asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the amount Great Britain devoted to overseas aid in 1974; and what proportion of the gross national product this represented.

Net flows of official development assistance in 1974 amounted to £309 million. This is net of capital repayments to Britain during the year in respect of past aid loans and represents 0·38 per cent. of gross national products in 1974. These figures do not include other official flows.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library copies of his public expressions of view on Vietnam referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth on 13th May.

Yes. I have placed in the Library of the House the full text of the Press conference which my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and I held in Washington on 7th May.

asked the Attorney-General when he expects to receive the report of the Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury; whether its terms of reference cover the self-employed; and if he will seek to ascertain whether it will be taking evidence from organisations representing the self-employed.

The Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Compensation for Personal Injury is still receiving evidence, and it is not yet possible to say when it is likely to report. Its terms of reference cover the self-employed. The commission has issued three circulars inviting evidence both specific and general, and it is open to any organisation wishing to give evidence to do so.

asked the Attorney-General what progress has been made in the inquiries into the financing of the Gozo Hospital near Malta.

Police inquiries into this matter are still proceeding.

asked the Attorney-General (1) if it is still the policy of the Crown to object to jurors on the grounds of their political beliefs;(2) how the political beliefs of jurors are established in order that objection can be made to certain persons sitting on juries.

It is not the practice of the Crown to object to jurors on the grounds of their political beliefs as such. Political beliefs are relevant only to the extent that, depending on the nature of the charges, political views held to an extreme may impair the impartiality of jurors, or give rise to the possibility of improper pressure. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I are reviewing the position to ensure that the balance between prosecution and defence is held as fairly as possible and my right hon. Friend will be writing to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what have been the

Pay increases for industrial civil servants over the period were about 9 per cent. Pay increases for about 95 per cent. of the staff in the non-industrial grades up to Assistant Secretary over the past 12 months stem from the recent pay research settlement which gave average increases in basic national pay rates of 32½ per cent. over 15 months since the last settlement, the equivalent of 26 per cent. over 12 months. Existing additional threshold payments of £230 a year were consolidated in pay in this settlement. More senior civil servants have received increases recommended in the report of the Top Salaries Review Body. Details of increases for each grade could only be provided at disproportionate cost, but details for the main grades are:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is prepared to reconsider the distance within which London weighting is payable to civil servants with a view to extending it to 20 miles from the present 18.

No. The Outer London area for the non-industrial Civil Service was extended last year to 18 miles, with some exceptions, in order to align it with the long-standing area of the industrial Civil Service. The area is already larger than that recommended by the Pay Board, and there are no grounds for extending it still farther.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he last asked the Morning Star newspaper for its circulation figures; and if he will now ask for them again.

The Morning Star has been told on a number of occasions that if it provides independently audited figures it will be considered for Government advertising on the same basis as other national newspapers. As my hon. Friend will appreciate. Government funds for advertising are limited, and the Central Office of Information selects newspapers for Government advertising on a value for money basis taking into account especially the circulation of the individual publication. Newspapers wishing to be considered for Government advertising are, therefore, asked to provide independently audited circulation figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to adhere to the increase in local authority mortgage expenditure as set out in the public expenditure document Command Paper No. 5879; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend indicated in his answer to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 5th May—[Vol. 891, c. 308–9.]—that in view of the public expenditure con- straints it has become necessary to reallocate £100 million from the present public expenditure provision for local authority home loans to the municipalisation programme and related improvement work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider providing the money needed to complete the research programme into lead contamination; and whether he will make a statement.

Government Departments are already supporting a range of research projects and studies relating to lead contamination. They are always ready to consider support for further projects which may improve the basis on which policy decisions can be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Ordnance Survey ceased publication of its National Atlas map series on a scale of 625,000 showing fundamental economic and social planning data; why it ceased publication; and if he will reconsider its reintroduction using up-to-date data.

The Ordnance Survey ceased to be responsible for publication of the full range of maps at 1:625,000 scale in the national planning series, often referred to as the National Atlas map series, in 1955 when it was decided that publication of new editions of the majority of these specialised maps should become the direct responsibility of their sponsoring Departments. However, four maps in the series—the Route Planning Map, the Physical Map, the Administrative Areas Map and the Outline Map—are considered of sufficient general interest for publication by Ordnance Survey and new editions of these sheets will continue to be produced.Many of the remainder of these maps are obtainable on purchase from the Map Library of the Department of the Environment while stocks last, or may, of course, be consulted there, though the information on these maps may be out of date. I am not aware of any demand for reintroduction or updating of any of these maps. The financial implications of this would certainly need careful consideration at this time of pressure on resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations which are specially represented on the Layfield Committee on Local Government Finance; and if he will add to their number a representative of the National Ratepayers Federation.

No organisation is specifically represented on the Layfield Committee. All the committee members are chosen for their personal qualities and knowledge. Therefore there is no intention to appoint a representative of the National Ratepayers' Federation to the Layfield Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the number of people who take part in recreational activities involving small boats.

There is not sufficient information available for me to make a reliable estimate. I should guess that the number runs into millions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the capital receipts of the British Railways Board for 1974–75 arises from the sale of land.

Sales of land and buildings by the British Railways Board in 1974–75 amounted to about £10 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the capital receipts of the National Bus Company for 1974–75 arises from the sale of land.

Sales of land and buildings by the National Bus Company in 1974–75 amounted to about £05 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of major road works under construction at present or planned in Cornwall over the next five years.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amounts paid to councillors serving on county councils as attendance allowance by individual county councils, showing the number of councillors serving on each authority.

This information is not available. Local authorities are required to keep records of allowance payments and these are open to inspection locally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to make a general rebate for domestic rates during the current financial year, as he did last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the fact that certain ratepayers are now faced with increases of 50 per cent. or higher for the second year running, if he will introduce some measure of relief on the same lines as in 1974 to help in such cases where people are suffering financial hardship as a result.

There will be no special relief scheme for ratepayers in 1975–76, but rate rebates will continue to be available in the normal way for those who qualify for them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received his inspector's report concerning the public inquiry into the North-West Kent town map; and when he expects to publish his decision on the map.

The inspector's report was received in September 1973. My right hon. Friend expects to announce his proposed modifications shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are employed by the Wessex Regional Water Authority; and how this compares with the numbers employed by the former constituent water authorities at the time immediately before reorganisation.

I understand that the number of people employed by the Wessex Water Authority is 2,290.On water supply, the total number of staff employed before reorganisation by predecessor authorities was 790 and the number employed by river authorities was 563.It is not possible to give a figure for staff formerly employed on sewage disposal, since such staff were frequently also employed on other sewerage functions, which are still carried out on an agency basis by local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Building Research Establishment has considered using glass reinforced polyester as a possible material for use in the work to make safe high alumina cement beams.

The possibility of using glass reinforced polyester for any remedial work which may be necessary on high alumina cement concrete beams has been discussed with the Building Research Establishment. Apart from the fact that glass reinforced polyester is a relatively untried material, the evidence so far suggests that it would usually prove more expensive than steel supports of a conventional type.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he is giving to local authorities which withdraw from negotiating the purchase of flats and houses when it is discovered that high alumina cement has been used as a building material.

None. It is for local authorities themselves to decide, in the light of the general advice we have given on the subject, whether or not to purchase property known to contain high alumina cement concrete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to bring Section 7 of the Road Traffic Act 1974 into full operation.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State—Mr. Neil Carmichael—to the hon. Member for Hampstead (Mr. Finsberg) on 10th April,—[Vol. 889, c. 463–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of motorway, dual carriageway highways, and single carriageway highways there are in England and Wales and in Scotland, respectively.

Following are figures of mileage in 1974^*:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the effect of public sector pay increases on local government expenditure since the adoption of the social contract.

This effect cannot be assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now say when he hopes to be able to make a statement on the Government's proposals to implement the Sandford Report on National Parks.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 16th April—[Vol. 890, c. 422–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the ways in which public transport can be improved in areas of national parks and areas of the countryside designated as of outstanding natural beauty, so that members of the public can easily visit them, without using private transport.

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Government's conclusions on the Sandford Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report any new access scheme and long distance footpaths to which the national park authorities have been able to gain agreement for use during 1975.

The information on access to open country is not available since the national park authorities are free to make access agreements without my right hon. Friend's prior approval.Following agreement on the provision of a public right of way on a section of the Pembrokeshire coast long-distance footpath in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park earlier this year, such rights now exist on all the national park sections of approved long-distance footpaths. No proposals for new routes have been submitted to my right hon. Friend so far this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report all schemes of traffic management at the moment being carried out by national park authorities and any schemes being considered; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not available because the great majority of such schemes do not come to my right hon. Friend for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps, in consultation with the national park authorities and the Countryside Commission, to encourage the public to use all the areas of the national parks, rather than to overcrowd a few well known beauty spots, particularly at bank holiday weekends; and if he will make a statement.

This is basically a matter for the national park authorities who have a statutory duty to prepare and publish a national park plan for each of the national parks by 1st April 1977. Last year, in co-operation with the Welsh Office, my Department issued a circular embodying advice by the Countryside Commission on the preparation of these plans, including advice on the strategy for management of recreational pressures. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the circular. The Countryside Commission, in conjunction with the national park authorities, is also carrying out a number of experimental schemes concerned with these problems.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on how far national park authorities have had to restrict educational visits to particular areas within their parks; and whether he is satisfied that there is sufficient co-ordination between education authorities and national park authorities to try to disperse educational visits throughout national parks.

I am not aware of any such restrictions. For the rest, I would ask my hon. Friend to await the Government's conclusions on the Sandford Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to indicate how he proposes to ensure that definitive footpath maps are published in a form which is easily available to the general public and can encourage more people to use the less well-known areas of the countryside.

The publication of definitive footpath maps is a matter for local initiative. I regard their wider availability as a desirable long term objective, but it is for local authorities to decide their expenditure priorities within the current financial constraints. Information on rights of way is, of course, also contained in the Ordnance Survey's 1:50,000 maps, complete coverage by which is due early next year. As my hon. Friend stated in the House on 23rd April, the Ordnance Survey is studying whether it would be practicable within its present resources to accelerate the publication of the second series of 1:25,000 maps.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps have been taken to publicise the subsidies which are available to local authorities under Circular 79/72, since the issue of the circular.

The provisions of Circular 79/72 have been publicised in Circular 35/73 and the Design Bulletin No. 27, "Children at Play"; in Circular 59/74; and on appropriate occasions in the House and elsewhere. I welcome this further opportunity of encouraging housing authorities to take full advantage of the allowances available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many playspace schemes have been given subsidies under Circular 79/72; which local authorities have applied for such subsidies; how many applications have been unsuccessful; and what has been the total subsidy paid out since the circular's inception.

The specific information asked for is not readily available. However, provided that proposals submitted conform to standards laid down in Circular 79/72 they would normally attract the specified cost allowance, for which subsidy would be available at the appropriate rate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the figures for the traffic flows predicted for 1996 that indicate a need for improvements to the A23 between Bolney and Pyecombe; and on what levels of economic activity and movement of population these traffic flows have been based.

About 50,000 vehicles per 16hour August day. This assumes a low rate of economic growth and does not take account of the proposed growth of Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath. It does, however, take account of certain planned major road improvements in the south east.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish the report on the effects of aerosols commissioned by his Department and submitted to the Royal Commission on the Environment;(2) if he will publish the comments of the Royal Commission on the Environment on his Department's report regarding the effects of aerosols.

The effects of aerosols are under close study. I hope to publish a report on the matter later this year, which will include the substance of the appraisal commissioned by my Department, an assessment of the medical risks and the results of further research.The question of the publication of any comments by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution about the appraisal would be a matter for that body, but I shall ensure that any such comments are taken into account in the published report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated completion date for the Hunton Bridge—Maple Cross section of the North Orbital Road; what is the estimated total cost of completion; and what is the total increase in construction costs over the original estimate.

It is estimated that the works will be completed in February 1976 at a total cost of around £8 million. This is nearly £1 million more than when the combined contracts for the scheme were let in October 1973. Increases in the cost of construction account for about £300,000 of this increase and the remainder is due to increased compensation to land owners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not yet replied to a letter dated 16th December 1974 from Mr. John Ellis concerning the North Orbital Road, Hunton Bridge to Maple Cross.

My right hon. Friend cannot trace having received the letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people visited historic buildings and monuments in the Department's care during the year 1974; and if he will list the 20 most popular ones.

15,214,700 people visited the historic monuments in the care of this Department and of the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales in 1974. The 20 most popular sites were:

• The Tower of London (with the Jewel House).
• Edinburgh Castle.
• Stonehenge.
• Hampton Court Palace.
• Caernarvon Castle.
• Stirling Castle.
• Dover Castle.
• Conway Castle.
• The Palace of Holyroodhouse.
• Carisbrooke Castle.
• Fountains Abbey.
• Osborne House.
• Harlech Castle.
• Clifford's Tower, York.
• Housesteads Roman Fort.
• Tintern Abbey.
• Scarborough Castle.
• Rievaulx Abbey.
• Beaumaris Castle.
• Pendennis Castle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his constituent, Mr. S. F. Bailey of Pipers, Barrack Road, Bexhill on Sea, Sussex, may expect a reply to his letters asking why the forms in connection with the phasing of rents for registered tenants under the Rent Act 1974 have not yet been printed; and when they will be available.

As I informed the hon. Member last week, his constituent has been sent a reply. The statutory instrument prescribing the form has been available from HMSO since mid-April, and I understand that copies of the form itself are readily obtainable from the normal commercial sources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now correct the figure of 2 per cent. given by him in the Official Report, column 752, 13th February 1975, as the percentage of bricks used in the construction of inner leaves in cavity walls.

No such correction is required. While about 10 per cent. of the inner leaves of cavity walls have, in recent years, been made of brick, this is likely, as I said on 13th February, to represent only about 2 per cent. of total brick production.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to resolve the difficulty arising from the varying interpretation by local authorities of Building Regulation C9 relating to the insulating of homes.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the Department's circular letter of 29th April to local authorities giving guidance on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now say when he proposes to introduce the Bill to abolish the tied cottage.

My right hon. Friend aims to have legislation to abolish agricultural tied cottages prepared as soon as is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many enumerated oil blocks are deemed to fall in the Welsh areas of the Celtic Sea; how many of these have been let to oil companies and other developers; and in now many positive strikes of oil and gas have been made.

The Celtic Sea is not divided into regional areas for the purpose of continental shelf licensing. Of the 130 blocks in that part of the area which has been designated, 38 are licensed; no discoveries have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the precautions to be taken to avoid oil spills in the North Sea.

The oil-producing installations in the North Sea and the pipelines bringing the oil ashore are and will be constructed and operated in accordance with standards designed to prevent escapes of oil and approved by my Department. My inspectors will keep a watch on these operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for New-castle-upon-Tyne, East on 12th May 1975 [col. 3], he will publish the terms of reference and proposed timetable of his further review of energy tariffs.

Officials in my Department and other Departments concerned are reviewing with representatives of the gas and electricity industries whether there is scope for assisting poor consumers through restructuring of the tariffs. This review will be completed as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the amount of financial aid from the EEC, if any, to finance research into the various uses of coal which has been received over the past three years by the National Coal Board or the Ministry for Energy.

I understand that the National Coal Board has so far secured ECSC research grants totalling about £2·4 million for work on coal utilisation projects. No such grants have been sought or received by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the levels of coal held in stock by the Central Electricity Generating Board at the end of April 1973, 1974 and 1975.

The following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken to increase the sale of coal to overseas buyers; and in what countries.

Production and productivity have both shown encouraging improvements in recent months but our supply position does not yet enable the National Coal Board to increase its exports substantially. The board is, however, maintaining close contact with its traditional markets, which are mainly in Western Europe, so as to be in a position to expand its overseas trade as soon as it is able to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the total levels of distributed and undistributed stocks of coal held at the end of April 1973, 1974 and 1975.

This information, in respect of Great Britain, is published in Table 60 of the Monthly Digest of Statistics and Table 8 of Energy Trends, available in the Library of the House. For convenience, the following are the figures:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the output of deep-mined coal in the first quarter of 1975; and how this compares with the first quarter of 1974;(2) what was the total output of deep-mined coal for 1974; and how this compares with output in 1973;

This information is contained in Tables 5 and 7 of the April issues of Energy Trends published by my Department and available in the Library of the House. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the output per manshift in the first quarter of 1975; and how this compares with the output per manshift in the first quarter of 1974.

The average output per manshift, overall, in National Coal Board mines during the first quarter of 1975 was 46·3 cwts. compared with 34·7 cwts. in the same period a year ago, when output was affected by an overtime ban and national strike.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total tonnage and value of coal exported by the National Coal Board in each of the last five years.

Figures on the tonnage and value of coal exported are published in the "Digest of UK Energy Statistics" (Table 108). For convenience the figures for the latest five years are given below. Exports other than by the National Coal Board are negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the value of import savings on coal production since the joint bonus scheme came into operation.

During the first quarter of 1975 coal output was 1·2 million tons above the bonus target. It is calculated that this would be equivalent to about £26 mililon cif worth of crude oil imports.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the current price of coal over the price of oil consumed in the electricity industry.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 12th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the levels of coal and oil held in stock at the end of February for the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.

Figures on coal and oil stocks are published monthly in Energy Trends. For convenience, figures at end-February in each of the last four years are given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the number of persons killed, injured and disabled for more than three days in the coal mining industry in Wales and Great Britain, respectively, in 1974–75; and if he will express the respective death and injury rates per 100,000 manshifts, distinguishing between surface and underground accidents.

I have been asked to reply.I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that figures in the form requested for 1974–75 are not readily available to the commission.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether Press notices of political parties may be sent out in House of Commons franked envelopes.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council on what grounds it is proposed that the arrangement whereby, according to their respective populations, England is represented in Parliament by proportionately fewer Members than are Scotland and Wales, should continue after devolution to assemblies in Scotland and Wales.

It will remain necessary after devolution for Scotland and Wales to be represented in Parliament at their present level so that they can continue to play their full part in determining United Kingdom policies, and particularly in the distribution of resources between the different parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Lord President of the Council what further work is still required to end operations in New Palace Yard; and when it will be completed.

The planting of the garden is well under way and a start will shortly be made on the second phase of the landscaping. This will include paving of the roadway, kerb and footpath, the provision of seats and restored gas lighting, a pool to mark the site of the fountain and a new Members' entrance porch. I now understand that work is expected to be completed early in 1976.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is able to make a further statement on the progress of the Boyle inquiry into Members' pay and allowances and the Select Committee on facilities for Members, respectively.

I understand the Top Salaries Review Body expects to make recommendations to the Prime Minister regarding the level of Members' salaries and the main allowances in the course of June. The first report of the Select Committee on facilities for private Members, under the chairmanship of the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. van Straubenzee), was published this morning.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to set up a Select Committee of the House to examine the operations of the trade union movement in the United Kingdom and to make recommendations.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list the members of the Scottish Universities Committee of the Privy Council, and state the number in attendance required for a quorum.

The present members of the Scottish Universities Committee of the Privy Council are the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Lord Justice General, the Lord Justice Clerk, the Lord Advocate, the Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh, Lord Guest, Lord Strathclyde, Lord Avonside, Lord Craigton, Mr. Arthur Woodburn, Mr. Thomas Fraser and myself. Three members constitute a quorum.

asked the Lord President of the Council what provision is made for objectors to an ordinance under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966 to be heard by the appropriate committee of the Privy Council.

There is no statutory provision for the making of objections to the Scottish Universities Committee of the Privy Council against ordinances under the Universities (Scotland) Act 1966, but the committee would consider any written representations made to it against a particular ordinance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much money has been spent on the PTR377 communications equipment which is being removed from Harrier aircraft; and what is the reason for this replacement.

The Harrier has never been equipped with PTR377 communications equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to give details of the particular items of equipment and work programmes which will be affected by the additional £110 million defence cut announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 15th April.

I have nothing to add to what was said in the recent defence debate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the progress of the MADGE project and the amount of money spent to date.

We are currently reexamining the MADGE programme in the light of the defence review which has affected the Services' requirement. Meanwhile the development of the equipment is continuing to proceed satisfactorily. Development costs funded by Her Majesty's Government have amounted to approximately £2 million to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many mentally-ill people are now housed in private residential homes in Clwyd as distinct from being in public institutions; and if he will make a statement on his policy in this regard.

There are six private residential homes in Clwyd registered by the county council which provide 100 places for mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons. The majority of the residents are mentally ill. I believe that these homes are a valuable supplement to local authority homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he will publish the report on Transport in Rural Wales prepared for the Welsh Council.

I am awaiting the views of the Welsh Council, which considered this report at its meeting on 14th May. The report has not yet been submitted to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average payment made by domestic ratepayers in Wales for domestic rates, including water and sewerage charges, in each of the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76; and what were the corresponding figures for England.

The following table shows the average payments of domestic rates and water and general services, including sewerage, charges:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage proportion of total United Kingdom population resided in Wales in each year 1964 to 1974.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage proportion of the Welsh total active labour force was engaged in publicly owned industries and utilities including education, health and local government in each year 1964 to 1974.

While exact figures are not available relating to numbers engaged in the public sector in Wales, the proportion of employment in industries predominately in the public sector is estimated as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make an estimate of the effects withdrawal from the EEC would have on Sir Don Ryder's plans for the expansion of British Leyland sales.

The effects would depend on the terms of continued British Leyland access to the EEC market and of EEC manufacturers' access to the British market.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will publish the plans prepared by the Leyland management which are the alternative of the £1,400 million investment proposed in the Ryder Report to assist Parliament to reach an informed judgment on the merits of the latter; and whether he will make a statement.

The investment proposed in the Ryder Report is based largely on a concept study prepared by British Leyland for the Ryder team. Any plans prepared by the company and made available to the Government are, of course commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the proposals contained in the Ryder Report on British Leyland were sent to the EEC Commission; and when he expects to receive their opinion concerning the compatibility of its proposals with the provisions of Article 92 or other articles of the Treaty of Rome.

Tuesday 22nd April. When the Commission's views are available I shall inform the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office to postpone its proposals for metrication in the light of their effect on the cost of living.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's written reply to him on 2nd May.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation, when issuing advice to the effect that cases of financial hardship may seek from the Department of Health and Social Security, to quote at the same time the statutory provision under which his advice is given.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what steps he is taking to bring more industry into the Northern Region.

The full range of regional incentives is available throughout the whole of the Northern Region. When the National Enterprise Board and the planning agreements system are in operation we shall be able to do still more to help.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is now in a position to state when legislation will be introduced to establish a Co-operative Development Agency; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are considering the proposal to establish a Co-operative Development Agency, but we are not in a position to make a statement on the timing of introduction of any legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total number of letters received at the House of Commons for hon. Members on any convenient day since 17th March 1975, and on the corresponding day in 1974.

This information is not available. The Post Office does not keep daily records of mail delivered to individual addresses.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what part the appointment of a trade unionist to the board of Alfred Herbert, Coventry, is designed to play in his general plans for industrial democracy.

None. But quite apart from issues of industrial democracy I have to make appointments of those with industrial experience and these are not confined to management.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what salary he proposes to pay the trade unionist whom he intends to appoint to the board of Alfred Herbert, Coventry; and what discussions he has had with the workforce at Alfred Herbert about the terms and conditions of this appointment.

I was proposing to invite the board of Alfred Herbert to appoint the trade unionist in question to a non-executive directorship. As such, it would have been the company's responsibility to determine the salary and conditions of appointment.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are his intentions in connection with the appointment of a trade unionist to the board of Alfred Herbert, Coventry; what discussions he had had with the workforce at Alfred Herbert on this matter; and in what form these discussions took place.

As I have indicated to my hon. Friend today in reply to another Question, the proposed appointment was intended to strengthen the board of the company. The reasons were explained to the trade union officials in the company by my representative. I also discussed this among other questions when I met representatives of the workforce and of the management on 12th May to consider the proposals they were putting forward for the company's future.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much of the capital receipts of the British Steel Corporation for 1974–75 arises from the sale of land.

Receipts from the sale of land and buildings in 1974–75 are provisionally estimated to be nearly £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects vesting day to be for companies in the shipbuilding and aircraft industries to be nationalised.

My right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council has told the House—[Vol. 891, c. 729]—that he intends to do his utmost to see that the Bill receives Royal Assent in the present Session. On that basis, vesting day will be in early 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he last met Rolls-Royce Ltd. to discuss development of the RB211 engine in the Boeing 747 aircraft.

I discussed the application of the RB211524 engine to the Boeing 747 aircraft with both management and trade union representatives during my visit to the Derby Engine Division of Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd on 14th February 1975. The matter is currently under discussion between the company and my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a general direction to all nationalised industries that they should whenever possible purchase motor vehicles made in Great Britain.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will introduce legislation to make the chairmen of nationalised industries subject to his authority; and if he will make a statement.

The chairmen of the nationalised industries for which I am responsible work within the terms of the Iron and Steel Act 1967 and the Post Office Act 1969, subject to any overriding obligations imposed by the European Communities Act 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now dismiss the Chairman of the British Steel Corporation.

I believe that chairmen of nationalised industries should have the right to speak their minds. I strongly disagree, however, with the recent statements made by the Chairman of the British Steel Corporation, which have caused great anxiety in the industry, as I believe the problems of the corporation can only be settled by negotiation between management and unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the level of home production in each quarter of 1973, each quarter of 1974 and the first quarter of 1975, by volume and by value, in the Lancashire cotton and man-made fibre woven fabric industry, taking cotton and man-made fibres separately.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the level of import penetration, as a percentage of domestic

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is estimated to be the under-usage of capacity in the Lancashire cotton and man-made woven fabric industry, taking cotton and man-made fibres separately.

There are no official statistics on the under-utilisation of capacity in the Lancashire cotton and man-made fibre weaving industry. In February the industry estimated that the under-utilisation of capacity in weaving was at least 15 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is estimated to be the under-usage of capacity in the Lancashire cotton, man-made fibre