asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes are proposed in the recruitment, training, equipment and organisation of the Royal Ulster Contabulary and RUC Reserve; to what extent they now operate throughout Northern Ireland; and when it is intended that they should relieve the Army of the police functions it is now performing in aid of the civil power.

The Police Authority and the Chief Constable make appropriate provision for the recruitment, training and equipment of the RUC and RUC Reserve and keep their needs under continuous review. Police functions are undertaken in all parts of Northern Ireland, but assistance from the Army is required in some areas. I am currently considering the whole subject of policing in Northern Ireland and whether any steps can be taken to encourage a greater sense of local involvement in the maintenance of law and order.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the estimated cost of the recent strike by the Ulster Workers' Council to the British tax and social security payer.

It is estimated that £5 million was paid in emergency social security benefit during the recent stoppage. This sum will have to be borne by taxpayers and national insurance contributors throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the conditions of eligibility attached to the payment of supplementary benefit during the general strike in Northern Ireland; what were the number of claims for benefit received and the number rejected; what was the statutory authority for this operation; and what is now his latest estimate of the cost to public funds.

Under the emergency benefit scheme a uniform rate of benefit at the standard rate of unemployment benefit was paid to claimants who appeared to be in need and who made a simple declaration of need; earnings related and supplementary benefits were not paid.About 200,000 claims were accepted; no information is available about the number rejected. The authority for payment was the Emergency (Payment of Benefit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1974, made on the advice of the Northern Ireland Executive by the Secretary of State under the Emergency Powers Act (Northern Ireland) 1926 as amended by the Emergency Powers (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 1964.The cost to public funds is estimated to be about £5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases the British Government have paid sums of money to persons interrogated in depth in Northern Ireland; and what is the total of these sums.

So far in three of these cases settlements have been effected; the total of the sums paid to date is £25,500 exclusive of costs which Her Majesty's Government are bearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to be in a position to dispose of the shares he intends to acquire in Harland and Wolff, in according with the provisions of Section 7(5) of the Industry Act 1972.

The shares have not yet been acquired: it is premature to speculate about a date for their disposal.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review the use of PVC in food packaging in the light of further knowledge becoming available of the carcinogenic hazards of vinyl chloride monomer.

The use of PVC in food packaging is being kept under close review here and in other countries, particularly the United States of America. The advice of the Government's expert advisory committees remains that given in reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 4th April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his latest visit to the Council of Ministers' meeting of the EEC.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement my right hon. Friend made on 17th July immediately upon his return from the Council.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now decided to introduce a scheme for selling beef, fresh and frozen, at a cheaper price to institutions and to old-age pensioners, and if he will make a statement.

A Community scheme for the sale of beef to non-profit making institutions is being introduced and the necessary measures to implement this scheme in the United Kingdom are in preparation. The Government are still considering the possibility of making cheap beef available to those in receipt of social welfare benefits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how he intends to ensure that beef producers receive a minimum return of £18 per cwt.; and why the return is not made up to that figure after the addition of the premia announced on 17th July.

As my right hon. Friend said in the House on 17th July we are satisfied that the scheme which was announced then should ensure returns of about £18 per cwt. for clean cattle over the period of its operation. If producers respond to the assurance which these premia provide, average returns over the period until March should substantially exceed this figure.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify month by month from September 1974 to March 1975 the per capita premia for clean beef animals slaughtered.

As announced in the House on 17th July, my right hon. Friend will make a further statement on this subject as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that sufficient supplies of fertilisers are available to meet necessary demands for grass production to encourage livestock farmers.

I am not aware that livestock farmers are experiencing difficulty in obtaining fertilisers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the prices of fertilisers with and without subsidies, repectively, at the latest convenient date in the United Kingdom and in member countries of the European Economic Communities.

The table below gives the latest available information comparing the prices of fertilisers in member countries of the EEC.

WEIGHTED AVERAGE PRICES IN U.S. DOLLARS PER 100 KG OF PLANT NUTRIENT
	Nitrogenous fertilisers	Phosphatic fertilisers
Denmark	30·97	24·29
Federal Republic of Germany	37·72	28·00
Irish Republic	27·33	18·40
Italy	31·31	19·32
Netherlands	34·25	25·48
United Kingdom	25·85	20·01

The information has been extracted from "Prices of Agricultural Products and Selected Inputs in Europe 1972–73" published by the Agricultural Division of the Economic Commission for Europe in April 1974. It relates to fertiliser years ending in May or June 1973.The prices quoted for Denmark are before deduction of 10–11 per cent. subsidy. Net prices to Danish farmers would be about $27.70 for nitrogenous fertilisers and $21.70 for phosphatic fertilisers.The prices quoted for the United Kingdom are before deduction of 8·9 per cent. subsidy. Net Prices to British farmers were about $23.50 for nitrogenous fertilisers and $18.40 for phosphatic fertilisers.Information is not available for Belgium, France or Luxembourg; or for compound fertilisers or potash.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the cost per ton for fertilisers for the years 1973 and 1974, respectively; whether he will introduce a revised subsidy to dairy farmers; and if he will make a statement.

The average cost per nutrient ton of certain fertilisers in 1973 and 1974 was as follows:

Fertiliser Year June 1972–May 1973
Straight nitirogen	£109.00
Compounds	£96.30
Fertiliser Year (Part) June 1973–March 1974
Straight nitrogen	£117.10
Compounds	£103.20

The calculations have been based on applications for the fertiliser subsidy and information is not yet available for April and May 1974. The subsidy ended on 31st May 1974 and there are no plans to introduce a revised subsidy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the amount of milk produced in 1973 and the amount consumed as liquid milk now compares with the amount in the same period of the first six months of 1974.

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

	1973	1974
	million gallons	million gallons
Total Sales	1,557	1,505-3·3%
Liquid Sales	822	830+1·1%

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total of milk production lost to the home manufacturing of butter and cheese; what are the level of stocks of such commodities; if he will compare such quantities of commodities imported from member countries of the European Economic Community; and how this affects the balance of payments.

Provisional figures for the first six months of the current dairy year indicate that the quantity of milk supplied for the manufacture of butter and cheese in the United Kingdom was some 70 million gallons less than in the same period last year. This decline is partly accounted for by an increase of 18 million gallons for liquid consumption and other milk products.Public cold-store stocks of butter totalled 69,600 tons on 5th July and stocks of cheese totalled 61,700 tons at end May, the latest date for which information is available.Import figures for the above period are not yet available, but are expected to show increased imports of both butter and cheese from other member States. It is not possible to calculate precisely the net balance of payments cost of the reduction in United Kingdom milk supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the latest figures showing the reduction of the national dairy herd due to under-feeding; what plans he has to reverse this process; and if he will make a statement.

The size of the dairy herd in the United Kingdom in March 1974 was 3,432,000 head, a reduction of 0·8 per cent. from the March 1973 level. I would refer to my right hon. Friend's statement on milk in the debate on agriculture on 26th June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many bacon curing factories have closed in 1974; and if he will make a statement on the effect of such closures on pig production.

I have heard of four such closures. I understand that alternative curing facilities are available for the producers concerned. There should be no significant effect on production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps in relation to the different commodities of surplus foodstuffs in the EEC that are imported into Great Britain, to offset the higher price food commodities to benefit the British consumer.

The British consumer has already benefited from Community disposal measures for butter. The United Kingdom has also been able, by virtue of Community preference, to obtain other commodities, such as Community-grown cereals, at more favourable prices than third countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent British consumers of imported foodstuffs are enabled to share in downward movements in world prices and if he will make a statement.

British consumers are today in a position to benefit from downward movements in world prices on most of the main commodities except some dairy products and beef for which United Kingdom prices are currently at relatively low levels. But it is certainly our objective in renegotiation to increase the opportunity for British consumers to benefit from such downward movements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, to avoid unfair competition and in accordance with Community agreements, he will now extend the fuel oil subsidy for glasshouses until June 1975.

No. The fuel oil subsidy announced by my right hon. Friend on 11th April accords fully with the Commission's guidance on an acceptable level of aid which will apply to all member States. This is that the amount of aid may not exceed 50 per cent. of the increase in fuel prices—between 1st September 1973 and the moment when the measure is decided—reckoned for a quantity of energy products not exceeding the recipient's normal consumption in one growing season.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent interruptions there have been in the availability of sugar to the housewife in Cornwall; and whether he is satisfied that there is now enough sugar for all foreseeable needs.

We are aware that in parts of Cornwall and elsewhere in South-West England shops have run out of sugar, despite the fact that deliveries have been maintained at almost the level of the corresponding period in 1973, when demand was exceptionally high. With our encouragement the refining companies and merchants are co-operating in emergency measures to increase supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what inquiries he has made to determine the extent of the United Kingdom's requirement for sugar imports from the EEC during 1975.

The United Kingdom's requirements for imports of sugar from the European Economic Community in 1975 will depend on what supplies can be secured from the developing Commonwealth and Australia in that year, and on the size of our domestic beet crop. My right hon. Friend had an encouraging response as to the willingness of Commonwealth Governments to supply in talks he held with them on 3rd to 5th July, but until negotiations have been completed on the terms of access for their sugar to the Community it will not be possible accurately to estimate what total supplies will be available against our commitment to secure access on fair terms for 1·4 million tons from the developing Commonwealth and our declared intention to secure continued access for Australian sugar.In the meantime the Council of Ministers of the Community has accepted the need for a drastic reduction in the Community's normal exports to ensure sufficient supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the likely requirement for sugar imports from the EEC during 1975, he will now revise the price paid to domestic producers for sugar beet.

I have nothing to add at this stage to the reply give by my hon. Friend the Minister of State to the right hon. Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym) on 11th July.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will institute an immediate inquiry into the basis of taxation of pensions for war widows.

Although my right hon. Friend fully appreciates the claims of war widows on the nation, he does not believe that special tax reliefs are the appropriate way to recognise them. As part of this summer's pension up-rating, war widows' pensions are being increased by the greatest amount ever; moreover, for elderly war widows the age allowances are being doubled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to publish the Bank of England report on Sterling Certificates of Deposit.

The Working Party on London Sterling Inter-bank and Certificates of Deposit Markets was set up by the Governor of the Bank of England and the Chairman of the Committee of London Clearing Banks: publication of its report is therefore a matter for them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his forecast that the United Kingdom will only have 14 per cent. of the gross national product of the EEC in 1980, while contributing 24 per cent. of the Community budget, is based on projecting forward to 1980 the relative rates of growth of the nine countries which he gave in an answer to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 10th June.

The estimate of 14 per cent. for the United Kingdom share of Com- munity GDP in 1980 was based on average annual rates of growth for the period to 1980 of 4·9 per cent.—for the members of the Community other than the United Kingdom—and 3·9 per cent. for the United Kingdom—given in my reply to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 10th June.—[Vol. 874, c. 415–16.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have been sending out demands for the payment of the 10 per cent. surcharge on surtax before it has been authorised by Parliament.

Where the House of Commons passes a resolution which provides for the renewal of any tax in force or imposed during the previous financial year, or for the variation of any existing tax, subject to certain conditions the resolution has the force of law for a specified period, under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968. In the case of a resolution passed in March or April the specified period expires on the following 5th August. The 10 per cent. surcharge on surtax for the year 1972–73 was promulgated by a Budget Resolution passed by the House of Commons on 1st April 1974, and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue are thus empowered to collect that part of the surcharge which is due and payable on 1st July 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate has been prepared of the total extent of annual losses to the Exchequer caused by deliberate tax avasion; and what is the present estimated annual loss.

I regret that the nature of these illegal practices is such that it is impossible to make estimates of the sort requested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to ensure that the cost of living with the falling costs of industry's raw materials is reduced in relation to the reduced cost of imported raw materials.

The Price Commission has reminded companies of the requirement under the Price Code to reduce prices if raw material costs fall.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing legislation in the form of personal expenditure for tax relief to wage earners compelled to travel long distances to work, burdened with increasing costs of fares.

My right hon. Friend has considered my hon. Friend's suggestion carefully but has concluded that it would not be right to single out this particular form of personal expenditure for tax relief.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual increase of public expenditure arising from wage increases for employees in central Government, and local government respectively.

The estimated annual increases in the wage and salary component of public expenditure, for central Government and local authorities employees respectively, over the past five years are as follows:

£ million
	Increase on previous year
Year	Central Government	Local Authorities
1969	148	161
1970	408	325
1971	446	511
1972	447	591
1973	354	573

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to keep value added tax under continuous review.

My right hon. Friend is continually reviewing all aspects of VAT. If my hon. Friend has suggestions to make about any particular aspect of the tax my right hon. Friend will always be glad to study them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the reduction in the price of a fur coat costing £2,200 inclusive of VAT on 20th July 1974 as a result of the reduction in the rate of VAT announced by the Chancellor on 22nd July 1974;(2) what is the reduction in the cost of items 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57 and 59 in Table 12, page 52, of the Family Expenditure Survey based on the preparation of weekly expenditure on each of these items in the case of a family of one man, one woman and two children with a weekly income of £30-£35, listing each of these items separately, resulting from the reduction in the rate of VAT announced by the Chancellor on 22nd July 1974;(3) what is the reduction in the price of a diamond brooch costing £2,200 inclusive of VAT on 20th July 1974 as a result of the reduction in the rate of VAT announced by the Chancellor on 22nd July 1974;(4) what is the reduction in the cost of items 12–43 in Table 12, page 51, of the Family Expenditure Survey based on the preparation of weekly expenditure on each of these items by a family of one woman, one man and two children earning £30-£35 a week, listing each of these items separately, resulting from the reduction in the rate of VAT announced by the Chancellor on 22nd July 1974.

The reduction in the rate of VAT to 8 per cent. means that the prices of goods and services subject to VAT should be reduced, on average, by 1/55, that is, about 1·81p in the pound. Thus, an item costing £2,200 inclusive of VAT now should be reduced by £40. Where the present tax-inclusive price is not divisible by 55, it will not be possible to express the reduction in exact units of currency. In these cases, the retailer will need to ensure that his prices are reduced on average by 1/55: this may mean that some prices in the shops remain unchanged while others are reduced by less and other prices are reduced by more, than the exact amount of tax. The tax change will not affect items which are zero rated under VAT. The detailed figures requested by the hon. Member would not be meaningful, since the 1972 Family Expenditure Survey—the latest available—antedates the introduction of VAT and takes no account of changes in prices and patterns of expenditure since 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the currency of borrowing and repayment of the Iranian loan announced in his recent economic statement.

Drawings on this line of credit and repayment will be in United States dollars.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage expenditure on the police force is expected to rise in real terms during the next five years.

Public expenditure, including that on the police service, is currently under review and I cannot anticipate the results of the review. But I would emphasise the Government's determination to maintain and improve the strength of the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications by Chilean refugees for admission to the United Kingdom were granted (a) up to the end of February 1974, (b) between 1st March and 30th June 1974; and what estimate he has made of the number of applications likely to be granted for the rest of 1974.

99 applications by refugees from Chile were granted up to the end of February 1974 and 246 between 1st March and 30th June 1974; 199 applications are currently under consideration; but, except in so far as this figure may provide an indication, I cannot say how many applications are likely to be granted for the rest of 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now fully considered the representations made to him by the hon. Members for Swindon and Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Loughlin) during recent discussions concerning concessionary tele- vision licences for pensioners; and if he will make a statement.

I have taken my hon. Friends' views carefully into account, but I would refer to the decision which I announced in reply to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Thurrock (Mr. Delargy) and the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people under the age of 18 years have been convicted of arson and detained in the care of the Home Secretary under the Children and Young Persons Act 1972.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people under the age of 21 years have been convicted of manslaughter, by reason of diminished responsibility, over the past 10 years and detained under Section 60 of the Mental Health Act; and how many were released within five, six and seven years, respectively.

During the 10 calendar years 1964 to 1973, 42 persons under the age of 21 were so convicted and ordered to be detained under Section 60 of the Mental Health Act, one on two occasions; in all but three cases the offender was ordered to be subject to the special restrictions set out in Section 65 of the Act. Of these, one unrestricted patient and two restricted patients were discharged within five years, one restricted patient after five years but less than six, and one unrestricted patient after six years but less than seven. The rest are still detained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people under the age of 18 years have been convicted of murder in the last 10 years; and how many were released on parole or licence within two, three, four, five and six years, respectively.

Between 1st January 1964 and 30th December 1973, 52 persons aged 18 or under were convicted in England and Wales of murders committed before they were 18 and were ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under Section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Of these, three have been transferred to detention in hospital under Section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959 and are still so detained; one has been transferred to Scotland, where he is still detained; one was released on licence after four years; and the remaining 47 are still detained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why six houses, 233 to 243 Lyham Road, S.W.2, owned by the Metropolitan Police, have remained empty for about two years; what plans there are for their occupation; and, if there is none, if he will arrange for them to be handed over to the Lambeth Borough Council.

These houses have remained empty whilst discussions have been taking place with Lambeth Borough Council about the use to which they should be put.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it is not possible to provide the number of political refugees granted asylum in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.

The records are not complete and such information as is available could not be collated and assessed in the form requested by the hon. Member without disproportionate effort. In addition, there would be difficult problems of definition when a person is given leave to remain here after considering a number of factors in the case, of which the possibility of persecution in his own country may be one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to restrict, regulate and control the keeping of unusual and potentially dangerous pets.

My right hon. Friend has no present plans for introducing legislation of the kind proposed. The Animals Act 1971 has clarified the liability at civil law for damage done by dangerous animals, and it is an offence at common law to cause a public nuisance by keeping animals to the danger of the public.

asked the Attorney-General how far the reorganisation of the courts of law has reduced the delays in 1973–74 in the hearing of indictable cases both in London and outside by comparison with the last full year before the reorganisation came into effect.

No figures are available for 1971, but in the first quarter of 1972 the average period between committal and trial for defendants in custody was 17 weeks in London and 6·1 weeks outside London. In the first quarter of 1974 the corresponding periods were 12 weeks and 5·8 weeks. For defendants on bail the delay in London has been reduced from 26·9 weeks to 24·4 weeks outside London it remains at 8·2 weeks.

asked the Attorney-General (1) what inquiries have been made of the Swiss Bank Corporation in connection with his investigation of alleged forgeries of bank documents referred to him by the Lord President of the Council with a view to prosecution;(2) if he will arrange to inform Parliament of the outcome of his investigation into the alleged forgeries of bank documents; and if he will arrange to make a progress report before the Summer Recess.

This matter is subject of a police investigation. It would be premature to give details of the investigation. I cannot undertake to make a report before the Summer Recess.

asked the Attorney-General when he proposes to publish the report of the Phillimore Committee.

The report will be published as soon as the current printing difficulties have been overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether his Department had given its approval for the type of concrete roofing used in Furze Platt Secondary School, the East Berkshire College of Further Education; and where the responsibility lies for the defects in the construction.

Under the Education Act 1944 my Department considers specifications and plans for new buildings proposed by local education authorities, in relation to standards prescribed in regulations made under the Act; approval, in this respect, was given in relation to the buildings in question in 1962 and 1957 respectively. These regulations do not deal with the details of construction, which are seen as a matter for the local authority, having regard to performance requirements and standard building practices then current as expressed, for example, by British Standards specifications and modes of practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from parents regarding the choice of comprehensive schools for their children in areas where there is a fully comprehensive system.

Many representations are made to my right hon. Friend by individual parents who wish their children to be admitted to schools other than those at which places have been allocated to them. Those cases which concern comprehensive schools are dealt with on the same basis as others, in the light of the relevant statutory provisions, and no separate record is kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he can yet give the results of the survey of absence from school on 17th January 1974.

All maintained middle and secondary schools in England and Wales were asked to complete a return for Thursday 17th January 1974 showing the number of pupils who were absent for all or part of the day, and the numbers for whose absence the school had been able to find no legitimate reason by the following Wednesday. These figures are given in the attached table, which sets out the national rates of attendance and unjustified absence. These show that:

i. out of 3,886,000 pupils in all middle and secondary schools in England and Wales, some 384,400 or 9·9 per cent. of all pupils, were absent on 17th January;

ii. schools were able to find no legitimate reason for the absence of 87,400 of these pupils—2·2 per cent. of all pupils and 22·7 of those absent;

iii. the highest percentage of absence and of unjustified absence were among those aged 15 at 31st August 1973–14·1 per cent. and 4·8 per cent.;

iv. unjustified absences among girls as a percentage of all girls were only 0·1 per cent. higher on average than unjustified absences among boys, but a greater percentage of girls were regarded as being absent for legitimate reasons; just over 1 per cent. more as a percentage of all girls on average, 2 per cent. more in the age group 15–17 and 3 per cent. more at 18.

Although there are no grounds for complacency in these figures, which give a picture only of one day in January, they do not indicate that the overall level of unjustified absence from school is as high as is sometimes suggested.Work is continuing on the analysis of the information and it is our intention that this, together with related work on pupil behaviour, shall be discussed with the local authority and teacher associations in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what improvement there has been in the supply of teachers to schools in the education authority covering west Essex.

The number of unfilled posts for the next school year has been reduced from 37 to 19 in the last two weeks and recruitment continues.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce a Bill to make clear that a local education authority may not insist upon the return of books and equipment from a school which ceases to be maintained either (a) following a decision of the governors or (b) following a decision of the education authority.

No. School books and equipment belong to whoever provided them; the relevant facts are not normally in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will propose allowing the pupils who attain the age of 16 years during the autumn term to leave school at the end of that term provided they are to undertake a course of part-time study at technical colleges.

No. Pupils who attain the age of 16 from the beginning of September to the end of January are required by law to remain at school until the end of the Spring term.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent representations he has had from teachers' organisations welcoming the raising of the school leaving age to 16 years.

My right hon. Friend has not sought the latest views of the teachers' organisations on the raising of the school leaving age and I am aware of no such representations having been received.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the leaders of the TUC.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 11th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Bidwell).

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to take the chair at a meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to take the chair at NEDC.

I would refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 18th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Attercliffe (Mr. Duffy).

asked the Prime Minister if he will now seek to pay an official visit to Canada.

I have at present no plans to visit Canada. But I look forward to continuing our close and friendly co-operation with the Canadian Government.

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

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave him on 13th June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to make an official visit to Zambia.

I have no plans at present to visit Zambia.

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

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what reply he has sent to the letter directed to him personally by Dr. Derek Stevenson of the British Medical Association on the need for further funds for the National Health Service.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet representatives of the BMA.

I have agreed to meet a deputation to discuss resources for the National Health Service and a meeting has now been arranged.

asked the Prime Minister if the speech on the economy made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the American Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday 10th July represents Her Majesty's Government's policy.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the American Chamber of Commerce in London on 10th July 1974 on the need for expansionary economic measures represents Government policy.

I would refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton.)

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

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

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton).

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from Commonwealth Prime Ministers regarding the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

A number of Commonwealth Prime Ministers have informed me of their views, but such exchanges must remain confidential.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the west of Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Ancram).

asked the Prime Minister if he will now announce the machinery he proposes to set up to consider electoral reform.

I am asking Lord Crowther-Hunt to set in hand background research on this matter with a view to considering how it might best be tackled.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination of policy between Government Departments in fighting inflation.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if the interview given by the Secretary of State for Employment on BBC radio on 7th July on the social contract represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the interview by the Secretary of State for Employment on the social contract on BBC radio on 7th July represented Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the interview by the Secretary of State for Employment on BBC radio on 7th July on the social contract represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to set up the proposed Royal Commission on Incomes Distribution.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employ-

Financial Year			Project				Total project expenditure £ million
1964–65	…	…	Infantry medium range anti-tank missile	…	…	…	0·23
			HS 681 aircraft	…	…	…	4·00
			P1154 aircraft	…	…	…	21·00
1965–66	…	…	TSR2 aircraft	…	…	…	178·00
			Lightning III auto-attack system	…	…	…	1·40
1966–67	…	…	High-powered boiler for new aircraft carrier	…	…	…	0·06
			Catapult for new aircraft carrier	…	…	…	0·26
			P35 Aerial Vehicle (hovercraft type)	…	…	…	0·28
1967–68	…	…	Armoured Mine Recovery Vehicle	…	…	…	0·165
			AFVG aircraft	…	…	…	2·50
			Chinoock helicopter	…	…	…	0·35
			Optical linescan for Buccaneer Mk II	…	…	…	1·35
1968–69	…	…	Army Medium Hovercraft	…	…	…	0·08
			F111K aircraft	…	…	…	13·50
			Anglo-Dutch 3-D radar	…	…	…	1·712
1970–71	…	…	Taildog short range air-to-air missile	…	…	…	0·70
			Land-based AEW system (FMICW radar)	…	…	…	2·95
			C5 aircraft	…	…	…	Nil
1971–72	…	…	Mark 31 torpedo	…	…	…	5·25
1973–74	…	…	QC 434 short-range air-to-air missile	…	…	…	6·35

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the success of the manoeuvre undertaken by the Army in Cyprus, which resulted in the rescue of several thousand United Kingdom citizens from Nicosia, he will continue on the present basis an overseas presence by British forces; and if he will take this into account in his review of defence expenditure.

All relevant factors will be taken into consideration in the course

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what defence projects have been cancelled in each of the last 10 financial years; what has been the cost of each cancellation; and what amount had been spent up to the date of cancellation in each case.

Major defence projects cancelled during the past 10 financial years and the expenditure incurred on them are listed below. Any cancellation charges paid are included in the total project expenditure.of our review of defence commitments and resources. I should not wish to prejudge the outcome of the review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he is satisfied with the size and efficiency of the anti-tank weapons currently operated by the British Armed Forces; and what proposals are in hand to improve such weapons, in the light of the advanced types operated by other armed forces;

Yes. Our forces have a range of anti-tank weapons and surface-to-air missile systems well suited to their needs. New equipments are under consideration or in development. For example, the long-range anti-tank guided weapon, Swingfire, is under further development for mounting on vehicles other than armoured personnel carriers and Ferret scout cars. Sea Dart and Sea Wolf—medium- and short-range surface-to-air guided weapons systems respectively, for ships—and Blowpipe, a very low-level surface-to-air guided weapon for Army use, have reached an advanced stage of development.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the reasons for maintaining British forces in Cyprus; and if, in view of recent experience, he will wind up the British bases on the island, with a view to saving manpower, money and materials.

The RAF airfield at Akrotiri is a base for air reconnaissance of the Mediterranean and other defence activities. The logistics and communications base at Dhekalia provides support for our own personnel in Cyprus and for the United Nations force.The deployment of British forces in Cyprus is being examined in the course of the worldwide review of defence commitments and resources which I announced in March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to extend the number of places for retraining unemployed men and disabled men, respectively, in Government training centres in the Birmingham area.

The Manpower Services Commission informs me that the Training Services Agency plans to open two new skillcentres, formerly known as Government training centres, to serve the Birmingham area, one at Castle Bromwich and the other at Wolverhampton. They will provide more than 500 additional training places for the area by 1975–76. Under the Training Opportunities Scheme places at skillcentres are not earmarked for specific categories of trainees, but these facilities will be available equally to unemployed and disabled men and women.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many households in England and Wales had a total income of less than £20 per week in 1971, 1972 and 1973.

Estimates of numbers of households in England and Wales with a specified range of income are not available. From the Family Expenditure Survey it is estimated that the proportion of households in England and Wales with weekly household income less than £20 was 24 per cent. in 1971, 21 per cent. in 1972, and 19 per cent. in 1973. These estimates are subject to sampling variation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated weekly household income for the Greater London area, South-East England and England and Wales, respectively.

The latest available information is from the Family Expenditure Survey for 1973 and is subject to sampling variation:

Average weekly household income
	£
Greater London	56·5
South-East England, including
Greater London	56·5
England and Wales	50·0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many households in Scotland had a total income of less than £20 per week in 1971, 1972 and 1973.

Estimates of numbers of households in Scotland with a specified range of income are not available. From the Family Expenditure Survey it is estimated that the proportion of households in Scotland with weekly incomes of less than £20 was 31 per cent. in 1971, 23 per cent. in 1972 and 19 per cent. in 1973. These estimates are subject to sampling variation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated weekly household income for Inverness-shire, the Highlands and Scotland as a whole, respectively.

Separate estimates of weekly household income for Inverness-shire and the Highlands are not available. It is estimated that weekly household income for Scotland as a whole was £46·9 in 1973. The figure is from the Family Expenditure Survey, and is subject to sampling variation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many men over the age of 21 years were earning less than £20 per week in England and Wales on 1st January 1972, 1st July 1972, 1st January 1973 and 1st July 1973;(2) how many men in Scotland over the age of 21 years were earning less than £20 per week on 1st January 1972, 1st July 1972, 1st January 1973 and 1st July 1073.

Estimates are available only for April each year from the New Earnings Survey. The following relate to full-time men aged 21 and over in manual and non-manual occupations whose pay for the survey reference period was not affected by absence:

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF FULL-TIME MEN AGED 21 AND OVER WITH GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS OF LESS THAN £20
	England and Wales	Scotland
April 1972	550,000	80,000
April 1973	210,000	30,000
The estimates are given in rounded form in multiples of 10,000 and are subject to sampling error.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is now the latest cost of living and retail indices; and how this compares with the position at 1st April 1974, 1973 and 1968.

The latest figure of the retail prices index, for June 1974, is 108·7. January 1974 equals 100. This figure was respectively 2·5, 18·0 and 67·1 per cent. above the corresponding index figures for April in the years 1974, 1973 and 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when it is anticipated that the British National Oil Corporation will enter refining distribution of oil;(2) whether it is proposed that the British National Oil Corporation should enter the competitive market in petroleum products by acquiring existing networks from private operators;(3) whether it is proposed that the British National Oil Corporation should enter refining by building new refineries or acquiring existing refining capacity in the United Kingdom.

The British National Oil Corporation's involvement in refining and marketing of oil and oil products is seen as a longer-term development of its functions; the exact timing and nature of such involvement cannot be defined at this early stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the granting of licences for new concessions will be the function of the British National Oil Corporation or of the Department of Energy.

The Department of Energy will continue to be responsible for the issue of petroleum licences.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he expects to be ready to introduce the legislation for the North Sea in 1974 or 1975.

It is the Government's intention to introduce the legislation necessary to implement the recently-announced proposals for offshore oil and gas as soon as possible, although I cannot say at this stage whether this will be late this year or early in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 have been adopted by the Conference on Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflict; whether he will publish the protocols discussed at the conference; and whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not agree to give prisoner-of-war status to organised resistance movements he considers to be opposed to British sovereignty and interests.

The first session of the conference did not complete its discussion of any of the articles of the proposed additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The second session does not open until February 1975. It is therefore too early to be able to judge the eventual form or scope of any protocols that may emerge or Her Majesty's Government's policy towards signature and ratification. We consider, however, that any protection given to organised resistance movements should be in accordance with accepted principles of international law.A copy of the draft additional protocols prepared by the International Commit

£ million
				1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69
Concorde
Airframe	…	…	…	3·7	9·2	18·2	24·0	31·1
Aero-engine (Olympus 593)			…	2·1	10·0	15·9	20·5	24·6
Other airframe projects
HS146	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Trident 2E	…	…	…	—	—	—	1·5	0·4
Trident 3B	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	4·1
Trident Autoland		…	…	—	—	—	0·2	0·1
Airbus (initial development)			…	—	—	—	—	0·5
BAC 111–500	…	…	…	—	—	—	5·3	3·1
Jetstream	…	…	…	—	—	0·6	0·5	0·1
Others	…	…	…	3·1	2·1	0·6	1·5	—
Other engine projects
RB211	…	…	…	—	—	—	0·5	10·2
M45H	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
RB207	…	…	…	—	—	—	1·2	0·7
RB178	…	…	…	—	0·2	1·0	0·1	—
Spey 506/510/511		…	…	2·9	1·3	—	—	—
Spey 555	…	…	…	—	—	0·5	0·2	0·1
Spey 512	…	…	…	—	—	—	0·8	0·1

asked the Secretary Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said Affairs when he expects to make a statement on the result of the review of all aspects of policy towards Southern Africa.

Some decisions have already been announced. As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affair said in answer to Questions on 26th June, we shall announce further decisions when they are taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what amount of assistance has been given by Her Majesty's Government to each project in the aerospace industry in each of the last 10 years.

The information, in respect of Government expenditure on civil airframe and aero-engine projects, is set out below.