asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what statistical evidence he has concerning sheep worrying in the United Kingdom during 1973 and 1974;(2) how many prosecutions there were in cases of sheep worrying in 1973 and 1974.

The following is the only available information:

SHEEP WORRYING BY DOGS IN 1973—CASUALTIES AND PROSECUTIONS NOTIFIED IN GREAT BRITAIN*
Sheep		Successful
Killed	Injured	Prosecutions
5,276	4,352	847
* Based on police returns to local authorities Corresponding figures for 1974 are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will propose measures for the prevention of sheep worrying.

Various preventive measures of this kind are already in force, including, for example, the provisions of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, which makes it an offence to allow dogs to attack livestock on agricultural land, and the Animals Act 1971, which allows farmers to kill a marauding dog in certain circumstances. These are being reviewed by the Working Party on Dogs, the terms of reference of which were announced by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of the Environment on 13th December 1974.—[Vol. 883, c. 279–80.]—In the light of its findings my right hon. Friends will decide whether any further measures are needed and if so what form they should take.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all beef calves, born up till the day the price review was announced, will qualify for the extra £10 subsidy.

Yes. Under the Act the higher rate must continue to be paid on all eligible calves certified live which were born before the date on which the statutory instrument providing for the removal of the £10 comes into operation. The draft instrument is now before the House.

asked the Attorney-General how many senior and junior counsel are on the Attorney-General's list; and how many of these conducted prosecutions during 1974.

There are 603 junior counsel whose names are on my list for nominations on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. I do not maintain a separate list of Queen's Counsel for this purpose. The remaining information for which my hon. Friend asks is not readily available.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will now take action to allow legal aid for all tribunals in which legal representation is permitted.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Leicester, West (Mr. Janner) on 7th February.—[Vol. 885, c. 627.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the figures for the numbers of industrial and non-industrial civil servants on 1st October 1970, 1st October 1971, 1st October 1972, 1st October 1973, and 1st October 1974 given in his Written Answer on 19th February 1975 to the hon. Member for Eastbourne are directly comparable with each other; and, if not, in what particular respects they are not comparable.

The figures are the number of staff in post in the Civil Service at all the given dates. The work of the Civil Service changes from time to time, however, including, mainly as a result of legislation, transfers both into and out of the service. The major movements in and out over this period were:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men and women in the Armed Forces were given hospital treatment in the last year to a convenient date.

The number of admissions to hospital among men and women of the Armed Forces in the year ending 31st December 1974 totalled about 50,700.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce a decision on the choice of an American or British aircraft to meet future airborne early warning needs.

No decision is expected on a successor to the Shackleton in the airborne early warning rôle for at least a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his plans for the future of the Argosy aircraft which were stripped down ready for conversion to navigational trainers.

We are still discussing our defence review proposals with our allies and with both sides of industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why it is proposed to reduce the future Victor tanker aircraft conversions to seven, bearing in mind that the conversion kits for all the aircraft have been manufactured.

We are still discussing our defence review proposals with our allies and with both sides of industry. We have no proposals to reduce the Victor tanker conversion programme to seven aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the ECM and ESM equipment at present fitted to the Lightning and Phantom aircraft of the RAF; and what plans he has for the purchase of more modern equipment.

I am satisfied that the Lightning aircraft and the Phantoms are equipped in such a way as will enable them to continue to make an effective contribution to the discharge of our air defence responsibilities in the United Kingdom and on the Continent. The continued need to up-date equipment is fully recognised, and forms an important part of the research and development programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what research has been initiated by his Department to study the creation of artificial rain as a weapon for use against a potential enemy on the basis of experience gained by the United States of America in Vietnam.

No research has been conducted by the Ministry of Defence into the production of artificial rain as a weapon of war. Studies of the physical processes which produce rain do not suggest that additional rain can be produced in sufficient quantity or with sufficient reliability to have any significant effect on military operations. The experience of countries undertaking weather modification operations for non-military purposes confirms this.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered blind girls and boys are currently available for work in England and Wales; and how many of them have been registered unemployed for more than six months.

I regret that information about the current situation is not available since disabled people registered

UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE MARGATE, RAMSGATE AND SANDWICH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES
Age groups								July 1970	July 1973	July 1973
Under 18	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	86	24	28
18 and under 20		…	…	…	…	…	…	105	68	48
20 and under 25		…	…	…	…	…	…	217	129	150
25 and under 30		…	…	…	…	…	…	162	102	108
30 and under 35		…	…	…	…	…	…	118	80	85
35 and under 40		…	…	…	…	…	…	113	65	63
40 and under 45		…	…	…	…	…	…	95	63	62
45 and under 50		…	…	…	…	…	…	132	87	69
50 and under 55		…	…	…	…	…	…	123	116	113
55 and under 60		…	…	…	…	…	…	189	159	142
60 and over		…	…	…	…	…	…	416	400	353
Total		…	…	…	…	…	…	1,756	1,293	1,221

Duration of unemployment in weeks								July 1970	July 1973	July 1974
One or less	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	150	117	134
Over 1 and up to 2			…	…	…	…	…	137	81	105
Over 2 and up to 3			…	…	…	…	…	86	61	65
Over 3 and up to 4			…	…	…	…	…	64	40	40
Over 4 and up to 5			…	…	…	…	…	74	35	45
Over 5 and up to 6			…	…	…	…	…	61	22	29
Over 6 and up to 7			…	…	…	…	…	76	30	30
Over 7 and up to 8			…	…	…	…	…	26	32	29
Over 8 and up to 9			…	…	…	…	…	39	28	17
Over 9 and up to 13			…	…	…	…	…	121	74	75
Over 13 and up to 26			…	…	…	…	…	248	192	158
Over 26 and up to 39			…	…	…	…	…	203	114	118
Over 39 and up to 52			…	…	…	…	…	166	75	67
Over 52	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	305	392	309
Total		…	…	…	…	…	…	1,756	1,293	1,221

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people are currently registered as unemployed in Thanet; what are their age groups; how long they have been unemployed; and how this figure compares with the same date last year and the same date in 1970.

On 10th February 1975, 2,244 people were unemployed in the area covered by the Margate, Ramsgate and Sandwich employment offices. The most recent figures showing age and length of time unemployed are for July 1974 and the following table shows information for July 1970, July 1973 and July 1974. Owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency, the normal half-yearly analysis by age and duration of unemployment is not available for January 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of unfair dismissal were heard during 1975; and what proportion was successful.

In 1974, 3,342 cases of unfair dismissal were heard by the industrial tribunals and in 38 per cent.—1,267—the applicant was successful. A further 5,679 cases were resolved by conciliation, 53 per cent.—2,989—in the applicants' favour. Information for 1975 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will place in the Library details of the assumptions, calculations and background figures on which his reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East on 24th February 1975, columns 12 to 14, is based, and any additional related information that he has at his disposal.

Per cent.
				National Coal Board	Electricity Council and Boards	British Gas Corporation	Large quoted companies in manufacturing industry
				(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
1955–56	…	…	…	2·8*	4·4	3·5	18·9
1956–57	…	…	…	6·7*	4·6	4·2	17·1
1957–58	…	…	…	3·3*	4·9	4·1	16·1
1958–59	…	…	…	2·6*	5·6	3·3	14·8
1959–60	…	…	…	1·6*	5·4	3·3	16·0
1960–61	…	…	…	2·3*	4·9	4·1	16·5
1961–62	…	…	…	3·1*	5·5	4·4	14·2
1962–63	…	…	…	5·2*	6·1	4·6	12·4
1963–64	…	…	…	8·5	6·9	5·2	13·3
				(15 months)
1964–65	…	…	…	5·0	6·4	5·9	14·6
1965–66	…	…	…	0·0	7·0	5·4	13·9
1966–67	…	…	…	4·7	5·2	4·8	12·0
1967–68	…	…	…	5·2	6·1	3·8	12·0
1968–69	…	…	…	4·2	7·1	6·6	13·4
1969–70	…	…	…	1·4	6·4	6·5	12·5
1970–71	…	…	…	5·4	4·1	6·2	11·5
1971–72	…	…	…	-18·2	5·1	7·2	12·6
1972–73	…	…	…	-7·1	5·8	7·3	14·9
1973–74	…	…	…	-22·8	3·0	5·4	16·9
							(provisional)
(a) Operating profit after depreciation/average net assets employed. Source: National Coal Board
(b)Operating profit after depreciation/average net assets employed. Source: Electricity Council.
(c) Trading profit after depreciation/average net assets employed. Source: British Gas Corporation.
(d) Net trading income/net trading assets at historic costs, based on Department of Industry analysis of company accounts. Source: Monopolies and Mergers Commission Accountancy Staff.
* From 1955 to 1962 inclusive the National Coal Board figures relate to calendar years.

I will write to my hon. Friend and will place a copy of my reply in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, under the offshore credit scheme, the amount of credit obtained is deemed to be expenditure under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 in addition to the interest relief grants on the credit obtained; and, if so, on what basis.

No.

asked the Secretary or State for Energy what was the net return on assets since 1955 for the nationalised industries for which he is responsible as compared with privately-owned companies.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th February 1975; Vol. 887, c. 15], gave the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the total motorway mileage in the United Kingdom is; and how this compares with West Germany, Italy, Holland and France, respectively.

At the end of 1974 a total of approximately 1,320 miles of motorway had been completed in the United Kingdom.Up-to-date figures for West Germany, Italy, Holland and France are not readily available and differences in national standards would make them not directly comparable but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will be able to report on the consideration being given to the need for an order to exempt storage spaces assessed separately from dwellings from the effects of the rating surcharge provisions.

My right hon. Friend proposes to lay before Parliament on 5th March an order exempting from the rating surcharge storage spaces and car parking spaces assessed separately from dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects that work on the new Barnet bypass section of the Al at Bignells Corner will now be completed; and what are the reasons for the delay.

The contract for this scheme provided for its completion in November 1974, but, owing to delays occasioned by the three-day working week in the early part of last year and bad weather in the summer and autumn, the contract period was extended to March 1975. The contractor has now requested a further extension and this is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will con- tinue to exercise his powers under the Transport Act 1968 to purchase blighted land in the former Channel Tunnel terminal area; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have agreed with the local authorities concerned that a limited zone of interest will need to be retained for possible future Channel Tunnel purposes. It will comprise the former terminal area and immediately associated sites. Within that zone I shall be prepared to consider buying properties in cases where blight is causing hardship.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government are entering into or are party to any formal option arrangements with the French Government or commercial companies for the recommencement of work on the Channel Tunnel project.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in settling the question of compensation consequent upon the abandonment of the Channel Tunnel project; and what is his latest estimate of the final cost to the taxpayer.

The compensation due to the Channel Tunnel Companies is set out in Agreement No. 2. While I await final accountants' certificates, it appears that the total payable is some £17 million, half of which falls on Her Majesty's Government. Her Majesty's Government's share in respect of guaranteed funds expended by 27th January 1975 is expected to be of the order of £4·5 million, and of additional guaranteed funds expended by 22nd March to be some £3 million. Total obligations on Her Majesty's Government accruing by that date will, therefore, be of the order of £16 million. It is not yet, however, possible to give a precise estimate of subsequent expenditure and, in particular, of the costs of ensuring the safety of the works and of cancellation charges on the principal contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will extend the granting of facilities to sub-post offices to act as agents for the issuing of road fund licences to include Shirebrook Post Office.

There has been no general extension of these facilities to sub-post offices, but I will consider the particular case and write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now introduce legislation to remove the disqualifications from the councillors who were disqualified for refusing to implement the Housing Finance Act 1972.

A Bill to give effect to the proposals outlined in my statement of 6th November 1974 will be introduced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the 133,248 jobs known to the Location of Offices Bureau to have been moved out of London in 1973–74 were moved to Scotland.

The Location of Offices Bureau reports that since it was set up in 1963 firms which are clients of the bureau have moved or decided to move 133,248 jobs from central London. 320 of these moves are to Scotland. The figures do not, of course cover dispersal of Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend to the City of London, the London borough of the City of Westminster and the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea the parking exemptions currently in force in Scotland whereby disabled persons can leave their vehicles at places where waiting is prohibited and in parking bays without charge and without limitation on time.

The parking exemptions throughout Great Britain allow parking of vehicles displaying the "orange badge" without charge or time limit at parking meters, and without time limit on dotted yellow lines. On continuous yellow lines in Scotland such vehicles may park without time limit when there is no ban on loading or unloading. A statutory instrument will be laid to effect similar concessions in England and Wales from 1st June although limited to waiting periods of two hours.Before these national schemes were started it was decided that the inner London boroughs should be exempted because of their special traffic and parking problems. Following a recent review with the local authorities concerned it was decided that the places mentioned in the Question should remain exempted, but these local authorities operate concessionary schemes for the disabled who live or work in their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Government have not agreed with the French Government the median line for oil exploration between the two countries in the South-Western approaches; and why it has not been mapped.

The British and French Governments have agreed to submit the delimitation of the Continental Shelf boundary to arbitration. Her Majesty's Government have prepared maps of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place between Her Majesty's Government and the UN High Commissioner for Namibia concerning the recent elections in Ovamboland.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers last had informal discussions with Mr. MacBride when he passed through London on 10th January shortly before the Ovamboland election. A SWAPO delegation who called on me recently raised the subject of the election, and we had a useful discussion on the conduct of the election.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with recruitment procedures for staff administering the issue of entry certificates in the Indian sub-continent.

Yes. Entry clearance officers in posts in the sub-continent are members of the Diplomatic Service or members of the Immigration Service seconded to the Diplomatic Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have now been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged.

267 people have been detained in Great Britain under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act and the supplemental order made under it. Nineteen have been charged with offences in Great Britain, eight of them with murder, one with conspiracy to cause an explosion, six with unlawful possession of explosives, two with theft, one with robbery and one with assisting offenders. In addition, one was returned to the Irish Republic and there charged with robbery.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have now been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act the charges have been brought.

Three in Great Britain, under Section 1(1)(b) of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have now been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland, and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful.

Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 23 people, 19 of whom have been removed, 10 to Northern Ireland and nine to the Irish Republic. Ten of the 23 made representations objecting to the order. I reconsidered these cases and revoked four of the orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet able to announce the result of his consideration of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on the Constitution in respect of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The Royal Commission commended the proposals put forward by the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for earlier consultation with the Island Governments about proposed international treaties by which they may be affected. It also recommended that a Standing Committee similar to that with the Isle of Man should be established for any other island that wished to have one; that, preferably, there should be a single Committee for all the Islands; and that such an all-Islands Committee should be expanded to form an all-Islands Council, with an independent element and the rôles both of consultation and of reporting to the Privy Council on any petitions from the Governments of the Islands or from individuals there that the Privy Council might choose to refer to it.Following consultation with representatives of the Island Governments, arrangements are being made to implement, as soon as practicable, the proposals concerning international treaties. The recommendation that further consultative bodies should be established did not, however, find general favour and will not, therefore, be generally implemented. I have agreed, however, that a Standing Committee should be established on those common interests of the United Kingdom and Alderney that do not impinge on the functions exercised in Alderney by the States of Guernsey.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many of his departmental officials are seconded to either the permanent United Kingdom representative in Brussels or the Commission of the Common Market.

Four departmental officials are seconded to Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service and are serving under the direction of the permanent United Kingdom representative in Brussels from either the Departments of Industry, Trade, or Prices and Consumer Protection; the staff of the three Departments are managed on a common basis. In addition, 11 officials from these Departments have been given permission to take up appointments with the Commission of the Common Market.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now make a further statement about his discussions with the directors of Ferranti Limited relating to Government financial assistance for the company; how many meetings have taken place between his officials and those of the company since 1st January 1975; when the last of these meetings was held; what amount of financial assistance was discussed; how large a shareholding in the company was to be acquired; and when he expects the negotiations to be finalised.

The meetings which officials have had with directors of Ferranti Limited were to prepare for the discussions I shall shortly be having with representatives of the employees and the management. Discussion of Government financial assistance was only exploratory and was based on information which has since had to be revised. Since 1st January 1975 there have been numerous meetings between my officials and the company, the latest of which was on 21st February. Proposals will be formulated as soon as practicable, but I must first be able to take account of views expressed at the forthcoming tripartite talks and the results of revised studies of the financial prospects of the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much money has so far been provided to Ferranti Limited to assist the company with its day-to-day expenditure.

A guarantee has been given under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972 to Ferranti Limited's principal banker of additional overdraft facilities, at present, to a maximum of £6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry on what basis he estimated that male unemployment in Kirkby is some 9·5 per cent. in view of the fact that Kirkby does not constitute a travel-to-work area for the purpose of such calculations.

The figure of 9·5 per cent. given in the Government's announcement of 1st November was the latest available figure for male unemployment in the Liverpool travel-to-work area at that time.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the progress of his inquiries into the future of the British footwear manufacturing industry in the light of the increasing volume of imports from low-wage countries.

In my reply to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham) on 3rd February—[Vol. 885, c. 934–5]—I stated that a steering group to oversee a study of the footwear industry was being set up. It is now hoped that the first meeting of the group will take place next month. The effect on the industry of current levels of low-cost import competition will certainly be one central item on its agenda.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) whether £15 million represents the total of sums earmarked and payments due under the wool textile industry scheme and falling within the financial limit specified for Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972;

The total sum committed under the wool textile scheme is £15 million of which £1·8 million has been paid up to the end of January. The other £33 million is the estimated amount of payments which will be made to assist eligible projects under the terms of the offshore credit scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider granting permits for unattended parking inside control zones in Northern Ireland towns to manufacturers' agents whose vehicles have been thoroughly searched on entry.

I am considering what can be done to permit vehicles, in certain circumstances, to be admitted to control zones and to be parked there.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when it is proposed to implement the salary increases recommended by the Houghton Committee in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Education intends to pay the increases with the March salary payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many houses have been searched by the RUC for illegally held firearms in the Andersontown area of Belfast since the IRA cease-fire; and with what result;(2) how many houses have been searched by the RUC for illegally held firearms in the Markets area of Belfast since the IRA cease-fire; and with what result;(3) how many houses have been searched by the RUC for illegally held firearms in the Short Strand area of Belfast since the IRA cease-fire; and with what result:(4) how many houses have been searched by the RUC for illegally held firearms in the New Lodge Road area of Belfast since the IRA cease-fire; and with what result:(5) how many houses have been searched by the RUC for illegally held firearms in the Falls Road area of Belfast since the IRA cease-fire; and with what result.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will give particulars of licences for firearms withdrawn since he began his recent policy of restriction.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the present policy on the holding of firearms in Northern Ireland.

The grant or renewal of a firearms certificate in Northern Ireland is a matter for decision by the Chief Constable, who must be satisfied that the applicant has good reason to acquire the particular weapon, and that he can be permitted to have it

"without danger to the public safety or to the peace".

There is a right of appeal to the Secretary of State.As of 31st January 1975 there were 101,839 legally held weapons in Northern Ireland, including those held by members of the reserve security forces. Between 1971 and 1974, 1,403 legally held weapons were stolen. These figures point to the need for careful control.Some 50,000 firearm certificates are due for renewal in 1975. In general, people already holding certificates will be able to have them renewed. Special attention, however, is being paid to the granting of new certificates, especially in urban areas. For example, applications are closely scrutinised to ensure that a person who wants to acquire a sporting weapon has a valid reason for doing so. New authorisations in respect of.22 rifles are generally confined to farmers who have problems such as sheep worrying. New applications in respect of weapons for personal protection will in general continue to be granted where it is shown that there is a definite threat to the life of the individual in question. Where a person has had his certificate revoked or varied since 1st January 1975 it is open to him to make a fresh application.The fees payable on the issue or renewal of firearm certificates are intended to cover administrative costs. These have risen steeply since 1970 when the previous rates were introduced due both to inflation and to the greater commitment of police time to the investigation of applications which the security situation has made necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions use has been made of the incident centres; and by whom.

Some 200 reports have been made to Government incident centres by Provisional Sinn Fein and by the security forces. In a number of cases the use of the centres has made it possible to remove misunderstandings which otherwise might have endangered the cease-fire.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will introduce appropriate legislation to ensure that only reputable and responsible organisations are allowed to set up and maintain records on individuals for credit-rating purposes.

The Consumer Credit Act 1974 makes appropriate provision in that it will require credit reference agencies to obtain a licence from the Director General of Fair Trading. I hope to make an order relating to the introduction of licensing under the Act in the course of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) if she will introduce legislation to compel organisations which compile records on individuals for credit-rating purposes to submit to any person in respect of whom any business man or trade has made a complaint, and whom they propose to list on this file, full details of the allegations which have been made.(2) if she will introduce legislation to enable any person aggrieved by the fact that an organisation which compiles records on individuals for credit-rating purposes proposes, in the light of information received from a trade or business man, to include his name upon the files, to bring proceedings in the courts for a declaration that the information given to the organisation was inaccurate and untrue and for an order that the organisation removes his name from its files.

No. The relevant provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 which I expect to bring into operation this year will give the individual a right to obtain from a credit reference agency a copy of any file on him and to require the correction of any wrong information. Where he cannot agree with the agency on the terms of the correction he will be able to apply for an order to the Director General of Fair Trading.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to assist cases of hardship experienced by parents of children attending grant-aided schools where fees have increased by 50 per cent. by introducing a fee remission scheme or some other form of relief.

A fee remission scheme has never been part of the grant-aid system in Scotland and I see no prospect of introducing one at this stage. The position of pupils who are already attending grant-aided schools at the time we begin to phase out grant is, however, one of the matters we shall be discusing with the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers obtained professional qualifications in Scottish teacher training colleges in 1974, 1973 and 1972, respectively; what percentage of these totals took up teaching posts in Scotland or outside Scotland, respectively; and what percentage obtained other employment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on 19th November 1974 to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro)—[Vol. 881, c. 407–8.]—and on 27th February 1975 to the hon. Member for Inverness (Mr. Johnston). I will write to the hon. Member when information is available about teachers qualifying and entering service in Scottish schools in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when pelican crossings in Scone and Invergowrie will be completed.

I hope to authorise a site for a pelican crossing in Scone shortly. Time must then be allowed for the delivery, installation and testing of the equipment. I have no proposals before me for a pelican crossing at Invergowrie.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the £246·6 million spent in 1973–74 on the hospital service in Scotland was spent on goods produced in Scotland; and what proportion of the £34·7 million spent in 1973–74 on consumable goods for the hospital service in Scotland was spent on goods produced in Scotland.

It is not possible to say how much of the £34·7 million for consumables was spent on goods produced in Scotland. Virtually all the rest of the £246·6 million, some 85 per cent., was spent on services which were provided locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the school building allocations for each local authority in 1975–76; and if he will also list the total which each of these authorities requested.

The information is as follows:

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL BUILDING
1975–76
Education Authority	Amount allocated (at 1975 prices) £'000	Amount requested £'000
Burghs
Aberdeen	334	1,126
Dundee	280	1,610
Edinburgh	849	3,529
Glasgow	1,528	6,900
Counties
Aberdeen	2,459*	6,257
Angus	858	3,780
Argyll	184*	465
Ayr	1,044	8,750
Banff	397	939
Berwick	36	312
Bute	4	246
Caithness	13	275
Clackmannan	20	1,038
Dumfries	37	1,178
Dunbarton	1,162	5,430
East Lothian	208	1,846
Fife	915	6,522
Inverness	1,790*	5,057
Kincardine	141	433
Kirkcudbright	13	100
Lanark	6,424	18,325†
Midlothian	2,604	4,395
Moray and Nairn	674	2,130
Orkney	245*	840
Peebles	4	130
Perth and Kinross	213	4,765
Renfrew	2,547	3,497
Ross and Cromarty	1,026*	4,030
Roxburgh	361	672
Selkirk	263	225
Stirling	3,859	7,060
Sutherland	7	70
West Lothian	1,948	4,950
Wigtown	523	657
Zetland	9*	498
* Partial allocations pending further consideration of needs arising for North Sea oil-related developments.
† For 1975–76 and 1976–77 together. Total amount for 1975–76 not specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the White Paper on Land (Command Paper 5730) from the Scottish Council (Development and Industry), the Scottish TUC, and the Scottish Council of the CBI.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now introduce a special supplement for lone parents and their children who are in receipt of supplementary benefit, as recommended in the Finer Report.

No. The report itself recognised that the need for extra expenses varies among one-parent families. The Government consider that since it has not been shown that all one-parent families have measurably greater needs than other families receiving supplementary benefit their special individual needs should continue to be met through the discretionary powers of the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations she intends to have with the main organisations concerned with occupational pensions schemes about the matters in the Social Security Pensions Bill which are left to regulations.

I have arranged for a consultative document to be prepared in my Department setting out the regulation-making powers in the Social Security Pensions Bill and indicating the way in which they might be used, subject to parliamentary approval. Copies have been sent to the Trades Union Congress, the Confederation of British Industry and the main pensions organisations, each of which has been invited to comment on the document if it so wishes. A copy has also been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the limit of £200 per employee for preferential claims against insolvent employers was established; what the current equivalent will be in the light of present-day values and if he will increase the limit.

The limit was established in the Companies Act 1974. I understand that the current equivalent to the £200 limit at the present-day values is about £765. Proposals for restoring the value of monetary limits are being considered in connection with possible future insolvency legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the interim and final distributions to Nation Life creditors, mentioned in his reply to the hon. Member for Croydon, North-West on 24th February 1975, will be paid.

The liquidator will do all he can to hasten distributions to the creditors of Nation Life Insurance Company Limited, in liquidation, but he cannot yet say when he will be in a position to make payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set out the latest available past actual figures and future forecasts of foreign holidaymakers who visit this country, of British people holidaying abroad and of British people holidaying in the United Kingdom, showing in the case of British and foreign holidaymakers in the United Kingdom the number of nights spent by holidaymakers in each tourist board region.

The tables below set out the latest information available. It is not customary to venture official forecasts of the kind requested

TABLE 1(a)
	Million nights
Overseas visitors on holiday to the United Kingdom (b)
1973	44·8
1974 first half	14·3
United Kingdom residents going abroad on holiday (b)
1973	98·2
1974 first half	25·9
Source: International Passenger Survey.
(a) Futher information, based on numbers of visits, is given in the Business Monitor, M6, Overseas Travel and Tourism, published by HMSO.
(b) Includes visitors from the Irish Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will alter the criteria for grants for house soundproofing to include take-off routes as well as landing routes, and thus relieve the aircraft noise problem as it affects residents of the London borough of Ealing.

The areas around Heathrow within which noise insulation grants are paid are defined in relation to a noise and number index which covers all aircraft noise, including take-offs and approaches. As I have told the House, I am currently reviewing the schemes at Heathrow and Gatwick.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will list each incident of oil pollution in British territorial waters which came to the notice of his Department during 1974, and which was considered to be an actual or potential threat to the coastline together with (a) the date and location of the incident, (b) the source of the oil, (c) details of any oil which came in to the coastline and (d) the approximate cost of dealing with the slick.

There were 67 confirmed sightings of oil slicks in territorial waters in 1974, but none was considered to threaten major pollution of the coastline and hence warrant the deployment of the Department's clearance capability.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what the percentage increase in British exports was to the EEC, the United States of America and to the rest of the world between 1972 and 1974.

87, 45 and 65 per cent. by value, respectively—on the "Overseas Trade Statistics" basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) in the light of the latest traffic indications, what is the Government's policy in regard to the development of a third London airport;(2) if there have been any changes in his policy regarding the use of Stansted Airport, in the light of the latest future traffic indications since he announced that Maplin is not to proceed.

Following the decision to abandon the Maplin airport project we are now considering the views of local authorities and other organisations as the basis for more detailed consultations on the way in which future London area air traffic should be handled. No decisions concerning the development of a third. London airport or the future of Stansted will be taken in advance of these consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what observations he has had from the British Airports Authority on the subject of a third London airport since he announced that Maplin will not proceed.

The British Airports Authority is contributing to the work which is in hand on how future London area traffic should be handled.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has received following the latest increase in the volume of imports of footwear from the low-wage countries of Eastern Europe, Brazil, Korea and Taiwan, in connection with use of his anti-dumping powers; and if he will make a statement on the steps he intends to take.

I have received no representations seeking anti-dumping action against footwear imports from any of these countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are his plans for the future use of Stansted airport.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 17th February.—[Vol. 886, c. 291–2.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent propery values, and in particular disproportionate changes in property values, are reflected in gross domestic product and in the rate of growth of gross domestic product.

The financial gains or losses resulting from changes in the value of existing assets, including property, are excluded from gross domestic product, since they do not arise from the current output of domestic factors of production.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many attempts known to the authorities in England and Wales were made in each of the last three available years to smuggle firearms or ammunition in the country; if these weapons were seized in each case; and what proceedings were taken against those responsible.

The number of attempts known to the customs to smuggle arms or ammunition into England and Wales were: 1972, 7; 1973, 9; 1974, 10. All the weapons were seized, and proceedings were taken in each case as appropriate under the Customs and Excise Act 1952, the Firearms Act 1968, military law or for conspiracy under common law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing average earnings per head net of direct taxes and national insurance contributions, in 1950, 1960 and 1974 for each of the following groups: senior Cabinet Ministers, holders of offices and appointments covered by the Boyle Top Salary Review, GPs and dentists within the National Health Service, head teachers in local authority schools, and the five groups who headed the manual workers' wages league in 1974; and if he will show in each case the percentage increases between 1950 and 1974.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th February

TABLE I
						Net annual income after tax and national insurance contributions			Increase in net income between 1950–51 and 1974–75
						1950–51	1960–61	1974–75
						£	£	£	Per cent.
Cabinet Ministers (excluding the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor)		…	…	…	…	2,546	3,087	7,206	183·1
Posts covered by the Top Salaries Review Body.
Higher Civil Service
Head of the Civil Service			…	…	…	2,127	3,957	8,524	300·8
Permanent Secretary		…	…	…	…	2,033	3,792	8,254	306·0
Deputy Secretary		…	…	…	…	1,633	3,066	6,510	298·6
Under-Secretary		…	…	…	…	1,407	2,520	5,640	300·7
Armed Forces
Field Marshal		…	…	…	…	2,153	3,449	8,254	283·4
General	…	…	…	…	…	2,016	3,171	7,798	286·8
Lt.-General	…	…	…	…	…	1,845	2,862	6,602	257·8
Major-General		…	…	…	…	1,651	2,518	5,787	250·4
Nationalised Industries
Chairman (major boards)			…	…	…	3,358	4,703	9,853	193·4
Members (major boards)			…	…	…	2,546	3,974	7,878	209·5
Chairman (intermediate boards)				…	…	2,821	4,284	9,131	223·7
Members (intermediate boards)				…	…	2,221	3,643	6,880	209·8
Chairman (minor boards)			…	…	…	2,302	3,643	7,902	243·3
Members (minor boards)			…	…	…	1,846	2,651	6,454	249·7
The Judiciary
Lord Chief Justice		…	…	…	…	3,271	4,703	8,902	172·2
High Court Judges		…	…	…	…	2,546	4,139	8,159	220·5
County Court Judge/Circuit Judges					…	1,407	2,829	6,060	330·6
Metropolitan Magistrates			…	…	…	1,407	2,546	5,458	287·8
Masters and Registrars of the Supreme Court	…	…	…	…	…	1,203	2,337	5,619	367·2
Note:
In most cases the gross salary used for the calculations was the fixed rate for the job on 1st January 1950, 1960 and 1974 respectively. In other cases the gross salary was an average or a general level.
Source: Civil Service Department.