asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate the refusal of abattoir operators to slaughter cattle for farmers who sell direct to the public.

We have no evidence of this, although I am aware that, in certain areas, pressure on slaughterhouse capacities has resulted in delay for all customers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is now in a position to authorise the growing of increased sugar beet acreages in the United Kingdom during 1975; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1972 the determination of the beet acreage has not been a matter for Ministers but for the British Sugar Corporation in consultation with the National Farmers' Union. I am sure they will take into account the decisions recently made by the EEC Council of Ministers, in particular the increase in the United Kingdom's basic production quota.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ask the British Sugar Corporation to increase the Scottish share of any increase in the tonnage of beet pulp produced following the latest sugar negotiations of the EEC.

I will bring my hon. Friend's request to the corporation's attention. However, the corporation does have a duty to market the pulp to best advantage, in particular because the average sale price determines an element in the best grower's return.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the British Sugar Corporation's processing capacity will be able to cope with the future anticipated increase in sugar beet acreage: and if he will make a statement.

It is the corporation's responsibility to decide the sugar beet acreage in consultation with growers' representatives, and clearly it will not offer contracts for more beet than it considers can be processed. A factory expansion and modernisation programme is in progress and the corporation is considering what further action it should take following the increase in the United Kingdom's production quota recently agreed by the Council of Ministers of the EEC.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the supply of sugar.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement about sugar supplies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure the supply of sugar for 1975; and at what price.

On current supplies I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 1st November, except to say that industrial action in one large refinery is currently interrupting the distribution of supplies. As far as 1975 is concerned I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mr. Corbett) on 5th November.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to provide a guaranteed United Kingdom market for 1·4 million tons of Commonwealth sugar.

The policy of the Government is to ensure that guaranteed access is given by the Community for 1·4 million tons of sugar from the developing Commonwealth and associates. My right hon. Friend intends to secure the maximum possible share of that quantity for refining in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what approach he has made to the EEC Council of Ministers concerning the statement of intent concerning 1·4 million tons of Commonwealth cane sugar imports obtained by the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Hexham (Mr. Rippon).

We have left our colleagues in the EEC in no doubt of the way in which we interpret the statement to which my hon. Friend refers, and of the urgency of translating it into a firm arrangement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the present level of beef imports from the Republic of Ireland is not detrimental to the maintenance of home production; and whether he will make a statement.

Present imports of carcase beef and fat cattle from the Irish Republic are in line with levels of traditional trade. They represent a very small proportion of total United Kingdom consumption and should not have a significant effect on market price levels, particularly since our total imports this year are much lower than usual.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take action to restore confidence to beef producers by enabling prices for fat animals to reach realistic levels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take urgent steps to remedy the financial difficulties of farmers in the beef sector.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the obstacles in the way of instituting a guaranteed price for beef.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take immediate action to ensure higher returns for livestock producers to an extent designed to restore confidence in the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it remains his objective, as stated on 17th July, to secure a minimum price of £18 per hundredweight to beef producers.

I would refer to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Devon, West (Mr. Mills) and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that increased food costs have not affected the diets of all groups within the community.

Changed price relativities have led to changes in the pattern of food purchases but the general nutritional standard of the diet remains satisfactory in all groups.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with EEC counterparts on the need for the Common Market to adopt an agricultural support system based upon a scheme of deficiency payments.

We have proposed the introduction of variable marketing premia for beef and we shall press strongly for these to be included in the new beef régime.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to ban permanently the export of live animals for slaughter.

As the hon. Member knows, we have undertaken not to change our present policy on export of animals until the House has had an opportunity to debate the O'Brien Report.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has in mind to improve the level of food production in Great Britain.

Our aim remains the expansion of an efficient agricultural industry, and in the debate on the Gracious Speech my right hon. Friend outlined the action which we have taken and will be taking to achieve this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for the continuance of oil subsidy for the horticultural industry.

The oil subsidy was made available until 31st December 1974 to cushion growers against the sharp and unexpected increase in oil costs which occurred when it was too late for them to make major changes in their production plans for the 1974 season. In present circumstances, we have no proposals for its continuance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that his recent negotiations over sugar supplies will guarantee a long-term future for the British cane sugar refining industry in its present form.

In the long term the nature of future arrangements for securing supplies for the British cane sugar refiners will depend upon whether Britain remains a member of the EEC. As things stand, supplies will be ensured through the arrangements which the Community is making with the developing Commonwealth countries under Protocol 22 of the Treaty of Accession.The import subsidy measure negotiated last month is designed to secure supplies to consumers in the short term, and the cane refiners will obviously be participating the scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will assist hill and marginal land livestock farmers financially or otherwise with the aim of enabling them to stand the cost of carrying stores strata beef and sheep over the coming winter; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's speech in the House on 31st October when he described proposals to bring forward the hill and beef cow subsidies and to increase the hill sheep subsidies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has studied the latest proposals by the European Commission for the restriction and reduction of the glasshouse industry; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that various courses of action relating to the glasshouse sector are being considered within the Commission, but no proposals have yet been put to member States.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans for helping the glasshouse industry after the end of 1974 when the temporary subsidy upon the industry's fuel oil is due to end; and how his plans compare with those of the other Governments within the EEC.

I have at present no plans for additional help for the glasshouse industry beyond that available from the horticultural capital grant schemes which we believe to be no less generous than those of other EEC member States. The industry will continue to benefit from repayment of excise duty on fuel oil.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which other countries in the EEC have acceded to his request to use his measures in respect of calves as a model.

None so far.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the reasons for a much higher price for beef to farmers in the Republic of Ireland than in the United Kingdom, in view of the fact that both countries are members of the EEC; and if he will make a statement.

Since the end of August the average market price for adult cattle in the United Kingdom has been below that of the Irish Republic for only one week. Over the last few weeks United Kingdom prices have been between 50p and £1 per live cwt. higher.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set up an investigation to find out how many live cattle imported from the Republic of Ireland have attracted headage payment on being slaughtered.

All cattle from the Republic of Ireland which meet the minimum qualifying standards are eligible for beef premium on slaughter. Between 5th August, when the scheme was introduced, and 13th October, the latest date for which figures are available, 50,135 Irish cattle had been certified for payment of premium.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has completed his consideration of the proposal to introduce a 60-day waiting period before imported cattle qualify for United Kingdom grants.

I can assure the hon. Member that we are giving full consideration to this proposal as promised in the debate last week, but difficult issues are involved and we shall have to weigh these carefully before reaching a decision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider the existing situation in which French eggs may be imported into the United Kingdom whilst France is not prepared to allow British eggs to be exported there.

The French import controls can be justified under current EEC rules on feed additives. We are seeking changes to these rules. There are no grounds for our restricting imports of French eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communications he has had from the British Trawlers' Federation and other United Kingdom fisheries organisations regarding the future financial difficulties facing their operations; what estimates have been given him of their expected deficits for 12 months from 1st September 1974 to 31st August 1975; and if he will make a statement regarding any steps he proposes to take in the matter.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given at Question Time today to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall). The federation has given me estimates, covering only its own membership, for the 12 months' period ending 30th September 1975 and based on prices expected to prevail which are notoriously difficult to predict. Parallel forecasts have not been received from other United Kingdom bodies. As the fleet picture is thus incomplete discussion of purely sectional forecasts could be misleading at this stage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the threat of redundancies facing the makers of Blue Stilton cheese as a result of the continually rising level of subsidy for all other national cheeses; and if he will take immediate steps to remedy this situation.

Representations have been made by the makers of Blue Stilton cheese about the effects of the proposed increase in the level of the cheese subsidy. My right hon. Friend is considering these with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection who is responsible for the level of subsidy and the coverage of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the decision to increase milk producers' returns by 8p per gallon in the six months from October 1974 will be implemented.

Following the decisions reached by the EEC Council of Agriculture Ministers the effective United Kingdom guaranteed price has been increased by 3·52p per gallon from 26·27p per gallon to 29·79p per gallon from 7th October 1974. We are also arranging to make a special additional payment to the Milk Marketing Boards so that the increase in the guaranteed price and this additional payment, taken together, will have the effect of increasing the returns to the boards by 7·7p per gallon on actual sales of all milk from October 1974 to March 1975. This special payment, which is estimated to cost £48 million in the current financial year, will rest on the authority of the Appropriation Act and a Supplementary Estimate will be presented to Parliament in due course. In the meantime, we shall have recourse to the Contingencies Fund. The remaining 0·3p per gallon of the 8p per gallon represents the estimated value to milk producers of the saving on feed costs resulting from the application of the monetary compensatory amounts as a subsidy on cereal imports into the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the arrangements for pensioners to buy beef at reduced prices.

The scheme will come into force on 2nd December. Tokens will be issued to all retirement pensioners and certain other social security beneficiaries of retirement pension age, to the value of 20p per week for a period of 18 weeks up to the week beginning 31st March. They may be used for purchases of beef and veal provided not less than a further 20p is spent on these meats.The Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce will be responsible for Vote accounting arrangements, and the Department of Health and Social Security in Great Britain and the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland, acting on my behalf, will be operating the scheme and will be arranging for the tokens to be issued during the course of this month. Most pensioners will be able to collect them at post offices in the week beginning 25th November.The total cost of the scheme is estimated to be up to £30 million, of which about 40 per cent. will be made available from Community funds. Expenditure will be borne on the Vote of the Intervention Board and provision will be taken in the 1974–75 Winter Supplementary and 1975–76 Supply Estimates. Meanwhile there will be recourse to the Contingencies Fund.About 8½ million pensioners will be eligible to benefit from these arrangements. I am confident that the response will considerably strengthen the overall demand for beef and help to ease the current difficulties in the beef market.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider introducing a lower rate of income tax for overtime pay earned on hours worked above a certain weekly minimum.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion but I am afraid there are overwhelming arguments against it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the value of the £ sterling in relation to the gold £ in August 1914 and its purchasing power for each five years subsequently, i.e., 1919, 1924, 1929, 1934, 1939, 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1974, taking 100 as its norm in August 1914.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ as 100p in 1914, its value in each of the following years is estimated to have been:

1914	100p
1919	46
1924	57
1929	61
1934	71
1938*	64
1946*	38
1949	32
1954	26
1959	23
1964	20
1969	16
1974 (Sept.)	10

Source: The leaflet on "Internal Purchasing Power of the Pound" (October 1974) issued by the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to the possibility of exempting a war widows' pension from tax; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has noted the hon. Member's suggestion along with others that have been put to him in connection with the Budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will propose that the estates of civilians who are killed through terrorist activity in Northern Ireland are placed on the same footing as estates of members of the Armed Forces killed in the Province, which are not subject to estate duty; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has noted the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present value of the salary of a Member in terms of the value at the latest increase in 1971; by what proportion it has dropped and by how much it should be increased to bring it in line with the latest cost-of-living index.

The basic salary of a Member of Parliament was last increased—to £4,500—in January 1972. Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 100p in January 1972, its value in September 1974, the latest date available, was 74½p; the value of £4,500 was therefore about £3,350, equivalent to a fall of 25½ per cent. £4,500 would need to be increased by £1,525 in order to match increases in detail prices since January 1972. These estimates are made on the basis of the change in the General Index of Retail Prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had to free the horse from VAT; and what steps he proposes to take to do this.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering the many representations which he has received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether assurances were obtained from Chile concerning respect for human rights and release of political prisoners in return for the extension of Chilean debt repayments in the agreement concluded on 30th October by Her Majesty's Government.

No such assurances were obtained in connection with the rescheduling agreement. Her Majesty's Government have, however, made their concern for human rights in Chile very well known. They have made frequent representations to the Chilean Government about political prisoners and will continue to do so whenever appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish evidence showing whether or not Scotland has a balance of payments surplus.

I regret that it is not possible to compile estimates of this kind. The available information on transactions between the residents of Scotland and those of other countries is insufficient.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that his Department takes from four to five weeks to acknowledge letters; and whether he will ensure that all letters are acknowledged within 10 days of receipt and that after six weeks an interim explanation as to the reasons for any unavoidable delay will be sent, and take action to improve the present way in which correspondence is dealt with by his Department.

All letters from Members of Parliament are acknowledged on receipt.Letters from members of the public are acknowledged where they contain valuable enclosures or where it seems unlikely that an early reply can be sent. Such acknowledgments are dispatched as quickly as possible.The handling of all correspondence is under constant review as part of normal day-to-day management.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Social Services on the feasibility of using Stanmore Hall, Stanmore, Middlesex, as an emergency centre for refugees from overseas.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will take steps to provide transport for young children in Islandmagee who have to walk to Ballypriormore primary school on roads without footpaths used by heavy vehicle traffic en route to Ballylumford power station.

Consideration will be given to the need for special arrangements for transport to this school when the results of a survey of the children's route, to be undertaken shortly by the North Eastern Education and Library Board, are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now take steps to prevent the endangering of lives and the destruction of property caused by continual flooding at the Sunk Road, Dunloy, County Antrim.

I am aware of the longstanding problem of land drainage in this area. The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture has already planned a major drainage improvement scheme for the Upper Main River, which will permit proper drainage, and is negotiating with land and property owners to enable the scheme to proceed. Drainage engineering officials of the Department have carefully considered whether measures on the drainage aspect might be taken to provide some temporary relief but have concluded that this would not be possible. However, I am informed that the roads service of the Department of the Environment will shortly begin works to raise the level of the road.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is aware of the position in some abattoirs in Northern Ireland where Northern Ireland beasts cannot be slaughtered because priority is not being given to them because many beasts are brought up from the Irish Republic for slaughter; and if he will take steps to end this situation.

Yes. I understand that the Ulster Farmers' Union has discussed the difficulties of its members with the meat plant owners. As a result, priority is now being given to the slaughter of animals bred in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture has carried out a check which shows that the number of imported animals being handled by meat plants has dropped to a negligible proportion of the total.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many beasts could not be slaughtered when brought to the various abattoirs in Northern Ireland because of no facilities being available, during the past four weeks.

Farmers have experienced considerable delay in having their animals slaughtered at abattoirs in Northern Ireland. The figures requested are, however, not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about the scheme to provide holiday recreation for children on school premises.

Summer holiday recreation schemes in Northern Ireland are organised by both statutory and voluntary agencies, but mainly by the education and library boards, during July and August. This year premises and facilities at 145 primary schools and 119 secondary schools were used. The cost was approximately £200,000. It is intended to provide similar schemes next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been murdered in Northern Ireland since 1968; how many persons have been charged with murder; how many have been tried; and how many have been convicted.

Since 1st January 1968, 874 persons have been murdered in Northern Ireland. 117 persons have been tried for murder in the same period and 54 convicted.The number of persons charged in earlier years cannot be determined without disproportionate effort, but since 1st January 1973 163 persons have been charged with murder and, although not all the cases have yet been heard, 36 persons have so far been convicted.Trials and convictions in a given period do not necessarily relate to the crimes in the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of persons held in Her Majesty's Prisons in Northern Ireland.

The total number of persons held in Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland on 3rd November was 2,775.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland where he proposes to build the new prison; whether a public inquiry will be held to allow local people to lodge objections; what is the estimated cost; when he expects the prison to be in service; and what is the estimated completion date.

I hope to be in a position to announce details about the Northern Ireland prison building programme in the near future

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the proposed Belfast motorway.

The Belfast transportation plan forms an integral part of the Belfast urban area plan. Since its preparation there have been important changes in thinking about transportation planning in urban areas with particular emphasis on the rôle of public transport and there have recently been extensive consultations with public representatives and other interests affected, including those who are opposed to the concept of the urban motorway.In the light of all these factors I have decided that a reappraisal of the transportation and related proposals in the Belfast urban area plan should be carried out by planning and transportation consultants under the joint supervision of my two Departments. I intend to chair the steering group responsible for overall supervision of the reappraisal.The terms of reference of the reappraisal are: —

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, what is the current deficit on balance of trade between the United Kingdom and other members of the EEC.

The trade deficit, measured on a balance of payments basis and seasonally adjusted, is provisionally estimated at £1,368 million in the first nine months of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement about the flag of Her Majesty's Coastguard Service.

A distinctive ensign for Her Majestys' Coastguard was considered appropriate for coastguard stations on watch. Her Majesty The Queen graciously gave her approval to a design, and the ensign was first hoisted at a commissioning ceremony on 28th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list the programmes of capital expenditure which he has approved for nationalised industries and any which he proposes to curtail or postpone, in view of the current economic situation.

Programmes of capital expenditure for the nationalised industries will be published in the coming White Paper on Public Expenditure to 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations have been made to her Department about the level of retail prices charged for beef by butchers.

We have received 27 letters about the retail prices of beef. My hon. Friend will wish to know that at the Secretary of State's request the Price Commission have been asked to investigate these representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many retailers were convicted in each of the last three years for selling fireworks to children below the age of 13 years; and what was the average line imposed.

I regret that this information is not available. Whilst the annual totals for prosecutions under the Explosives Act 1875 are known—for example 113 in 1973, 92 in 1972—these are not broken down to give the number of offences of different kinds committed under this Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will set up a committee to review the law relating to the sale to the general public of fireworks, with a view to reducing the risk of accidents and in particular to consider whether (a) the age limit for purchases should be raised for all or some categories of firework and (b) whether the sale of some categories of fireworks should be banned.

As I announced on 4th November in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) my Department is to undertake a full review of the present controls over fireworks. All interests concerned will have the opportunity to let us have their views, on the basis of a consultative document which my Department is preparing.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when she expects to publish the report of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the supply of primary batteries.

The report is being published today. The Commission has found that monopoly conditions, as defined in the legislation in force when the reference was made, prevail in the supply in the United Kingdom of zinc carbon batteries and mercury batteries because Ever Ready and Mallory respectively supply more than one-third of each type battery.The commission decided that neither Ever Ready's monopoly position nor any of its practices were against the public interest, and made no formal recommendation concerning the company. While the commission found that the company had not abused its market power it considered that the possibility of abuse existed and that it was possible in some years' time there might be a case for a further reference. The commission therefore suggested Ever Ready's profits and pricing and discount policies should be kept under review and that for this purpose the Director General might consider inviting the company to provide him with the necessary information annually or from time to time.The commission did not consider Mallory's monopoly position to be against the public interest, but thought that there was a risk of its profits being excessive in the future and that it was possible that in some years' time, there might be a case for a further reference. The commission therefore suggested that Mallory's profits and pricing and discount policies should be kept under review and that for this purpose the Director General might consider inviting the company to provide him with the necessary information annually or from time to time. The commission, did, however, conclude that the level of prices charged by Mallory on its sales of photographic batteries—which accounted for about 11 per cent. by value of the company's United Kingdom's sales of mercury batteries in 1973—resulted in excessive profit and thus operated against the public interest. It recommended that Mallory be required to make significant reductions in the prices of photographic batteries, the amount of the reduction and the particular photographic batteries to which the reductions should apply to be decided by the Director General of Fair Trading after consultation with Mallory.In the course of its inquiries the commission found that there was substantial ignorance on the part of the public as to the most appropriate uses of the different types of zinc carbon batteries and hoped that Ever Ready would take further steps to make consumers aware of these differ- ent applications. In addition, it would like to see both companies introducing the "use before" form of date marking on both zinc carbon and mercury photographic batteries so that consumers would know when to replace any that had not been used.I accept the recommendation in the report. I am asking the Director General of Fair Trading to discuss the implementation of the recommendation with Mallory, and to discuss the other suggestions the commission have made with both companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding his talks with the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, Dr. Evensen, concerning fishing zones within Norwegian waters.

:The situation remains as set out in my Written Answer of 4th November—[Vol. 880, c. 76.]—to a Question by the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mrs. Ewing) except that I now expect to have the substantive discussions with Dr. Evensen on the Norwegian proposals for trawler-free zones on 25th and 26th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish a White Paper on the maltreatment of United Kingdom citizens and looting of British property in Cyprus, the measures taken for their protection and the compensation requested and obtained to date.

No.On the question of protecting British citizens and property in Cyprus I would refer the hon. Member to my written reply of 4th November to the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey (Sir A. Royle) and to my replies yesterday to the hon. Member for Arundel (Mr. Marshall) and to the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Dykes).

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will reconsider the position of civil servants whose pension entitlement is restricted by the ruling that unestablished service before 14th July 1949 is only reckoned as half when assessing the qualifying period.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what recent representations he has received on the question of temporary service in the Civil Service prior to 1949 being counted in full for pension purposes; and if he is in a position to make a statement on this matter.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations he has received asking for all service to count for pension purposes; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received some 30 letters from hon. Members. I have studied this question but have found no grounds to justify a change in the present position.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how much is paid to the BBC annually by the Government for broadcasting Government advertisements and information.

No payment is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the local education authorities which have not yet submitted comprehensive reorganisation plans as required by circular 4/74.

Under Circular 4/74 local education authorities were given until the end of this year to submit information about the successive measures to be taken to complete the process of reorganisation in areas where selection procedures are still operated. The great majority of authorities have yet to reply; they are expected to do so within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the major school building programmes currently approved for financing by his Department and any which he proposes to postpone, in view of the current economic situation.

There has been no change in the major school building programme for basic need projects to start during 1974–75 since my right hon. Friend announced in a Written Answer on 16th July that it would total £111 million. In addition, my Department is today writing to local education authorities to inform them which major primary improvement projects have been included in the 1974–75 starts programme; the total value of these projects is £20 million. It has yet to be decided what resources can be made available for school building in subsequent years. The question of postponement therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to widen teacher representation on the Burnham Committee by the inclusion of the Union of Women Teachers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 1st November.—[Vol. 880, c. 18.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps the Government are taking to evaluate the Doman Delacato Therapy for brain-damaged children recommended by the British Institute for Realization of Human Potential, details of which are in his possession.

I have been asked to reply.I understand that some studies on this method of treatment have been carried out in the Psychology Department of Keele University. I look forward to seeing the report of these studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the unemployment caused by the sudden closure of four factories in the West Midlands area owned by the multi-national company of Glenburn Engineering; and if he will take steps to prevent foreign-based firms taking such action without consultation with the Government and the trade unions concerned.

My Department is aware of these redundancies. The Employment Protection Bill, which the Government intend to introduce early in the New Year, will, among other things, require all employers, whether foreign or home-based, to consult effectively with recognised independent trade unions in the case of all intended redundancies and to notify the Department of Employment well in advance of the larger redundancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the recent pay agreement between British Airways and the British Airline Pilots' Association conforms with the terms of the social contract.

The settlement, which covers 3,300 pilots, provides average salary increases of 16·1 per cent. exclusive of threshold payments to date. It will operate from 1st April 1975, the anniversary of the last increase. Other provisions in the agreement will enable British Airways to make considerable savings which will substantially reduce the net cost. The settlement has been accepted as being within the terms of the social contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has compiled a list of the major wage settlements since the inception of the social contract; and if he has assessed which of those settlements are within and which are outside the provisions of the latter.

Reasonably full information about major wage settlements normally become available to my Department, but it is neither necessary nor appropriate that I should attempt to adjudicate on every one of these.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment further to the assurances which he gave holidaymakers on 26th June, what steps he has taken to see that those who accepted these assurances are not out of pocket.

I have been asked to reply.No assurances were given by me to holidaymakers on or around this date. As already announced, the Government propose to introduce legislation to provide additional protection for people booking overseas holidays and travel who suffer loss as a result of the failure of travel organisers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the programmes of capital expenditure which he has approved for nationalised industries and any which he proposes to curtail or postpone, in view of the current economic situation.

Programmes of capital expenditure for the nationalised industries will be published in the coming White Paper on Public Expenditure up to 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the number of years the British reserves of North Sea oil are expected to last once production is at full capacity, assuming the United Kingdom supplies all her own oil needs.

This depends on the ultimate size of the reserves, which is not yet known; my right hon. Friend's report to Parliament in May quoted a possible total of up to 3,000 million tons for areas already licensed. It will also depend on the rate at which discoveries are made and brought on stream, and on United Kingdom demand for oil in the relevant period. None of these factors can be forecast with certainty at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proportion of the £766 million received by the aircraft industry between 1968–69 and 1972–73 by way of Government financing of innovation was expended in Wales.

					Amount	Date of Payment
Before 28th February 1974
Norton Villiers Triumph	…	…	…	…	£4·872 million	16th July 1973
Kearney Trecker Marwin	…	…	…	…	£1·25 million	20th July 1973
					£0·2 million	12th September 1973
Since 28th February 1974
Kearney Trecker Marwin	…	…	…	…	£2·8 million (net)	15th August 1974
Under the Wool Textile Industry Scheme, payments were made to 57 companies.					£843,280	Various

I regret that the information in the form requested is not available but indications are that the amount of Government assistance to the relatively small aerospace industry in Wales is negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give figures showing financial advances made to firms under Section 8 of the Industry Act since 1st March 1974.

Between 1st March 1974 and 31st October 1974, financial advances to firms under Section 8 of the Industry Act totalled £2·8 million net plus £843,280 in payments under the Wool Textile Industry Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received by his Department for financial assistance under Section 8 of the Industry Act since 1st March 1974.

Formal applications for financial assistance under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 between 1st March 1974 and 31st October 1974 have been as follows:

Applications assessed or under assessment	10
Applications under the Wool Textile Industry Scheme	88
Contracts registered under the Off-Shore Credits Scheme	75
	173

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the recipients of financial assistance under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 before and after 28th February 1974, stating the amount of assistance and the date of payment in each case.

Under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972, payments have been made as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will explain the basis on which a price of £16 million was agreed for the purchase of the shipbuilding, ship repairing and marine engineering interests of the Court Line; what sum was attributable to each company and subsidiary, respectively; and if, in particular, the price was arrived at on the basis of independently assessed up-to-date valuation of the assets.

The £16 million figure was the outcome of a negotiation between the Special Manager, appointed to assist the provisional liquidator of Court Line, and the Department. It was the Government's view that £16 million was a fair price to pay for the share capital of the Court Line subsidiaries that represented its ship-building, ship repairing and associated interests, taking into account the special circumstances of the case and in particular the past trading records of the companies, their future prospects and their net assets; the Government's concern to safeguard the employment of over 9,000 people in assisted areas; and the additional costs of preserving these jobs it the companies had been allowed to go into liquidation.Almost all of this money was used to repay debts owing by Court Line to the companies that were acquired, and to meet liabilities of Court Line and its travel subsidiaries which had been guaranteed by these companies. The ship-building, ship repairing and associated interests of Court Line were purchased as a group and no value was attributed to the companies individually nor was any independent valuation carried out. However, the price took account of advice given by professional staff of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much public money in total has been spent and lent on hovercraft development.

The total public funds spent on hovercraft development amount to £16·6 million and a further £0·9 million is committed but not yet spent. The National Research Development Corporation has, however, so far recovered £2·2 million as a return on its expenditure of £5·2 million included in the total.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether it is his intention to seek to nationalise any of the boat-building facilities in the Christchurch and Lymington constituency.

No. We have no plans at present to extend public ownership to firms whose main activity is the construction of yachts and small craft.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is yet in a position to make a statement on the possible relocation of Mars to the Knowsley Industrial Estate.

I understand that the company is still considering its long-term plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the programmes of capital expenditure which he has approved for nationalised industries and any which he proposes to curtail or postpone in view of the current economic situation.

Programmes of capital expenditure for the nationalised industries will be published in the coming White Paper on Public Expenditure to 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what, from published figures, he estimates to have been the total profit made by daily newspapers in Scotland at the last convenient date; and what was the value of Government and other public sector advertising as a percentage of this profit.

I am looking into this matter and will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now rescind the condition of pound for pound public and private funding attached to the offer of a loan to the proposed Scottish Daily News; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think it would be right for the Government to offer to go beyond pound-for-pound public funding for this project.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to publish his proposals to cater for the special needs of small businesses.

As the Government's White Paper "The Regeneration of British Industry" (Cmnd. 5710) recognises, we are fully seized of the difficult financial problems of small businesses as broadly defined in the report of the Bolton Committee. Much has been done already but it is a problem which we shall bear earnestly in mind in framing future legislation and in current administration of Government business.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the measures he proposes to assist towards ending the teacher shortage in schools.

The number of teachers in the schools has increased considerably over the last few years and is expected to continue to do so, but there are shortages in some areas and, in secondary schools, in some subjects. Recruitment to the profession is encouraged by the publicity campaigns undertaken by my Department and by education authorities, and in the Special Recruitment Scheme. The improved salaries for teachers which the Houghton Committee is expected to recommend should provide a new incentive for recruitment. I shall continue to keep under review the question of how inequalities in the distribution of teachers throughout the country might be overcome; and I expect education authorities to do all they can to deploy their teaching staff to best advantage within their area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from teachers' organisa- tions about class sizes; and what is his estimate of the number of additional primary and secondary teachers required to meet the standard suggested by these organisations.

My Department has recently received from the Educational Institute of Scotland a request to discuss various minimum conditions of work, including conditions about maximum class sizes, which the institute considers should be established in primary and secondary schools from session 1975–76.To achieve classes of the maximum sizes claimed might require some 7,000—about 30 per cent.—more primary school teachers and some 11,000—about 45 per cent.—more secondary school teachers than were employed in education authority schools in session 1973–74. In addition, several thousands more teachers would be needed both in primary and in secondary schools to meet other proposals by the institute about teachers' class contact hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, now that the Government are committed to setting up a Scottish Assembly, he will bring forward an early review of Scottish local government structure in the west-central area of Scotland.

No. Reorganisation is now too far advanced to be called in doubt in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the first meeting of the Houghton Committee took place; and how many meetings have taken place since to the present date.

The Houghton Committee is proceeding with its work independently but I am asking the secretary to the committee to write to my hon. Friend with the information he has requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds are available in the city of Leicester per 1,000 population; and how this compares with the national average.

Information relating to the city of Leicester only would be misleading. In 1973 the number of beds per 1,000 population in the Leicester hospitals' catchment area was 6·47. The average for England was 8·69.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is satisfied with the present arrangement for referring children in the Burton Parliamentary division in need of psychiatric attention to Birmingham; and what proposals she has for securing a child psychiatric appointment to serve the needs of Burton children requiring psychiatric help.

An additional consultant child psychiatrist post has been authorised for Staffordshire Area Health Authority which, it is hoped, will improve services in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will seek to extend provision by the Rowntree Family Fund to non-congenitally handicapped children.

This is under active review at present.

Hospital Region		Physiotherapists number in post	Radiographers number in post	(Additional numbers required at 1st April 1972)	Speech Therapists number in post
Newcastle	…	222	308	(16)	7
Leeds	…	258	321	(24)	21
Sheffield	…	305	376	(34)	13
East Anglia	…	136	172	(19)	5
North-West Metropolitan*	…	321	292	(61)	21
North-East Metropolitan*	…	236	269	(45)	21
South-East Metropolitan*	…	308	287	(36)	15
South-West Metropolitan*	…	320	242	(52)	19
London Teaching Hospitals	…	541	629	(130)	34
Oxford	…	208	185	(24)	20
South-Western	…	367	361	(28)	10
Birmingham	…	449	493	(59)	14
Manchester	…	387	515	(36)	16
Liverpool	…	166	276	(22)	8
Wessex	…	194	209	(9)	7
* Excluding Teaching Hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the major hospital building programmes currently approved for financing by her

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the number of radiographers at present employed in each regional health authority and the number of unfilled vacancies in each of these areas;(2) if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table indicating the number of physiotherapists employed in each regional health authority and the number of unfilled vacancies in each area;(3) if she will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the number of speech therapists at present employed in each regional health authority and the number of unfilled vacancies in each of these areas.

Information in respect of regional health authority regions is not yet available. The number—whole-time equivalent—employed in the former hospital service in each of the regional hospital board regions as at 30th September 1973 is set out below. In the absence of generally accepted standards staffing levels are matters for individual employing authorities and no central record of establishments is maintained, but a detailed survey of radiographers carried out in 1972 showed the additional number said to be required at 1st April 1972 and these are also shown below.Department; and if she will list any which she proposes to postpone in view of the current economic situation.

Schemes in progress at 1st April 1974 with a total cost of £2 million or more and requiring £0·5 million or more in 1974–75 are listed in Supply Estimates 1974–75 (House of Commons Paper Class XI Vote 1 Appendix III). Contracts for schemes costing £2 million or more let since then are as follows:

• Sunderland General Hospital Scheme I phase II.
• St. James' Hospital, Leeds Phase III.
• Whitby new Hospital.
• Kings Lynn Hospital Phase II c.
• William Harvey Hospital, Ashford Phase I.
• St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey Phase III departmental block.
• Royal Victoria Infirmary Newcastle Phase I, dental hospital and school.
• St. George's Hospital, London Hospital and Medical School Phase I contract II.

I have no plans to postpone or cancel any of these schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applicants have been awarded attendance allowance in each of the years since its introduction; and what is her estimate of number of people entitled to the allowance who have not yet claimed.

Attendance allowances have been awarded as follows:

	Higher Rate	Lower Rate	Totals (to nearest 1,000)
1971	52,000	Nil	52,000
1972	54,000	1,000	55,000
1973	49,000	40,000	89,000
1974*	29,000	33,000	62,000
* To 30th September 1974.

The total numbers in payment are still going up and it is estimated that they may, in the medium term, rise from their present level of 176,000 to something like 200,000.