asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made about ensuring international agreement about Government aid for shipbuilding.

Following an agreement made in 1972 measures have been taken to reduce Government aid to shipbuilding in most OECD countries. A reduction in the level of Government-supported credit for exports of ships was agreed in July 1974. Discussions are continuing with the aim of reaching agreement on further reductions in aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the aggregate total of foreign investment in the United Kingdom since 1st January 1973, and the comparable figure for 1st January 1971 to 31st December 1972.

I have been asked to reply.Overseas investment in the United Kingdom public and private sectors—net of disinvestment—between 1st January 1973 and 30th September 1974, the latest date for which information is available, totalled £3,828 million. In the period 1st January 1971 to 31st December 1972 it totalled £2,070 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what date his Department was asked to assist the Aston Martin car firm.

Aston Martin Lagonda Limited first approached the former Department of Trade and Industry for financial assistance in January 1974. Before financial assistance may be made available under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 the Secretary of State must be satisfied that it cannot otherwise be provided. Aston Martin Lagonda Limited was accordingly advised to approach commercial sources. On 10th July the com pany informed the Department that it had been unsuccessful in trying to obtain finance from sources outside Government and applied for assistance under the Industry Act. The Government decided that financial assistance would not be made available.A fresh application based on a scheme of financial reconstruction was submitted to the Department in a letter dated 23rd September. No decision was possible before the then pending election. An offer of assistance subject to certain conditions was formally made to the company on 29th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what date his Department advised Aston Martin whether or not it would assist that company; and what conditions were specified.

On 13th September 1974 the company was informed that its application made on 10th July had been unsuccessful. The company submitted a new application involving a scheme of financial reconstruction on 23rd September and on 29th October 1974 the company was advised that the Government would be willing in principle to provide financial assistance and to participate in this scheme, provided that certain conditions were met. These conditions were based on proposals made by Aston Martin, its parent company, its work force and another relating to financial and other support, certification and distribution arrangements in the United States and security for any Government loan.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what grounds he decided not to follow the recommendation of the Industrial Development Advisory Board in the case of Aston Martin.

On 10th July the company applied for financial assistance; the Industrial Development Advisory Board subsequently recommended against providing financial support and the Government decided not to make assistance available. The company submitted a fresh proposal on 23rd September; the Industrial Development Advisory Board saw no reason to change its earlier view but the Government considered that this later application, involving financial reconstruction, a measure of worker participation and the prospect of financial overseas sales, merited approval provided that certain conditions were met.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what grounds it was decided to require Aston Martin to change its United States distributor as a precondition of Government aid.

In its proposals to the Government the Aston Martin Lagonda company itself proposed that its United States distribution should be undertaken by the Royston Corporation, a subsidiary of the Alco Standard Corporation. The condition attached to the Government assistance simply embodied the company's own proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his Department was in touch with Aston Martin throughout the period of its recent financial difficulties.

Yes, on numerous occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when was the last contact between his Department and Aston Martin prior to the announcement of the latter's intention to seek liquidation.

On 18th December 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the number of new jobs which have been created and the number of redundancies which have occurred in the manufacturing sector for the Caernarvon employment exchange area over the past 12 months.

I regret that comprehensive figures for jobs created in the manufacturing sector are not available. 173 redundancies were notified in 1974. With the upgrading of North West Wales to special development area status and the doubling of the regional employment premium, firms developing in Caernarvon are now eligible to receive a wide range of incentives. The Department's advance factory was let in June 1974; this is expected eventually to provide about 50 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he has now made a decision on the future of the Shelton steelworks.

It is hoped to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received from the Shirt, Collar and Tie Manufacturers' Federation; and what action he is proposing to take in the light of these representations.

The Shirt Collar and Tie Manufacturers' Federation has expressed its concern at the high level of shirt imports. The difficulties facing the shirt industry result from a combination of factors, notably the state of demand. However, imports of most woven shirts from sources which threaten disruption are already restricted consistently with the GATT multi-fibre arrangement on trade in textiles. We support negotiation between the EEC and the principal suppliers on restrictions on disruptive exports of knitted garments and of woven garments of fibre other than cotton and polyester-cotton.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total cost to the central Government in respect of aid of all kinds to development areas in the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974, respectively.

The information, which is available by financial years, is as follows:

	£ million, net at historic prices
1970–71	270
1971–72	240
1972–73	240
1973–74	300
1974–75 (estimated)	470

The totals include assistance under the Local Employment Acts, regional assistance under the Industry Act 1972, the regional differential element in investment grants, regional employment premium, support for tourist projects in assisted areas and the grant to the Highlands and Islands Development Board. They do not include the assisted areas' share of national support schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects Lord Beswick to report on his studies of the steel industry.

It is hoped to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made on the building of the advance factory in Ashington that he announced on 14th November 1974 as a measure to assist the construction industry.

Building is expected to start in April next, with completion in October.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made on the building of the advance factory in Ashington announced by his predecessor in June 1973.

Building started in November 1974 and completion is expected by the late summer of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the annual cost to public funds of the Business Statistics Office, Newport, Wales.

The estimated cost of the Business Statistics Office in 1974–75, including associated headquarters costs and assessed figures for costs not met directly from departmental Votes, is about £.4·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will now outline his proposals to deal with imports of shoes from COMECON countries, following his meeting with the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation.

I hope to be able to make a statement later today.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a general direction to the Post Office not to accept Cornish promissory notes.

No. The Post Office tells me that its rules do not provide for the acceptance of such documents at post office counters.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to set aside the proposed increase in telephone charges for those who are 80 per cent. and 100 per cent. disabled;(2) if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to charge a lower rental for telephones for retirement pensioners.

No. Local authorities already have powers to assist in cases of need.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is now satisfied with the arrangements for security at provincial airports, in the light of the recent events at Manchester airport.

It is always necessary to maintain vigilance in aviation security and I keep precautions at regional airports under continuous review in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement about the official export promotion organisation.

I have been reviewing the official export promotion organisation, and in particular the work and structure of the British Overseas Trade Board, in consultation with the board itself, its area advisory groups, and outside bodies concerned with exporting. I have also studied the report of a non-official committee chaired by Mr. Michael Montague.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the present position in respect of consideration of the need for a regional airport in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Yorkshire and Humberside is within the area covered by the Civil Aviation Authority's Central England Airports Study. I expect to receive shortly the authority's advice on this study.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what fee was earned by the official receiver of Nation Life by the transfer of assets from Barclays Bank to the Bank of England; and what was the net reduction in revenue to the creditors as a result of the transaction.

The relevant fee charged in the compulsory liquidation of Nation Life Insurance Company Limited is that prescribed by the Companies (Board of Trade) Fees (Amendment) Order 1972 and amounts to £16,297.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of the United Kingdom's imports from the Six was attributable to food imports in 1972, 1973 and 1974.

Following are the percentages:

1972	1973	1974 January—November
9·2	11·1	13·4

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing British exports to and imports from Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg in the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.

Information up to 1973 is already published in tables 293 and 294 of the Annual Abstract of Statistics 1974. Figures for January to November 1974 are published in the November issue of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the total liabilities of Wilstar Securities to Nation Life creditors.

The position in account between Wilstar Securities Limited, which is in creditors' voluntary liquidation, and Nation Life Insurance Company Limited, which is in compulsory liquidation by order of the High Court, is a matter to be determined by the respective liquidators. I understand from them, however, that on present information there is no indebtedness by Wilstar Securities Limited to Nation Life.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received from knitwear manufacturers about the importation of low-cost knitted outerwear and underwear from Taiwan; and if he will make a statement.

The knitwear industry has made known its views on imports of Far Eastern knitted garments on a number of occasions to my Department and to the Department of Industry. Their views on the inclusion of knitted garments in EEC restraint arrangements for Taiwan and other Far Eastern suppliers have been taken into account in presenting the United Kingdom position in Brussels in discussion of the EEC mandates. As my right hon. Friend told the British Textile Confederation on 6th January, these mandates have not yet been finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the failure of the Mitsubishi Corporation to honour its tender for the construction of the Hong Kong Underground, whether he will make immediate representations to the relevant authority for the contract to be placed with the British firm which was the second lowest tenderer.

No. The Hong Kong Government have decided that the supplies and services required will be purchased under several separate contracts, for which British firms will be able to compete.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will put a time limit for a definitive reply to his request for voluntary shoe-exporting restrictions from the COMECON countries; and if, in view of the urgent situation in the footwear industry, he will make that time limit not more than 14 days;(2) what voluntary shoe import restrictions he is seeking from the COMECON countries;(3) if he will indicate to COMECON shoe-exporting countries that unless voluntary exporting restrictions can be agreed he will have no alternative but to introduce import quotas.

As the House is aware, my Department and the Department of Industry are dealing as a matter of urgency with the case made to us by the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation. I believe that a solution can be found, but it would not be helpful to the industry's cause for me to elaborate further at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what he estimates will be the effect of the export sales of books and magazines on the Post Office's proposal to raise the direct agents bag reduced rate by 100 per cent.

An industry's export performance is influenced by many factors and I doubt whether any particular change can be quantified. I hope the effect of any changes in postal rates will not be as adverse as these industries fear. I am sure they will be assessing how best to mitigate the effect and maintain their export trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will take steps to bring the export costs of publishers of British books and magazines more into line with those of their overseas competitors.

It is not in the Government's power to harmonise costs. But we do provide certain services to help exporters and I hope the publishers of books and magazines will continue to make good use of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will consider recommending the institution of a Queen's Award to Industry for employers with exceptional achievements in the employment of severely disabled people.

As the Prime Minister announced in the House on 14th November 1974, the Queen's Award to Industry Scheme, which currently is limited to the fields of exports and technological innovation, is to be reviewed this winter by a committee under the chairmanship of the Duke of Edinburgh. The committee will examine all aspects of the scheme, including questions of scope.The review secretary has been asked to draw my hon. Friend's suggestion to the attention of the committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the arrangements, including those agreed with European partners and allies, for the security of North Sea and Celtic Sea oil and gas.

The Government intend to make a statement on this shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the total casualties sustained by members of Her Majesty's armed forces in Oman whether seconded to the service of the Sultan or posted to British bases during the year 1974.

There was a total of two fatal and four serious casualties among members of Her Majesty's armed forces serving in Oman during 1974. Full records of minor casualties are not kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those bodies for which he is responsible which either receive public funds or to which he makes appointments.

In addition to the Armed Forces, and the organisations run by them, I have a responsibility for the following bodies which receive grants in aid from Defence Votes:

• The Royal Marines Museum.
• The Submarine Museum.
• The Fleet Air Arm Museum.
• The National Army Museum.
• The Royal Air Force Museum.

I make a large number of appointments to standing committees, advisory bodies, boards of trustees and similar organisations. It would involve disproportionate effort and cost to public funds to list all these.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service men have been killed since January 1972 in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist activity; and in how many cases have the families received payments of £16,575 or more.

The numbers of Service personnel killed in Northern Ireland as a result of terrorist activity since 1st January 1972 are as follows:

	1972	1973	1974	Total
Army	101	56	25	184
Royal Marines	2	2	3	7
Ulster Defence Regiment	26	8	7	41
	129	66	35	232

Of these, 117 were married and in four cases awards made under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 have exceeded £16,575. The average payment under the Act to the widow of a Service man is £8,429.The widow of a Service man, including a member of the UDR, killed as the result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland, receives a war widow's pension from the Department of Health and Social Security. In addition, she is eligible for an award under the forces' attributable family pension scheme or the recently announced revised scheme for attributable pensions for members of the Reserve Forces and of the Ulster Defence Regiment. The courts when making awards under the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968 are required to take into account any such pensions from public funds paid in respect of the injury or death.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration, if any, has been given to the possible use of the TAVR to assist the other security forces in Northern Ireland.

This has been considered from time to time, but members of the TAVR, throughout the United Kingdom, already have a full commitment in training for the rôles they would discharge on mobilisation, and this training constitutes an essential national service. As part of their training, TAVR members in Northern Ireland make a valuable contribution to the task of the security forces by guarding their own premises and special facilities exist for them to transfer and serve as part-time members of the UDR if they so wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances, if any, the Army may use mortars in Northern Ireland.

Mortars are not currently available for operational use in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops have been withdrawn from Northern Ireland from 21st December 1974 to 10th January 1975; and what is the total strength of troops now left in Northern Ireland.

None the force level remains at 13 major units in the infantry rôle.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make it his policy that no increases will be made in the salaries of the chairmen of nationalised industries until the industries of which they are chairmen shall be shown to be profitable.

No. This would not be appropriate given the circumstances in which some of the nationalised industries are required to operate.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the number of staff in each grade of the Civil Service of principal and equivalent rank and above.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Weston-super-Mare (Mr. Wiggin) on 12th December—[Vol. 833, c. 239–240]—for the grades above principal level. On the same basis the number of staff at principal and equivalent level is 5,180 in General Service Classes, 2,296 in the Science Group and 1,998 in the Professional and Technology Group.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many copies of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, respectively, have been sold by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to the latest date for which a figure is available.

Sales to the public up to 30th November 1974 are as follows:

Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970	32,111 copies
Local Authority Social Services Act 1970	15,026 copies

In addition, the following quantities have been issued to Government Departments:

Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970	14,379 copies
Local Authority Social Services Act 1970	3,549 copies

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many copies of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, respectively, have now been printed by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

The total number of copies printed for sale and for the use of Parliament and Government Departments is:

Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Acts 1970	48,500
Local Authority Social Services Act 1970	20,000

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what provisions she has made to aid Mozambique and Guinea Bissau; and with whom she will be discussing the priorities for such aid.

In September my right hon. Friend proposed to the Government of Guinea Bissau that officials from my Ministry should go there to discuss priorities for aid. She renewed this offer personally to the Minister of Finance of Guinea Bissau last week. I hope discussions will take place soon.We are very ready to make similar arrangements with Mozambique, through

GROSS DISBURSEMENTS OF BRITISH BILATERAL AID 1970–1975
£'000s
Country					1970	1971	1972	1973	1974 (Estimate)
Iran	…	…	…	…	615	503	478	432	500
Iraq	…	…	…	…	4	25	27	41	50
Oman		…	…	…	29	—	7	108	230
Saudi Arabia			…	…	10	28	41	36	35
United Arab Emirates				…	200	203	49	31	12

In 1974 local contributions towards technical assistance are estimated at £60,000.I expect these technical assistance programmes to continue at about this level in 1975, under past and present commitments. The countries concerned can be expected increasingly to assume financial responsibility for external technical assistance.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she is aware that the decision of Her Majesty's Government to terminate technical aid to Chile inflicted hardship upon British citizens employed by her Department; and if she will take steps to compensate them.

Eleven contracts were terminated prematurely by my Department. As provided in their contracts the officers were given two months' formal notice of termination followed by the paid leave admissible. I am not aware of specific cases of hardship but we offered to reimburse on an ex gratia basis reasonable additional expenses incurred by the officers as a result of their premature

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much British aid has been given during each of the past five years for which records are available to each of the Middle Eastern oil-producing countries from which Great Britain purchases oil supplies; and what sum is expected to be given as aid to each such country during 1975.

No British aid was provided for Kuwait and Qatar during this period. Figures for the other countries are as follows, and relate entirely to technical assistance programmes:return. Five such claims have been settled.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the total annual aid made available by the Government to the Government of Bangladesh in 1973–74.

In the financial year 1973–4 commitments were signed or otherwise made for £2·2 million and 18,000 metric tons of wheat. Expenditure from these and earlier commitments is provisionally estimated at £7·326 million.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will give consideration to supplementary aid to help the Government of Antigua in relation to earthquake damage.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 12th December to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten)—[Vol. 883, c. 253]—which indicates the assistance I have agreed to provide. My advice is that this will meet the need.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when and by what means she proposes to suggest to Parliament that it should authorise the provision of public funds to the Crown Agents in accordance with her statement of 18th December.

As I announced in the House of Commons on 18th December last—[Vol. 883, c. 1579.]—financial assistance of £85 million has been made available to the Crown Agents and an advance from the Contingencies Fund has been made for this purpose. Provision for this sum will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate to be presented to Parliament shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether there is any reluctance on his part to employ persons over the age of 50 years who are members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons who have been out of the profession for a period and wish to re-enter as vets in his veterinary service.

Age and recent employment are not of themselves conclusive; candidates have to be up to date in their professional knowledge and fit enough to undertake the exacting duties involved. On average, younger candidates are more likely to meet these requirements, but in the past two years 20 per cent. of new recruits have been over age 50.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many export-approved slaughterhouses there are; and whether he is satisfied that slaughterhouse capacity is adequate to supply the carcase meat trade if a permanent ban were imposed on the export of live animals.

There are 67 export-approved slaughterhouses in the United Kingdom; 42 of them are in England and Wales, 15 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. The capacity of these slaughter-houses has been adequate for the export trade in carcase meat since licences for the export of live animals were suspended and, as the O'Brien Committee recommended, we shall, of course, keep the situation under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now set out in tabular form the total sums paid out to date in respect of cheese subsidy on (a) home-produced Cheddar and Cheshire, (b) other United Kingdom territorial cheeses, (c) imported Cheddar and Cheshire, (d) Gouda and Edam and (e) other imported varieties.

The amount of cheese subsidy authorised for payment up to 30th November 1974, the latest date to which final figures are available, was:

	£
Home produced—
Cheddar and Cheshire	8,743,085
Other United Kingdom territorials	2,721,998
	11,465,083
Imported (a)—
Cheddar and Cheshire	4,298,592
Edam and Gouda	1,162,033
All other varieties	454,857
	5,915,482
(b)—
Processed cheese	57,160
Cheese spreads	5,263
Powdered cheese	53,143
	115,566
Total	17,496,131

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes there have been in the staffing establishment of the cheese subsidy section of his milk and milk products division since 5th November 1974.

One executive officer and two clerical officers have been added. This unit, which has recently been transferred to the food subsidies division, now comprises one principal, one higher executive officer, two executive officers and four clerical officers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist at present for delivery of raw sugar from plants of the British Sugar Corporation to port sugar refineries; how long these have been in operation; and if any changes are planned for the 1975–76 sugar beet crop.

All but two of the corporation's factories convert beet into white sugar in a single process. The corporation has been accustomed to sell the whole output of its raw sugar factories to the port refining companies, but the transaction is a matter for commercial negotiation between the companies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the international organisations of which the United Kingdom is a member, excluding the EEC and its auxiliary bodies.

The United Kingdom Government are members of the following international organisations. The EEC and its auxiliary bodies have been excluded:

• African Development Fund
• Asian Development Bank
• Bank for International Settlements
• Caribbean Development Bank
• Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine
• Central Office for International Railway Transport
• Central Treaty Organisation
• Colombo Plan for Co-operative Economic Development in South and South-East Asia
• Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau
• Commonwealth Air Transport Council
• Commonwealth Foundation
• Commonwealth Scientific Committee
• Commonwealth Secretariat
• Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• Council of Europe
• Customs Co-operation Council
• European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organisation
• European Civil Aviation Conference
• European Commission for the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease
• European Conference of Insurance Supervisory Services
• European Conference of Ministers of Transport
• European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administration
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory
• European Organisation for Nuclear Research
• European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation
• European Space Conference
• European Space Research Organisation
• European Space Vehicle Launcher Development Organisation
• Food and Agricultural Organisation
• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
• Group of Ten
• Hague Conference on Private International Law
• Indo-Pacific Fisheries Council
• Intergovernmental Committee of the International Convention of Rome for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations
• Intergovernmental Copyright Committee
• Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation
• Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation
• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission
• Interim Commission for the International Trade Organisation
• International Atomic Energy Agency
• International Bank of Reconstruction and Development
• International Bureau of Weights and Measures
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
• International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property
• International Civil Aviation Organisation
• International Cocoa Organisation
• International Coffee Organisation
• International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries
• International Cotton Advisory Committee
• International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
• International Customs Tariff Bureau
• International Development Association
• International Exhibitions Bureau
• International Finance Corporation
• International Hydrographic Organisation
• International Institute for the Management of Technology
• International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
• International Institute of Refrigeration
• International Labour Organisation
• International Lead and Zinc Study Group
• International Monetary Fund
• International Olive Oil Council
• International Organisation of Legal Metrology
• International Patent Institute
• International Rice Commission
• International Rubber Study Group
• International Secretariat for Volunteer Services
• International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation
• International Telecommunication Union
• International Tin Council
• International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
• International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
• International Whaling Commission
• International Wheat Council
• International Wool Study Group
• North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
• North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
• Pan American Health Organisation
• Permanent Court of Arbitration
• Permanent International Association of Navigation Congresses
• Permanent International Association of Road Congresses
• South East Asia Treaty Organisation
• South Pacific Air Transport Council
• South Pacific Commission
• Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold
• United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation
• United Nations Organisation
• Universal Postal Union
• Western European Union
• World Health Organisation
• World Intellectual Property Organisation
• World Meteorological Organisation

International organisations which are subsidiary bodies of the organizations listed above are not included.I regret that information in respect of international non-governmental organisations which have British members is not readily available and the cost of obtaining it would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has made to the Turkish demands that the Turkish Cypriot refugees at the Episkopi base shoud be allowed to embark upon Turkish ships to be transferred to the north of the island, via the Turkish mainland.

Her Majesty's Government have, on humanitarian grounds, agreed to the Turkish Government's request to transfer these refugees to Turkey. Those who wish to leave the base will be moved to Turkey in Turkish aircraft over the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government have to hand over the Dhekelia base in Cyprus for NATO or United States use.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of (a) grants and loans and (b) subsidies and other receipts received from the EEC in the first 18 months of the United Kingdom's membership.

Total receipts from the European Communities' budget amounted to about £136 million in the period 1st January 1973 to 30th June 1974. Of this, £110 million was received by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce under the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund for market regulation under the common agricultural policy. A further £1·9 million was received from the European Social Fund. Refunds of the cost of collecting the Communities' "own resources" amounted to about £21 million.In addition to these sums, the Commission was committed to pay the United Kingdom certain sums from the European Social Fund and the Guidance Section of EAGGF. Information on commitments is given in my reply to the Question asked by the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 6th December.—[Vol. 882, c. 669].The European Investment Bank loaned United Kingdom organisations a total of £73 million in the 18 months to 30th June 1974. In addition, the European Coal and Steel Community is understood to have approved loans of about £80 million to the National Coal Board and the British Steel Corporation, and grants to the coal and steel industries amounting to about £5 million. Information on actual recepits from these ECSC grants and loans during the first 18 months of membership is not readily available, but £36 million of the loans and about £1 million of the grants had been received by 1st November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether State subscriptions, including that of the United Kingdom, to the IMF will be revised in the event of the Chancellor's proposals being accepted for the recycling of Arab funds; and if he will detail the current subscriptions of the USA, the United Kingdom and other major European States.

No. The 1975 IMF oil facility, which is a development of the Chancellor's proposals, will be financed by loans from member countries—in particular the oil producers—in strong balance of payments and reserves positions. Plans for the revision of IMF quotas, and hence subscriptions, are now at an advanced stage, but have no bearing on the financing of the oil facility. The present IMF subscriptions of the USA, United Kingdom and major European countries, are as follows:

	(SDR millions)
USA	6,700
United Kingdom	2,800
West Germany	1,600
France	1,500
Italy	1,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of the tax credit proposals as set out in the Green Paper "Proposals for a Tax Credit System" Cmnd 5116, HMSO 1972—both with and without the amendments proposed by the Select Committee on the tax credit system—as set out in the report and proceedings of the Committee, 26th June 1973—all at 1975 costs and benefit levels.

There is no objective basis on which to re-cost in 1975 prices the Green Paper estimates for a tax credit scheme, and in any event I regret that such an estimate would require a disproportionate expenditure of resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross national product is accounted for by State-owned enterprises in each of the countries of Western Europe.

I regret that the information is not available. In this country public corporations were responsible for 10 per cent. of gross domestic product in 1973, but this includes some enterprises controlled by local authorities and excludes some companies in which central Government have a major or con trolling share. Other countries do not generally distinguish publicly-owned enterprises in their national accounts, and there are also differences in the definition of enterprises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will confirm that dated Government stock, issued under a Treasury warrant as a charge on the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, is guaranteed to be repaid at par.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gross annual income required to produce a net income of £100,000, £150,000, £200,000 and £300,000, respectively, assuming the recipient is single with no dependants.

The figures for 1974–75 are as follows:

Income after tax	Gross income
	All earned	All investment*
£	£	£
100,000	553,566	4,695,312
150,000	847,684	7,195,312
200,000	1,141,802	9,695,312
300,000	1,730,037	14,695,312
* Investment income surcharge has been calculated on the basis of an exemption limit of £1,000 with the first £1,000 of the excess at 10 per cent., and the balance at 15 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his most up-to-date estimates of the number of taxpayers with investment incomes in the following ranges: under £1,000 per annum, £1,000-£1,999, £2,000-£2,999, £3,000-£3,999, £4,000-£4,999, £5,000£5,999, and £6,000 and over.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the tax exemption of transfers of historic houses under Schedule 6 to the Finance Bill covers every category of historic house at present exempt from estate duty; and, if not, what categories of historic house are affected by the proposed capital transfer tax and in what way.

Under the provisions in the Finance Bill, a transfer of a historic house will be exempt from capital transfer tax if it is made to a body within paragraph 10 or 11 of Schedule 6 to the Bill. These exemptions are a little wider than the similar exemptions which apply for estate duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury carries out any scrutiny of the EEC budget.

Yes, in consultation with other Government Departments concerned with the individual expenditure items in the Community budget.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he hopes to be in a position to publish more accurate estimates of invisible income.

It is not clear what inaccuracies my hon. Friend has in mind. Estimates of invisible transactions in the balance of payments accounts are based on the best information available at the time of publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what consultations she held with representatives of consumers, persons experienced in the supply of goods and services, employers and employees and other persons in accordance with subsection (4) of Section 2 of the Counter-Inflation Act 1973 prior to making the Counter-Inflation (Price Code) (Amendment) Order 1974 (S.I., 2158, 1974).

The TUC, CBI, Consumers' Association and Price Commission were consulted. No objection was raised to the proposed order.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what was the total number of staff in post in her Department at the latest convenient date; and what was the total authorised establishment on that date.

The number of staff in post in my Department was 293 on 1st January 1975, and the present authorised establishment is 326. These totals do not include the staffs of the Metrication Board, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, the Office of Fair Trading and the Price Commission. The staff of the British Approvals Service for Electrical Equipment in Flammable Atmospheres (BASEEFA), who were transferred to the Health and Safety Commission on 1st January 1975, have been excluded from the figures given.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the average weekly saving, at present levels of subsidy, for a typical family of two adults and two children arising from the cheese subsidy.

On the basis of the results of the National Food Survey for the third quarter of 1974 the cheese subsidy is estimated to save a typical family of two adults and two children about 9p per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether the Price Commission has yet completed its investigation into water charges in general and the Anglian Water Board's charges in particular.

This is a matter for the Price Commission and I have asked the Chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from National Union of Mineworkers branches in South Ayrshire on the subject of salary increases for senior civil servants and others; and what replies he has sent.

I do not keep a detailed statistical record of my correspondence but I am not aware of having received any such letters recently.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what emergency arrangements he has made to deal with requests for emergency ambulance services.

Requests for emergency ambulance services are being dealt with in some areas by senior ambulance officers and in other areas by ambulance controllers who are involved in the current dispute but are prepared to maintain an emergency service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full-time and part-time consultants, respectively, are employed in the Scottish health service.

At 30th September 1973 there were 1,080 whole-time and 359 part-time medical and dental consultants employed in the Scottish health service. In addition, 271 university staff had honorary consultant contracts with Scottish hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full-time and part-time consultants, respectively, enjoy merit awards at the present time; and how many merit awards are held by those in the mental and geriatric sectors of the service.

There are 614 consultants currently in receipt of distinction awards in Scotland. This figure includes 301 whole-time and 153 part-time National Health Service consultants and 160 university staff who have honorary contracts with the National Health Service. In the specialty of psychiatry—which covers the mental health sector—there are 27 whole-time National Health Service consultants and eight honorary contract holders with awards. In the specialty of geriatric medicine there are six whole-time consultants, one part-time consultant and two honorary contract holders with awards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the death rate from breast cancer in Scotland.

The male and female death rates, per 100,000 of the population, from cancer of the breast in Scotland in 1973 were 0·3 and 43 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects a start to the new geriatric unit at Kelso; and whether he can give an assurance that there will be no further delays.

This scheme will soon be ready to go to tender, the only action outstanding being minor adjustments to the plans. Accordingly, the Borders Health Board hopes for a start on site later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for how long since acquisition of the site planning has been going on for a health centre at Peebles; and when a start may be expected.

The site at Hay Lodge, Peebles was acquired in 1951 for hospital building purposes and in March 1971 the South Eastern Regional Hospital Board Planning Committee agreed to a hospital and health centre development on the site. The description of functions and combined schedule of accommodation for both projects were approved in August 1973 but the Borders Health Board is at present carrying out a reappraisal of the hospital content of the scheme. It is not therefore possible at this stage to give a projected date for a start on the site.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of the number who will be eligible for the invalid care allowance in the Social Security Benefits Bill.

The position remains as set out in paragraph 61 of my right hon. Friend's report to Parliament on "Social Security Provision for Chronically Sick and Disabled People"—House of Commons Paper No. 276, of 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the inquiry which she has set up into the circumstances of the recent fire at Fairfield Old People's Home at Edwalton in Nottinghamshire will hear evidence in public; and, if so, when it expects to begin public hearings.

The committee intends that hearings shall be in public, but reserves the right to sit in private should the chairman at any time deem this appropriate. The inquiry will open initially in London on Thursday, 30th January, and will then be adjourned until Monday, 17th February, when it will reopen in Nottingham for the hearing of evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will publish the full terms of reference of the inquiry that she has set up into the circumstances of the recent fire at the Fairfield Old People's Home at Edwalton in Nottinghamshire.

The full terms of reference are as follows:

"To inquire into the cause of the fire at Fairfield Home, Edwalton, Nottinghamshire, on Sunday, 15th December 1974, into the protection afforded against fire, and into the arrangements for the safety of residents and staff; and to report thereon."

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the net cost of paying a non-means-tested, non-contributory benefit of £15 for all persons who would otherwise be in paid employment but who stay at home to care for disabled, sick or elderly relatives, assuming the benefits to be taxable; and what the effect of this measure would be on the numbers claiming supplementary benefit.

An estimate is not possible, since only limited information is available on the number of people who are of working age and capable of employment but who stay at home of necessity to care for disabled, sick or elderly relatives. Some 15,000 such people currently receive supplementary benefit and almost all of them would cease to receive that benefit if it were replaced by a benefit of the kind envisaged in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of paying a non-means-tested, noncontributory benefit to all single parents, excluding widows, of £15 plus increases for children at the rates paid to widowed mothers as from April 1975, assuming the benefit were taxable.

About £400 million net of savings on social security benefits. The extra income tax payable as the result of the introduction of such a benefit would be of the order of £100 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the net cost of increasing widows' pension and widowed mothers' allowance by £3·40 over and above the increase due in April if the extra income tax yield is taken into account as well as the savings on supplementary benefits.

About £80 million a year net of supplementary benefit savings. A reliable estimate of the income tax yield cannot be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many contributors have been disallowed invalidity benefit becase the test of 156 contributions was not satisfied, but continue to receive sickness benefit up to a maximum of 312 days, in each year since invalidity was introduced.

Information is not available in the precise form required, but it is estimated that there were about 21,000 persons at 3rd June 1972 and 14,000 at 2nd June 1973 who were receiving sickness benefit but had exhausted their earnings-related supplement. Most of these would be persons who had failed to qualify for invalidity benefit because they had not paid 156 contributions but were continuing to receive sickness benefit up to the maximum of 312 days.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated net cost of increasing retirement pension by £3·35 for a couple and £3·40 for a single person over and above the increases due in April if the extra income tax yield is taken into account as well as the savings on supplementary benefit.

The cost would be about £935 million a year net of supplementary benefit savings. The income tax yield would be about £150 million a year at current levels of taxation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the criteria which will be adopted for awarding new mobility allowance to handicapped persons.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the presentation of the legislation which will be necessary for the introduction of the mobility allowance. We shall be bringing this before the House as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what section of the National Insurance Act 1965 unemployment benefit is payable when those in full-time employment become part-time workers as a result of voluntarily entering into work-sharing agreements.

Unemployment benefit is payable under Section 19 of the National Insurance Act 1965, as modified by other sections of that Act and regulations made thereunder, for days of unemployment provided that the claimant is capable of work and available for employment on those days. Where a person's employment has not been terminated, days on which he would not normally work do not count as days of unemployment, under Section 20(1)(b) of the Act, unless he is unemployed for a full week. Provision is made in regulations for excluding days from counting as days of unemployment if they are over and above the full extent of normal working except where short-time working is due to adverse industrial conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is now the general policy of her Department to pay unemployment benefit for the days not worked when those in full-time employment become part-time workers as a result of voluntarily entering into work-sharing agreements.

The policy of my Department is to pay unemployment benefit in accordance with the law. The application of the law to the facts of an individual claim is a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria he used to establish 65 degrees Fahrenheit as the temperature below which working conditions in Government offices would be unacceptable.

The standard for Government offices is based on the need to provide am adequate temperature, for working efficiency, bearing in mind general practice elsewhere and the need for economy. 65 degrees Fahrenheit has been accepted for some years as providing a reasonable working environment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied so far with the preliminary reports supplied to him that the public are adhering to the new speed limits on the three main classes of highway.

First reports suggest that drivers have reduced their speeds, but it is too early to draw firm conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of homeless persons in England and Wales at the latest available date.

There were 29,710 persons in England and Wales who were in temporary accommodation at the end of June 1974. My right hon. Friend has no reliable estimates of the number of others who may be homeless.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present number of homeless people; and if he will make a statement.

At the end of June 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, 28,546 homeless people were living in local authority temporary accommodation in England. My right

				Accidents	Killed	Casualties Serious	Slight
West Yorkshire
Pedestrians	…	…	…	1	1	—	—
Pedal cyclists	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
North Yorkshire
Pedestrians	…	…	…	5	2	2	1
Pedal cyclists	…	…	…	3	2	—	1

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider the introduction of grants to householders for the purpose of installing domestic solar energy heating appliances.

No; but a local authority may, at its discretion, accept the installation of such an appliance for improvement grant as part of a comprehensive scheme to bring a house up to modern standards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take appropriate steps to enable private landlords to increase their rents so as to compensate for the fall in the purchasing power of the £.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can now give a precise date for the start of work on the Witney bypass.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory processes and the availability

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents have been reported involving cyclists and pedestrians, respectively, on the Al trunk road in the counties of West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire; and what were the effects in terms of personal injury and loss of life.

Following are the figures of personal injury accidents to pedal cyclists and pedestrians on the Al trunk road between 1st April and 31st December 1974 for the new counties of West and North Yorkshire.of funds, my right hon. Friend hopes that work on the Witney bypass can begin this summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department plans to commence the trunk route widening on the A217 in Sutton; what is the cost of this project; and when it will commence.

I understand from the Greater London Council, which is the highway authority for the A217, that it expects work to commence on the widening at the junction with Cheam Road in late spring this year. The cost was last estimated at £79,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current situation regarding the Ringway 3 route south of the River Thames.

The section now under construction between A2 at Dartford and A20 at Swanley forms part of Londons' Outer Orbital Route and is due for completion in summer 1976. The future of the rest of Ringway 3 south of the River Thames is dependent upon forthcoming decisions on the Greater London Development Plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider including hotels within the grant provisions for noise insulation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will outline the qualifications or experience upon the basis of which he appointed each of the persons to the Housing Corporation listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Gateshead, West (Mr. Horam) on 17th December 1974.

I set out below details of the previous experience of those whom I have recently appointed or reappointed to the Housing Corporation. All of them have knowledge and experience which will be of value to the corporation in dealing with the problems it is facing.

The right hon. Lord Greenwood of Rossendale: a former Minister of Housing and Local Government, is Chairman of the Local Government Staff Commission; Chairman of the Leek, Westbourne and Eastern Counties Building Society and Chairman of the United Kingdom Housing Association.

Father Paul Byrne: is Director of Shelter Housing Aid Centre; former Director of Catholic Housing Aid Society and Family Housing Association; member of Hearth and Home Ltd. management committee; trustee of Servite Homes Geriatric Day Hospital.

Mr. John Coward: is Director of the Notting Hill Housing Trust; trustee of Sutton Housing Trust; trustee of Shelter; member of the National Federation of Housing Associations council.

Mr. James Kegie: is a former county planning officer, Monmouthshire County Council; member of the Countryside Commission.

Mr. David Llewellyn: is a director of Walter Llewellyn and Sons Ltd., building and civil engineering contractor; is a member of the Board of the National Building Agency, and was formerly Industrial Adviser to the Minister of Housing.

Mr. David Mumford: is General Manager of Birmingham COPEC Housing Asociation and is Chairman of the Birmingham City Council land committee.

Mr. William Taylor: is a former Glasgow city councillor; former Chairman of Livingston New Town Corporation; currently Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Planning Exchange; Governor of the Centre for Environmental Studies; Chairman of the Scottish Executive of the Town and Country Planning Association.

Sir Stanley Morton: is Chairman of the Abbey National Building Society, and was formerly Chairman of the Building Societies Association.

Mr. Lewis Waddilove: is Director of the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Housing Trust, and was formerly Chairman of the National Federation of Housing Associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest official estimate of the cost of the proposed M54.