asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average level of council house rent rises proposed by local authorities for 1975–76; and if he will name the authorities which have proposed increases in excess of £1·50 per week.

There is no statutory requirement for local authorities to inform me of their proposals for rents. I am not aware of any authorities which propose an average increase in excess of £1·50 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the housing shortage, he will seek powers to dispense with planning restrictions on individual houses which have the effect of keeping them empty.

I am not sure what planning restrictions the hon. Member has in mind. But, in general, owners of houses subject to such restrictions already are able to apply to the local planning authority to have them lifted; and, in the event of a refusal, to appeal to the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage increase in rail fares has now been proposed; and what the total percentage increase in rail fares will be since this time last year, if the increase is approved.

Since this time last year there has been an average increase of 27 per cent. in rail passenger fares. The Railways Board has applied to the Price Commission for a further general increase in passenger fares of 15 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the contribution made to the solution of the housing problem by the housing association movement.

I am confident that the housing association movement is taking full advantage of the financial support provided for its benefit under the Housing Act 1974. Under the guidance of the Housing Corporation and with the co-operation of local authorities, it should be able to play an increasingly important part in meeting housing needs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now completed his consultations with the National Union of Students about the legislative proposals for the registration of student accommodation.

Consultations with the National Union of Students on these proposals are being undertaken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whose officials, as my hon. Friend knows, were to meet representatives of the union today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will propose removing the restrictions that prohibit car owners from receiving payment for giving lifts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made on his consultations about rural transport and the use of omnibuses on public transport routes in rural areas.

The scope for relaxing bus licensing is one of the matters included in my consultations about rural transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now consider introducing proposals to alter the basis of the rate rebate formula in relation to mixed hereditaments, in order to assist small shopkeepers.

No, but a rate rebate may now be granted on the domestic part of any property. This has already helped many shopkeepers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the amount of loan sanction available to local authorities in the Home Counties for housing improvements and associated repairs.

Of course not, but within essential constraints on expenditure by local authorities on improving dwellings in their ownership, the amounts available under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 to authorities in the Home Counties should enable them to get ahead with contracts known to be let by 31st March last and, in many cases, to bring substandard dwellings acquired from private owners into a decent condition.

asked the Seretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the recent joint conference between representatives of his Department, the local authorities and road haulage and own-account fleet operators concerning the preparatory work for controls on the movement and parking of heavy lorries, under the Heavy Commercial Vehicles Act 1973.

The conference exchanged views on the control of lorries from a wide range of interests. The need for departmental guidance was stressed and advice is being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he is giving to local authorities about the problems of locating and instituting remedial measures for buildings in which high alumina cement has been used.

They have been given particulars, obtained from precast concrete manufacturers, about buildings for which high alumina cement concrete structural members were supplied, to supplement the information contained in their building control records. Advice has been given on the types of buildings which should be appraised and on methods of appraisal; further advice based on the latest research will be issued shortly. The nature of any remedial measures which may be necessary is a matter for professional advice in each case.

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

After the Whitsun Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the report of a study group on transport under the chairmanship of the hon. Member for Nuneaton, a copy of which has been sent to him; and whether he will make a statement on his policy towards its recommendations.

I warmly welcome this valuable report of the study group of which my hon. friend was chairman, and with which both I and my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport were associated when we were in opposition. Its publication is particularly opportune at a time when transport policy is under active discussion both amongst the public and within Government. We shall study the conclusions of the report with great care, giving priority to those which would not require major institutional change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage amount transport subsidies have increased in each of the past three years; what is the expected level for the financial year 1975–76: and if he will make a statement on future Government policy towards these subsidies.

Total support to public transport has increased in the past three financial years by 89 per cent., 26 per cent. and 130 per cent. The expected level for 1975–76 is about £590 million. Government policy towards local transport subsidies is set out in the White Paper on Public Expenditure to 1978–79, as modified by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's Budget speech. On subsidies to the railways, I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's remarks in the debate on 14th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects work to start on the proposed diversion of the A259 trunk road at Guestling Thorn.

Not before 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that on Thursday 3rd April 1975 another fatality took place at the Sun Arch in Winchester Road—the A31—in the borough of Romsey involving an over-sized container lorry; what steps he is taking with the Hampshire County Council to ensure that height restrictions are known and enforced; and what longterm plans he has for eliminating this hazardous arch.

Yes. I understand that the highway authority—Hampshire County Council—will shortly erect a mandatory height restriction sign at the bridge prohibiting the passage of high vehicles, and that it has on order electronic height detection equipment which will help the police enforce the prohibition. Much of the traffic will avoid Romsey when the Cadnam-Chilworth section of the M27 is opened later this year. Other long-term plans for eliminating the hazard are in the first instance a matter for the county council as highway and traffic authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the problem of water corrosion pitting in the West Drayton area of the London borough of Hillingdon; what action is being taken by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has received representations from the London borough of Hillingdon and from one member of the public. I understand from the Rickmansworth and Uxbridge Valley Water Company that the failures of the copper piping followed the change in public water supply from a borehole to a River Thames source. The company is investigating the problem with representatives of research organisations concerned and my Deprtment has asked to be kept informed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made to him about the effects of the county development plan on the residents of Lonsdale and Grimsdale Streets, High Westwood, County Durham, arising from the clearance of the streets; and if he will make a statement.

I have received three representations, two from residents of High Westwood and one from the High Westwood Action Group.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many purchases have been made of privately-built unsold houses by local authorities, and if he will make a statement.

The purchase of 12,358 such dwellings by local authorities in England and Wales was approved in the 1974–75 financial year. This is an encouraging result of the initiative that we took in Circular 70/74 to meet the emergency situation in which newly built houses stood empty at a time when the local authority housebuilding programme was running at a very low level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent results have been obtained from his monitoring of the effects of the Rent Act 1974 on the availability of private rented accommodation, as mentioned in his answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart) on 19th March 1975 [Official Report. c. 427].

The preliminary results of my Department's research into the effects of the Act on the supply of private rented accommodation will not be available for several months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to introduce legislation to provide that central Government meets the cost of preparing and carrying out sea defence works instead of such costs falling on the local ratepayer.

No. The present arrangement of sharing the cost of sea defence works between central and local government has worked well for many years. Grants vary to take account of the local circumstances of each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to give assistance to local authorities which have ceased to collect paper for recycling as a result of the fall in used paper prices in order to encourage them to recommence collections.

The first step must be to secure a more stable market so that schemes are not made unprofitable by a drop in sales or price. The Government's Advisory Group on the Recycling of Waste Paper is urgently studying how this can best be done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to bring British Railways services into line with road transport under Articles 74 to 84 of the Treaty of Rome; and if he will make a statement.

The relevant Community rules are being applied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any further plans to help first-time house buyers; and what advice he is giving to building societies with regard to mortgage interest rates and their use of resources to further the house building programme.

The deferred payment scheme for first-time house buyers that we announced in January will be ready for introduction in the next few weeks. The position of first-time buyers will be examined further in detail in the housing finance review.The agreement on 11th April between the Government and the Council of the Building Societies Association about stabilisation of mortgage funds is an important step forward. We believe it will encourage housebuilders to commit resources to a programme of new construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if it is Government policy to allow the title of "Ms" to be used on driving licences when requested by the applicant; and if not, why not.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the promised public inquiry into military requirements in the south-west of England is to take place;(2) what are the terms of reference for the promised inquiry into the military requirements in the south-west of England.

I hope to be able to make an announcement about the inquiry shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce regulations requiring the compulsory fitting of safety belts in trucks and other commercial vehicles.

A number of technical problems must be solved before it would be practicable to make such regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that regulations controlling the towing of barges in the vicinity of drilling platforms are adequate to ensure the safety of personnel engaged in drilling operations.

I have been asked to reply.I am aware of two recent incidents involving foreign vessels which are being investigated. Discussions will follow between my Department and the Department of Energy on what action might be needed under existing powers and what new powers may be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask Irvine Development Corporation to continue the present rent freeze for another year.

No. I have asked Irvine Development Corporation and the other Scottish New Town Development Corporations to submit for my approval rents schemes for 1975–76 which take into account the provisions of the Housing Rents and Subsidies (Scotland) Bill which it is expected will come into operation on 16th May 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent consultations he has had with representatives of the inshore fishing fleet in Scotland with regard to the possibility of a reallocation of the support provided by daily subsidy so as to include boats below 40 feet in length.

This was one of the subjects discussed when my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State met representatives of the industry on 2nd April. He undertook to review the matter fairly, but without commitment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet able to state if there will be a public inquiry in respect of the South of Scotland Electricity Board application for development at Chapel-donan.

A decision will be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, following his recent announcement that he proposes to ban the use of gill nets in Scottish waters and off the mouth of the River Tweed, whether he has any further steps in mind to protect Scottish salmon.

Action on the issues raised in the Hunter Committee Report on Freshwater Fisheries in Scotland is still under consideration but I am not yet in a position to make a statement. International measures for the protection of salmon on the high seas are among the matters being considered at the Law of the Sea Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what acreages of land in Scotland have been planted with trees during the last six months by the Forestry Commission and by private woodland owners, respectively.

It is estimated that, during the six months ended 31st March, 1975, the Forestry Commission has planted about 16,200 acres in Scotland. Corresponding figures for the private sector are not yet available, but I shall write to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to continue industrial derating.

I have today laid before the House an order continuing 50 per cent. derating of industry and freight transport subjects for three years from 16th May 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what number of applications for home improvement grants has been received during the first quarter of 1975; and how this compares with the number granted in the first quarter of each of the last three years.

Information about the number of applications made is not collected by my Department.Grants were approved for 2,958, 5,321 and 9,304 privately-owned houses in the first quarters of 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively. The number of applications granted in the first quarter of 1975 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has concluded his review of shipping service policy; and whether he will make a statement.

I have been examining the present arrangements for the support of the shipping services to the Scottish Islands, principally in relation to the finances of the Scottish Transport Group's two shipping subsidiaries.On the technical and operational side. I am satisfied that the present policy of encouraging the modernisation of services through their conversion to roll-on/roll-off operation should be maintained, and I intend to continue to make available Government grants and loans for this purpose. Almost all West Coast and Clyde services are now provided by roll-on/roll-off vehicle ferries, and substantial progress is being made with modernising the services in and to the Northern Isles. Government grants and loans for pier and harbour improvements in the Highlands and Islands have risen from £170,556 in 1970–71 to an estimated £2·1 million in 1974–75 and £2·3 million in 1975–76. About 95 per cent. of the expenditure on pier and harbour improvements in the two years 1974–76 will be devoted to vehicle ferry terminals.Financial support from Government for the operation of shipping services to the Scottish Islands was running at about £1·3 million a year in 1974–75.Of this sum, £240,000 was paid to the Orkney Islands Shipping Co. Ltd. for the Orkney inter-islands services; £100,000 was paid to the North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Shipping Co. Ltd. for its part of the Shetland inter-island service. which will soon come to an end when the local authority's vehicle ferry service is in full operation. These Orkney and Shetland payments are made under the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act 1960. A further £174,000 was paid in grant to local authorities as a contribution under Section 34 of the Transport Act 1968 towards the grants which they make for the support of ferry services; these specific grants under Section 34 will come to an end on 15th May 1975, but assistance will continue to be given through the rate support grant.The Scottish Transport Group's shipping operations have since January 1973 been carried on by two separate companies, David MacBrayne Ltd. and Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. David MacBrayne serves those islands which are too small and remote for services to them to come anywhere near financial viability, and this company receives financial support under the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act which in respect of 1974 amounted to £746,000; the payment for the current year has not yet been finally settled but is not expected to be less than the 1974 payment.When Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. was established as a separate company it was the intention that, after taking account of the Government grant towards the cost of terminals, its services should be financially self-supporing and be operated on a commercial basis. That aim has not been realised, and for various reasons—price restraint in previous years, heavy increases in operating costs, and a lack of buoyancy in traffic as a result of the oil crisis and of general economic conditions—the operating deficit on these services has risen to a level which the STG cannot support from its own resources. There is therefore a need for a substantial increase in charges or financial support from outside, or a combination of these.Against this background the Government are prepared to consider the payment of a revenue grant in respect of Caledonian MacBrayne services, and in fixing the level of that grant will have regard to the interests of users, taxpayers and the operators of the service.I have examined with the STG the financial basis of the company's services on the Clyde and to the Western Isles. As a result of that examination I am satisfied that the Caledonian MacBrayne services cannot in the immediate future pay their way without an increase in charges to a level which I think would be generally regarded as unacceptable. Taking the group's shipping operations as a whole, the deficit for 1974, after all charges, including depreciation, have been met, is expected to be £1·5 million, after taking account of subsidy payments to David MacBrayne Ltd., against a total turnover of £5·8 million. If the present basis of financial support were continued an increase in charges on the Caledonian MacBrayne services of the order of 65 per cent. would be necessary. This is more than users can be expected to pay in a single increase and I have therefore agreed with STG that I should pay a new annual grant in respect of the hitherto unsubsidised Caledonian MacBrayne services; this is expected to amount to about £2·5 million in respect of the company's 1975 financial year, so that payments from Government towards the operating costs of STG's shipping services will rise from about £750,000 to over £3 million a year.Leaving aside assistance through the rate support grant, operating subsidies for shipping services will then be approaching £4 million in all, and total direct Government support, including both grants and loans for the operating and capital costs of shipping services in Scotland will then be over £6 million in 1975–76. A draft undertaking under the Highlands and Islands Shipping Services Act to give effect to the Government's proposed extension of the financial support paid towards the cost of operating these services will be laid before Parliament in due course, for the approval of this House under the affirmative resolution procedure. The undertaking will give details of the method of fixing and paying the subsidy to STG.Even the greatly increased financial support which I propose to provide to STG will not balance the books of the group's shipping subsidiaries. It will be recalled that Price Commission approval was obtained last September for an increase in charges to bring in overall slightly more than 17 per cent. of extra revenue; this increase was held over pending the outcome of this review. In the interval costs have of course continued to increase, and I have come to the conclusion that an increase in charges to bring in the same percentage increase in revenue is now unavoidable. The STG is accordingly making arrangements for increases of 20 per cent.–25 per cent. on passengers and private cars, 25 per cent. on "loose" freight and 5 per cent. of commercial vehicles to be brought in from 1st May 1975. Almost all the freight traffic in the islands, other than that carried in bulk, now moves by road and vehicle ferry, and the low rate of increase for commercial vehicles recognises their importance in the economic life of the islands, including agriculture. Although the earlier intention that these services should pay their way cannot now be maintained it will be understood that people in the islands must expect to have to pay their share of increases in transport costs.The services to Orkney and Shetland are not provided by the STG, but by the North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Shipping Co. Ltd., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of P. & O. Ltd. The North Co's services from Aberdeen to Lerwick and Kirkwall and across the Pentland Firth to Stromness are operated on a wholly commercial basis, except that the Orkney County Council pays an annual grant of £82,000, of which 75 per cent. has hitherto been met by the Secretary of State under the Transport Act provisions, to offset proposed increases in charges on services to Orkney in 1969 and 1970. As on the West Coast, pier and harbour improvements in Orkney and Shetland qualify for direct Government grant. In the two years 1974–76 more than two-thirds of the provision available for harbour improvements will go to the Orkney and Shetland services—Scrabster, Stromness, Lerwick, Aberdeen and the Shetland overland route. In view of this, and of the fact that increases in charges for the services to Orkney and Shetland have over recent years been lower than on the West Coast, largely owing to the greater prosperity of those communities and the more compact route structure of their arterial shipping services, I do not consider that there is a need at present to offer Government subsidy for those services, and more especially as three new firms have introduced on an entirely commercial basis regular services to Orkney and Shetland from English and Scottish ports.I have not found myself able to accept the renewed suggestions of the Highlands and Islands Development Board that charges should be based on what they describe as the road equivalent tariff. There are two reasons for this; first, the pro- posal completely ignores the real costs of shipping services, whereas I consider it important that charges should continue to be related to costs so as to reduce the risk of misuse of resources, and, second, there would be the very high cost to the Exchequer of accepting the board's suggestion; on the basis of calculations made in respect of a limited number of services it seems that the total subsidy required for STG's services, would be about three-quarters of the total cost of the services concerned, which I regard as excessively high.The previous Government's policy statement of April 1972 said that local and minor services, including the Orkney and Shetland inter-island services, would be for local authorities to support. Some progress has been made with the transfer to local authority support of minor services at present in receipt of Government support and the Government intend to continue discussions with the authorities concerned. The extension of Government subsidy to the Caledonian MacBrayne services raises the questions whether all these services should qualify for Government support or whether Government responsibility should extend to the main arterial routes only, with secondary and minor routes, including seasonal services, being supported by the regional and island authorities. Transfer to local support and control would fit in with the wider responsibilities for the planning and co-ordination of transport in their areas which the new authorities will assume next month, and would enable matters of essentially local interest to be settled locally. Once the regional and island authorities have settled into their new duties I shall want to discuss these questions with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan) and the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson) on 24th March.—[Vol. 889, c. 7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the names of those persons who have had half of their travel costs to the Anglo-German Society meetings held at Konigswinter paid out of public funds; and what organisations they represented when attending these meetings.

Her Majesty's Government reimburse half of the total travel costs incurred by the organising committee within a set ceiling. We do not finance individual participants, the selection of whom is the responsibility of the organising committee. A full list of the participants is available from the committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give comparative figures for the exchange of young people between England and Italy between June 1970 and June 1972 and for the last complete year, respectively; and if he will take steps to maintain the growth rate of such exchanges.

The only statistics available are those of of youth exchange projects which have involved support from public funds through the British Council.The figures of these are as follows:

Year	Exchanges		Total
	to Italy	to United Kingdom
1970–71	29	14	43
1971–72	20	6	26
1974–75	741	258	999

We intend to ensure that youth exchanges with Italy continue at the highest level compatible with the funds available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in view of the progress which is evident in the youth exchange programme within the EEC countries, particularly with Italy, if he will pay special regard to this when considering future grant allocations to the British Council for these purposes.

As I said on 18th December 1974—[Vol. 882, c. 440.]—funds have been made available to the British Council for youth exchange projects with Italy during 1975–76. In current economic circumstances I am unable to give a precise commitment, but continue to hope that it will be possible to allocate funds for such purposes in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will give priority to encouraging and developing youth exchange programmes with Italy, having regard to the interest shown by independent Italian organisations and the practical help given by the Italian Government;(2) if he is satisfied with the youth exchange operation, in so far as it affects Great Britain and Italy.

We consider that the youth exchanges programme is progressing satisfactorily. British official grants towards such exchanges have been increased from £11,822 in 1973–74 to nearly £20,000 in 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much of the allocated funds, given to the British Council for Common Market youth exchange programmes, has been spent; in relation to which Common Market countries; and for what cause.

Expenditure up to the end of the financial year 1974–75 totals £413,411. The breakdown by country is as follows:

Common Market Country	Funds Spent
	£
Belgium	15,724
Denmark	13,835
Irish Republic	1,856
France	109,068
Germany	206.982
Italy	39,804
Luxembourg	281
The Netherlands	25,861

These funds have been used to develop further British-Italian youth exchanges.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide funds to develop mutual training provisions for community work by young people in Great Britain and the Common Market countries.

Funds have been allocated to the British Council for youth exchanges with European Community countries during the year 1975–76. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State said in reply to a similar Question on 6th December 1974—[Vol. 882, c. 665]—the British Council encourages all worthwhile youth exchange projects, including those involving community work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the allocations made to the United Kingdom from the European Social Fund.

Yes. Allocations to the United Kingdom from the Social Fund totalled £23·9 million for 1973 and £25·9 million for 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to institute a feed price formula for the guaranteed price of pigs; and if he is satisfied that such an arrangement can be undertaken for the national pig herd without authorisation by the European Commission or Council of Ministers.

As already announced, the United Kingdom system of guaranteed prices for pigs will terminate this year and from 1st August Community support arrangements will apply exclusively in this sector.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the value of the green pound in pounds sterling.

The representative rate or "green pound" is the fixed rate used for converting units of account in European Community agricultural rules into sterling. The rate was last adjusted at the February Council to 1·96178 units of account equal to £1 sterling. For purely agricultural purposes the difference between this fixed rate and the current market value of the pound is covered by monetary compensatory amounts. Under present Community methods of calculation these amounts are currently fixed on the basis of a gap of about 13 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the importation of tomatoes from Eire is having on domestic production; and if he will make a statement.

We do not consider that imports of tomatoes from the Irish Republic have had any effect on the production programmes of tomato growers in England and Wales.

asked the Prime Minister what changes have been made in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

I have appointed my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Brown) and my noble Friend the Lord Peddie as members of the United Kingdom delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, in place of my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Small) and my hon. Friend the Member for Hammersmith, North (Mr. Tomney).My hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) and my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape) have been appointed substitute members of the United Kingdom delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about the sale of defence equipment to Iran;

While it is not our practice to disclose details of individual arms deals with other Governments, I can confirm that recent Press reports about an Iranian order for submarines are mistaken. No such order has been placed in the United Kingdom and despite inquiries from the Iranians it is our understanding that they have no requirement for United Kingdom submarines at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the annual amount of the Arts Council grant to the English National Opera Company, to Covent Garden, to the British Film Institute, to the National Theatre, and to Scottish Opera.

The Government make a grant-in-aid to the Arts Council of Great Britain which decides each year what allocations should be made from this, including a block grant to the Scottish Arts Council for the arts in Scotland.From these funds grants for 1974–75 for current expenses were:

	£ million
English National Opera Company	1·35
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden	2·55
National Theatre	0·99
Scottish Opera*	0·58
* (includes some support from the Arts Council of Great Britain for touring in England or Wales).

Scottish Opera also received a capital grant of £200,000 from the Scottish Education Department in 1974–75, as the first instalment of a £1 million grant for refurbishing the Theatre Royal, Glasgow.The British Film Institute receives grant-in-aid direct from the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, when announcing special Government grants for particular acquisitions by public museums, he will make it his practice in future to take that opportunity of expressing the Government's appreciation of contributions from private sources by detailing such contributions from charitable funds or trusts and from individual benefactors, whether named or anonymous, whenever these amount to £1,000 or more in each case for the acquisition in question.

No. It is for the museum or gallery concerned, in consultation with its benefactors, to decide whether publicity is desired in any particular case. I am, however, happy to take this opportunity of expressing the Government's general appreciation of the essential rôle played in such acquisitions by contributions large and small from individuals and organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effects on employment prospects he expects will flow from British withdrawal from the EEC.

It is the Government's view as expressed in the White Paper on Membership of the European Community (Cmnd 6003) that there would be a risk of deterioration in the level of employment, for a time at least, in the event of Britain's withdrawal from the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the reported accident rate among registered disabled people employed in industry, during each of the past five years for which records are available.

I regret that the information relating to registered disabled persons is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the Health and Safety Commission to present its proposals to him concerning the making of regulations regarding safety representatives and safety committees.

I have nothing further to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. and learned Friend on 8th April.—[Vol. 889, c. 396–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he accepts the comment contained in the six-monthly report of the area south pilot scheme of the Factory Inspectorate that there is little benefit to be seen from the change and that in many ways standards have deteriorated; and if he will make a statement.(2) if, in the light of the two reports now received from the trial areas based at Slough and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, he will abandon proposals for reorganisation of the Factory Inspectorate as outlined in Report No. 1 (Revised)(3) if he is satisfied that the authorising warrants issued for Her Majesty's Inspectors of Health and Safety under the authority of Mr. John Lock and numbered LP10 empower inspectors to serve improvement and prohibition notices under Sections 21 and 22 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974;(4) whether improvement or prohibition notices are being issued under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 by Her Majesty's Health and Safety Inspectors under existing warrants;(5) if he is satisfied that authorising warrants issued to Her Majesty's Inspectors of Health and Safety must conform to Section 19(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, specifying which of the powers are conferred on inspectors by the relevant statutory provisions.

These are matters for the Health and Safety Commission, and I am asking the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will place in the Library copies of the two reports prepared by the superintending inspectors in charge of each of the trial Factory Inspectorate areas based on Slough and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission advises me that these reports are only two of a number of internal working papers prepared in connection with the assessment of the two trial areas and that he believes it inappropriate to make them available in the manner suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many applications are awaiting approval for new refinery capacity and enlargements of existing plants.

There is currently no requirement for my right hon. Friend to approve the construction of refinery capacity, although my right hon. Friend is seeking such powers in the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Bill. The normal planning procedures apply, however, and my right hon. Friend is aware of five planning applications for new refineries which are still outstanding. Four are for locations in Scotland and one in the South East of England. In addition, my right hon. Friend has been notified of four proposed extensions at existing refinery sites.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many refinery projects have been approved but have yet to be brought on stream.

Two new refinery projects have received planning permission but are not yet on stream. Both are for Canvey Island, in the Thames Estuary. A public inquiry has, however, been held into the possibility of revoking the permission granted to United Refineries Limited for that location.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licences for experiments on animals were refused by his Department's inspectorate in 1974; how many have so far been refused in 1975; and for what reasons permission was refused.

The information requested is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. The discretion to issue or refuse a licence rests with the Secretary of State and not with the inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits his inspectors have made since 1st January 1975 to ICI establishments in which experiments are performed upon animals; and how many of the visits were made without the foreknowledge of the laboratories.

Inspectors have made five visits to such establishments since 1st January 1975, all of which were without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits his inspectors made in 1974 to ICI establishments in which experiments are performed upon animals; and how many of the visits were made without the foreknowledge of the laboratories.

Inspectors made 17 visits to such establishments in 1974, of which 14 were without notice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the ICI has applied for permission to duplicate the present series of smoking tests on beagle dogs that is due to end in July, or start another experiment in which dogs or other animals are to be used in further experiments in which animals are forced to inhale natural or synthetic tobacco or a combination of both.

The current licence, which was renewed in 1972, is valid until 1977, and there is no time limit on the certificates, which were given in 1971; I am not aware that the experiments are due to end in July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the annual estimated cost in the last two financial years of the reduced television licence for the blind; and how many people qualified.

The cost of the £1·25 concessionary reduction for television licences for registered blind people was as follows: 1972–73, £47,312 for 37,850 beneficiaries; 1973–74, £47,629 for 38,103 beneficiaries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors influenced him to transfer G. Kelly and H. Feeney from English prisons to Northern Ireland.

The factors taken into account included all the circumstances of the two prisoners and the availability of accommodation in Northern Ireland. These factors were considered in the context of the situation described in my answer to supplementary questions from the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 10th April.—[Vol. 889, c. 1384.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Minister is responsible for deciding which prisoners are to be transferred from England and Scotland to Northern Ireland; and what factors are taken into account.

Orders for the various forms of transfer to Northern Ireland authorised by Sections 26 to 29 of the Criminal Justice Act 1971 are made by me in respect of prisoners in England and Wales and by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of prisoners in Scotland, subject in both instances to prior confirmation by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the individual will be acceptable. Factors taken into account include the relevant statutory requirements, the individual circumstances of the prisoner, and the availability of accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many parliamentary constituencies are in more than one county; and if he will list them.

There are 59 constituencies in England and Wales that are in more than one county. A list is given below:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instruct the National Television Licence Records Office to grant a refund in respect of the unexpired portion of any broadcast receiving licence where such licence is held by a person who is emigrating from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement of his general policy so far as applications for refunds are concerned.

No. The grounds on which refunds may be given must be limited if the licensing system is not to become unmanageable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of PAYE refunds paid to striking Glasgow dustmen in the last week before 6th April and in the first week after 6th April, respectively.

This information is not available. Any refunds due have been made by the Glasgow Corporation in their capacity of employers operating PAYE.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of money invested by British pensions funds in buildings and land within the United Kingdom; and how much has been so invested by them during each of the past five financial years.

Investment in land, property and ground rents by United Kingdom superannuation and pension funds is shown in the table below. The latest figures available relate to end-March 1974 and exclude "pension" funds which are indistinguishably part of life assurance companies' long-term funds. No breakdown of investment between land, property and ground rents in the United Kingdom and overseas is available although the latter is thought to be small. Superannuation and pension funds also invest in land, property and ground rents through the medium of specialised investment trusts and this is shown in the table. Comprehensive figures of superannuation and pension fund investment are published in "Financial Statistics".

INVESTMENT BY UNITED KINGDOM SUPERANNUATION AND PENSION FUNDS
£ million
	Land, property and ground rents	Property Unit trust units*
Total invested at 31st March 1974 (book value)	1,322	274
Amount invested during financial year:
1969–70	105	33
1970–71	95	30
1971–72	93	43
1972–73	131	39
1973–74	291	25
* Including investment in Local Authority Mutual Investment Trust which is invested in land, property and ground rents.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes have been made in the siting and use of incident centres during the cease-fire.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funds have been allocated to Northern Ireland to encourage and develop youth exchange programmes with Common Market countries.

Northern Ireland participates in the youth exchange programmes with Western Europe administered by the British Council.There is no separate allocation of funds to Northern Ireland, or to any other part of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will now make a statement on her reference to the Price Commission of prices and margins in the distribution of fish.

My right hon. Friend has sent the following reference to the Price Commission today:The Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, pursuant to paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 1 to the Counter-Inflation Act 1973, hereby refers to the Price Commission for examination and report the prices and margins in the distribution—including preparation for sale—of fish and the extent of changes in these prices and margins. In this reference "fish" means any food for human consumption produced in the course of fishing which has not been incorporated in any processed product and to which no process has been applied except cleaning, sterilising, breaking down of bulk supplies, packaging, chilling, freezing, curing cutting up or filleting.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will provide guidance on the hazards and risks associated with the placing of aerosols near sources of heat.

The great majority of aerosols on sale in this country bear a warning to the effect that they are pressurised and should be kept away from heat.A Home Office booklet on dangers from fire, already distributed to households through the country, includes a warning that aerosols should be kept away from heat and never burned or punctured. The risk of explosion if this warning is ignored has been widely publicised, but I shall certainly keep in mind the possible need for further publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will now give details of the Government's proposals for amendments to the Price Code.

Following the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget Statement yesterday of certain Government proposals for changes to the Price Code, I have today issued a consultative document in accordance with the statutory requirement to consult interested parties before making an order to amend the code. This consultative document is available in the Vote Office of the House of Commons.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will conduct an inquiry into the activities of the Unification Church and its associated bodies and limited companies on the basis of health hazards caused by the claims made for "medical" remedies advertised and marketed by them and the techniques employed by them upon those whom they seek to convert.

If my hon. Friend will send me any evidence in his possession about the harmful affects he alleges I shall certainly consider this suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the difficulties encountered by Ipswich patients who have to travel to Cambridge for kidney machine treatment, if she will make a machine available in an Ipswich hospital.

Treatment of chronic renal failure by intermittent haemodialysis calls for comprehensive provision of special facilities and for a team of expert trained staff. The services for East Anglia are concentrated at present at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge and the policy of the health authorities is directed towards enabling as many patients as possible to carry out their routine dialysis at home with supervision and support from the hospital. Addenbrooke's is also the regional centre for transplant surgery and there are considerable advantages for renal dialysis patients in being under the care of consultants who have ready access to transplant facilities. The health authorities are conscious of the problems of patients in the region living far from Cambridge and they will be considering these together with all the other demands on their resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she expects to make an announcement regarding the building of the new Preston Hospital, in view of her reference in April 1974 to the hospital being proceeded with subject to acceptable tenders, in the financial year 1974–75.

The new Preston Hospital is among the schemes which has been authorised to start in 1975–76 subject to the conclusion of satisfactory contractual arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement on the future of the Leeds General Infirmary, in view of the Minister of State's recent visit to Leeds.

My right hon. Friend made a statement on the health capital building programme in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Preston, North (Mr. Atkins) on 15th April.—[Vol. 890, c. 85–8.]Leeds General Infirmary is not in the list of schemes due to start in 1975–76 but following my visit to Leeds a thorough review of phase 1 of the project has been undertaken by the Yorkshire RHA and I hope to be in a position to make a statement on the future shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many resignations have been received from special grades engaged in catering, domestic, laundry and farm management within the National Health Service during the year ended 31st December 1974; how many posts are now vacant; what action she proposes to take to fill them; and if she will make a statement.

I regret that this information is not held centrally. Recruitment is a matter for individual employing authorities but I am establishing shortly a national staff committee for accommodation, catering and support services staff to advise me on the recruitment, training and career development of these special grades.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has received from NALGO with regard to revised grading structures and bandings for all catering management within the National Health Service; whether she will now consider linking all special grades to the administrative and clerical grades at comparable salaries for the responsibilities which they bear; and if she will make a statement.

NALGO is one of the constituent members of the Staff Side of the National Health Service Administrative and Clerical Staffs Whitley Council which has submitted a claim for regrading the catering and other special grades with a view to assimilating them within the main administrative and clerical pay structure. Discussions on the claim are in progress in the Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Committee on the Regulation of the Medical Profession has reported; and when the report will be published.

The report is being published today as a Command Paper (Cmnd 6081). The Government are grateful to the chairman, Dr. Merrison, and his colleagues for their very comprehensive report. Many of their recommendations, particularly in the field of medical education, have far-reaching implications which will need study by all those concerned. I have today written to the President of the General Medical Council in the following terms:

"The Government is today publishing the report of the Merrison Committee of Enquiry into the regulation of the medical profession, and I enclose a copy.

I have told Dr. Merrison and his colleagues that the Government is grateful for the work they have done and I am sure that the General Medical Council will also be pleased that this full examination has now been completed and published. The Council, the profession, the educational interests and the Government will require some time to consider the report. My officials will be in touch with the Registrar and with the other appropriate bodies about arrangements for informing the Government of the considered views of all concerned.

As regards arrangements for the registration of doctors from overseas wishing to practise in this country, I am of course very conscious of what the Merrison Committee describe as the immense contribution which they make to the Health Service. The Health Departments have always recognised that it is for the GMC to determine the standard of registration, and as you know supports your Council's intention shortly to introduce tests of linguistic and clinical ability.

I shall look forward to receiving in due course the views of the Council".

Company		Date of Appointment
1. Corton Beach Holdings Ltd.	…	20th April 1970	Interim report 28th July 1972. Final report being prepared.
2. Lonrho Ltd.	…	19th June 1973	Enquiries in concluding stages.
3. John Willment Automobiles Ltd.	…	30th May 1973	Report drafted.
4. First Re-Investment Trust Ltd.	…	10th July 1973
Nelson Financial Trust Ltd.	…	10th July 1973	Interim report 24th May 1974 now published Enquiries in concluding stages.
English & Scottish Unit Trust Holdings Ltd.	…	10th December 1973
Australian Estates Ltd.	…	19th February 1974
5. Ralph Hilton Transport Services Ltd.	…	10th September 1973	Enquiries in concluding stages.
6. Hartley Baird Ltd.	…	21st September 1973	Considerable work remains to be done.
7. Court Line Ltd.	…	23rd August 1974	A report is expected within the next few months.
8. New Brighton Association Football and Athletic Club Company Ltd.	…	1st October 1974	Inspectors interviewing witnesses.
9. Burnholme & Forder Ltd.	…	2nd December 1974	Inspectors interviewing witnesses.
10. Land & General Developments Ltd	…	3rd December 1974	Interim report 21st February 1975. Enquiries continuing.
11. London Capital Group Ltd.	…	31st December 1974	Inspectors interviewing witnesses.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what have been the imports of uranium in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, and 1974 from Russia, Canada and South Africa, respectively; and what estimate he has made of the off-take in 1975 from each of these countries.

For strategic reasons, country and quantity details of uranium imports are not published in the Overseas Trade Statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the public companies that are still under investigation by his Department; when such inquiries commenced; what progress has been made; and when reports are expected to be published in each stated case.

Inspectors appointed under the provisions of the Companies Act 1948 have not yet completed their inquiries in the undermentioned public companies:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has received the advice of the Civil Aviation Authority on its studies of airports in central England and the Northern Region; and if he will make a statement.

I have now received the advice of the Civil Aviation Authority on future airport development in central and northern England together with a paper by the authority on the general development of the United Kingdom airport system.These papers, which have been published today by the authority with my agreement, are a welcome and important contribution to the development of airports policy following the abandonment of the Maplin airport project. The first stage in the consultation process on the Maplin review and the ways in which future air traffic should be handled, during which my Department consulted 125 local authorities and other bodies, has now been completed. Following this, I propose to publish later this year two comprehensive consultation documents, one covering the London area and the other the regional airports, as the basis for detailed discussions which my Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, will be undertaking with the local authorities and other organisations affected by airport developments.I do not wish to prejudge either the post-Maplin consultation or the discussions likely to be generated by the CAA documents. However, I have noted the authority's rejection of the various proposals for new airports in central and northern England; the suggested concen- tration of the principal air services at a limited number of regional airports; and the importance which is attached to the development of a national airports strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the sums of money spent in the past year on supplying cars to officials and directors for their own individual use of the following bodies in Wales: the Welsh National Water Development Authority, Wales Tourist Board, Sports Council for Wales, area health authorities, nationalised industries and the public corporations, Government Departments, county councils and district councils; and, if the figures are not available, if he will institute an inquiry into the position.

No officials of Government Departments in Wales are supplied with cars for their own individual use. No area health authority has purchased a car for any individual officer but they have continued, in respect of posts formerly the responsibility of local authorities, the practice of making loans for the purchase of a car when one is needed for official duties. With regard to the other organisations listed, this is a matter for the bodies concerned. I see no need at present to institute a general inquiry into the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the Official Report the five main meat importers in Wales.

Such commercial information is not collected by my Department.