asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many complaints about food hoarding have been received by her Department since 11th October 1974.

I have received around 140 letters about shortages, particularly of sugar, many of which have referred to hoarding. In reply I have always drawn attention to the undesirability of this pratice, and a number of consumer and trade organisations have recently expressed similar views.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will make a statement on the workings of the voluntary code.

Since May the agreement items as a whole have increased in price only half as much as the retail price index. I am grateful to the trade for its co-operation and have recently reaffirmed the continued importance the Government attach to the agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will place in the Library a report of her Press conference on 7th October.

I have already done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what plans she has to use her powers under the Prices Act 1974 to fix prices; and if she will make a statement.

My hon. Friend will be aware that maximum prices and retail margins of bread and of butter are now controlled under the Act. Prices orders for cheese, tea and household flour will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what steps she intends to take to strengthen the Consumer Council for the Gas Industry.

As announced in the White Paper on the National Consumers' Agency, we shall be assuming certain responsibilities in relation to the nationalised industry consumer councils, other than the Scottish electricity consultative councils. This transfer will take place on 1st February 1975. It will increase the gas consumers' councils' independence of the industry, as will the provision, if Parliament approves, for financing the councils directly from Government funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what effect the scarcity of bread caused by the bakers' strike has had upon its price.

The price of subsidised bread continued to be controlled by the Bread Prices Order 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will consult members of the footwear industry with a view to establishing minimum standards of children's footwear, to which both British and imported foreign children's footwear must conform.

I understand that the British Standards Institute has already consulted a section of the trade about the need to revise the British Standard on children's footwear. I also understand that the Director General of Fair Trading has met representatives of the manufacturing and retail footwear industry and that these discussions are still proceeding with a view to establishing a voluntary code of practice. Such a code could incorporate among other things accepted minimum standards of such things as durability.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will take steps designed to improve shoe retailers' knowledge of the rights of their customers to complain about shoddy footwear; and if she will make a statement.

Copies of a new leaflet issued by my Department, "Changes in the law relating to the sale of goods—retailers' guide", have been made available to the trade associations concerned for distribution to their members. In our general publicity for the leaflet we have also made plain that retailers themselves can ask their trade association or local trading standards office for copies. We are hoping to back up these efforts by arranging for trading standards officers to leave copies of the leaflet in all the shops they visit in the course of their duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the average expenditure on food per head of the population of working age at the latest available date.

There are no official statistics of expenditure on food by people of working age because figures for both the National Food Survey and the Family Expenditure Survey relate to whole households. National Food Survey estimates show that people of all ages except those in pensioner households spent on average £3·06 per person per week between April and June 1974. This does not include about 70p per week spent on soft drinks, confectionery and meals—including school meals—away from home.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations she has received from the Petrol Retailers' Association about profit margins on petrol sales; and if she will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The Petroleum Retailers' Association and the Motor Agents' Association have made representations to officials of my Department and the Department of Energy about the profit margins available to retailers under the Motor Fuel (Maximum Retail Prices) Order 1973, and these are being considered by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is satisfied that holidaymakers may make firm bookings through travel agents for next summer in the knowledge that their money is safe.

At this stage I cannot add to my right hon. Friend's undertaking to introduce at an early date legislation to provide additional protection for people booking overseas holidays and travel who suffer loss as a result of the failure of air travel organisers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he can now say when he proposes to introduce legislation to compensate holidaymakers who suffered financial loss as a result of the Court Line collapse.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Newton (Mr. Evans) on 4th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he can now say when he proposes that members of the public who lost their holidays booked with Court Line Ltd. should be able to expect to receive their money back;(2) whether he will now make a statement on the progress of the Government's efforts to ensure the repayment to members of the public who lost money paid to Court Line Ltd.

The legislation foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech will, I hope, be introduced early in the new year, making provision for repayment to help those holidaymakers and others travelling abroad by air who lost money this year as a result of the failure of their air travel organiser. It is too early to say when payments will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion the exports of United Kingdom manufactured agricultural machinery were of total United Kingdom plant machinery exports in each of the last 10 years.

The values of agricultural machinery, including tractors, as a percentage of mechanical and electrical plant and machinery exports were:

1964	11·2
1965	10·0
1966	10·1
1967	8·7
1968	8·1
1969	8·2
1970	7·2
1971	6·8
1972	7·0
1973	6·9

Tractors represent the major part of agricultural machinery exports—for example, in 1973 tractors were 5·1 per cent. of all plant and machinery whilst other agricultural machinery was only 1·8 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the general review of British airline policy was commenced; what are its terms of reference; what is the membership of the review body; what procedure is being adopted for consultation with airlines and other interested parties; and whether the report will be published.

I shall answer the hon. Member's Question as soon as possible.

OVERSEAS TRADE STATISTICS BASIS*
Not seasonally adjusted
£ million
				Exports f.o.b.	Imports c.i.f.	Crude Balance
EEC	…	…	…	5,029	7,082	—2,053
Commonwealth	…	…	…	2,463	2,999	—536
Rest of the World	…	…	…	7,556	11,160	—3,604
Total	…	…	…	15,048	21,241	—6,193
* Figures on a balance of payments basis which provides a better measure of the balance of traed in goods because, inter alia, of differences in valuation, are available only for total trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether his proposals for

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list every item of food, if imported from outside the European Community, that is subject to an increase of duty or tariff under the Import Duties (General) (No. 5) Order 1974, in each case stating the nature of the increase.

It is impracticable to set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the products affected and the changes in duties. Detailed information is available in the Import Duties (General) (No. 5) Order 1974 (SI No. 2020/74) and in the orders it revokes.A range of products such as pigmeat, poultry, dairy produce, cereals and sugar are not subject to import duties. The duties on most other foodstuffs imported from outside the Community will be increased from 1st January next; the main exceptions are duties on beef and veal, on which the next transitional change is not due until April.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the latest figures for the United Kingdom's balance of trade with other member countries of the EEC, the Commonwealth and the rest of the world.

Following is the information for the 11 months January-November 1974:financial assistance to industry to conserve energy include help to introduce more efficient lighting.

No form of energy saving in industry is excluded from the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will place in the Library such information as is at the disposal of his Department or of the industries concerned as to the pattern of electricity and gas consumption in Great Britain, particularly such information as relates to the level of domestic consumption to socio-economic status, income level, and nature of dwelling of the consumer.

The most convenient source of information about the pattern of household fuel consumption is the Family Expenditure Survey. This is a continuous multi-purpose survey conducted by the Department of Employment into the income and expenditure of some 7,000 households in the United Kingdom. The results are published annually, and the most recent report is the one for 1973. The information is subject to sampling variation and estimates of this are given in Appendix 2. I have arranged for the extraction and tabulation of:

(i) Household expenditure on fuel, light and power by weekly income

(ii) Expenditure by type of tenure.

(iii) Expenditure by region

and these have been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take steps to ensure that the proposed increases in gas and electricity charges are made in a manner consistent with his programme of energy conservation.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what commercial contracts exist between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Republic of South Africa involving exchange of knowledge and manpower in the field of atomic energy and research.

None. The UKAEA however has an agreement with the South African Atomic Energy Board under which the UKAEA undertakes to offer consultancy services on commercial terms in the reactor safety field if required to do so by the board.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what considerations led him to choose 68°F. as the maximum temperature to which public buildings are to be heated.

The maximum heating level of 68 deg. F will apply to all buildings other than living accommodation, subject to a limited range of exemptions. Factors which influenced my choice of temperature included the need to provide a reasonable margin above the statutory minimum level for places of work; the desirability of striking a balance between excessive heating levels and unnecessary misery; and the variation in the temperature at which individuals feel discomfort. A mandatory upper limit of 68 deg. F in no way precludes the adoption of lower temperatures.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the proportion of petrol-driven cars which are maintained by companies or are in other non-private ownership; what proportion is relieved of VAT on petrol consumption; and what proposals he has to provide financial incentives to encourage energy conservation amongst this proportion of consumers;(2) whether he is satisfied that there is adequate financial encouragement within the existing price mechanism and taxation system to save petrol amongst those motor vehicles not privately owned.

I have been asked to reply.The information on which to base an estimate of the proportion of petrol-driven cars which are maintained by companies or are in non-private ownership is not available. To the extent that the petrol such cars consume is used for the purposes of taxable business, VAT may be deducted under the normal machinery of the tax. The substantial increase in the price of petrol, net of VAT, has already given businesses an important financial incentive to restrain their consumption. The Government are keeping the prices of and level of demands for different forms of energy under very close review.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made any estimate of the possible savings in energy which could be achieved as the result of the increased use of diesel engines in place of petrol engines for private road vehicles.

I have been asked to reply.Estimates made by industry suggest that if 50 per cent. of vehicles of all types in this country became diesel engined there would be an annual saving in direct fuel consumption for road use of the order of 7 to 12 per cent. There would be other consequential changes in energy consumption, in vehicle construction and in refinery operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy why he has not previously discussed energy saving with local authorities.

All such discussions are the responsibility of the particular Secretaries of State concerned whose Departments have previously been in touch with local authorities. The Government will now be initiating further discussions on energy-saving measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether, in view of the unilateral cancellation of the HS146 by Hawker Siddeley on 14th October, he will now seek to obtain the maximum financial penalties from the company for breach of contract as provided for in the original funding agreement between the company and Government.

I am advised that the company is in breach of contract. In their relations with the company, including discussions about the future of the project, the Government intend to take account of that fact.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what estimate he has made of the likely cost of nationalising the aerospace and shipbuilding industries; and what call on public funds he expects to make in the next three financial years in pursuance of his other policies of State intervention in industry.

As regards the cost of the measures foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech, I must ask the hon. Member to await the detailed proposals that will be laid before the House. Government support for industry under existing powers is expected to total about £800 million in 1974–75 and forecasts for future years will be published shortly in the White Paper on Public Expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the cost of advertising the post of chairman of the Post Office.

The post was not advertised.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in the context of the rundown in the Scottish electronics and allied industries, he will commission a study into the feasibility of establishing electronic component factories in Scotland, thus reducing the unit costs of that industry; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think that such a study would be helpful. The recent difficulties of electronics companies in Scotland reflect in the main a fall in demand which has also affected suppliers in other parts of the United Kingdom. I have no reason to think that these difficulties would have been lessened in Scotland if there had been more electronic component factories there or that this would necessarily have resulted in significantly lower unit costs for the companies concerned. We shall of course continue our efforts to attract suitable new projects to Scotland, where the full range of assisted area support is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will bring up to date the figure for the payment by the Post Office to British Railways for carrying parcels that was given on page 194 of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries' report on the National Freight Corporation.

I understand from the Post Office that the equivalent payment in 1973–74 was £11·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what procedures he operates to safeguard public funds when studies are carried out by commercial consultants; and if this differs from the procedures operated prior to March 1974.

The procedures operated by my Department in regard to studies carried out by commercial consultants are based on a published code of practice drawn up by the Civil Service Department. They embody as normal practice competitive tendering; detailed evaluation of consultants' proposals prior to final selection; drawing-up of the terms of engagement; monitoring the process of the consultancy; and appraisal of performance. The same procedures apply as operated prior to March 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the present state of the fibres market in the United Kingdom; to what extent that market is subject to cyclical fluctuations; how the market is affected by recent developments in the economy; and if he will make a statement.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to textile fibres. The market situation varies somewhat between different fibres, but there is in general no shortage of supplies, and the price of the main fibres—cotton, wool and man-made —has fallen from the peaks of the last two years. Total demand is related to the level of demand in the textile and clothing industries, and therefore to the state of the economy in the United Kingdom and in world markets. Comparative demand is influenced by the relative market prices of the different fibres.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what approaches his Department has had from companies wishing to be located in Kirkby and on Merseyside, respectively.

The Department does not record inquiries for sites and premises in the North West by specific location. However, during the 12 months to 30th November 1974 the Department's regional office suggested a range of Merseyside locations to 358 firms, and Kirkby was amongst locations specifically suggested to 107 firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what approaches his Department is conducting into unemployment in Merseyside and in Kirkby;(2) what steps he is taking to reduce unemployment on Merseyside;(3) what steps he intends taking to reduce the level of unemployment in Kirkby; and what measures he is proposing to prevent it rising during the winter.

We give high priority to the stimulation of regional development and employment and have been looking carefully at the needs of areas, such as Merseyside, which have unacceptably high rates of unemployment. The recent granting of special development area status to Merseyside, the doubling of the regional employment premium and the strengthening of the IDC control should help to improve the situation. My Department is co-operating with other Departments in a study in depth of employment change in the North-West, including Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the meeting between the Under-Secretary of State and representatives of the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation on 6th December; and whether he can now say whether action will be taken by his Department regarding COMECON imports, unfair competition from developing countries, as outlined by the representatives, and Australian quota restrictions.

I met on 6th December representatives of the British Footwear Manufacturers, the Lancashire Footwear Manufacturers' Association, the National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades, and the Rossendale Union of Boot, Shoe and Slipper Operatives. The representatives of the industry described in detail the present level of activity of the industry and urged that the Government take steps to restrain the growth in imports of certain types of footwear from Eastern European countries. I said that we were urgently considering with the Department of Trade the case that the industry had made and that I hoped that a decision could be reached very soon. We also discussed import competition from developing countries and the recently introduced Australian quota restrictions, and I described the action that the Government are taking.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what payments have been made by his Department and what advice about tax concessions has been provided through his Department to firms in the North West Region with a view to limiting the rise in unemployment in each of the last four months.

Full records are not kept on a regional basis, but the approximate figures for payments by the Department of Industry are as follows:

	£ million
August	4·1
September	3·9
October	5·6
November	4·3

These figures exclude investment grants, which are not confined to the assisted areas, and regional employment premium, which is the responsibility of the Department of Employment.Tax allowances available to undertakings in the assisted areas are set out in the booklet "Incentives for Industry in the Areas for Expansion" which is available free of charge to firms that are considering investment in the assisted areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will advise consumers not to purchase eggs imported from countries where antibiotics are commonly or frequently used in poultry feed.

No. In any case, the countries from which we normally import eggs impose restrictions similar to our on the use of antibiotics in production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stocks of ration books he is holding.

Stocks of food rationing documents were printed between 1963 and 1967 as a necessary part of long-term planning for food defence in wartime.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what replies have been sent to the National Society for the Abolition of Factory Farming regarding his policy towards the sale of British bloodstock horses to European butchers for slaughter and sale for human consumption.

The society was informed on 11th December that exports of horses to Europe for slaughter were not permitted and that there was no evidence that such exports had occurred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek to have discussions with countries which export birds and animals destined for pet shops, with the aim of establishing an international convention governing the conditions under which they are transported.

Negotiations of this type would be unlikely to result in an early improvement in the conditions under which animals are transported. More positive steps have already been taken as indicated by my hon. Friend the Undersecretary of State for Trade in his reply to the hon. Member for Worthing (Mr. Higgins) on 3rd December.—[Vol. 882, c. 468.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1), in view of increased costs and legislation to increase the national insurance contributions of the self-employed, if he will consider in fixing the target rate for the milk distributive trade that inflation should be allowed for both in the fixing of that rate and retrospectively at the end of the period of operation of that rate;(2) in view of increased costs and legislation to increase the national insurance contributions of the self-employed, if he will consider granting an immediate increase in the target rate for the milk distributive trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if, in view of increased costs and legislation to increase the national insurance contributions of the self-employed, he will review annually the target rate for the self-employed milk distributive trade instead of triennially as is currently the practice;(2) whether, when negotiating the target rate for the self-employed milk distributive trade, he will recognise the need for the final margin adjustment award to be made not later than six months after the end of the costing year so that the current value of the award is maintained.

The target rate of profit for the milk distributive industry has recently been reviewed by the Government in the light of developments since it was last altered. The target is being increased with effect from 1st October 1974 and reviews will take place annually in future. Before the next review we shall be discussing with the trade the future basis for determining the target.The final adjustment to the margins for milk distribution, which are based on an annual costings investigation of a representative sample of firms—carried out by independent accountants—is completed as soon as the necessary accurate data are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate the sugar shortage which has hit rural shopkeepers in the Thirsk and Malton constituency area of the county of North Yorkshire, and in particular the area of Bagby near Thirsk; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry's monitoring has shown some variations in sugar supplies to particular shops and areas. This pattern results from commercial transactions in which the Ministry has no powers to intervene. But I have asked officials to contact the one shop in Bagby which sells sugar to see if there is anything that can be done to help.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pounds of beef per head of population in Great Britain were consumed in 1972, 1973 and the first six months of 1974.

Estimates of the total consumption of beef are available only for the United Kingdom as a whole. The figures for 1972 and 1973 are 437 and 40·4 lb. per head per annum respectively and 22·3 lb. per head for the first six months of 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether retirement pensioners are allowed to use their beef tokens for the purchase of stewing steak.

Yes, provided that it is fresh, chilled or frozen.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects the Law Commission's report on exclusion clauses in contracts for the provision of services to be published.

The preparation of the report, on which both Law Commissions are working, is well advanced. It is too early to say when it will be published.

asked the Attorney-General if any complaints against the activities of private security firms have been referred to his Department; what action has been taken; and if he will make a statement.

No recent complaints against the activities of private security firms have been referred to this Department. If my hon. Friend has any evidence of offences committed by private security firms I will consider it.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied that private security firms performing security duties to protect public buildings are vetted by their employers; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Given the particular nature of their work, I have no evidence to suppose that private security firms do not carry out adequate inquiries into the identity, trustworthiness and bona fides of their employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the real increase in defence spending when comparing 1973–74 with 1963–64.

There has been no increase. Substantial reductions in defence spending over this period both in terms of expenditure measured at constant prices and as a proportion of GNP were effected.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any drydocks or dockyard facilities at Diego Garcia; and if not, whether it is proposed to construct any.

There are no drydocks or dockyard facilities at Diego Garcia. The modest expansion envisaged by the United States Navy would include improving the anchorage and ship support facilities; there are no plans for a drydock.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on what adjustments would be required by NATO's Nuclear Planning Group in view of his statement of 3rd December.

The NATO Nuclear Planning Group and its work are in no way affected by my right hon. Friend's statement of 3rd December.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on what adjustments might be required in NATO's forward strategy in view of his statement of 3rd December.

As my right hon. Friend explained on 3rd December, we are confident that our defence review proposals are such that we shall continue to play a full part in preserving the strategy and cohesion of the NATO Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate annual average refit cost per vessel for (a) a County class destroyer and (b) a Leander class frigate.

The average annual maintenance cost per vessel for County class destroyers and Leander class frigates is £500,000 and £250,000, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate cost of a long refit of (a) a Leander class frigate and (b) a County class destroyer.

The costs of major refits, which usually involve a significant updating of ships' capabilities, vary considerably according to the extent of the changes made, especially when new weapons are incorporated. Recently completed major refits have cost in the range (a) £7½ mil-lion-£9| million for Leander class frigates and (b) £5½ million-£8 million for County class destroyers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, having regard to the fatal collision between a Royal Air Force Phantom and a private aircraft at low level on 9th August, he will publish details of military low-level training routes in the United Kingdom.

The question of publishing details of the military low flying training routes is being examined with great care. The decision will be made known as soon as practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of the Royal Navy's dockyards in each of the last five years.

The value of work done in the Royal Naval dockyards in each of the past five years was:

1969–70	£92,256,211
1970–71	£104,234,804
1971–72	£125,569,934
1972–73	£138,954,386
1973–74	£146,792,683

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will define the area of the so-called Celtic Sea.

The name Celtic Sea has been approved by the Hydrographer of the Navy for use on Admiralty charts and publications to define the sea bounded roughly by lines joining Ushant, Land's End, Hartland Point, Lundy Island, St. Govan's Head and Rosslare, thence following the Irish coast south to Mizen Head and then along the 200-metre isobath to approximately the latitude of Ushant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of university students drops out after one year or less; and how this compares with the figure 10 years ago.

The latest available estimate is that in 1971–72 the drop-out rate for full-time university undergraduates in their first year was 7 per cent. excluding those who changed to part-time attendance. The most nearly comparable estimate for 10 years ago was also about 7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the results of the October census of school milk are now available.

In October last 1,940,000 pupils at special schools in England and Wales and pupils in other schools entitled to it on grounds of age were receiving free milk. In addition 76,000 primary school pupils over the age of 7 were receiving free school milk on health grounds. These figures represent 95·1 per cent. and 27 per cent. of the respective age groups present on the day of the census. On that day 42 local education authorities had made arrangements for the sale of milk in a total of 1,308 primary and 44 secondary schools. This statement, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, includes returns from Welsh authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if the results of the October census of school meals are now available; how they compare with those of the census carried out in October 1973; and whether he will comment on these arrangements for free meals.

In October 5,773,000 or 70·1 per cent. of pupils present at maintained schools in England and Wales took the school dinner compared with 5,416,000 or 661 per cent. in October 1973. Free dinners served in October numbered 750,000 or 13 per cent. of the total compared with 795,000 or 147 per cent. last year.A detailed statement of the returns from local education authorities on which these figures are based will be placed in the Library. Because of the changes in local government areas which took place during the year it is not possible on this occasion to provide comparable figures for 1973. This statement, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, includes returns from Welsh authorities.The census collected information about pupils buying snack meals in schools and those bringing their own food to eat at midday. The numbers were 26,000 and 458,000 compared with 23,000 and 526,000 last year.On the day of the census, school dinners were being taken by 76·5 per cent. of all pupils present in primary schools— 72·3 per cent. last year—and by 60·4 per cent. in secondary schools—56·5 per cent. last year. All but 3,000 of the snack meals were being taken in secondary schools and 9 per cent. of secondary pupils brought sandwiches compared with 3 per cent. of primary pupils.The reduced number of free dinners served may be attributed to the general rise in incomes. I intend, however, to remind authorities of the need to take great care that children are not deterred from taking advantage of the free school dinners to which they may be entitled or caused embarrassment by local administrative arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the school meal charge.

As part of their general review of public expenditure the Government have been examining the charge for the school dinner. The present charge of 12p was introduced in 1971 and now

					Notified to Employment Offices	Notified to Careers Offices
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing	…	…	…	…	1,783	1,101
Mining and Quarrying	…	…	…	…	3,502	285
Food, Drink and Tobacco	…	…	…	…	6,803	1,758
Coal and Petroleum Products	…	…	…	…	201	59
Chemicals and Allied Industries	…	…	…	…	4,498	866
Metal Manufacture	…	…	…	…	6,820	1,065
Mechanical Engineering	…	…	…	…	20,415	2,559
Instrument Engineering	…	…	…	…	3,476	768
Electrical Engineering	…	…	…	…	13,637	1,887
Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering	…	…	…	…	2,210	162
Vehicles	…	…	…	…	10,736	510
Metal Goods not elsewhere specified	…	…	…	…	11,182	2,844
Textiles	…	…	…	…	6,342	2,297
Leather, Leather Goods, and Fur	…	…	…	…	939	500
Clothing and Footwear	…	…	…	…	11,515	4,907
Bricks, Pottery, Glass, Cement, etc	…	…	…	…	3,017	653
Timber, Furniture, etc	…	…	…	…	3,485	1,155
Paper, Printing and Publishing	…	…	…	…	4,484	2,098
Other Manufacturing Industries	…	…	…	…	5,377	1,110
Construction	…	…	…	…	13,747	2,656
Gas, Electricity and Water	…	…	…	…	1,529	339
Transport and Communication	…	…	…	…	18,985	1795
Distributive Trades	…	…	…	…	31,295	15,358
Insurance, Banking, Finance and Business Services	…	…	…	…	9,617	3,133
Professional and Scientific Services	…	…	…	…	23,042	3,920
Miscellaneous Services	…	…	…	…	37,346	9,317
Public Administration and Defence	…	…	…	…	14,890	2,741
Total, all industries and services	…	…	…	…	270,873	65,843
Where a vacancy is notified by an employer to both an employment office and a careers office it is included in both counts; for this reason the two counts are not added to give a figure of total notified vacancies.
The numbers of notified vacancies were not received for a small proportion of offices and the table includes estimates for these offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the main industrial sectors which continue to have substantial net unfilled vacancies.

The following table shows an industrial analysis of notified unfilled vacancies in Great Britain on 6th November 1974. The statistics relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and are not a measure of total vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the nature of the threshold agreement which applies to the salary being paid to Lord Diamond as Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth.

The threshold payments Lord Diamond is receiving follow the standard pattern indicated by the Pay Code, and are payable in accordance with the recommendations of the Top Salaries Review Body.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days were lost per 1,000 employed, during the period from January to June 1974, in each of the member countries of the EEC.

The following table gives the available information.I regret that comparable figures are not available for Ireland and Denmark.It should be borne in mind that there may be differences in the concepts, definitions and methodology employed in the various countries in recording industrial disputes:

Days lost through industrial disputes per 1,000 employees in period January-June 1974
Country	Days(a)
United Kingdom	355
Belgium	119
France	130
Germany	47
Italy	526
Luxembourg	0
Netherlands	1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the number of redundancies in Scotland as notified to his Department in each of the past 12 months.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as follows:

Month	Redundancies recorded as due to occur
December 1973	870
January 1974	890
February 1974	540
March 1974	2,760
April 1974	720
May 1974	480
June 1974	540
July 1974	1,590
August 1974	2,020
September 1974	1,300
*October 1974	1,750
*November 1974	1,770
*Because of late notifications and amendments the final figures are not yet known.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if all members of trade unions affiliated to the TUC are a party to the social contract;(2) if members of trade unions which are not affiliated to the TUC are a party to the social contract.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Mr. Stanley) on 3rd December.—[Vol. 882, c. 1328.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many wage settlements he knows of in which the Conciliation and Arbitration Service played a part; and which are outside the terms of the social contract.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit)—[Vol. 880, c. 210.]—on 7th November 1974. This applies to settlements where the Conciliation and Arbitration Service assists with negotiations as much as it does to others.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he proposes that the Conciliation and Arbitration Service should be given a formal obligation to observe the terms of the social contract.

No. Whether a settlement is or is not within the terms of the social contract can only finally be a matter for the two negotiating parties and not for the Conciliation and Arbitration Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now publish the social contract as a White Paper.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of disabled who were unemployed for (a) eight or more weeks and (b) 52 or more weeks, for each year since 1945; and if

Date			Registered disabled people unemployed for betweeen seven and 52 weeks	Percentage of all registered disabled people	Registered disabled people unemployed for 53 weeks or more	Percentage of all registered disabled people
June 1960	…	…	22,493	3·2	18,034	2·6
June 1961	…	…	19,941	3·0	15,944	2·4
July 1962	…	…	23,962	3·6	16,523	2·5
July 1963	…	…	26,757	4·1	20,288	3·1
July 1964	…	…	20,387	3·1	19,813	3·0
July 1965	…	…	18,900	2·9	16,591	2·5
July 1966	…	…	18,395	2·8	15,377	2·3
July 1967	…	…	28,146	4·3	19,591	3·0
July 1968	…	…	29,519	4·5	24,407	3·7
July 1969	…	…	28,873	4·5	27,090	4·2
July 1970	…	…	31,203	4·9	28,720	4·5
July 1971	…	…	35,474	5·7	33,748	5·4
July 1972	…	…	34,608	5·7	40,438	6·6
July 1973	…	…	22,918	3·8	37,625	6·3
July 1974	…	…	20,780	3·6	31,372	5·4

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect he expects the increased availability of employment on North Sea oil projects to have on the level of employment in the shipbuilding industries when under State control.

The demand for workers for North Sea oil projects has created some labour shortages. These are mainly in certain skilled categories and I hope that increased training by the industries concerned will ensure that both oil-related and shipbuilding industries will achieve the necessary levels of skilled labour. The Training Services Agency is also increasing its training facilities to help meet this need.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of self-employed for each year since 1945.

The number of employers and self-employed persons in Great Britain in June of each year from 1950 is shown in the following table.

The following table gives information, in a form as close to that requested as available statistics permit, about the duration of unemployment amongst registered disabled people in Great Britain since 1960. Precisely comparable figures for earlier years are not available:Reliable estimates are not available for the years 1945 to 1949:

Year	Employers and Self-employed (thousands)
1950	1,694
1951	1,694
1952	1,692
1953	1,690
1954	1,687
1955	1,685
1956	1,683
1957	1,681
1958	1,679
1959	1,677
1960	1,675
1961	1,672
1962	1,660
1963	1,647
1964	1,635
1965	1,623
1966	1,614
1967	1,703
1968	1,723
1969	1,806
1970	1,825
1971	1,843
1972	1,872
1973	1,916

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males are registered as unemployed in the Cum-nock, Girvan and Ayr exchanges, in the age groups 60–65, 50–59, 40–49, 30–39, and under 29 years, respectively.

The following table shows information for 8th July 1974, the most recent date for which an analysis by age is available:

Males unemployed in the area covered by the Cumnock, Girvan and Ayr Employment Offices at July 1974
Aged 60 to 64	445
Aged 50 to 59	281
Aged 40 to 49	189
Aged 30 to 39	241
Aged under 30	566

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to make a statement on the location of the Health and Safety Commission.

As I informed my hon. Friend in answer to a Question on 13th November, I have asked the commission to study this question and to let me have its recommendations when it is able to do so.—[Vol. 881, c. 161.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider siting the Health and Safety Commission in Kirkby.

I have asked the commission to study thoroughly the question of the ultimate location of its headquarters, and to let me have its considered advice as soon as it is able to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the working population of the area covered by the Brixton employment exchange.

Comprehensive figures of the working population are not available for local office areas. However, at June 1973, the latest date for which figures of employment are available, there were 67,000 employees in employment and 2,800 unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions he has given to his Press office regarding changes in the distribution of Press releases to outside organisations other than the Press.

In the interests of economy, my Press Office is currently undertaking a review of all its Press notice distribution lists. This is a lengthy process as these lists run into many thousands. The review seeks to identify which recipients of Departments of Employment Press releases belong to the Press and which, apparently, do not, and should be obtaining the information from an alternative source.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what have been the numbers (a) disallowed unemployment benefit and (b) paid unemployment benefit at a reduced rate because of insufficient contributions for each year since 1965.

The numbers of claimants disallowed unemployment benefit were: —

1965	605,602
1966	677,186
1967	818,175
1968	716,218
1969	742,090
1970	750,713
1971	619,057
1972	630,573
1973	608,884

Complete figures for 1974 are not yet available.I regret information on the number of claimants paid unemployment benefit at a reduced rate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider referring collective agreements to the Industrial Arbitration Board for advice before the Central Arbitration Committee of the Conciliation and Arbitration Service is established under the Employment Protection Bill.

Yes. My right hon. Friend will have the power to refer collective agreements to the Industrial Arbitration Board from 29th December this year for advice on what amendments need to be made to remove discrimination between men and women. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary has recently written to the negotiating bodies of those agreements which did not seem to be making adequate progress. Early next year, in the light of the replies received, my right hon. Friend will be considering possible references to the Industrial Arbitration Board of those collective agreements where the negotiating bodies concerned do not have firm plans for removing discrimination by 29th December 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the annual loss of insured population from 1964 to the latest available date in the Haslingden, Bacup and Rawtenstall employment exchange areas; and what this loss represents as a percentage of the total insured population in those areas.

Between June 1964 and June 1973 the estimated total number of employees, including the unemployed, decreased by 3,800, an average of about 420 per year. This average decrease represents 1·7 per cent. of the total number of employees at June 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is yet able to confirm the creation of an underwater training centre in Western Scotland to provide deep diving training.

I am pleased to be able to confirm the proposal by the Manpower Services Commission that the capital cost of an underwater training centre to provide deep diving training should be met from public funds available to the commission, has now been accepted. I understand that the Training Services Agency, on behalf of the commission, is proceeding with arrangements for setting up the centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, following the declaration on 20th November by the United Kingdom representative to the United Nations that the Palestinians are central to the Middle East conflict and that they must be fully in- volved in any settlement, how Her Majesty's Government propose that the Palestinians should be so involved; and what representatives he considers should be recognised for such purposes.

These questions are principally for those directly involved in the negotiations. I do not think it would be helpful to put forward views of our own at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the directives from the EEC which have not been discussed by Parliament.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend gave on 25th November to a Question from the right hon. Member for Down, South (Mr. Powell).—[Vol. 882, c. 55.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards full membership of the EEC by the Republic of Greece.

The Treaty of Athens envisages eventual membership of the EEC for Greece. Her Majesty's Government hope very shortly to sign an adaptation protocol extending the provisions of the Treaty of Athens to the new member States. We support the aims of that treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all ministerial visits to Oman which have occurred during the course of the last 10 years.

The following is a list of ministerial visits to Oman in the period 1964–1974:1964–1966: Nil.1967: Mr. Goronwy Roberts.1968: Mr. Mellish.Mr. Reynolds.1969–1971: Nil.1972: Lord Lambton.Lord Balniel.1973: Lord Carrington.Mr. Blaker.1974: Lord Balniel.Mr. Brynmor John.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects were killed in hostilities in Palestine between 1945 and 1948, and in the same area in the years since then.

Approximately 350 British subjects were killed in disturbances in Palestine between the end of the Second World War and the end of the mandate. No British subjects are recorded as having been killed in the area in question in subsequent hostilities. There is little doubt that some dual British/Israel citizens were killed, but no records are kept of dual nationals living in the country of their other nationality.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the salary increase awarded to probation officers with effect from 1st July has not yet been paid to officers of the Inner London Probation Service; and if he will ensure that payment of the amounts due is made before Christmas.

The new scales were promulgated at the end of October, backdated to 1st July. I am sorry that it has not been possible to pay the increase before Christmas, but I understand that it is now hoped to do so at the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish the Bill on sex discrimination.

I hope to introduce the Bill early in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department

Date		Location	Type of Device		Casualties
27th November 1974	…	Tite Street, Chelsea	Explosive device	…	14 injured
30th November 1974	…	Talbot Public House, Little Chester Street, London, SW1.	Explosive device	…	8 injured
11th December 1974	…	Naval and Military Club, Piccadilly	Explosive device	…	1 injured

About forty letters have been received from members of the public specifically advocating such legislation. My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to what he said about broadcasts of this kind during the Committee stage of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Bill on 29th November.—[Vol. 882, c. 779–80.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can make an estimate of the number of citizens of the Republic of Eire on current electoral registers in Great Britain who enjoy voting rights in British General Elections and of the number of British citizens living in the Republic of Eire who are entitled to vote in the parliamentary elections.

There is no information available on which to base an estimate of the number of citizens of the Republic of Ireland on the current electoral register. British citizens resident in the Republic are not entitled to vote in elections to the Dail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates and places of crimes using bombs or other explosive devices that have taken place in England since 25 th November 1974 resulting in death or in personal injury; and if he will enumerate the resultant casualties in each incident.

Between 26th November and 13th December 1974 there were in England and Wales three crimes resulting in personal injury in which bombs or other explosive devices were used. The dates and places are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that existing legislation is sufficient to protect ordinary residents from the nuisance caused by prostitutes operating from houses in residential areas; and if he will make a statement.

The law has generally been regarded as adequate, but I am looking into the problem to which my hon. Friend has drawn attention and I will write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the minimum age of criminal responsibility as it applies in each of the nine members of the European Community, in Norway and Sweden.

The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is the age—10 years—under which there is an irrebuttable presumption that a child cannot be guilty of a criminal offence. Between 10 and 14 the presumption is rebuttable. It is distinct from the minimum age of prosecution—also 10 years at present, but variable to 12 or 14 by order—which denotes the liability to be prosecuted and found guilty in criminal proceedings, including criminal proceedings in the juvenile court. In many countries the concept is different, and it signifies the age at which a person becomes liable to the "ordinary" or "full" penalties of the law. The table below shows the minimum age at which, I understand, a person becomes liable to these ordinary or full penalties. Caution is obivously needed in comparing different systems.

Belgium	16
Denmark	15
France	14
Federal Republic of Germany	14
Republic of Ireland	7
Italy	14
Luxembourg	18
Netherlands	12
Norway	15
Sweden	15
England and Wales	17

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 years to 11 or 12 years under the provisions of Section 4 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969.

There is no statutory provision which enables the age of criminal responsibility to be raised above 10. My right hon. Friend, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, will consider among other matters arising from the operation of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969 whether the minimum age of prosecution should be raised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy for the admission of Cypriots wishing to enter the United Kingdom; to what extent it has changed since the troubles in Cyprus; and how it is working in practice as regards eligibility, numbers and other relevant factors.

The admission of Cypriots is regulated by the Immigration Rules for Control on Entry (HC 79 and Cmnd 5715). We have been applying the rules flexibly, in current circumstances, as i explained in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. Jeger) on 9th December.—[Vol. 883, c. 41.]In the last four months some 9,000 Cypriots have been admitted, mostly for short periods, and some 130 have been refused leave to enter, generally because it was apparent that permanent settlement, for which they were not eligible, was intended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any complaints against the activities of private security firms have been referred to his Department; what action has been taken; and if he will make a statement.

A small number of complaints has been received in recent years, and those alleging criminal offences have been referred to the police, or the complainant has been advised to report the matter to them. More general complaints have usually been answered by explaining that private security firms and their employees have no special status under the law and are subject to the same legal restraints as other private firms and citizens.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now introduce legislation to control the activities of private security firms; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a Question by him on 13th December.— [Vol. 83, c. 276.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations his Department has had with the Police Federation concerning the activities of private security firms; and if he will make a statement.