asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to pay an official visit to Singapore.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for such a visit at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take in preparation for the summit conference on European security and co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs if he will make a statement on the steps now taken in preparation for the summit conference on European security and co-operation.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in his statement to the House on 18th January, we believe it would be right to hold the final stage of the CSCE at summit level provided that a settlement can be reached on a limited number of outstanding issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will amend the wording of Section 7 of the passport application form B so that anyone who has been resident at the same address for five years can countersign passport applications.

It would be undesirable to amend the existing rules pending the completion of the present review of passport procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice is given to officials in his Department in connection with the letting of their homes in the United Kingdom during periods of service abroad.

Staff who let their houses during service abroad are advised to give notice to tenants as appropriate under the Rent Acts that they retain the right to regain possession on return to this country. They are also advised to consult a solicitor in drawing up the tenancy agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Rhodesian régime and the Portuguese authorities concerning the case of Mr. Kenneth McIntosh ; and if he will make a statement.

We have asked the Portuguese Government for an explanation of the circumstances in which Mr. McIntosh was returned to Rhodesia on 22nd February. They have told us that an inquiry is being made, and have assured us in the meantime that Mr. McIntosh's return was not in line with their policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, following his visit to Moscow and talks with the Russian leaders, whether further action is proposed to improve British-Soviet relations.

I have instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador in Moscow to put wide-ranging proposals to the Soviet authorities on how the recent visit to the Soviet Union of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and myself might be followed up in ways beneficial to the further improvement of Anglo-Soviet relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present state of relations with Cambodia.

Her Majesty's Government maintain an embassy in Phnom Penh and have diplomatic relations with the present Khmer Government, as we have had with their predecessors since independence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise in the United Nations as a threat to world peace the current civil war in Cambodia.

The situation in Cambodia is serious, and those British subjects who wished to leave were evacuated yesterday, while the Embassy remains on a greatly reduced basis. But I do not think that it would help if the matter were raised at the United Nations. The Khmer Government said that they would negotiate unconditionally for a cease-fire and a political settlement, but this has been rejected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will actively encourage the establishment of a supranational authority capable of effectively guiding and supervising the development of nuclear generation.

Since 1957 the International Atomic Energy Agency has been charged with the function of encouraging and assisting research on, and development and practical application of, atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world. I see no need for an additional authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Spanish Government about the future constitutional status of Gibraltar.

There have been no talks about Gibraltar with the Spanish Government since May 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches have been made to him for the nuclear-powered ship, the "Matsu ", to be received in British ports.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to pay an official visit to the Middle East.

I have no plans at present to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Great Britain and East Germany.

We recognised the GDR in December 1972 and established diplomatic relations in February 1973. A 10-year Economic Co-operation Agreement was signed in December 1973 and a Road Haulage Agreement in November 1974. There have also been negotiations on a consular convention, cultural relations and outstanding financial and property questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his talks with His Highness the Sultan of Brunei.

My right hon. Friend met the Sultan of Brunei on 25th February. My right hon. and noble Friend has since conducted talks with the Sultan. These have now been adjourned while both sides study certain questions further.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the USSR and East German authorities about increasing the permitted maximum altitude at which civil aircraft, using the three air corridors from West Germany to Berlin, may fly.

We have not had any discussions on Berlin air services with either the Soviet or the East German authorities. There is no legal limitation on the height at which British civilian or military aircraft may fly while in the corridors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the use of napalm bombs in the Middle, East, Indo-China and Ethiopia, and the suffering they cause, he will initiate moves for the use of napalm bombs and napalm to be banned internationally under the Geneva Convention.

As I said on 20th February in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) Her Majesty's Government want the international community to make practical progress towards effective controls on napalm and other "weapons which may cause unnecessary suffering or have indiscriminate effects ". We sent a strong team to the Conference of Government Experts held at Lucerne last October on this subject. We are playing a full part in the current discussions, which cover napalm and other incendiaries, in the Ad Hoc Committee of the Diplomatic Conference on the Reaffirmation and Development of Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflict in Geneva.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received during the past 12 months from Commonwealth countries regarding British membership of the EEC.

The Commonwealth countries naturally regard the question of British membership as one which we must decide for ourselves and there have been no official representations on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with those EFTA countries which did not enter the Common Market in 1972 about the present attitude to British membership.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commowealth Renegotiation Affairs what discussions he has had with those EFTA countries which did not enter the Common Market in 1972 about their present attitude to British membership.

We have had no formal discussions on this. But the Governments of the EFTA countries are, of course, aware of the reasons for our renegotiation and for our decision to submit the outcome to the British people.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied that the renegotiation of the terms on which the United Kingdom entered the EEC has ensured adequate Government freedom to pursue the economic and regional policies of their choice.

The communication which the Commission have addressed to the Council on the co-ordination of regional aids is acceptable to Her Majesty's Government, subject to debate in Parliament and to the decision of the Government on the outcome of renegotiation as a whole. We have encountered no specific problem in the pursuit of our broad economic policies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the current state of negotiations with the EEC countries.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the statement that my right hon. Friend will make later this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is now able to make a statement on the progress of the renegotiation of the terms of Great Britain's membership of the EEC.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on the Dublin meeting of EEC Heads of Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the provisional agenda for the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.

:The next meeting of the Council is on 18th March. It will be attended by Finance Ministers. In additional to a general examination of the economic situation in the Community, including consideration of the revised draft economic policy guidelines for 1975, Ministers are expected to discuss a draft regulation amending the statutes of the European Monetary Co-operation Fund. They will also consider the Community's units of account.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made to the provisional agenda of the Council of Ministers since his last statement.

The agendas of the meetings of the Council so far this month have closely followed the forecast of business deposited in the House. The main additions have been outstanding renegotiation issues discussed by the Foreign Affairs Council and my right hon. Friend's statement to the Council on certain problems relating to the steel industry. The Development Council is likely additionally to discuss the harmonisation and co-ordination of members' aid programmes and the allocation of the second tranche of the Community contribution to the UN emergency measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next intends to pay an official visit to Brussels.

I propose to visit Brussels for a Council of Ministers meeting on 5th-6th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the regional development grants will be affected by the agreement reached on financial aid from the EEC's Regional Development Fund.

The Regional Development Fund will not affect the arrangements for paying regional development grants in this country. We expect regional development grants to qualify for Fund assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will discontinue his Department's policy of discouraging agricultural attaches in EEC countries from accepting engagements to speak to farming audiences in Great Britain.

No. The officials concerned are fully occupied with their duties overseas which are primarily to advise the ambassador and report to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on agricultural and food developments in the countries in which they serve and to explain our polices in those countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has yet completed an assessment of the effects on Great Britain of withdrawal from the Common Market.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the latest conclusions of his review of the consequences of a British withdrawal from the EEC.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State told my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Marquand) on 29th January—[Vol. 885, c. 391.]—the implications of the United Kingdom's continued membership of or withdrawal from the EEC are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made in the EEC renegotiations for Wales to have direct access to the EEC Council of Ministers, following the establishment of a Welsh Assembly.

In discussions in the EEC Council of Ministers Her Majesty's Ministers take full account of the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the European Economic Community's policy towards Cyprus.

The EEC Association Agreement with the Republic of Cyprus (Cmnd 5694) entered into force on 1st June 1973. This Association Agreement provides for free trade between the Community and Cyprus for a large number of products. The agreement also provides for the gradual introduction of a customs union.

APPRENTICE TRAINING IN SCOTLAND 1970–74
					Number of Young People completing Training Periods in the years ended
Industrial Training Beard					31stDecember1974	31stDecember1973	31stDecember1972	31stDecember1971	31stDecember1970
Agricultural		…	…	…	135	215	130	106	79	See Note 1
Air Transport		…	…	…	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Carpet	…	…	…	…	7	10	3	5	10
Ceramics	…	…	…	…	15	IS	N/A	N/A	N/A
Chemical	…	…	…	…	17*	13*	10*	10*	10*
Clothing	…	…	…	…	N/A	35	43	48	29	See Note 2
Construction		…	…	…	1,697	1,812	2,031	2,111	1,992
Cotton	…	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Distributive		…	…	…	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Engineering		…	…	…	1,570	1,822	2,101	2,507	2,646	See Note 3
Food/Drink		…	…	…	N/A	N/A	99*	113*	99*	See Note 2
Footwear	…	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Foundry	…	…	…	…	N/A	44	60	52	15	See Note 2
Furniture	…	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hotel and Catering			…	…	169	168	139	86	105	See Note 4
Iron and Steel		…	…	…	128	120	130	160	202
Knitting	…	…	…	…	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Man-made fibre		…	…	…	3	5	Nil	Nil	Nil
Paper	…	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Petroleum	…	…	…	…	9	11	14	15	11
Printing	…	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	See Note 5
Road Transport		…	…	…	750	800	800	850	800
Rubber and Plastics			…	…	3	11	10	7	Nil	See Note 2
Shipbuilding		…	…	…	575*	516*	570*	514*	579	See Note 2
Wool, Jute and Flax			…	…	80*	83*	83*	84*	115*
Notes:
1. A revised apprentice training scheme introduced in 1974 lays down higher qualifying standards. A new procedure for the award of Craftsman Certificates has resulted in some administrative delays in their issue by the end of the year.
2. The figures are for academic years ending on 31st August.
3. Number of First year certificates issued.
4. Plus 43 award scheme trainees in 1973 and 26 in 1972.
5. It is estimated that between 175 and 185 young people completed apprenticeships in each of the five years 1970 to 1974.
N.A.=Figures are not available.
* Estimated figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many apprentices were produced in Scotland in each of the five years to 31st December 1974, through the agency of each industrial training board.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th February 1975 Vol. 886, c. 83], gave the following information:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that as much of the information requested as is available is given in the following table.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and women aged 50 years or over are registered with the Professional and Executive Register ; what percentage they form of the total registered ; and how the figures compare with those for earlier years.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that on 1st November 1974, the date of the latest age analysis, 10,876 persons aged 50 and over forming 16 per cent. of the total were registered with Professional and Executive Recruitment. Comparable figures for 1970–1973 are as follows :

	Men and Women aged 50 and over	Percentage of total register
1973	11,415	19·9
1972	10,070	15·1
1971	8,559	14·8
1970	7,273	15·5

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building trade workers are unemployed in Wales at present ; and how this position compares with the 1974 figures.

The numbers unemployed in Wales who last worked in construction were 12,646 in February 1975 and 10,569 in February 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the number of young people in Wales who have not obtained a first job after leaving school.

At 10th February the number was 671.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of North Sea oil participation negotiations.

Negotiations are continuing on the basis outlined in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 19th February.—[Vol. 886, c. 1338.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) how many teachers of English have been sent abroad to developing countries in each of the years 1964, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974 ; and, from international sources available to her, how these figures compare with teachers of French sent to developing countries by France in the same years ;(2) to which developing countries were teachers of English sent in each of the years 1964, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 ; and how many were sent to each country.

The numbers of people engaged during the years in question in teaching in developing countries—including volunteers serving under the auspices of the British Volunteer Programme—who were wholly or partially financed from British aid funds, were as follows :

1964	2,673
1970	7,491
1971	7,253
1972	7,392
1973	6,878
1974	Not yet available

They served in more than 120 countries. I will send my hon. Friend a detailed list.I regret that our statistics do not readily show how many of these teach English. Many teachers teach more than one subject of which one may often be English. However, the numbers engaged on my behalf by the British Council specifically for teaching English were :

1964	29
1970	206
1971	234
1972	190
1973	197
1974	197

Statistics issued by the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD show the following numbers of French teachers serving in developing countries. It is not known how many were teachers in French.

1964	27,017
1970	24,777
1971	23,645
1972	22,367
1973	21,735
1974	Not available

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent she affords financial assistance to students from developing countries who attend United Kingdom technical colleges.

Awards to students who are assisted under the aid programme normally cover the cost of air fares, tuition fees, maintenance and other allowances. During 1973, 14,970 overseas students and trainees were assisted under the aid programme at a cost of £10·663 million. They attended courses at different levels of training in all types of higher and further education institutions, including universities, polytechnics, technical colleges and colleges of education, and courses and attachments with industry, business, and research establishments. I regret that a breakdown giving the number who attended technical colleges only is not available.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what commitments have been received by the World Food Council towards the food aid target of £10 million ; and what decision has been taken by the EEC in this connection.

The World Food Council will be holding its inaugural meeting on 23rd to 27th June. I expect donors to make their intentions known then. The EEC has not yet decided what response it should make to the World Food Conference resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review his Department's decision to deny prisoners the right to see their Members of Parliament in private in the light of the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications are pending for the acceptance of Chilean refugees into the United Kingdom.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which 1 gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Hands-worth (Mr. Lee) on 24th February. [Vol. 887, c. 5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to announce the reappointment of the Advisory Council on the Penal System and its membership.

Yes. I have reappointed the Advisory Council with the following membership:

• The Rt. Hon. Sir Kenneth Younger, KBE (Chairman).
• Professor Sir Arthur Armitage.
• Mr. A. Bainton, CBE.
• Mr. Louis Blom-Cooper, QC.
• Mr. A. Goodson, QPM.
• Mr. Derek Gladwin.
• Mr. Milton Hargreaves.
• His Honour Judge Hines, QC.
• The Rt. Hon. the Earl Jellicoe, DSO, MC.
• Mr. R. J. Lowry, QC.
• The Lady Rothschild, MBE.
• Mr. Hugh Sanders, OBE.
• Dr. Peter Scott, CBE.
• The Baroness Scrota of Hampstead.
• Mr. W. R. Stirling.
• Professor Nigel Walker.
• The Hon. Mr. Justice Waller, OBE.
• The Baroness Wootton of Abinger.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of convictions for each of the past five years for each category of drug offences.

I regret that, because of changes in legislation, the information is the form requested is not immediately available. I am having some figures prepared and will send them to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the working of Sections 1 and 2 of the Incitement to Disaffection Act ; and if he will make a statement.

The law on treason and related offences is under review by the Law Commission, and the Incitement to Disaffection Act 1934 falls within this remit. I shall consider whether any changes in the law are desirable when I have the commission's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his departmental review of the conspiracy laws ; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply I gave on 6th February to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer). —[Vol. 885, c. 614–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ascertain through his inspectors what happens to the dogs when they have served their purpose in the cigarette smoke inhalation experiment being conducted by ICI.

At the conclusion of the period of smoking the dogs will be painlessly killed and post-mortem examinations performed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many days and how long each day, both on average, the dogs now being used in the experiment by ICI are forced to inhale tobacco smoke.

Those dogs which smoke tobacco, new smoking material or a mixture of the two, do so for up to five hours a day on five days a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many beagle dogs are likely to be used in the ICI experiment in which they are forced to inhale tobacco smoke.

There are 48 dogs involved in the experiment. They are divided into four groups of 12 each. One group is inhaling the smoke of the new smoking material which it is the object of the experiment to test, one the smoke of tobacco, one a mixture of new smoking material and tobacco, and one is not smoking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to reduce the television licence fee for deaf people.

We have no plans for concessionary television licences to deaf people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what basis and to what extent the Government of the Irish Republic are being asked to contribute to the revenue of the BBC if they are permitted to proceed with their policy of rebroadcasting BBCI throughout the Republic by 1976.

If negotiations for the rebroadcasting of a BBC television channel in the Irish Republic are successful a contribution to the revenue of the BBC will be involved. The basis for and size of the contribution are matters for negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to reduce the difficulties caused to bereaved families in border areas, he will bring forward proposals to abolish or simplify the procedure under which a coroner's warrant must be obtained before a body can be removed from England to Scotland.

The procedure for removing bodies from the jurisdiction of English law is the same wherever the body is going. It could not be altered without legislation, and this would primarily be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services. If the hon. Member will let me know of any special difficulties that have been encountered in particular cases my right hon. Friend and I will consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications were made for variations in maintenance and affiliation orders in the magistrates' courts for each year since 1965 ; and how many of these applications were from women in receipt of supplementary benefit.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to continue the urban aid programme for an indefinite period.

The Urban Programme is naturally kept under review, but I have no present intention of making changes in its operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) adults and (b) children have been repatriated under Section 29 of the Immigration Act 1971 ; and what has been the average cost to the Exchequer of the repatriation of (a) the adults and (b) the children.

I regret that information distinguishing between adults and children is not readily available. By the end of 1974, 144 families comprising 491 individuals had been assisted to leave the country under this scheme, at an average cost to the Exchequer of around £654 a family.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the establishment of the Hampshire County Constabulary ; and to what extent it is up to strength.

On 31st January 1975 the authorised establishment was 2,845 and the strength was 2,658.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement indicating the current rates of pay received by industrial civil servants at present involved in industrial action ; and what increases in pay these civil servants have received since July 1974.

Their pay for a 40-hour week ranges from £40·20 for non-craft employees to £47·41 for craftsmen. This includes basic pay, threshold payments totalling £4·40, London weighting of £7·85 and productivity bonus ranging from £3 for non-craft employees to £4·75 for craftsmen. As will be appreciated, earnings with overtime are generally well in excess of these figures.Since July 1974 they have all had increases in pay totalling £8·29, made up of threshold payments totalling £2·40 and an increase in London weighting of £5·89 which was backdated to 1st April 1974. A few have also had increases in bonus of £1·50 for non-craft employees and £2·50 for craftsmen resulting from the introduction of a new productivity scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many extra classrooms can be provided in Shetland with a grant of £9,000 for school building.

This is a partial allocation intended for minor improvements. Zetland Education Authority has been informed that it will be increased if as a result of North Sea oil-related developments a need for extra accommodation emerges beyond that for which provision has already been made in the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many classrooms he estimates can be built for the £9,000 allocated to Shetland for school building in the year 1974–75.

The sum of £9,000 is a partial allocation for 1975–76 intended for minor improvements. Zetland Education Authority has been informed that it will be increased if as a result of North Sea oil-related developments a need for extra accommodation emerges beyond that for which provision has already been made in the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many "occupiers of land" in Scotland have been convicted of an offence under Section 1 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 ; and what is the average fine for a first offence and a second or subsequent offence, respectively ;(2) how many "occupiers of land" in Scotland have been found guilty of an offence under Section 9 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 ; what is the average fine on the first and the second and subsequent offences, respectively ; and in how many instances the convicted person has had his site licence revoked under Section 9(2) ;(3) how many site licence holders in Scotland have been convicted under Section 11 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 ; and what is the average fine.

Information is not available for the years before 1971. Over the period 1971–73, 11 people were convicted of an offence under Section 1 of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 for a first offence. Two persons were admonished and eight were fined an average of £23. The one person dealt with for a second or subsequent offence under the Act was fined £20. Under Section 9 of the Act, 11 people were convicted over the period 1971–73. One person was admonished and seven were fined an average of £28·50 ; three people were fined an average of £65 for a second or subsequent offence. No site licences were revoked under Section 9(2) of the Act. There were no convictions over the period 1971·73 under Section 11 of the Act. Information is not yet available for the year 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to introduce a Crofters Bill in this Session.

This will depend on parliamentary time being available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the colleges in Scotland which provide courses leading to the Diploma of the Institute of Housing Managers.

Courses attended on a day-release basis and leading to the Diploma in Housing Management are offered at Napier College of Commerce and Technology, Edinburgh, and the Glasgow College of Building and Printing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the case load ratio of clients to social workers in each local authority social services department in Scotland.

The information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the need to cut public expenditure, he will review his 1974 decision to go ahead with the construction of the M54 ; and if he will make a statement.

This road is included in the first stage of the proposed network of routes for heavy lorries and accordingly the intention is to proceed with its construction as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much water, in mgl, is currently being supplied by : (a) Tees Valley and Cleveland Water Board, (b) Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company to the Tyneside area, (c) Tynemouth Corporation Waterworks, (d) Sunderland and South Shields Water Company. (e) Durham County Water Board, (f) Hartlepools Water Company, (g) Darlington Corporation Waterworks, and (h) direct abstraction for industry, respectively ; what are the present estimates in mg1 of demand for water in 1981, 1991 and 2001 by (a) to (h) above ; and when it is expected that the Tyne-Tees transfer works, including the tunnel, will be completed and ready for use.

Following is the information supplied by the Northumbrian Water Authority about present and expected future water consumption in its area. I understand that the aqueducts connecting the rivers Tyne, Wear and Tees are expected to be in operation during 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost to the ratepayers of the Government policy of permitting the freezing of rents in the London area.

This information is not available. The effect of the rent freeze on local authority housing has varied from authority to authority according to the state of the housing revenue accounts. But for most authorities 80 per cent. of any shortfall in the housing revenue account in 1974–75 has been met by housing subsidies, and the whole of the remainder has been taken into account in the rate support grant settlement for this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what work has been done by his Department on the use of pneumatic pipelines for the transmission of waste by capsules.

Work has been sponsored by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory into the technical feasibility of transporting waste materials in pneumatic pipeline systems. A working party set up by the four county councils in the Yorkshire and Humberside area, on which my Department is repre- casts of demand in 1981, 1991 and 2001 ; the actual and forecast future direct abstraction for industry :seated, has commissioned a specialist study of pipeline transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a major pipeline is envisaged for the transmission of colliery spoil and flash from Yorkshire to the Humber estuary.

The possibility of a pipeline, together with its possible size and route, is one of several means of transporting solid wastes now being investigated by a working group representing waste disposal authorities in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Public Health Act so as to give occupants of privately owned accommodation protection against nuisance caused by pigeons, similar to the protection enjoyed by some council tenants under local authority regulations.

No. Local authorities already have powers under the Public Health Acts to deal with nuisance caused either by the keeping of pigeons or by wild pigeons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish his White Paper on sport and recreation.

After the Whitsun Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now seek powers to make mandatory the installation of district heating in new local authority building schemes.

No, but in the right circumstances, generally where demand is substantial and concentrated, district heating is worth while and I shall encourage it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Government policy on the provision of gipsy caravan sites.

The provision of gipsy sites is, by law, the responsibility of the local authorities. The Government believe that the many problems arising from unauthorised camping can only be solved by providing enough official sites and our policy is to give authorities all possible advice and assistance in carrying out that responsibility. My Department has recently appointed an advisory officer for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many classified unfit houses there are still waiting to be cleared in the North-West Region of England.

GREAT BRITAIN
£ million
						1973–74	1974–75	1975–76
Central Government subsidies		…	…	…	…	398·8	640·6	713·7
Rate fund contributions	…	…	…	…	…	126·0	182·9	199·4
Rent rebates and allowances		…	…	…	…	210·9	253·6	291·2
Total subsidies	…	…	…	…	…	735·7	1,077·1	1,204·3

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further progress is proposed in the centralisation of vehicle licensing ; and if he will make a statement.

With effect from 1st April the records of some 2 million vehicles

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies I gave him on Wednesday 4th December 1974.—[Vol. 882, c. 523–4, 536 and 7.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what levels of local authority housing rents have been assumed in the latest Public Expenditure White Paper (Command Paper No. 5879) estimates for the gross total of subsidies for the years 1975 to 1979.

For 1975–76 the estimates assume that average unrebated weekly rents in England are 45p per week higher than in 1974–75. For 1976–77 and later years the estimates assume broadly that rents remain constant in real terms, for given standards of accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the size of the special element of subsidy to provide relief to rents after the rent freeze of 1974–75, as referred to on page 71 of Command Paper No. 5879.

Entitlement to this element of housing subsidy payable for 1975–76 is estimated at £33 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a breakdown of the total figures given for subsidies in 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76 on page 71 of Command Paper No. 5879.

The figures are broken down as follows:with registration marks including the suffix L, M or N—and on the road before 1st October 1974—will start to be transferred to the Driver and Vehicles Licensing Centre at Swansea. The record for each vehicle will be transferred when the licence is renewed. This process will be automatic, and owners need take no special steps.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many additional firms registered with the Price Commission under the requirement to do so by 1st March.

Some 9,000. Returns are still coming in.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will make publicly available the report of the inquiry into the youth services which his predecessor commissioned from Professor John Eggleston.

The Department met the cost of the research but does not normally itself arrange publication in such cases. Approval has now been given for the report to be published in full ; publication of a synopsis was approved last November.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to increase the number of places made available at United Kingdom technical colleges for students from developing countries.

The choice of which students to admit must remain at the discretion of the colleges and their maintaining authorities, but I am, of course, very keen to see technical colleges making an important contribution in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the minimum requirements in O and A levels, and their equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland, which students from the United Kingdom need before they can be accepted as medical students in the United Kingdom.

Admissions are a matter for the institution concerned, but applicants must satisfy both the general entry requirements of the university and the special requirements of the medical faculty or school. These vary, but full details are given in "A Compendium of University Entrance Requirements for First Degree Courses in the United Kingdom 1975–76 ", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to close the Mary Ward College of Education, Keyworth, Nottingham ; and. if so, why.

The Governors of the Mary Ward College of Education and the Catholic Education Council agreed to my proposal that the college should cease to admit students to initial teacher training under the arrangements described in my Department's Circular No. 7/73. The last intake of such students was accepted in September 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the total cost to public funds of legal representation of internees and detainees appearing before the Commissioners at the Maze and Magilligan Prisons.

The total cost to public funds of legal representation of persons whose cases came before the Commissioners and the Detention Appeal Tribunal at the Maze up to 7th March 1975 was £245,500. Cases have not been heard at Magilligan Prison.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek to amend the law in respect of compensation in Northern Ireland so that the calculation of awards by the courts does not differ significantly between members of the security forces and civilians.

I am reviewing the operation of the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968. All claims under the Act are determined by the courts, which make no distinction between members of the security forces and civilians, either as victims or as dependants.The Act, however, does require the courts, in calculating their award, to take into account certain statutory and other benefits payable to the claimant. This may lead to significant differences in awards but not in total benefit received.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he has taken to publicise the regional rate for 1975–76.

An order made by the Department of Finance striking the regional rate for 1975–76 was laid before Parliament on 23rd January. The following steps have been or will be taken to draw attention to the striking of the regional rate:(1) the order was placed on sale to the general public at Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Belfast on 17th January 1975 ;(2) the Department issued an explanatory statement about the striking of the regional rate to the media through the Northern Ireland Government's Press and Information Office on 4th February ;(3) the Department also wrote to the clerks of all district councils on 10th February giving background information about the striking of the regional rate ;(4) the Department will advertise details of the regional rate and district rates in local newspapers in the near future ;(5) an informal and explanatory article will appear in the next issue of the Ulster Commentary ;(6) in addition, a brief explanatory leaflet will be included with rate demand notices, which are expected to be issued some time in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the legally held weapons stolen during the current troubles were stolen from members of the security forces and from other persons, respectively.

During the years 1971 to 1974 inclusive, 24 per cent. and 76 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give consideration to changing the present procedure regarding allegations made about dumping in respect of textiles, to a system which would mean that if, prima facie, a case had been made out by an interested party in the United Kingdom the onus of disproving such a charge would be on the agent or country supplying the textiles ; and if he will make a statement.

I have given considerable thought to this question and I believe that a change in the present practice would have damaging implications for our trade.We already have the power to impose provisional charges to anti-dumping duties if, on the facts then available, dumping appears to be taking place. But so far as substantive duties are concerned it would be improper to impose them under the legislation if we did not ourselves carry out a thorough investigation.In any case, where GATT countries are involved we have to be satisfied that there is actual or threatened material injury, and for this more than the evidence of the exporter is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many footwear manufacturers are importing ready-made uppers from Italy to be lasted in Great Britain ; and if he will publish the number of imports in the Official Report.

The number of manufacturers importing uppers is not given in the overseas trade statistics, but total imports from Italy in 1974 are shown as follows:

	Kilograms	Dozen Pairs
Assemblies of uppers affixed to inner soles or to the sole components, but without outer soles	7,210	*
Boot and shoe uppers * Not available.	5,248	4,189

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what plans he has for regional airport authorities, and in particular for a regional airport authority for the South West of England.

I shall be prepared to consider any proposals for regional airport authorities. Following the abandonment of the Maplin airport project special consideration is being given to the future role of regional airports.I am also awaiting the advice of the Civil Aviation Authority on its studies of regional airports, including those in South West England.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions he has had with British Airways about their proposals to rationalise the route structure within West Germany ; and whether he has discussed the proposals with officials of the West German Government and the Berlin city authorities.

I have for some time been concerned about the economics of the internal German services and have expressed my anxiety that they should be put on a viable basis. I have therefore been encouraging British Airways to work out schemes in consultation with Pan American, the other operator chiefly concerned, for the further rationalisation of services on these routes.British Airways have been in touch with my Department about the progress of their discussions with Pan American. When a scheme for rationalisation which is acceptable to Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government has been worked out, the matter will be discussed with the French authorities. As soon as the three Allied Governments have fully considered the matter, the various German interests concerned will be consulted through the appropriate channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many passenger cars, by value and in number, were exported to and imported front the present eight other EEC member countries in 1970 and 1974.

Following is the information:

	Imports
	Number (thousand)	Value £ million
1970	136	69·4
1974	248	244·9
	Exports
	Number (thousand)	Value £ million
1970	208	74·8
1974	159	85·1

These figures exclude parts supplied for use in manufacture abroad ; however, such parts for passenger cars are not separately distinguished from parts for commercial vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade by how much, above the 58p per tonne proposed for the British Airports Authority's London airports, would its navigational service charge have to be increased in order to achieve a uniform rate for the regional as well as London airports where the national air traffic control service is provided.

The Civil Aviation Authority has estimated that the various rates of charge on aircraft operators for navigation services at the 13 London and regional airports introduced under the Civil Aviation (Navigation Services Charges) (Fifth Amendment) Regulations 1975 (S.I., 1975/122) from 1st March 1975 will yield about £1·85 million more income in 1975–76 than would have accrued to the authority at pre-1st March charging rates.Assuming that instead of the rates prescribed in the regulations there were to be a uniform charging rate of 50p per metric ton for domestic flights and a uniform rate of 68p per metric ton for international flights, applicable at all 13 airports, the authority estimates that approximately the same additional income would accrue to it from charges paid by aircraft operators in 1975–76, leaving the authority with approximately the same overall operating deficit of £3·2 million on the services provided at the 13 airports. A much larger surplus would arise at Heathrow and correspondingly larger deficits among the regional airports compared with the results expected with the charging rates prescribed in the regulations. Such a charging policy would present international complications, would be contrary to the wishes of airlines who pay the majority of charges, particularly international operators, and would weaken effective expenditure control and objective investment appraisals.The same objections would apply if, in order to avoid any overall deficit on the services in 1975–76. a single uniform rate of charge were to be applied to both domestic and international flights at all 13 airports. The authority estimates that the charging rate required in this case would be between 86p and 88p per metric ton.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether waste paper is being imported ; and, if so, from what countries.

Small quantities are imported principally from the USA, Belgium and Luxembourg, Netherlands and the Soviet Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what was the value of timber exports out of Wales during each of the last 10 years ;(2) what was the value of timber imports into Wales during each of the last 10 years.

The information is not available, as the overseas trade statistics are compiled only for the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each member State of the EEC, (a) the maximum rate of personal direct taxation on earned income, (b) the level of earnings at which this rate comes into force for a single person and for a married couple with two children under 11 years of age, and (c) the proportion of total revenue accounted for by personal direct taxation.

The following is the information requested :A. The maximum marginal rates of national tax on income from employment are as follows:

Belgium	72 per cent, (a)
Denmark	39·6 per cent.
France	48·6 per cent.
Germany	56 per cent.
Ireland	80 per cent, (b)
Italy	82 per cent.
Luxembourg	57 per cent.
Netherlands	71 per cent.
United Kingdom	83 per cent.

(