asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the St. Helena Development Plan has yet been forwarded to the island's legislature for its consideration.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development has approved the St. Helena Development Plan and the Governor has been so informed. As soon as he has laid it before his Legislative Council a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the future of the Seychelles.

At the request of the Chief Minister, whose party won the recent elections on a policy of early independence, a constitutional conference will be held this autumn. In the light of its conclusions Her Majesty's Government expect to reach decisions on constitutional advance and, subject to parliamentary approval, on progress to independence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a statement on his policy towards providing assistance for white people who do not want to live in Rhodesia under majority rule.

We are aware of similar suggestions in the past but we believe that the first priority is for the races in Rhodesia to reach an agreement between themselves which would have the support of the African majority. We would be ready to consider a scheme of this sort if it became clear that it would contribute significantly to a satisfactory settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common wealth Affairs when he next expects to meet representatives of the African community in Rhodesia.

ANC representatives have been in touch with us about the possibility of a delegation visiting Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now take steps to strengthen the application of existing sanctions against the illegal Rhodesian régime and to extend them into new spheres.

We are continuing to examine ways in which sanctions might be made more effective. In the first half of this year we have more than doubled our rate of reporting suspected sanctions breaches to the United Nations Sanctions Committee. My right hon. Friend has also raised the issue with the other Foreign Ministers of the EEC member States.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he is taking to reduce the waiting time for interviews for United Kingdom visas or entry certificates at the appropriate offices in the Indian subcontinent.

The Government are very concerned about this problem which we inherited from the previous Government and have, therefore, decided to reinforce the staff of certain offices in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in Dacca and Islamabad.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next hopes to meet the Irish Foreign Minister.

My right hon. Friend meets Dr. FitzGerald from time to time at meetings of the Council of Ministers of the European Community. He has at present no plans for any additional meetings with him outside the Community framework; but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will continue, as hitherto, to keep in touch with Dr. FitzGerald about the situation in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will demand the recall of any foreign diplomat found to be involved in the recruitment of spies and informers in Great Britain.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 17th May to his Question about diplomatic missions.—[Vol. 873, c. 560.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet reached a decision regarding the future of the contract between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and Rio Tinto Zinc for the supply of uranium from Namibia; and if he will make a statement.

No decision has yet been taken. The whole question of our policy towards Namibia is currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he held with the Soviet authorities before he granted visas for the Bolshoi Ballet to visit the United Kingdom.

The issue of visas is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs had no discussions with the Soviet authorities before the visit of the Bolshoi Ballet to this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken with the North Vietnamese Government regarding their failure to acknowledge the British Head of Mission in Hanoi as Ambassador of the United Kingdom; and if he will declare the North Vietnamese Ambassador persona non grata if that Government continue to break their signed agreement with the United Kingdom formalising the exchange of ambassadors between the two countries.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam have not yet fixed a date for Her Majesty's Ambassador in Hanoi to present his credentials. I much regret this, but the Ambassador is in regular contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an endeavour to remove any misunderstanding there may be.The Democratic Republic of Vietnam has not yet nominated an ambassador in London, though it has a chargé d'affaires.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy regarding extension of fishing limits to be discussed at Caracas during the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference; and whether he will give an assurance to the fishing industry that its interests in this matter will be safeguarded.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 19th June to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Lewis). There have been close discussions with representatives of the fishing industries of England and Wales and of Scotland in preparation for the conference. Representatives of both parts of the industry have been invited as technical advisers to the British delegation. Careful attention will be paid to the implications for the industry of any proposals which emerge at the conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the Government's policy concerning the Law of the Sea Conference; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Lewis) on 19th June 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken to implement Resolution 675 of the Council of Europe.

I have been asked to reply.The document to which my hon. Friend refers is presumably Recommendation 675 (1972) of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on birth control and family planning which was transmitted to member Governments by the Committee of Ministers' deputies in January 1973. Recommendations of the Assembly are not binding on member Governments, and some of the suggestions in this very comprehensive recommendation proposed action which had already taken place in the United Kingdom.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services made a statement on 28th March—[Vol. 871, c. 653–6]—about the availability of family planning under the National Health Service; but if my hon. Friend wishes to have further information about specific points in the recommendation he may care to ask separate Questions about these.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has made to the Argentine Government for talks about the Falkland Islands; whether such talks will include the question of sovereignty; and whether he will make a statement.

With the agreement of the Falkland Islands Executive Council we are in touch with the Argentine Government about the possible resumption of discussions between our two Governments in connection with United Nations Resolution 3160 (XXVII). If discussions are resumed representatives of the islanders will be invited to join the United Kingdom delegation. It remains the policy of this Government, as of previous Governments, that no change in the present British sovereignty over the Falkland Islands will be made against the wishes of the islanders.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to make arrangements for a representative of the Falkland Islands Government to be present at the United Nations Committee of 24 on each occasion on which the islands' affairs are likely to be discussed.

The Falkland Islands Government is represented at the United Nations by the United Kingdom Mission which will, if invited, participate in any discussions in the Committee of 24 about the Falkland Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to ensure that one of Her Majesty's Ministers is present at the United Nations on each occasion on which Falkland Islands affairs are raised in the Committee of 24.

I am satisfied that United Kingdom interests in the deliberations of the Committee of 24 are adequately represented by the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations in New York.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate action at the General Assembly of the United Nations designed to obtain the expulsion of Syria unless that country improves its treatment of its Jewish community.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and Commonwealth Governments regarding their views about access to the European Community for non-food products.

Our attitude to the question of access to the European Community for non-food products from the Commonwealth was set out in my statement of 4th June to the Council of Ministers. We are keeping in close touch with the Commonwealth Governments concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in renegotiating the conditions of British membership of the European Community.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 26th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial arrangements have been made with the Egyptian Government concerning the Royal Navy's contribution to the clearance of the Suez Canal.

As I informed the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 13th May, the Ministry of Defence will bear the normal operating costs of the units concerned: additional costs arising from their use in Egypt will be met out of United Kingdom aid funds apart from a wide range of local services which are to be provided free of charge by the Egyptian authorities. A copy of the arangement concluded with the Egyptian Government will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what initiatives are being instituted by Her Majesty's Government's representatives at the United Nations towards the creation of an effective world trade and aid programme.

We made a positive and constructive contribution to the recent Special Session of the General Assembly and we are active in many other United Nations bodies considering these questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in making trade agreements between the EEC and Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on the model of that made with India.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have expressed interest in concluding trade agreements of some kind with the Community. The EEC Commission is in touch with these countries about the type of arrangement that would be most appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now give assurances that the payment by the British Government to the European Movement is to be stopped.

The Government have decided to amend the provision of£40,000 for the European Movement in the Supply Estimates so that only£20,000 will be granted to the European Movement, with the balance going to the European Educational Research Trust as in the past. The grant is being paid on the strict condition that the money is not used for political propaganda but exclusively for a programme of exchanges and visits with countries in Western Europe as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will prepare and publish a report on the likely economic effects of a British withdrawal from the European Community.

As I told the hon. Member for Blackpool South (Mr. Blaker) in reply to an earlier Question today, we are negotiating for success, not failure. A report of the kind suggested by the hon. Member would, therefore, be premature at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the relevant extracts from the Luxembourg communiquéof the EEC of 29th January 1966 concerning unanimity of decisions, where under the Treaty of Rome decisions may be taken on a majority vote, stating the articles of treaties modified thereby.

I append the extracts referred to by my hon. Friend.The compromise on majority voting arrived at in the EEC Council of Ministers on 29th January 1966 is not a treaty or a formal international agreement. It is a practical understanding devised by the original six members of the Community which does not formally modify any articles of the treaties.THE "LUXEMBOURG COMPROMISE" ON MAJORITY VOTING IN THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIESAfter a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the EEC which took place in Luxembourg on 29th January 1966 the following communiquéwas issued about majority voting:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now adopt a target date for the completion of the process of renegotiation of Great Britain's terms of membership of the EEC.

Not yet. We shall proceed as rapidly as possible, but it is too early to set a target date for completion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he supports the application of the EEC for representation at the United Nations.

No formal application has yet been made. The question of seeking observer status for the Community at the United Nations is under discussion in the EEC.

asked the Member answering on behalf of the Church Estates Commissioners what steps are taken by the Church Commissioners to inquire into the treatment of residential tenants of property companies in which the Church Commissioners have substantial holdings of stock.

The commissioners have few substantial holdings of shares or stock in companies owning residential property. Where they do have such holdings they follow their normal practice of communicating directly with company managements on any ethical and social issues which may arise.

asked the Member answering on behalf of the Church Estates Commissioners whether he will take steps to ensure that when redundant churches are disposed of, the first offer will be made to social and community organisations in the area rather than to commercial interests.

Under the Pastoral Measure it is the duty of the diocese concerned to seek a suitable use for a redundant church and to make a recommendation to the commissioners. The commissioners' approval is required, and I can assure my hon. Friend that in principle the commissioners regard social and community purposes as very suitable for a redundant church. Since 1969, 10 redundant churches have been appropriated to civic or community use. Each case must however be considered individually.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made with research into more economic methods for use in Great Britain of desalination of sea water.

The Government are continuing to support the maintenance by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority of a small research and development capability aimed at discovering more economic methods of desalination. There is still no reason to think that desalination to augment water resources will be economically practicable on any scale in this country for the foreseeable future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when it is proposed to announce a decision as to the linking of the A1 and the M1 as part of an east-west motorway between the Midlands and the East Coast.

The report of the M1-A1 feasibility study is now being studied. If it is considered that a link between M1 and A1 is necessary, a public participation exercise on the alternatives will be held later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the investigation recommended by the Water Resources Board into further research and development on the reclamation of the River Trent as a source of potable water.

The Water Resources Board recommended investigation into reclamation of the River Trent as a long-term matter to facilitate comparison by 1985 with other alternative projects. Work has been progressing, as a continuation of the Trent research programme, into methods of treatment of Trent water to potable standards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to report on the feasibility or otherwise of a Wash barrage scheme.

I have nothing to add to my reply on 3rd April to a similar question by the right hon. and learned Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton).—[Vol. 871, c. 375.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to order that a public local inquiry shall be held into the proposed routes for the M25 motorway between Egham and Maple Cross; and, if so, approximately when that inquiry will be held.

Draft proposals under the Highways Acts will be published as soon as possible after the results of the present non-statutory public consultations have been evaluated and a preferred route selected. A public inquiry will be held if the number and type of objections warrant it: it is too early to say when.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will issue general directions to nationalised industries to insert into invitations for tenders and into works contracts a condition that the labour force used by contractors shall be directly employed by main contractors or subcontractors from them;(2) whether he will make it the policy of his Department to insert into invitations for tenders and into works contracts a condition that the labour force used by contractors shall be directly employed by main contractors or subcontractors from them;

As my right hon. Friend said in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Houghton-le-Spring (Mr. Urwin) on 24th June, I hope that we shall soon be able to introduce a Bill on the "lump". The position of public sector authorities, including my Department, local authorities and nationalised industries, will need to be considered later in that context and it would not be appropriate to seek to introduce changes in relation to public sector works contracts generally at this stage.

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.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Birmingham, Yardley (Mr. Tierney) and Coventry, North-East (Mr. Park) on Thursday 20th June 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is estimated to be the total wage and salary bill for permanent local government staff in 1974–75 as compared with 1973–74; and what percentage increase this represents;(2) what is now estimated to be the overall increase in the number of local authority employees following the reorganisation of local government.

As regards the overall number of staff in local government employment and total wage and salary costs, I am unable to add to the answers given to the hon. Member on 9th April and 22nd May.—[Vol. 872, c. 119–20; Vol. 874, c. 172.] However, a report published at the end of May by the Local Authorities Conditions of Service Advisory Board covering a limited number of categories of local government employment indicates that within those categories there was, at 1st April 1974, an estimated increase of approximately 4·7 per cent. in staff numbers and 9·4 per cent. in salary costs over the figures for 1st April 1973. The LACSAB survey was concerned with local authorities in England and Wales, outside Greater London, and was confined to chief executives, chief officers, their deputies and staffs in the administrative, professional, technical and clerical grades. It did not extend to other groups, such as police, firemen, manual workers and teachers, in which changes are likely to have been smaller.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why, in view of European Economic Community regulations on the subject, the Government have omitted any mention of tachographs from the revised version of the Road Traffic Bill.

The EEC regulations do not oblige us to make provision in the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to set up the new Air Pollution Management Group; and what proposals he has for involving such professional associations as the Association of Public Health Inspectors, where members are concerned with the enforcement of clean air legislation.

The first meeting of the Air Pollution Management Group took place on 29th April. It was agreed that local authority associations should be involved in the work of the group and letters have recently gone out to those associations, including the Asociation of Public Health Inspectors, inviting them to a meeting to consider how best this can be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to obtain and publish information as to whether the new Water Research Centre will continue the policy of the Water Resources Board in using external agencies to assist with research and development into the water cycle and, in particular, if it is intended to continue with the publication of a Register of Research and Development.

I am informed that the practice of using external agencies to assist with research and development is currently being continued by the Water Research Centre. However, I understand that the council of the centre has not yet formulated the details of its future methods of operation including any methods of publicising its research activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement indicating why his decision to allow the International Hare Krishna Society to hold a religious festival in Trafalgar Square has been made conditional.

Permission to hold a meeting in Trafalgar Square is always conditional on compliance with the Trafalgar Square regulations and whatever additional safeguards the Department and the police require.During its festival last year the international Society for Krishna Consciousness did not keep to the conditions it had agreed. This in my view raised questions of public safety. Consequently this year, as an alternative to refusing permission for the meeting, I have attached some extra conditions, designed to protect the safety of the public, the fabric of the square and the taxpayer's purse. The society has agreed to accept these conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to continue the payment of specific grants under the Transport Act 1968 for support of particular British Rail services that are considered socially necessary.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement on 24th June during the debate on the Second Reading of the Railways Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environ ment how many miles of new railway track have been constructed in the United Kingdom in the past 12 months.

Figures for the Railways Board are not readily available. No new track has been constructed by the London Transport Executive or the passenger transport executives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to give his consent to the electrification of the rail service between King's Cross Station and the West Yorkshire metropolitan area; and what likelihood there is of the electrification being completed within the next decade.

The Railways Board has not yet sought my consent to such a proposal. But I understand that it hopes to electrify the East Coast main line by the 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be able to make a statement on the proposals submitted to him in May 1974 by the Port of London Authority.

The PLA recently submitted revised alternative proposals for a seaport at Maplin and my officials are now studying these in consultation with the National Ports Council and other interested parties. Among the many issues to be taken into account will be the outcome of the current review of the airport project about which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade has promised to make a further statement before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now tell the House the form to be taken by the independent inquiry into the rating system; when the inquiry is likely to sit; and what is his target date for the inquiry to report.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be making a statement to the House later this week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the upper income limit for obtaining a rate rebate was in 1966 for a married couple with two children; and what changes there have been in this limit.

In 1966 a married couple with two children were entitled to a maximum rate rebate if their joint income did not exceed£13 a week; each pound above this figure reduced rebate by 25p. Under the new rate rebate scheme, income limits have been replaced by needs allowances; their needs allow

Expenditure per mile of road (£)
								Of which
							Total*	New construction and improvement	Maintenance
England:
1968–69	…	…	…	…	…	…	3,130	1,880	830
1969–70	…	…	…	…	…	…	3,550	2,200	910
1970–71	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,320	2,760	1,020
1971–72	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,380	2,650	1,140
1972–73	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,820	2,800	1,370
Wales:
1968–69	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,630	760	650
1969–70	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,700	830	650
1970–71	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,120	1,160	710
1971–72	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,700	1,620	800
1972–73	…	…	…	…	…	…	3,110	1,870	900
Scotland:
1968–69	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,250	1,320	650
1969–70	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,320	1,380	670
1970–71	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,650	1,520	800
1971–72	…	…	…	…	…	…	3,110	1,710	1,020
1972–73	…	…	…	…	…	…	3,360	1,690	1,240
* Includes expenditure on lighting, parking and administration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes any immediate change in the option mortgage subsidy scheme.

Yes. My right hon. Friend proposes to restrict the availability of option mortgage subsidy on a similar basis to that proposed for tax relief as regards interest on large loans for house purchase and also on loans for the purchase of second homes. Amendments to the Housing Bill will be tabled to provide that option mortgage subsidy will in future be available only for loans of up to£25,000; and for the only or main residence of the borrower or of a separated or divorced spouse or of a dependent relative of the borrower. These restrictions on the subsidy scheme

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the annual sum spent per mile on the building, maintenance and improvement of all roads, including unclassified roads, in England, Wales and Scotland, for each year between 1966 and 1973.

Figures for financial years from 1968–69 are given below. Figures for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis.will come into operation on an appointed day soon after enactment of the Bill.Any option mortgage taken out after today but before the appointed day which does not meet the new requirements will cease to attract subsidy at the end of a period of three months after the appointed day. Existing option mortgages which do not met the new requirements will cease to attract subsidy after 5th April 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has evidence to show that the jet exhaust from aircraft engines is or can be responsible for the pollution of vegetation on the ground and stretches of open water.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement on the proposed transfer of her Department to Scotland.

At present I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department said in reply to Questions from my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) and others on 24th June concerning the proposals contained in the Hardman Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage the early establishment of an audit board for the European Community.

At its meeting on 4th June 1974 the Council of Ministers for the European Communities established guidelines for the creation of a Court of Auditors for the Communities to replace the present Audit Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the goods and services purchased or hired by the Government in the United Kingdom is purchased or hired in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available centrally. The term "goods and services" has a special meaning in relation to public expenditure and national income. It includes wages and salaries, Forces' pay, rents, purchase of land and buildings, construction and purchase of vehicles, plant and materials. These items are not analysed according to country of expenditure within the United Kingdom, partly because of difficulties in classification and definition, and partly because of estimating difficulties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the provisions to control movements of capital from the United Kingdom available under the Treaty of Rome.

Yes. The Treaty of Rome allows for member States to take action in this area in case of balance of payments difficulties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the balance of payments costs over the next 10 years of (a) continuing with the present programme for manufacturing and operating Concorde, and (b) cancelling Concorde and buying other supersonic transports.

An estimate has been made of the direct effects over the period from now until 1986. If the current programme for producing 16 aircraft were continued, on the basis of British Airways' assessment of the most likely outcome of their Concorde operations there would be a balance of payments loss of some£30 million in present value terms if there were no sales beyond the nine aircraft ordered by British Airways and Air France, and a gain of some£10 million if all five additional saleable aircraft were sold overseas, as compared with the position if the project were cancelled. There is no expectation that British airlines would purchase any other supersonic transport within this period. These estimates do not take into account any indirect benefit which might be derived from the use in other ways of the resources now devoted to Concorde.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much corporation tax was paid to the Exchequer by the building societies for the last year measured from the latest convenient date.

The amount of corporation tax payable by building societies for accounting periods ending in the year to 31st March 1974 is estimated at£8 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, during the year to April 1975, a taxpayer who obtains a loan which he uses to repay an overdraft existing at 26th March 1974, which had been incurred on expenditure in purchasing or improving his residence, will obtain relief for the interest on such a loan in computing his tax liability for subsequent years.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost of collecting dog licences; and how much revenue is obtained from this source.

I have been asked to reply.In 1972–73, the latest year for which figures are available, the cost of collecting fees for dog licences in England and Wales was£455,000. About 2·7 million licences were issued, producing a revenue of about£1·03 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been in the United Kingdom for evasion of EEC regulations; and if he will make a statement.

There were no prosecutions in the period ending on 31st December 1973. Information about 1974 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the working of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; and if he will make a statement.

Broadly, yes. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is, however, under review by an official working party which is considering what modifications, if any, may be desirable if the scheme is to be placed on a statutory footing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if police authorities advise victims of criminal assaults of their rights under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

I understand that this is normal police practice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the publicity given regarding the entitlement of the public to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

The question of publicity for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme is being looked at by the official working party which is reviewing the operation of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the total amount paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, to the most recent convenient date.

By 31st March 1974,£19,244,629.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims have been settled by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the latest convenient date; and how many claims are still outstanding.

The information, for the period ended 31st March 1974, is shown in the following table:

Cases resolved (1.8.64–31.3.74)	56,636
Cases in which interim awards have been made but where the final amount of compensation has not been assessed	1,799
Claims awaiting hearings, pending or adjourned	427
Claims awaiting applicants' decisions	792
Claims under investigation	6,110

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the highest award made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to the most recent convenient date.

:£51,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken in settling claims submitted to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

I regret that the precise information is not available. The table below gives the length of time taken by the board's staff in the year ended 31st March 1974 to investigate claims up to the point where they are submitted for the decision of a single member of the board. The table does not include the time taken by an applicant in deciding whether to accept an award made by the single member, the time taken to arrange for the case to be heard before three members of the board if the claimant does not accept the single member's assessment, or the time taken to reach a final settlement where the board makes an interim award, possibly because there is insufficient information available about the victim's medical condition.

Time taken to investigate cases	Percentage
Not more than 3 months	32
More than 3 months, not more than 6 months	43
More than 6 months, not more than 9 months	15
More than 9 months, not more than 12 months	6
More than 12 months	4

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many claims have been submitted to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board from the Merseyside Metropolitan County area to the most recent date; how many have been settled; and how many are outstanding;(2) what is the total amount of awards made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to claimants from the Merseyside Metropolitan County area to the most recent convenient date;(3) what is the highest award made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to a claimant from the Merseyside Metropolitan County area to the most recent convenient date.

I regret that this information is not available. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board does not classify information about claims or awards by the area in which the incident occurs or in which the applicant resides.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many awards have been made by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board following the death of the claimant's relative or dependant.

Although the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board keeps information about the number of applications made in cases where the victim has died, figures for the number of awards made in these cases have been recorded only since 1967. Between 1st April 1967 and 31st March 1974, 671 awards were made in cases where the claims were based upon the death of the victim as a result of his injury.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to provide probation hostels on Merseyside in general, and in the Wirral in particular, within the next two years.

A probation hostel for young offenders has existed in Liverpool for many years. A hostel for adults, also in Liverpool, is in preparation and should open later this summer. The location of further hostels in Merseyside, when they are authorised, will be a matter for the Probation and After-Care Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to provide a bail hostel in Liverpool; and what provisions have been made during 1973–74 for bail hostels throughout the country.

Six probation and after-care committees, including Merseyside, have been asked to provide bail hostels as an extension of the experiment begun in London in November 1971. The first of these, in South Yorkshire, will open on 1st July and a second, in Hampshire, later this year. Two voluntary bodies have also offered to provide hostels and the first of these will open soon in London. Suitable premises have been found for the hostel in Liverpool.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what up-to-date information he has on discussions being held at present on the EEC energy policy.

The Commission recently sent proposals on a Community energy policy strategy to the Council, which will probably discuss them towards the end of July. I discussed the draft of these proposals with M. Simonet, the Commissioner responsible for energy matters. My officials also joined in more detailed discussions between the Commission and representatives of member countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will issue general directions to nationalised industries to insert into invitations for tenders and into works contracts a condition that the labour force used by contractors shall be directly employed by main contractors or sub-contractors from them.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer on this subject given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will give an assessment of the percentage of total crude oil reserves in the British sector of the North Sea held by (a) British and Anglo-Dutch, (b) United States and Canadian, and (c) French interests;(2) if he will give an assessment of the percentage of the total British sector North Sea oil reserves held by wholly-owned United Kingdom State corporations operating in various participations.

I hope to announce details of the shares held by various interests of the estimated reserves of oil so far dis covered in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in tabular form current posted prices for the principal Middle East, Indonesian, Libyan, Nigerian and Venezuelan crudes, royalty rates and buy-back prices where announced by overseas Governments.

Current posted prices for the crudes mentioned are as follows:

Crude		Gravity	$ per barrel
Arab light	…	34	11·651
Arab Berri	…	39	12·351
Arab medium	…	31	11·561
Arab heavy	…	27	11·441
Iran light	…	34	11·875
Iran heavy	…	31	11·635
Kuwait	…	31	11·545
Abu Dhabi:
Umm Shait	…	37	12·086
Murban	…	39	12·636
Zakum	…	40	12·566
Iraq Hasrah	…	35	11·672
Qutar Marine	…	36	12·013
Qutar Dukhan	…	40	12·414
Oman	…	34	12·298
Libyan	…	40	15·768
Nigerian	…	34	14·691
Indonesia
Sumatra light	…	34	11·700
(Official Selling Price)
Venezueta
Tia Juana	…	26	13·776
Tia Juana	…	31	14·356
Oficina	…	35	14·876

Royalties are usually 12½ per cent. of posted prices, but the Venezuelan figure is 16⅔ per cent. In most cases the rate will be 14½per cent. from 1st July. Buyback prices are not generally announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, in paragraph 21 of the interim report on the coal industry, in which potential demand is stated to be 150 million tons per year in the mid-1980s, there is an expectation of increased demand in Scotland; and if so if he will quantify this.

A demand for 150 million tons is dependent on the coal industry maintaining its competitive position. Information is not available on an area basis, but Scottish pits will benefit if the potential demand, particularly from the electricity and steel industries, can be realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, with reference to paragraph 24 of the interim report on the coal industry, he will make a statement on the effects of Government policy on the Scottish coalfields.

I believe that the Government's decision to endorse the National Coal Board's investment strategy for augmenting deep-mined coal will have a favourable effect on the Scottish coalfields.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much research he is supporting in conjunction with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority into laser fusion; and how this compares in terms of the deployment of resources with the work which he is supporting on magnetic containment.

The authority's current programme of fusion research, which is integrated with that of the European Community, is based mainly on the magnetic confinement approach. The cost of the programme in the year 1973–74 was£4·3 million, of which£.1·1 million was met by Euratom. As part of its fusion programme the authority has for some years maintained some effort on the development of high power lasers; the cost of this work in 1973–74 was£0·25 million. A future programme of basic research on laser compression, which the authority believes to be an essential foundation for progress towards the achievement of laser fusion, is at present under consideration by the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will seek legisla

PLATFORM SITE APPLICATIONS COMING BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND
Developer	Site			Outcome
Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd.	Ardyne	…	…	Approved.
CBI Constructors Ltd.	Dunnet Bay	…	…	Approved.
Taylor Woodrow Construction Ltd.	Alness	…	…	Approved.
Highland Fabricators Ltd.	Nigg Bay	…	…	Approved.
Brital Marine Ltd.	Evanton	…	…	Approved.
Mid-Continental Supply Co.(U.K.)Ltd.	Dalmore	…	…	Approved.
J. Ray McDermott Inc.	Ardersier	…	…	Approved.
Taylor Woodrow Construction Ltd./John Mowlem & Co. Ltd	Drumbuie	…	…	Under consideration.
John Howard & Co. Ltd./DORIS	Loch Kishorn		…	Under consideration.
Subtank Constructors (U.K.)	Portavadie	…	…	Under consideration.
Costain Civil Engineering Ltd.	Hunterston	…	…	Under consideration.
Fred Olsen Ltd	Buckhaven	…	…	Planning application withdrawn.
John Mowlem & Co. Ltd.	Ullapool	…	…	Planning application withdrawn.

All aspects of licensing policy are under review. I hope to make a statement on the outcome of this review very soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement on the effect of rail freight charges on domestic solid fuel prices.

In order to avoid higher prices to merchants, and therefore consumers, arrangements are being made in respect of solid domestic fuel for British Rail to rebate until November the higher freight rates that would otherwise apply from 30th June. I shall be Introducing a Supplementary Estimate for about£1·5 million to reimburse British Rail for the losses involved. Any expenses before the Supplementary Estimate is approved will be met from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many applications his Department has received for planning permission for production platform sites: and if he will list the consortia involved and the sites involved.

I have been asked to reply.Planning applications are made to the appropriate local planning authority. Applications for platform construction sites do not therefore necessarily come before me; but the following table shows those which have:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, following the presentation of the Interim Report on the Coal Industry, he will answer Questions about the effects of the matters discussed in it on individual coalfields.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 24th June 1974], gave the following information:The report reflects overall National Coal Board plans and detailed information is not available on an area or coalfield basis. I will of course give my hon. Friend any information I can in response to particular inquiries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what plan the Government have to negotiate the EEC fishery arrangements before 1982, following the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference;(2) whether the Government propose to extend British fishing limits to 200 miles even if the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference does not come to a unanimous view on this subject.

I regret that I cannot indicate what the decisions of Her Majesty's Government will be following the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea until the results of that conference are known.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will include Northamptonshire within a brucellosis eradication area at an early date.

As my right hon. Friend explained in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Whitehaven (Dr. Cunningham) on 21st May—[Vol. 874, c. 112–13]—the additional eradication areas then announced constitute the maximum additional commitment we can undertake at this stage, having regard to the availability of veterinary staff and our responsibilities for other animal health matters. We are naturally anxious to extend compulsory eradication to Northamptonshire as soon as possible, but I cannot yet forecast when it will be possible to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to make up for the delays in the brucellosis eradication programme.

The hon. Member is aware that the rate of progress in eradicating brucellosis is conditioned by the availability of veterinary staff and by the nature and extent of my other animal health responsibilities. Pay is an important factor in recruitment to the State Veterinary Service; the Government have recently announced pay increases for the scientific grades, from which the veterinary officer grades will also benefit. Improvements in organisation and in other matters concerning the Ministry's veterinary staff are also under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans for the future of the Apple and Pear Advisory Council.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the Apple and Pear Development Council and I would refer him to the latter part of the reply given to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 30th April.—[Vol. 872, c. 431.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is taking action designed to allow palm oil to be imported free of duty into the EEC, as it has been in the past into the United Kingdom.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my statement to the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) on 18th June on our ideas and proposals for the improvement of the common agricultural policy and certain related matters. In that statement I made the point that the import arrangements for palm oil should be improved. It will be one of my objectives in the forthcoming negotiations to achieve a satisfactory improvement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the availability of baler twine and the prices at which it is being sold currently compared with a year ago.

I have been asked to reply.Production of baler twine is about the same level as last year. To make up for shortages of sisal the main United Kingdom manufacturer is increasing synthetic twine production and in agreement with the unions is working through the annual holidays. Absolute priority is being given to meeting the needs of British farmers and for the present no twine is exported. I believe the allegation of hoarding by dealers to be unfounded. Allocations based on normal levels of demand are being made locally in accordance with the timetable of the harvest. I am satisfied that everything possible is being done to provide adequate and timely deliveries.As to prices, I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. Steel) on 30th April 1974.—[Vol. 872, c.

asked the Attorney-General when he now expects to receive the report of the Lord Chancellor's committee on the extension of legal aid and advice to appellants to welfare tribunals.

I understand that the committee hopes to report to my noble Friend before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give instructions that no military convoy should be driven on a major holiday route at peak traffic times during summer weekends unless the appropriate chief constable has been satisfied that there is no practicable alternative time or route.

Departmental instructions already recognise the problems of congestion on these routes at these times and provide for full consultation with chief constables and appropriate liaison with other authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will propose amending the system of grants to student unions so that they are expressly confined to the financing of sporting and other non-controversial cultural purposes, use the money so saved to increase the individual students' grants, and allow students themselves to pay for the organisation of political events.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it is his intention to introduce into the teachers' superannuation scheme an agreement on the basis that war service in the Armed Forces should be reckonable as to half for pension purposes.

My right hon. Friend will make the necessary amendments to the scheme once the detailed implementation of the undertaking to reckon war service in this way has been agreed in the working party on teachers' superannuation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to ascertain what overseas countries have fully comprehensive State secondary education systems; and if he will make comparative studies of their merits.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will provide the Victoria and Albert Museum with a special grant to purchase the pair of dolls dating from 1690 known as "Lord and Lady Clapham".

The Victoria and Albert Museum hopes to raise the necessary funds by public appeal and has not asked for a special grant for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make an interim statement about the grants payable to direct grammar schools, and the fees they may charge.

I do not propose for the present to make any change in the rate of grant payable to these schools. I shall expect them to make economies comparable to those which are having to be made by maintained schools. I am only prepared to approve such fee increases as prove necessary to meet unavoidable increases in running costs which remain when these economies have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether Government assistance is being given to enable the Science Museum to buy the original Orrery, formerly the property of the Earl of Cork and Orrery, which was sold at auction at Sotheby's on 24th June.

The Government are proposing to make available, subject to parliamentary approval, a special

PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL WEEKLY HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE ON COMMODITIES AND SERVICES SPENT ON ENERGY 1973
Energy Source			Scotland	Wales	North	Yorkshire and Humberside	North-West
			Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Oil	…	…	0·3	0·3	0·5	0·3	0·2
Gas	…	…	1·2	1·3	1·6	1·7	1·8
Coal and coke	…	…	1·1	2·2	1·8	1·4	1·0
Electricity	…	…	3·2	2·6	2·0	2·4	2·3
Total	…	…	5·8	6·4	5·9	5·8	5·3

Energy Source			East Midlands	West Midlands	East Anglia	South-East	South-West
			Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Oil	…	…	0·2	0·2	0·7	0·4	0·6
Gas	…	…	2·0	1·5	1·0	1·7	1·1
Coal and coke	…	…	1·0	1·0	1·1	0·8	1·5
Electricity	…	…	2·1	2·5	2·8	2·2	3·0
Total	…	…	5·3	5·2	5·6	5·1	6·2

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the dispute between the National Association of Schoolmasters and the Governors of the Sacred Heart School, Redcar, over the alleged victimisation of Joseph Faye and Noel Thurlaway, a matter in which his officials have been involved.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on Friday 21st June 1974 to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of weekly household income in Scotland, Wales and the English regions is spent on consumption of energy in the respective forms of oil, gas, coal and electricity and as a whole.

The following information is from the Family Expenditure Survey for 1973:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the retail price index in 1966, at the time of each change of Government and the comparative figures for the latest convenient date.