asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will have discussions with chief constables with a view to arranging for the display in every police station, including rooms used for interrogation, of a poster setting out clearly, and briefly, the provision in the Judges' Rules under which a citizen shall have access to legal advice when under arrest for any alleged offence.

The administrative directions accompanying the Judges' Rules already make provision for the display of notices describing the rights and facilities available to persons in custody.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will publish his observations on the Younger Committee Report on Privacy.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his Question on 30th April.—[Vol. 891, c. 151.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much the Lincolnshire Police Force is under establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he remains satisfied with police recruitment.

On 30th April, the strength of the Lincolnshire police was 1,145 and there were 31 vacancies. For the whole of England and Wales the strength was 103,181, a gain of 1,095 in the first four months of the year compared with a gain of 1,520 for the whole of last year. I am glad to say that recruitment is running at a high rate, and there are signs that wastage is slowing down. I hope that the pay award announced on 4th June will further encourage recruitment and help to reduce wastage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to give power to examining justices to order the prosecutor to pay the whole or any part of the cost incurred in or about the defence, whether or not the examining justices consider the charge was made in good faith.

No. There are two ways in which the defence can recoup its costs where the charge is dismissed. First, examining justices inquiring into any offence and determining not to commit the accused for trial already have the power, if they think fit, to order the costs of the defence to be paid out of central funds. Alternatively, if they determine not to commit for trial and are of the opinion that the charge was not made in good faith they may order the prosecutor to pay the whole of any part of the costs incurred in or about the defence. That is because it has so far not been considered justifiable to penalise in costs a prosecutor who has acted in good faith, but that does not mean that the defence in these circumstances necessarily have to pay their own costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to give magistrates power to award the costs of the defence against the prosecutor where an information charging an indictable offence is not proceeded with.

Such a power is already provided by Section 12(3) of the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims for additional television licence fees have been issued by the National Television Licence Records Office during the last three months to persons who renewed their licences before the normal expiry date.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many claims for additional television licence fees have been issued by the National TV Licence Records Office during the last three months to persons who renewed their licences before the normal expiry date.

About 36,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make arrangements for the payment of licence fees for colour television by monthly instalments.

People can already spread the incidence of the licence fee by using a television savings card available at Post Offices, although admittedly this means saving in advance of the date when payment is due. To provide a scheme for payment by instalments would add to the costs of licensing, and the additional cost would have to be recovered in the instalments payable. My right hon. Friend is not, therefore, persuaded of the case or need for such a scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the Special Review Committee, set up to deal with the release of the two Shrewsbury pickets, to be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received about the convicted Shrewsbury pickets.

The special review of Mr. Tomlinson's case should be concluded about the end of this month, and that of Mr. Warren's in September. I cannot add to the full answer I gave to questions on 8th May—[Vol. 891, cols. 1599–1603].I continue to receive representations about the case from various individuals and organisations, but no new considerations have been put forward which would justify my recommending interference with the decisions of the courts. The early release of Mr. Tomlinson and Mr. Warren must depend on the results of the special parole reviews which I have ordered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the inquiries by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis into the activities of the "Children of God" sect in Great Britain has yet been completed; and if he is now able to make a statement.

No. Inquiries are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will immediately raise the grants paid to voluntary hostels in order to see that these keep pace with rising costs.

No, although we are aware of the difficulties facing some voluntary bodies. After-care hostel grants are kept under regular review and were last increased on 1st April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the maintenance of public order at pop festivals.

It is the responsibility of the chief officer of police for the area to take such measures as are appropriate in the circumstances, which vary greatly from one occasion to another.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the operation of the law relating to obscenity; and if he will consider introducing measures to strengthen those aspects of it relating to obscene literature.

We keep these matters under review but my right hon. Friend and I are not convinced of the need to strengthen the existing controls.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants have entered the United Kingdom in the last six months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

During the six months to the end of March this year, just over 12,000 Commonwealth citizens and some 3,500 foreign nationals were admitted for settlement on arrival. The comparable figures for the six months ended 31st March 1974 were just over 10,000 Commonwealth citizens and just under 3,000 foreign nationals. Those admitted are mainly United Kingdom passport holders and the dependants of people already settled here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the level of educational provisions for long-term prisoners in each of Her Majesty's prisons.

Considerable improvement has been made in recent years. There is scope for further improvement; but that depends upon the availability of additional resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received following the Law Lords' ruling on rape cases; and what reply he has sent.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler) on 16th May—[Vol. 892, c. 195–6]—and also to my reply earlier today to Questions by the right hon and learned Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton) and the hon. Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what request he has made, and within what time scale, to the Criminal Law Revision Committee for a review of the law on rape.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive a report from the Criminal Law Revision Committee regarding the law on rape.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to discuss the law on rape with the Chairman of the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to Questions by the right hon. and learned Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton) and the hon. Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the need to preserve the anonymity of women who give evidence in court on a charge of rape; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations on this subject which I have under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to build new magistrates courts in the South Eastern Division of inner London.

The South Eastern Division of inner London is served by the magistrates' courts at Greenwich and Woolwich. Both courthouses need replacing. A site has recently been acquired for that at Woolwich and the Greenwich courthouse will subsequently be rebuilt on the existing site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving violence against children of below school age were committed in each of the last three years and in 1955 and 1965, respectively.

The criminal statistics do not, except where homicide is involved, enable offences involving violence against children to be separately identified. The available information on offences of homicide in which the victims were aged under five years is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what criteria the censorship of prisoners' mail is operated.

Those set out in Rule 33 of the Prison Rules. A copy of the relevant Prison Standing Order is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to arrange for a voluntary register and code of conduct for private security personnel.

I have no such proposals, but, as my hon. Friend may already know, the industry association concerned recognises the importance of proper standards in this field and already operates a code of practice for its members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that there is a custodial centre for young delinquents to cover the North and Mid-Wales areas as at the present time youngsters are sent either to an institution in Derbyshire or in Staffordshire.

The number of boys sentenced to detention under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 by the courts in North and Mid-Wales is not large enough to justify a separate centre for their use. I am writing to the hon. and learned Member to explain the position in greater detail.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a statement about the new proposals for the investigation of complains against the police.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Bebington and Ellesmere Port (Mr. Bates) and Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead).

asked the Seccretary of State for the Home Department how many murders and crimes of violence were made known to the police in 1974; and by what percentage these figures exceed or are less than the comparable figures in 1964.

The number of offences of violence against the person recorded as known to the police in England and Wales in 1974 was 63,781. This figure exceeds the comparable 1964 figure by 172 per cent.Information is not yet available about the number of offences of homicide for 1974 on a current classification basis.The number of offences in 1973 currently recorded as homicide is 391. Of these, 82 were decided by a court to be murder. The latter figure is 55 per cent. higher than the corresponding figure for 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to deal with the increasing commitment of police manpower to deal with disorders at sporting and other activities.

The need for police which arises from these activities is taken into account in assessing the authorised establishments of police forces. It is for chief officers of police to decide how to deploy the resources at their disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the adequacy of the transmission facilities available to B3C Radio Birmingham.

Yes. The medium wave transmission has recently been increased in power, but, as with most medium wave transmissions, the service area is reduced after dark by interference from other stations. VHF transmission, which is the primary service for local radio, provides a more constant signal in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will propose that the Speaker's Conference be reconvened in order to examine the voting rights of British subjects resident abroad.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister hopes shortly to initiate consultation between the leaders of the parties on the re-convening of a Speaker's Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the transfer of three men to the control unit at Wakefield Prison some three weeks ago.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer my hon. Friend gave on 16th June in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk).—[Vol. 893, c. 324–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what are the duties of the police in respect of ballot boxes being transported from the polling station to the count in elections in Great Britain and Northern Ireland;(2) who has responsibility for the safety and security of ballot boxes and ballot papers, whilst polling is taking place, whilst the boxes are being transported to the count, and whilst the count is taking place in local and national elections in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and who had these responsibilities in the recent referendum;(3) what guidelines are issued to those responsible for the safety and security of ballot boxes and ballot papers in local and national elections in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what such guidelines were issued in the recent referendum;(4) who was responsible for arrangements to transport ballot boxes from the polling station to the count in local and national elections in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and who had such responsibility in the recent referendum;(5) what guidelines are issued to those responsible for arrangements to transport ballot boxes from the polling station to the count in local and national elections in Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what such guidelines were issued in the recent referendum.

The statutory provisions for parliamentary elections and local elections place on the presiding officer responsibility for the security of ballot boxes and ballot papers while polling is taking place. He is also responsible for their delivery to the returning officer subject, if delivery is not carried out personally by the presiding officer, to the approval of the returning officer to the arrangements made. Responsibility lies with the returning officer during the count. Over the years, guidance has been given to returning officers about any changes in the statutory provisions as they came into effect. The police have no specific statutory duties in connection with ballot boxes, but they give assistance if requested to do so by the returning officer, who has general responsibility for the conduct of the election.For the referendum, responsibility for the security of ballot boxes and ballot papers rested with the presiding officer while polling was taking place and while the boxes were being transported to the verifying officer, subject, if delivery was not carried out personally by the presiding officer, to the directions of the verifying officer. At the verification stage and while the ballot boxes were being transported to the count, responsibility rested with the verifying officer; and, while the count was taking place, with the counting officer. These statutory provisions were explained in a memorandum of guidance sent to referendum returning officers and others concerned. The police were asked to review the arrangements they customarily make for a general election to take account of the special features of the referendum; and, in consultation with the counting officers, to pay particular attention to the safeguarding of premises used for verification and counting and to the transport of ballot boxes to the count.Separate arrangements were made by the Ministry of Defence with regard to polling in the referendum by members of the Armed Forces and their spouses who voted in the special forces voting scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether British footwear is issued to persons detained in Home Office establishments.

The majority of the boots, shoes and slippers worn by inmates in penal establishments are manufactured by prison industries from materials purchased entirely from British firms. Where purchases of footwear are necessary contracts are always placed with British firms which normally supply footwear of British manufacture.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether British footwear is issued to Home Office personnel.

The great majority of all the footwear provided for Home Office staff is issued to prison officers and this is all British made. Small quantities of protective footwear are purchased from local sources and there is no reason to suppose that most of this is not also British made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the number of units of tied or service accommodation provided by the police and the number of quarters vacant at 31st March 1975.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current rate of pay, the extent of other benefits and pension entitlement of the governors and senior medical officers at Holloway and Brixton Prisons, respectively.

Both governor posts are graded class I. The annual pay rate for that grade is £9,424. The emoluments of the governor grades also include rent and rate-free accommodation or, if this is not available, rent allowance; this emolument is notionally valued for tax and pension purposes at £497 a year in the case of a governor class I. The maximum rent allowance for that grade is £630 a year and in inner London this would be supplemented by London weighting at the rate of £410 a year.Prison medical officers are members of the general Civil Service medical officer class. The most senior post at Holloway is graded senior medical officer and that at Brixton, principal medical officer. Annual pay rates for these grades are £11,000 and £11,440 respectively. The posts also attract the inner London weighting allowance of £410 a year and an annual environment allowance of £155.The pension entitlements of prison governors and prison medical officers are as for other civil servants. These are prescribed in the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure reasonable participation by magistrates in the running of the Northumbria Police Authority.

In accordance with Section 3(2) of the Police Act 1964 two-thirds of the members of the Northumbria Police Authority are county councillors and one-third are magistrates. It is for the police authority to determine its procedures and standing orders, but I hope that all police authorities recognise the valuable contribution which magistrate members can make to their work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to introduce legislation to update the law relating to nationality.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 8th May.—[Vol. 891, c. 495.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to give to police forces a standard code of practice for using motor-way emergency warning signals.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend gave to her Questions on 17th June.— [Vol. 893, c. 378.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many sentenced prisoners are currently receiving screened visits; in which prisons they are held; and how many are Irish;(2) how many remand prisoners are currently receiving screened visits from their families; in which prisons they are held; and how many are Irish.

I regret that the information is not readily available. Visits under closed conditions, i.e., with a screen between the prisoner and the visitor, are arranged at the discretion of the Governor when either the circumstances of an individual case or the absence or shortage of open visiting accommodation makes it necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will expel those foreign nationals who have been using the J. Walter Thompson organisation in London as a cover for a foreign espionage service;(2) if he will expel those foreign nationals who have been using the British publishing company Hodder and Stoughton as a cover for a foreign espionage service.

If my hon. Friend has information which requires action on my part I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a light aircraft hired to a pilot's licence holder carries VAT at 20 per cent., whereas the same aircraft hired to a non-licence holder, but piloted without reward by a qualified pilot, carries eight per cent.

Under Section 5(2) of the Finance Act 1972 a supply of goods for VAT purposes includes the letting of goods on hire. Accordingly, VAT at the 25 per cent.—not 20 per cent.—rate is chargeable on the hire of a light aircraft whether it is hired by the holder of a pilot's licence or by anybody else. However, the hire of an aircraft together with the services of a pilot for the purposes of transport, or with the services of an accompanying instructor for the purpose of a flying lesson, is a supply of services which is outside the scope of the higher rate charge and remains chargeable at the 8 per cent. standard rate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of VAT applies to distress alarms and door entry systems for the handicapped.

25 per cent. But if these items are supplied for the benefit of a handicapped person by a local authority under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, they are, in effect, free of VAT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the net payment of VAT on petrol by the private motorist compares with that of motorists in registered businesses.

Persons registered for VAT are able to reclaim the VAT charged on their purchases of petrol for business use, subject to the normal rules. For the estimate of the net yield of VAT on petrol, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Smith) on 21st April; most of this net yield is derived from purchases by private motorists and other unregistered persons.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the operation of VAT on certain items of food; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied, but I keep the scope of the tax under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the cooperation and efficiency of traders in the operation of VAT.

In general, well satisfied. My right hon. Friend acknowledged in his Budget speech the success with which small businesses, in particular, have adapted themselves to VAT, and I am glad to take this opportunity of confirming our appreciation of their co-operation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake to publish widely all future VAT price changes in the national Press and other media.

Details of VAT changes are always widely publicised, but it would not be practicable to publish details of consequential price changes for every different line of goods or type of service that may be affected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the risk to safety caused by charging 25 per cent. VAT on radio maintenance and repair as applied to light aircraft, he will reconsider the increased charge on such work.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue which will be produced by import levies in the year beginning 1st January 1975; how much of this will be retained by Her Majesty's Government; and how much will be passed on to the EEC budget.

It is estimated that the yield of agricultural levies in 1975 might be about £40 million. During the transitional period to 1977, the United Kingdom contribution to the EEC budget is determined not by the amounts of "own resources" collected in the United Kingdom, but by reference to a percentage of the budget expenditure specified in the Treaty of Accession. The proportion of agricultural levies collected in the United Kingdom which will be paid to the Community cannot therefore be estimated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish an index of the prices of nationalised industry products from January 1962 to the most recent date available.

There is no common index for the nationalised industries. The available indices for the principal industries in terms of goods or services for the home market are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up a departmental inquiry to consider and report upon the cost to the general public of tax compliance, bearing in mind the evidence provided by the Institute of Fiscal Studies and the hardship for retailers of administering a multi-rate value added tax.

No. The Government recognise the burden of tax compliance upon both the business community and, indirectly, the general public. Every effort is made to minimise this, consistent with efficient and equitable administration of fiscal policies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish statistics relating to the distribution of personal incomes below the income tax level.

Statistics relating to the distribution of personal incomes for 1972–73 in ranges £0–595, £595–740, £750–1,000, etc., will be published in the 1975 issue of the National Income Blue Book.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are currently estimated not to be paying income tax because their incomes are too low.

Information on which to make a firm estimate is not available. However, it is thought that the number of persons aged 16 and over who are not liable to tax on their income, whether because it is insufficient or because it consists of a non-taxable benefit, is of the order of 6½ million, counting married couples as one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, given an annual rate of inflation of 25 per cent., and the present rate of direct taxation, what would be the gross earnings necessary for a man with two children to have an income of £6,000 net a year in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.

Assuming that the man has a net income of £6,000 for 1976–76 the gross earnings required to maintain this value in real terms are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of arrangements for control and audit of Community expenditure.

Since joining the Community, Her Majesty's Government have joined in several initiatives for improving financial control over Community expenditure. These include the presentation to the Council of improved financial information, particularly in relation to agricultural expenditure, and the provision of additional staff for financial and budgetary control work. Measures have also been taken to prevent frauds on Community funds; these are described in detail in the answer which my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food gave to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mrs. Ewing) on 10th June.—[Vol. 893, c. 171–4.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much capital debt and revenue deficits has been written out of the accounts of nationalised industries since 1960.

The following is the information:In addition, Her Majesty's Government have given full support to proposals which are under consideration for improving the arrangements for auditing Community expenditure by the creation of a Court of Auditors to replace the present Audit Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present total of the National Debt; and from information available from international sources, how this compares on a per capita basis with the equivalent figures for other member countries of the European Economic Community.

Information on public sector debt is not available from international sources. The following estimates of central Government debt per head have been derived from national statistical publications and from population estimates included in the OECD's "Main Economic Indicators" —November 1974 issue. The table contains estimates of National Debt for the, United Kingdom as no separate figures are available for Great Britain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contribution United Kingdom private investment to the EEC industry makes to the growth of the United Kingdom gross national product.

Outward investment contributes to the United Kingdom gross national product to the extent that earnings result from it. No separate figures for United Kingdom income from portfolio investment in the EEC are available; the table sets out earnings from direct investment in the years 1970 to 1973, the latest year for which geographical detail has so far been compiled:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are taken to ensure that when an employer is notified of a change in an employee's income tax code number, the employee concerned is notified of the change in sufficient time to enable him to challenge the new coding, if he disagrees with it, before it is put into operation.

Where a PAYE code number is altered and the change is to take effect from the start of a tax year, the notification to the employee is generally issued in good time for any disputes to be resolved before the tax year starts. A change in an employee's PAYE code for the current year is, however, sent to the employee and employer at the same time, and is put into operation as soon as possible after receipt by the employer.There is provision for appeal against an amended current year code, but I do not think it would be desirable to delay the implementation of current year code changes pending the outcome of the appeal. The practical result would be either that the employee would have to wait longer for a tax refund or that he would have a larger underpayment at the end of the tax year.If the hon. and learned Member has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to look into it if he will let me have the necessary particulars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the cost of work done to obtain a fire certificate under the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act is allowable for tax purposes.

The cost of such work would qualify for allowance under the ordinary tax law where it is in respect of industrial premises. As regards commercial buildings, the cost of structural work as envisaged by my hon. Friend is allowable only if the premises have been designated under the Fire Precautions Act 1971. So far, only hotels and boarding houses have been so designated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what view was expressed by the United Kingdom representative at the recent EEC Council of Ministers in respect of the document on Guidelines for Economic Development 1975.

At its meeting on 18th March the Council of Ministers approved the adjusted economic policy guidelines for 1975—Document R/731/1/75—subject to a United Kingdom reserve to enable the United Kingdom parliamentary scrutiny procedures to be completed. The United Kingdom reserve was lifted after the debate on 11th June, and the decision embodying the guidelines was adopted as a formal item at the Council meeting on 16th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that a firm whose name has been supplied to him met its obligations in paying over employees' social services contributions after deducting them from wages.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th June 1975; Vol. 893, c. 404], gave the following information:The Inland Revenue, to whom these contributions are initially paid, and the Department of Health and Social Security are responsible for taking all reasonable measures to secure that every employer meets his obligations under the Social Security Act. On grounds of confidentiality details of the affairs of an individual firm cannot be given without its authority.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will publish in the Official Report as detailed a statement as may be available giving the depreciation in the purchasing value of the salary paid to Members since the last adjustment to what extent the present salary would have to rise to compensate for this depreciation as at 1st June; and what have been the annual

Between January 1972 and May 1975, the latest available date, the internal purchasing power of the pound has fallen by 38½ per cent., and the General Index of Retail Prices has increased by 63 per cent. If the basic salary of a Member of Parliament, which has been £4,500 per annum since January 1972, were to be increased by the same percentage as the General Index of Retail Prices, it would be £7,290 per annum. Between January 1972 and April 1975 average earnings of employees in the industries covered by the Department of Employment's monthly inquiry have increased by 73 per cent., or at an equivalent annual rate of 18 per cent.

asked the Lord President of the Council when he expects to receive an interim report from Lord Boyle's Committee of Inquiry into the remuneration of Members.

Lord Boyle has now submitted Part I of the Top Salaries Review Body's report on Members' remuneration to the Prime Minister and the Government are considering its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will take steps to increase the Scottish proportion of contracts for oil and gas well testing and completion arising from operations in the northern basin of the North Sea;(2) what was the value of oil and gas well testing and completion contracts awarded in the northern basin of the North Sea in each year from 1970 to 1974;(3) what proportions of oil and gas operations in the northern basin of the North Sea relating to the testing and completion of wells went to Scottish, English and other companies, including overseas companies, in each year from 1970 to 1974.

Records in the form of commodity categories have been established in the Offshore Supplies Office only since the beginning of 1974 and only for United Kingdom industry as a whole. Drilling and completion of wells are included under the general category "Drilling Tools and Equipment" and the value and United Kingdom share of this sector of the offshore market for 1974 will be provided in the abstract of the quarterly returns from the operating companies which will be placed in the Library in the very near future. The effort of the Offshore Supplies Office is directed to promoting the opportunities for British firms to supply the offshore oil and gas market. It was in recognition of the particular importance of the market for Scottish firms that the headquarters of the office was moved to Glasgow last year. The full range of regional assistance under the Industry Act is available to firms in the assisted areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what evidence he has of metal fatigue on production platforms in the southern and northern sections of the North Sea; and what action is being taken to deal with the situation to reduce damage to life and equipment.