electricity charges, and in view of the difficulty families face in attempting to obtain prepayment meters, he will discuss with the Post Office and the electricity boards the need for prepayment stamps to be sold by post offices and sub-post offices in rural areas, taking into account that these offices are the only agencies able to render such a service in rural districts.

Arrangements for the payment of electricity accounts are primarily matters for the boards themselves in consultation with their consultative councils. I will, however, arrange for my hon. Friend's suggestion to be brought to their attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will show in tonnage and percentage terms the market for coal in Scotland in electricity generation, coke ovens, domestic heating and general industrial use; and what tonnage and percentage of output is exported abroad or to other parts of the United Kingdom.

Figures for the consumption of coal at power stations, coke ovens industry and the domestic sector—including miners' coal—in Scotland and of quantities sent from Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom and exported are published in the "Scottish Abstracts of Statistics". A copy is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any further statement to make on energy conservation.

Energy conservation, in the sense of making the best and most economical use of the energy consumed by the community, is a matter of the greatest importance to us all. Energy is expensive, and nearly half of our needs are imported. The prospects of increasing self-sufficiency in energy do not make energy savings any less important or any less beneficial to the economy. Of course, many individual and domestic consumers already use energy efficiently. But much more can be done and the potential rewards both to the consumer and the nation are great. Were we, for example, able to save 10 per cent. of our present energy consumption by the 1980s, the savings in fuel would be worth some £600 million a year at current prices. And I have no doubt that worthwhile savings can be achieved not only with great benefit to the economy but also to consumers of all kinds.It is accordingly of the greatest importance that all the areas of consumption—private or public, industrial or commercial—in which improvements can sensibly be made, and the means of achieving them, should be identified; and that the interest and co-operation of the community as a whole should be engaged and sustained. There is a clear need for greater co-ordination of effort in the context of a developing campaign over the years.To this end I have decided to appoint an Advisory Council on Energy Conservation, drawn widely from our national life, with its members acting in a personal rather than a representative capacity, which will advise me in the performance of my statutory functions in this matter.The terms of reference of the council will be:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine the desirability of instituting a water rate support grant to lessen the burden of sewerage rates on certain authorities as part of his review of water authority charges.

My right hon. Friend excludes nothing from consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the level of water charges imposed for 1974–75, he will appoint a committee to inquire into the working of the Water Act 1973 with the power to recommend changes in the legislation or in the guidance given by him to the water authorities.

No. My right hon. Friends have the operation of the Water Act 1973, as of other legislation for which they are responsible, under continuous review. The National Water Council is responsible for advising my right hon. Friends on any matter relating to national water policy. I also have regard to the fact that the council and the regional water authorities assumed their responsibilities only on 1st April 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of ratepayers in England and Wales who pay a sewerage rate but whose rateable hereditament is not connected to a public sewerage system; and what percentage of all domestic ratepayers they represent.

About 800,000, or 5 per cent, in unsewered areas. The number in other areas cannot yet be reliably estimated but is perhaps of the same order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of ratepayers in England and Wales who pay a water rate but whose rateable hereditament is not connected to the main water supply; and what percentage of all domestic ratepayers they represent.

About 500 or·003 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the building societies indicating an intention to increase the rate of interest to people buying their own homes on a mortgage.

The Government are considering the views of the Building Societies Association on the need for an increase in mortgage rates because of reduced operating margins.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many representations he has now received requesting a complete review of the present domestic rating system;(2) what representations he has received about the rate rises in Cheshire; and if he will make a statement.