asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has yet made a decision on Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd's proposals for the use of the RB211–524 aero-engine in the Boeing 747 aircraft.

The Government have agreed to support Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited's proposals for the application of the RB211–524 engine to the Boeing 747 aircraft on the basis of an order from British Airways. The Secretary of State for Trade has given his approval for such an order to be placed.The Government contribution towards the cost will commence as soon as contractual details are completed and British Airways place their proposed order for the aircraft with those engines. The Government will contribute as launching aid approximately half of the costs of this programme, to use the engine in the Boeing 747 50,000lb thrust. The contribution is recoverable by a levy on engine sales.We recognise that it may be necessary for the engine to be developed to a higher thrust level for the Boeing 747. I have, therefore, also agreed in principle that, should such a programme be required, the Government would support a further development programme to achieve 53,000lb thrust.I shall give the House the details of Government support when the agreement with the company is signed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will review facilities for Export Credits Guarantee Department support in respect of performance bonds for export contracts.

In the light of ECGD's experience to date I have decided that the guidelines I announced on 20th February for the Department's involvement with performance bonds should be relaxed. In future, therefore, ECGD will be willing to consider giving cover to support bonds for cash or near cash contracts where the contract has a minimum value of £2 million. This will replace the existing minimum limit of £20 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will set up an inquiry into the pursuit of hang gliding.

No. The Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for air safety matters, advises me that it has recently had discussions with representatives of the hang gliding movement and is satisfied that this pursuit is responsibly conducted and that the present legal constraints are adequate. The authority adds that it will continue to keep the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will name the countries which are principal suppliers to the United Kingdom of surgical products;(2) what is the total value of surgical products imported into the United Kingdom each year; and what is the total value of British-made surgical products which are exported.

£ per tonne
					January	February	March	April
	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1975	1975	1975
(a) all types of steel	79	76	110	146	154	162	155	61
(b) plates	107	66	106	139	141	140	131	138
(c) light rolled products	59	55	92	138	173	161	146	173
(d) sheets (coated and uncoated)	77	77	98	135	138	153	140	139
(e) tinplate	106	109	137	175	217	205	199	167

Official price indices which show changes in prices on 1970=100 for broadly comparable groups of steel commodities produced within the United Kingdom are available in

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what is his

Imports of surgical gloves, instruments, dressings, ligatures and sutures during 1974 were £22·7 million c.i.f., principally from the USA, Federal Republic of Germany and Irish Republic. Exports, including any re-exports, were £58·9 million f.o.b.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the average price per ton of (a) all types of steel, (b) plates, (c) light rolled products, (d) sheets coated and uncoated, and (e) tinplate, respectively, imported into the United Kingdom from the other member States of the EEC during the last foul years and during each month of 1975 to date; and how these prices compare with those for the corresponding United Kingdom produced products.

Figures of import prices as such are not compiled for these products. However, average values per tonne can be derived from the Overseas Trade Statistics. These should not be regarded as prices since they are influenced by differences in the commodity composition, in the quality of the goods, transport costs and in certain other factors. The values per tonne thus obtained are:policy towards British Caledonian Airways developing as a competitor to British Airways; and whether he intends to take any action in this regard;(2) if it is his policy to nationalise British Caledonian Airways.

I am at present considering future policy towards British Caledonian Airways, following the review of civil aviation policy which my officials have recently completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what were the levels of imports and exports by volume and value of (a) butter and (b) margarine in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

This information is published under SITC(R) 023.0 and 091.41 respectively, in Tables III and VI of the monthly "Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom".

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) on what dates meetings have been held with the EEC Commission relating to the draft proposal for a directive on the harmonisation of the laws relating to commercial travelers— employees—since the accession of the United Kingdom;(2) if he will define the categories of employee included within the scope of the draft proposal for an EEC directive on the harmonisation of laws relating to commercial travellers.

No proposal has so far been tabled by the Commission on this subject. The possibility of harmonising the laws relating to commercial agents within the Community is being explored by the Commission's services with member States, including ourselves, and informal contacts continue at working level. The categories of persons concerned are still the subject of discussion, but there is no present thought that the definition shall include employees. The comments of a wide spectrum of representative bodies have been sought from the outset, but pending more definitive proposals I can only regard such representations as I have received as provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what representations he has had for and against the approval by Her Majesty's Government of the present draft proposal for a directive on the harmonisation of the laws relating to commercial travellers.

A wide range of views has been expressed about the European Commission's draft proposal for an EEC directive on the harmonisation of laws relating to independent commercial agents. I understand that the Commission is reviewing the draft in the light of law and practice in the United King- dom and the other member States which have joined the Community since it was prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what action, if any, has been taken by the EEC Commission under the safeguard clause of the multifibre arrangement of 21st March 1974; and whether imports into the United Kingdom have been affected in any way.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report 19th June 1975] gave the following information:Under Article 3 of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement the EEC has authorised Germany to take emergency measures against imports of woven cotton fabric from Brazil; and Ireland to do likewise against imports of knitted and woven suits from the Republic of Korea. Both Germany and the Benelux countries have been authorised to take measures against imports of synthetic socks from the Republic of Korea and the Commission has submitted draft regulations for adoption by the Council which will allow the measures to be maintained for a further period. These measures do not apply to imports into the United Kingdom although it is always open to our industry to make a case under Article 3 should it consider the circumstances justify it.Consultations are proceeding under which restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom on Turkish cotton yarn from 25th December 1974 might be brought within the procedure of Article 3.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the NATO committee responsible for evaluating airborne warning and control systems, chaired by a RAF officer, to ask it to include in its evaluation a European aircraft such as the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod rather than commit itself solely to an evaluation of a proposal from the United States of America.

The potentialities of a development based on the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod have been fully represented by Her Majesty's Government at all stages of the NATO discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the RAF, unlike the Army, has decided that it will not in future need to utilise the services of the WRVS.

The assistance of the WRVS to the RAF in the field of welfare overseas has been on a very limited scale, and currently comprises four helpers. With increasing demands on its limited non-public funds the RAF has been forced to the regrettable conclusion that it cannot assume from NAAFI the financial responsibility for the provision of the service. We are extremely grateful to the WRVS for its past help.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current cost of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force; and how this compares with the cost in 1964.

The annual cost of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force is estimated currently to be about £192,000. The cost for 1964 was £120,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current strength of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force; and what it was in 1964.

The strength of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 1st April 1975 was 238 officers, airmen and airwomen. At 1st April 1964 it was 474.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost of the chartering of civilian aircraft for each of the Armed Services in the latest year for which figures are available; what were the main aircraft-types chartered in each case; and how many movements were involved.

There are three main civil air charter contracts and four minor contracts. The main contracts cover administrative trooping for the Services to North-West Europe and Berlin, the carriage of personnel and freight to Australia, mainly on behalf of the Procurement Executive, and the movement of Gurkhas and their families within Nepal. The minor contracts meet the support and training requirements of certain Army units.In the financial year 1974–75 the contract covering North-West Europe and Berlin cost £1·3 million, and approximately 169,000 passengers were carried mainly on Boeing 737s. The contract to Australia cost £571,000, the aircraft used was the Britannia, and 708 passengers and freight were carried. The carriage of Gurkhas and their families cost £44,453, the main aircraft used was the HS 748, and about 7,200 passengers were carried. The four minor contracts cost £35,000, the aircraft types varied with the tasks and included the Sikorsky S61N, Twin Comanche, Gateslear Jet, Cessna 337 and Beagle, and some 300 passengers and freight were carried on support flights.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans have now been formulated for the disposal of surplus RAF transport aircraft following the latest defence review.

In general the aim will be to sell surpluses as they become available. Bids for Britannias and Comets will be invited shortly. Discussions on overseas interest in the VC10 and the Andover are to take place with the design firms before decisions are reached on the disposal procedures for these types.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average net weekly benefit of the latest forces' pay increases to representative non-commissioned ranks of each of the Armed Services, after taking account of increases in charges for accommodation, etc., as well as of tax changes.

The weekly rates of gross pay for representative noncommissioned ranks of the Armed Forces resulting from the recent pay review,

					(a)	(b)	(c)
					At 1st April 1974	At 31st March 1975*	At 1st April 1975
					£	£	£
Navy
Ordinary rating, scale I	…	…	…	…	31·99	36·39	41·02
Petty officer, scale II	…	…	…	…	51·52	55·92	66·15
Chief artificer	…	…	…	…	63·70	68·10	83·79
Army
Private class II, band 1	…	…	…	…	33·67	38·07	43·05
Sergeant, band 5	…	…	…	…	51·52	55·92	66·15
Warrant Officer Class I, band 7	…	…	…	…	65·45	69·85	86·03
RAF
Aircraftman	…	…	…	…	29·47	33·87	38·01
Corporal, band 2	…	…	…	…	46·76	51·16	60·83
Flight Sergeant, band 6	…	…	…	…	59·08	63·48	75·95
* The rates in column (b) are equal to those in column (a) plus threshold payments of £4–40 per week.

The type of accommodation occupied by the individual Service man, and thus the quartering charge he pays, depend on his family circumstances and so does his tax position. Weekly charges for standard accommodation for Service men before and after the recent review are as follows:

	Before 1st April 1975	After 1st April 1975
	£	£
Single quarters
Young Service men receiving less than the minimum adult rate	1·54	1·54
Corporal and below	1·54	2·03
Warrant Officer and Senior NCO	2·94	3·92
Married quarters
Type A	3·15	4·27
Type B	4·55	6·23
Type C	5·32	7·21
Type D	6·16	8·40]

Of the two categories in most general use a Type B quarter generally houses a family with no children or one child only; a Type C quarter, a family with two or three children.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there is any compared with those resulting from the 1974 review and those in force immediately before the recent increase, are as follows. All the rates shown are for men committed to nine years' service.present CIA involvement in the Ministry of Defence establishment at Cheddington, Buckinghamshire.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied that there is no danger from explosives, etc., to people living in the vicinity of the Ministry of Defence establishment at Cheddington, Buckinghamshire.

Yes. The safety aspects of all military storage depots are governed by mandatory Government statutory instruments as recommended by the Explosives Storage Transport Committee (ESTC).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) why he will not agree to provide funds for the salary on an appropriate scale for a director of the proposed rescue excavation of the site of the ancient Scottish Parliament in Perth;(2) why he will not agree in advance to provide adequate funds for excavation of the site of the ancient Scottish Parliament at Perth, so that the work and expenditure may be planned without delay.

My Department has already agreed to make a substantial grant towards the cost of this rescue operation. The amount of the grant and, in particular, the salary to be paid to the director will depend upon the outcome of discussions being held this week with the newly constituted local organisation with which my officials are in close touch.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce a Bill to reduce the number of senior officers employed by local authorities.

No. Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and appointment of the staff needed to meet their statutory and other duties. However the Government and local authority associations have jointly instituted a system for watching manpower trends in local government as part of the rate support grant settlement for 1975–76. Individual authorities are expected to limit any expansion in present numbers to those needed to meet inescapable commitments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which metropolitan district authority has the highest staff costs, on a per capita basis;(2) which metropolitan county has the highest staff costs, on a per capita basis;(3) which metropolitan district authority has the lowest staff costs, on a per capita basis;(4) which metropolitan county has the lowest staff costs, on a per capita basis;(5) which non-metropolitan county has the highest staff costs, on a per capita basis;(6) which non-metropolitan county has the lowest staff costs, on a per capita basis.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many officers on SO1 Grade and above, are employed by each of the metropolitan county councils, metropolitan district councils and county councils.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what criteria his Department assesses the size of local authority spending programmes in relation to their duties; and if he will list those local authorities whose establishments exceed an economic level as assessed by such criteria.

I do not assess individual local authority spending programmes; local authorities are independent bodies responsible to their electorate. My Department recently, however, issued a Circular, 171/74, containing guidelines on expenditure totals and the consequences of keeping to them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will specify the local authorities with too many senior officers, referred to by his Chief Inspector of Audit when he said that there are too many senior officers employed by local authorities;(2) if he will name in the

The Chief Inspector of Audit is the head of an independent statutory service, and his recent paper to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, which my hon. Friend doubtless has in mind, was an expression of his own personal views. The Chief Inspector in fact made neither of the statements attributed to him, as will be noted from the copies of his paper which I am arranging to have placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now bring forward legislation to reduce the number of councillors serving on local authorities.

Many considerations affect the size of local councils, and it is relevant to recall that the total number of councillors serving in local government has already been substantially reduced as a result of reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review parliamentary legislation placing obligations on local authorities with a view to amending, suspending or abolishing them to assist local authorities in cutting back expenditure.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend to a Question by the hon. Member for Hove (Mr. Sainsbury) on 7th May.—[Vol. 891, c. 1423–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why water authorities in the South-West of England are being encouraged in departmental circulars to transfer to direct billing; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for this, and the extent of any expected savings.

I have nothing to add to my reply on 11th June to the hon. Member for Northampton, South (Mr. Morris).—[Vol. 893, c. 182.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what efforts his Department has made to secure economies in expenditure on cutting the grass verges of motorways and trunk roads in England and Wales; and with what success.

Revised instructions for these roads in England will be ready for issue shortly, and will result in substantial savings. My right hon. and learned Friend is making similar arrangements in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce plans for reorganization of the archaeological rescue service in Scotland; and if he will make a statement about the current position.

I have been asked to reply.I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. A number of interests are involved, and it will be some time before an announcement can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has read the Screening Survey report of 2,060 hearing-impaired children in the Midlands and North of England which has been distributed by the Royal Schools for the Deaf; and whether he has any proposals in mind to deal with the inadequacies in teacher training facilities and educational provision for such mentally handicapped children.

The report has been read by the Department's specialist advisers and officials concerned. Before its circulation they had discussed with representatives of the schools which cater for hearing-impaired children who are also educationally subnormal or maladjusted, including the Royal Schools for the Deaf, Manchester, what further provision was needed for such children. Various proposals are now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he gives to local education authorities to carrying out Section 33 of the Education Act 1944 to ensure that they identify all physical and mentally handicapped children, between the ages of 2 and 5 years, for whom educational provision may need to be made.

Section 34 of the Education Act 1944 imposes responsibility on local education authorities for identifying children who may require special education, and it prescribes formal procedures. In March 1975 the Department of Education and Science issued a circular of guidance on the discovering of children requiring special education. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence his Department has exchanged with the Agricultural Research Council on the subject of applications for rate relief by research institutes grant aided by the council.

No. In so far as the correspondence in question dealt with matters not covered in my right hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member's Question on 13th June 1975—[Vol. 893, c. 282–83.]—it conveyed advice from an officer of my Department as legal adviser to the Agricultural Research Council. It is not the practice to disclose such advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the research institutes grant aided by the Agricultural Research Council which have made applications for rate relief, and the local authorities to which they have applied.

No. The institutes in question are independent bodies which are grant aided by the Agricultural Research Council. There is no requirement to furnish my right hon. Friend with details of any such application.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many oil and gas well tests and completions took place in the northern basin of the North Sea in each year from 1970 to 1974.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in the interests of fuel economy, he will issue a general direction to electricity boards requiring them to make adequate allowance in their tariffs for those local authorities which wish to ensure that street lighting is provided only when it is required.

No. This is a matter for discussion between the local authorities and the electricity boards, though I understand that charges for street lighting already reflect the different costs of supplying electricity for different lighting periods.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of domestic households can be supplied from the present gas mains of the British Gas Corporation.

British Gas estimates that 69 per cent. of households are currently supplied with gas and a further 14 per cent. within 25 yards of an existing main.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the design work on SGHWRs to he completed; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the National Nuclear Corporation. I understand that it is preparing a reference design, on the basis of which components will be developed, and which will lead to a firm proposal to meet the electricity boards' requirements for a design for construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will be able to issue a safety certificate for the SGHWRs, to be built at Torness and Sizewell, before the design work on these reactors is completed.

A nuclear site licence cannot be granted before the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate of the Health and Safety Executive has assessed the design safety of the proposed plant. Applicants are required to furnish the necessary design information to satisfy the inspectorate that the plant can be constructed and operated safely. Licences are granted by the executive under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the estimated saving so far of the "Save It" campaign.

Variation in energy consumption from year to year can be attributed to a number of factors, including the level of economic activity, the weather and price and income changes. It is not possible to separate the effects of all these factors from those of the "Save It" campaign, which is intended progressively to change attitudes and habits in relation to the use of energy. A survey on the impact of the launch phase of the "Save It" campaign from 20th January to 21st March suggests, however, a significant change in people's understanding of how to save energy and an encouraging trend in plans to install energy saving devices. In addition, the manufacturers of loft insulating materials say that production is running at very much higher levels than last year and member firms of the Insulating Jacket Manufacturers' Federation have announced their decision to produce only three-inch cylinder jackets from 1st August to the exclusion of one-inch and two-inch jackets.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the estimated cost so far of the "Save It" campaign.

£3·2 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount still to be repaid in post-war credits; and when he anticipates payment will be completed.

I would refer to the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Redcar (Mr. Tinn) on 12th December 1974. Despite the extensive publicity in recent years about 2·4 million post-war credits, worth perhaps £50 million, remain unclaimed. I hope that everyone entitled to a credit will claim payment as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the gross revenue likely to accrue to the Exchequer through legislation to make all social security benefits taxable.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when capital transfer tax is payable on a testator's estate, if legal rights, being a debt on the estate, will be deductible before tax is assessed at all; and, if legal right is a chargeable item, on what portion tax will he assessed, since under estate duty rules such claims were calculated after payment of duty.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many very large crude carriers have been cancelled by Harland and Wolff Ltd., Belfast; which companies had ordered them; and what compensation was paid.

Orders for three ships each of 333,000 deadweight tonnes have been cancelled by Harland and Wolff Ltd. All had been ordered by the Maritime Fruit Group. The matter of compensation is the responsibility of Harland and Wolff Ltd. as a joint stock limited liability company and I do not consider it would be appropriate to release details.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what level of gross weekly earnings a married man with four children of 12, 13, 14 and 15 years of age and without unearned income would cease to have a greater net disposable weekly income by drawing short-term national insurance benefits than by working.

It is not possible to answer this Question precisely without making a number of assumptions about rent, rates, previous employment, earnings in previous years, unavoidable expenses of employment and the time of year at which unemployment commences. However, taking into account family allowances and family income supplement and assuming income tax deductions on the basis of no tax allowances other than personal allowances and that earnings have increased by 25 per cent. since the tax year taken into account for unemployment benefit purposes, the amount in question would be between £25 and £30 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now ask the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to consider whether any condition resulting from exposure to vinyl chloride monomer should be made a prescribed industrial disease.

Yes. The industrial Injuries Advisory Council has suggested to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State that the terms of the previous reference to it about acro-osteolysis should be widened. She has accepted this suggestion and has asked the council to consider whether there is any condition resulting from exposure to vinyl chloride monomer which should be prescribed as an industrial disease under Section 76(2) of the Social Security Act 1975 and if so what are the occupations that should be covered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how soon the South-West Thames Regional Health Authority expects to complete its plans for a new general hospital at Redhill to serve East Surrey.

Planning is at a very early stage. The length of the planning period will be governed by decisions about functional content and design and will, no doubt, be influenced by future levels of public expenditure in particular health expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she intends to issue the proposed circular to health authorities on nursing agencies.

I am pleased to say that the circular was issued to health authorities in England on 16th June. My Department is asking authorities to reduce, and where practicable eliminate the use of agency nurses and midwives in a planned and orderly manner, taking full account of local circumstances, so that we may achieve a more stable nursing force.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards instituting a fund from which fishermen may draw compensation for loss and damage to fishing gear caused by oil-related debris on the sea bed.

Discussions on this matter are at an advanced stage in the Fisheries and Offshore Oil Consultative Group and I hope that an announcement will be made at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that a proper proportion of Government funds available for rescue archaeology is devoted to excavations in Scotland.

I have been asked to reply.The initial allocation of the total funds which can be made available between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom is settled each year following inter-departmental discussion. Allocations have regard to the size of the task and the availability in each country of trained archaeologists, both within and outside Government service, to carry it out. The allocations can be varied during the financial year within the total available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses have been

NEW HOUSE COMPLETIONS—GLASGOW CITY
				Local Authority	SSHA	Housing Association and Government Department	Total Public Sector	Private Sector	Total
1970	…	…	…	2,587	258	24	2,869	182	3,051
1971	…	…	…	2,672	72	107	2,851	57	2,908
1972	…	…	…	2,492	—	155	2,647	291	2,938
1973	…	…	…	3,994	—	9	4,003	91	4,094
1974	…	…	…	1,770	—	—	1,770	l19	1,889
1975:
January	…	…	…	109	—	46*	460	17	447
February	…	…	…	132	—
March	…	…	…	173	—
* Information collected only quarterly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will supply figures showing what percentage of personal income is spent on (a) municipal and (b) private housing in Scotland and England, respectively.

The latest estimates are from the Family Expenditure Survey 1973, and are as follows:

	Scotland	England and Wales
Public Sector—
Average percentage of household income spent on rent.	6·9	10·4
Owner-Occupiers (Mortgages)—
Average percentage of household income spent on mortgage payments.	Not available*	10·2
* The size of sample used for the Family Expenditure Survey is too small to give a reliable figure for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning policy salary awards; and if he will make a statement.

Only one representation has reached me. I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 19th June.

The information available is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action is being taken to enforce the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in Crown properties and what advice has been given to the Health and Safety Executive to ensure compliance with the Act in Crown properties.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Health and Safety Executive, using Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate, inspect all Crown premises and that Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate enforce the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 therein having regard to the limitations imposed on it by the Health and Safety at Work in respect of the Crown.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment with whom the commission is consulting on the exceptions to be recommended under Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act; and when it is expected that such consultations will be completed.

The Health and Safety Commission has completed its consultations, and I am now considering the proposals which it has put to me for the making of regulations under Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. I cannot yet say when I will be in a position to lay a draft statutory instrument before the House.I am informed by the Health and Safety Commission that its consultations were on a very wide basis, but it is impossible to provide a detailed and exhaustive list of those consulted because although there was direct consultation with Government Departments and certain other bodies the maximum use was made of organisations which could act as intermediaries in extending the consultations to their constituent members as well as giving their own views. These intermediaries included such organisations as the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress, the Scottish TUC, the Association of British Chambers of Commerce, the Retail Consortium, the Freight Transport Association and organisations representing the interests of local government authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to issue regulations under Section 3(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act describing cases in which information must be given by employers to persons other than those whom they employ.

This is a matter on which I await the proposals of the Health and Safety Commission. I am informed that the commission has this question under urgent review, but is not yet able to say when it will be ready to consult interested organisations on its proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by whom active consideration is being given to ways of obtaining more comprehensive information about accidents at work; what ways are under consideration; and when it is expected that such consideration will be completed.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the commission is considering proposals for new regulations for the notification of accidents at work to the Health and Safety Executive. The commission's deliberations cannot be completed without consulting both sides of industry. It is hoped to proceed to such consultation in the near future, and to complete it as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were employed in each of the following categories at the latest date for which figures are available: (a) nationalised industries, (b) other industries having greater than 50 per cent. Government shareholding, (c) industries having greater than 25 per cent. but less than 50 per cent. Government shareholding, (d) all other industries, (e) national Government service, (f) local government service, (g) other public service and (h) all other employment.

Information is not available in the form requested. However, the following table shows an analysis of the employed labour force at June 1973, based primarily on data published in Economic Trends, January 1975.

EMPLOYED LABOUR FORCE IN JUNE 1973(UNITED KINGDOM)
(thousands)
Public corporations		1,858
Central Government		1,969
National Government service	614
Other, including NHS and Her Majesty's Forces	1,355
Local authorities		2,714
Local Government service	969
Other, including education and police	1,745
Private sector		18,461
Total employed labour force		25,002

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, how many people were employed in the production of margarine in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

I regret that the information is not available. Monthly employment statistics are compiled for a Standard Industrial Classification Heading which comprises a group of food industries including margarine, starch and miscellaneous foods as a whole, but there are no separate figures for margarine.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what conveniently available figures he has for the percentage for the work population in Great Britain engaged in public administration, over the period 1945 to 1975.

The percentage of the working population in Great Britain engaged in public administration over the period 1950 to 1974 is as follows:

PERCENTAGE OF THE WORKING POPULATION ENGAGED IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (GREAT BRITAIN)
Year					Per cent.
1950	…	…	…	…	6·0
1951	…	…	…	…	5·8
1952	…	…	…	…	5·8
1953	…	…	…	…	5·7
1954	…	…	…	…	5·6
1955	…	…	…	…	5·4
1956	…	…	…	…	5·4
1957	…	…	…	…	5·4
1958	…	…	…	…	5·4
1959(a)		…	…	…	5·4
1959(b)		…	…	…	5·3
1960	…	…	…	…	5·3
1961	…	…	…	…	5·3
1962	…	…	…	…	5·3
1963	…	…	…	…	5·5
1964	…	…	…	…	5·4
1965	…	…	…	…	5·4
1966	…	…	…	…	5·5
1967	…	…	…	…	5·8
1968	…	…	…	…	5·9
1969	…	…	…	…	5·8
1970	…	…	…	…	5·9
1971	…	…	…	…	6·0
1972	…	…	…	…	6·1
1973	…	…	…	…	6·2
1974	…	…	…	…	6·2

NOTES:1. Estimates for the years 1950 to 1959(

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received for a system of compulsory dipping against sheep scab in localised and designated areas where the disease has been prevalent; what answers have been given; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations of the kind described. I have, however decided that the disease situa- tion in Devon and in adjoining areas of Dorset and Somerset warrants compulsory dipping of sheep in that area. An order requiring dipping between 16th June and 9th August and again between 21st September and 8th November has been made by my Department and sheep may not be moved out of the area except under licence.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reintroduce and extend the beef token scheme for retirement pensioners.

The beef token scheme, which expired on 6th April 1975, was introduced by the EEC, and any proposal to reintroduce it would have to be agreed by the Community as a whole. The scheme was intended as a temporary measure to stimulate demand for beef in a period of heavy over-supply. The present market situation would not, in our view, justify reviving it, but my right hon. Friend certainly intends to ensure that this type of scheme is kept in mind for the future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he plans to take to eliminate or alter the green pound arrangements in the EEC.

The effect of the United Kingdom representative rate is one of the questions I am considering in the current discussions with the agricultural industry and other interests concerned following publication of the recent White Paper "Food from our own Resources".

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reply he has sent to the memorandum dated 29th April 1975 from the Gibraltar Workers Union transmitted to him by His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar.

No reply has so far been sent, but we hope to be able to send one soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when it is proposed to withdraw the Beira patrol.

This matter is still under consideration, but we will let the House know shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth affairs if he will ask Mr. Tindemans, Belgium Prime Minister, to met representatives of the employers' trade unions and political parties in Northern Ireland when he visits the United Kingdom so that a wide-ranging discussions can take place regarding Ulster's special needs in the context of the EEC.

Mr. Tindemans will not be visiting Northern Ireland during his short visit to the United Kingdom, but I understand that he hopes to meet Northern Ireland Members of Parliament during his visit to London. The arrangements are in the hands of the Belgian Embassy. I have no doubt that Mr. Tindemans will wish to consult as wide as possible a range of opinion, reflecting the views of all parts of the United Kingdom, but his time is necessarily limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what plans she has to mitigate the effects of inflation on food prices for retirement pensioners.

The food subsidy programme, together with the operation of the Price Code and other counter-inflation measures, will continue to provide substantial benefit to retirement pensioners.