asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will show, in percentage terms, how often in the last year Scottish regiments have served in Northern Ireland by comparison with other units of the British Army.

Approximately 12 per cent. of the tours by Army units in Northern Ireland in the last year have been carried out by Scottish regiments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many boys who joined the junior army applied to leave after they had been in for more than six months; how many were allowed to leave; and on what grounds.

Statistics of the number of applications to leave the Army by junior soldiers with more than six months' service are not maintained. During the period 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975 a total of 302 junior soldiers who had more than six months' service, but less than 12 months' service, actually left the Army. Of these 91 left on medical grounds, 200 left because their services were no longer required and 11 left for other reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many boys joined the junior army in the last year for which figures are available.

During the period 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975 8,093 boys joined as junior soldiers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many boys who joined the junior army exercised their option to withdraw within six months in the last year for which figures are available.

For the period 1st October 1973 to 30th September 1974, the last complete year for which figures are available, 1,863 junior soldiers exercised their option to leave the Army within six months of joining it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis a minor, for example a boy aged 16 years, is able to bind himself to a contract of service with the Army.

Soldiers, including junior and young soldiers, are enlisted on terms of service in accordance with the Army Terms of Service Regulations 1967 made under the Army Act 1955.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships have passed through the Suez Canal since its reopening in June and what plans there are for future use of the canal for naval deployment.

RFA "Plumleaf" passed through the Suez Canal on 2nd July, RFA "Dewdale" is expected to transit on 13th July, followed by RFA "Cherry-leaf" on 14th July. As I was able to tell the House on 9th July—[Vol. 895, c. 551]—six RN ships and supporting RFAs are planned to deploy through the canal during the first half of August.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of deep diving and recovery potential in the Royal Navy.

Our present deep diving ship HMS "Reclaim" is planned to remain in service for some years. We are at present considering the question of her replacement, and a decision will be taken when the detailed studies, currently in hand, have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many remedial teachers are currently employed in Essex, with particular reference to Basildon; how this compares with the national average; and how many of the staff have specialist qualifications.

This information is not collected by my Department, but the Essex local education authority may be able to assist.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations he has received about proposals to increase fees for Open University courses; and if he will make a statement on the latest position.

In addition to representations by Members of both Houses, about 400 letters have been received. Discussions are continuing with the Open University about the proposed increase, and I hope that they will be completed shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what action has been taken to resolve industrial unrest on the Inland Revenue offices in Bootle and if the same has been successful; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will authorise an inquiry by his Department into the causes of the continued unrest at the site of Inland Revenue offices in Bootle, at present being built by Sir Robert McAlpine's, builders; and if he will make a statement.

A recent dispute over the contractor's recruitment policy has been resolved through the industry's procedures. The use of similar machinery to deal with a further dispute over the dismissal of an electrician is being considered. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is in touch with the situation on the site, and an inquiry would be a matter for the service, which is independent of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many job vacancies remained unfilled in the Hamilton constituency area over every month for the last 12 months.

The following table shows information for the area covered by the Hamilton and Larkhall employment offices which is broadly similar to the constituency area of Hamilton. The figures relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and are not a measure of total vacancies.

NOTIFIED UNFILLED VACANCIES IN HAMILTON AND LARKHALL
		Employment Offices	Careers Offices
1974—
June	…	261	24
July	…	249	45
August	…	299	45
September	…	375	49
October	…	270	30
November	…	292	30
December	…	—	—
1975—
January	…	—	—
February	…	—	—
March	…	267	11
April	…	306	11
May	…	326	19
June	…	401	24

Owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency information for December 1974, January 1975 and February 1975 is not available.Because of possible duplication the figures for employment offices and careers offices should not be added together.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people in the Thanet area completed courses at Government training centres during the last two years; and how many of these are curently unemployed.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that during the two years ending 9th July 1975, 75 people in the Thanet area completed courses at Medway Skillcentre—formerly Government training centre. Seven of these have not been placed in work since completing training and, in addition, five who were placed have now become unemployed. It is not possible without disproportionate cost to give completion figures of those trained at other skillcentres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of people unemployed in the Thanet area on 30th June; what percentage this is of the total work force; and what were the comparable figures for the same period in the previous year.

On 9th June 1975, 2,066 people were unemployed in the area covered by the Margate, Ramsgate and Sandwich employment offices and the rate of unemployment was 4·6 per cent. The corresponding figures for 10th June 1974 were 1,230 unemployed and a rate of 2·7 per cent. Rates of unemployment are calculated by expressing the numbers unemployed as a percentage of the estimated total number of employees, including the unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the effects on employment of withdrawal of liner freight services from the port of Glasgow.

I am not aware of any proposal to withdraw these services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, of the 150,000 unemployed who last worked in the construction industry in May 1975, how many last worked in Scotland.

	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)	(f)	(g)	Percentage increase f/a or g/a as appropriate
Grade	1.1.72	1.4.73	7.11.73	1.1.74	7.11.74	1.1.75	1.4.75
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Permanent Secretary (1)	16,750	17,000	—	17,350	—	20,175	—	20·4
(2)	15,750	16,000	—	16,350	—	18,675	—	18·6
(3)	14,750	15,000	—	15,350	—	17,175	—	16·4
Deputy Secretary	10,500	10,750	—	11,100	—	14,000	—	33·3
Under secretary	8,250	8,500	—	9,000	—	12,000	—	45·5
Assistant Secretary (max.)	7,276	7,476	7,988	8,338	8,850	10,570	11,000	51·2
Senior Principal (max.)	5,564	5,764	6,232	6,582	7,050	8,890	9,350	68·0
Principal (max.)	4,708	4,908	5,425	5,775	—	7,115	7,450	58·2
Senior Executive Officer (max.)	3,638	3,796	4,245	4,542	—	5,628	5,900	62·2
Higher Executive Officer (max.)	2,809	2,961	3,350	3,585	—	4,477	4,700	67·3
Executive Officer (max.)	2,150	2,288	2,600	2,782	—	3,492	3,670	70·7
Notes:
A. Deputy and Permanent Secretaries' salaries do not attract London Weighting.
B. Cost of Living supplements which were payable to the above grades in accordance with provisions of the Counter Inflation (Price and Pay Code) Order 1973 were subsumed in the 1st January 1975 rates of pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for

On 12th May 1975 there were 148,568 unemployed people in Great Britain who last worked in construction of whom 18,798 were in Scotland. The corresponding figures for 9th June were 149,834 and 19,149, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the annual salary payable to Civil Service grades of executive officer and above in January 1972, and also that of Members of Parliament on that date; and if he will show the year by year position on salaries between then and now, indicating the percentage increase in wages between 1972 and the present date.

I have been asked to reply.The salary of Members of Parliament at January 1972 was £4,500 and there has been no subsequent increase.The salary scale maxima of the executive officer grade and above in the Administration Group and the grades in the open structure are given in the table below.quarterly statistics about accidents at work on North Sea oil rigs to be published regularly in the

As matters relating to safety at work on North Sea oil rigs are the concern of the Department of Energy the request has been referred to that Department for consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many apprenticeship training places have been or will be eliminated from Birmingham as a consequence of the 2,800 redundancies recently announced by the Lucas Company and what action his Department has taken to compensate for the damage to the job prospects of Birmingham's young people.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 30th June 1975; Vol. 894, c. 303], gave the following information:I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is not the intention of the Lucas Company to make any apprentices redundant in Birmingham and consequently there will be no loss of apprenticeship training places.The Engineering Industry Training Board has recently announced the mounting of a Training Award Scheme to offer additional opportunities for young people to train for skilled employment. A number of these award places will be available to young persons in the Birmingham area to compensate for the possible reduction of training opportunities on offer by other Birmingham companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average rate of unemployment in Great Britain in the periods November 1951 to October 1964, November 1964 to June, 1970, July 1970 to February 1974, and March 1974 to the present time.

The average rate of unemployment in Great Britain for the period November 1951 to October 1964 was 1·6 per cent.; for the period November 1964 to June 1970, 2 per cent.; for July 1970 to February 1974, 3·1 per cent. and for March 1974 to June 1975 3 per cent. The average rate for the period March 1974 to June 1975 does not include any data for December 1974 and January 1975. Figures were not compiled in these two months owing to industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much has been paid to date to fishermen whose gear has been damaged or destroyed as a result of oil developments.

Settlement of claims for compensation for damage or logs to fishing gear as a result of oil development has been a matter between the fishing vessel owners concerned or their agents and the operators against whom the claims were made. The Government are not in possession of complete information.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many wage earners were employed in the coal mining industry on 1st January 1975, 1974 and 1973.

This information is published in Table 18 of the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. For convenience, the figures are as follows:

Wage earners on colliery books, Great Britain.
End of year				thousands
1972	…	…	…	268·1
1973	…	…	…	246·7
1974	…	…	…	247·6

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of gas consumed last year by gas cookers using pilot light ignition; and if he will place a value on such consumption.

Several of the facts on which such an estimate would need to be founded are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will give a general direction to electricity boards to ensure that their explanations of fuel cost adjustments to quarterly accounts are written in simpler language.

I am writing to the Chairman of the Electricity Council requesting him to ask boards to ensure that they give consumers the simplest possible explanations of the fuel cost adjustment.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the number of accidents

			1st quarter	2nd quarter	3rd quarter	4th quarter	Total
Fatal	…	…	3	2	1	6	12
Serious	…	…	7	4	8	6	25
Minor	…	…	73	129	89	121	412

Minor accidents are defined under the Offshore Installations (Inspectors and Casualties) Regulations 1973 as those where a person is disabled from work for three continuous days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that no action is taken by Government Departments and advise local authorities in Greater London to take no action which could prejudice his acceptance in full of the Layfield Report's recommendations as they affect roads in the Chiswick area of west London.

No. My right hon. Friend cannot issue directions of the type envisaged in advance of his decision on the Greater London Development Plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with existing legislation dealing with the illegal occupation of residential property; and whether he has any proposals to amend such legislation.

I have been asked to reply.Offences of entering and remaining on property are currently under review by the Law Commission, which published a consultative working paper on the subject in June 1974. We should await its final report before considering whether any at work which occurred on North Sea oil rigs during each quarter of 1972, 1973 and 1974; and how many of these proved fatal.

Quarterly figures for 1972 and 1973 are not available. Annual figures of deaths and fatal accidents for those years are published at Appendix 14 of my Department's publication "Development of the oil and gas resources of the United Kingdom". Quarterly figures for 1974 are as follows:changes in the law in this field are desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will produce a table showing the percentages of gross national product spent on housing in the United Kingdom and each of the OECD countries.

The following table sets out the readily available information. It is not possible to make meaningful comparisons, however, because, apart from important differences in definition, there can be wide differences between countries in respect of the quality of housing stock and the imbalance between the quality of housing available and the number of households requiring accommodation.

GROSS FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION IN DWELLINGS AS A PERCENTAGE OF GNP
Australia	…	5·3 (1972–73)
Austria	…	Not available
Belgium	…	4·7 (1972)
Canada	…	5·5 (1974)
Denmark	…	5·0 (1970)
Finland	…	7·1 (1973)
France	…	6·7 (1973)
Germany, Federal Republic	…	6·5 (1972)
Greece	…	7·6 (1972)
Iceland	…	6·2 (1972)
Ireland	…	5·0 (1972)
Italy	…	6·2 (1973)
Japan	…	8·8 (1973)
Luxembourg	…	Not available
Netherlands	…	6·3 (1973)
Norway	…	5·3 (1972)
Portugal	…	2·9 (1972)
Spain	…	3·2 (1972)
Sweden	…	4·8 (1972)
Switzerland	…	6·5 (1969)
Turkey	…	Not available
U.S.A.	…	4·6 (1972)
United Kingdom	…	4·7 (1973–74)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to promote the morale of the Metropolitan Police.

It remains my policy to encourage all practical measures to promote the morale of the Metropolitan Police, and to support the Commissioner in steps he may take to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to repeal the Immigration Act 1971.

No. As we have already made clear, nationality legislation must precede any fundamental changes in the basis of our immigration control. The review of nationality law is making progress, but it is too soon to say when it will be concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation hostels open to offenders over 21 years of age are now in existence; where these hostels are located; and how many further such hostels are expected to be available by the end of 1975.

20 for men and four for women; Birmingham (2), Cardiff, Carlisle, Derby, Guildford, Leeds (3), Lincoln, Liverpool, London (5), Maidstone, Northampton, Oxford, Reading, Sheffield (2), Winchester, Worcester; 8.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the translation of the EEC Commission's proposals for an independent EEC Government and related matters will be available in the Vote Office; and what is the cause of the delay.

If the hon. Member is referring to the Commission's report on European Union, the English text of that report was received in London on 7th July. Copies were deposited in the Vote Office on the morning of 8th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what safeguards exist for British citizens of Greek-Cypriot origin to visit Cyprus.

United Kingdom citizens of Greek-Cypriot origin may freely enter the area of Cyprus controlled by the Cyprus Government. It is unlikely that they would be admitted to the Turkish-controlled area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth whether it is his policy that any grants made in future to the poorest developing countries will be fully tied to the procurement of British goods and services.

I have been asked to reply.Yes, but in exceptional cases I am prepared to consider untying a limited part of our grant aid to these countries for the purpose of meeting the local costs of British aid-financed projects where this is appropriate. I will also be prepared to consider, as in the past, waiving procurement restrictions to allow the purchase of goods from third countries when exceptional circumstances justify this.

asked the Lord President of the Council what discussions have taken place with the National Graphical Association regarding the introduction of photocopying equipment into the precincts of the House.

No discussion with the National Graphical Association has taken place. As I said in the House on 3rd July, the machines are required to ensure that the business of the House can proceed if normal supplies are not available in time, but documents produced by this means are not a substitute for printed documents.

asked the Lord President of the Council what representations he has received concerning possible improvements in the business of the House, other than those relating to matters now being considered by the Select Committee on Procedure; and if he will pass on any such representations to that Committee.

I have received suggestions for improving a number of aspects of our proceedings. As I indicated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice) on 7th July—[Vol. 895, c. 23]—I am planning a major review of parliamentary procedure to begin in the autumn. I would propose to consider in the context of this forthcoming review any representations made to me relating to our procedures which are outside the present terms of reference of the Procedure Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies have an arrangement with the Treasury whereby the company pays all petrol bills for private vehicles driven by its personnel direct to the retailer; whether is is regarded as a tax benefit to the employee; and whether there is any loss of tax revenue.

A company needs no arrangement with the Treasury for VAT or income tax purposes if it wishes to pay direct to the retailer all petrol bills for private vehicles driven by its personnel.Companies registered for VAT are, in general, entitled under the law to reclaim the VAT on petrol which they purchase for the purpose of their businesses, but not the VAT on any petrol purchased for private purposes. So even if a company pays the retailer for all petrol supplied to vehicles driven by its personnel it may reclaim only the VAT on petrol used for business journeys; either the company or the employees themselves must bear the VAT on any petrol that is used for private motoring. The law does not, therefore, provide for any tax benefit to employees in respect of VAT. Pro- vided that companies observe the rules, there is no VAT loss to the Revenue.So far as income tax is concerned, where an employer pays on his employee's behalf petrol bills which the employee has incurred in the course of private motoring, that payment would be regarded as an emolument assessable to income tax under Schedule E.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of average manual earnings was represented by the income tax threshold for a married man with two children not over 11 years of age in June of each year since 1949.

The figures are as follows:

			Tax threshold as percentage of average earnings Per cent.
1949–50	…	…	103·2
1950–51	…	…	98·0
1951·52	…	…	97·5
1952–53	…	…	107·3
1953–54	…	…	101·2
1954–55	…	…	93·8
1955–56	…	…	99·5
1956–57	…	…	93·4
1957–58	…	…	88·4
1958–59	…	…	86·8
1959–60	…	…	82·2
1960–61	…	…	76·6
1961–62	…	…	73·8
1962–63	…	…	71·4
1963–64	…	…	84·5
1964–65	…	…	78·1
1965–66	…	…	71·9
1966–67	…	…	69·4
1967–68	…	…	66·0
1968–69	…	…	57·4
1969–70	…	…	56·1
1970–71	…	…	57·6
1971–72	…	…	58·6
1972–73	…	…	59·9
1973–74	…	…	52·4
1974–75	…	…	51·1
1975–76	…	…	48·8

Figures of average earnings for June of each year are not available, and the figures used in the calculations are the annual equivalents of average weekly earnings of full-time adult males in manufacturing and certain other industries at October each year, except for 1975–76 when an estimate of £54·50 per week at April 1975 has been used.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated additional revenue which will accrue from the 25 per cent. VAT rate on accessories and goods relating to safety.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking into account increases in taxation, and increases in the cost of living, by how much the salary of a married man with two children under 12 years of age earning £4,500 in 1972 would need to rise to ensure that his real net income in June 1975 equalled his real net income in January 1972.

Assuming that the children are both under 11, the annual income after tax at 1971–72 rates and allowances for a gross earned income of £4,500 was £3,445. To maintain the value in real terms between January 1972 and May 1975, the latest month for which the general index of retail prices is available, would require an increase in salary before tax of about £3,670 per annum—i.e., to £8,170 per annum, at the rates of tax proposed for 1975–76. The figures take into account family allowances and clawback.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give an assurance that when the Government introduce their new pay policy the transitional arrangements envisaged by the Prime Minister in his statement of 3rd July will include a provision that arbitration awards made under the terms of the present social contract will be honoured, even though these awards are not due to take effect until after the commencement of the new policy.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 10th July 1975; Vol. 895, c. 233], gave the following information:Transitional arrangements are covered in the Government's White Paper, which was published today.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the amounts paid in subsidy or grant for new houses in Northern Ireland; and what is the maximum percentage payable.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Housing (No. 2) Act (Northern Ireland) 1946, the Housing Subsidy (Variation) Order (Northern Ireland) 1975, the Housing (Grants) Order (Northern Ireland) 1974; the Housing on Farms Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 and the Housing on Farms (Grants) Order Northern Ireland 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what types of grant are available for the improvement of houses in Northern Ireland for rented and owner-occupied dwellings; and what are the maximum amounts for each type of grant and the maximum percentage for each type of grant.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, the Housing on Farms Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, the Housing (Improvement Grants) Order (Northern Ireland) 1975 and the Housing on Farms (Grants) Order (Northern Ireland) 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what incentives are still being offered to attract people from outside the area of Craigavon; how much has been paid out on these over the past year; how many of the recipients are still in the area; and when it is intended to stop these payments.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Resettlement Grants Orders (Northern Ireland) 1971 and 1974. In addition, the Northern Ireland Department of Manpower Services operates a temporary transfer and resettlement scheme to assist persons to move to or from any place in Northern Ireland for the purpose of obtaining employment.In the year ended 30th June 1975 grants totalling £67,132 were paid under the resettlement orders to 224 householders for resettlement in Craigavon. Of these 215 were still living in the area at 30th June 1975. Over the same period £18,049 was paid to 97 applicants in respect of moves to Craigavon under the Department of Manpower Services scheme, but it is not known how many of these are still in the area.My right hon. Friend is not at present considering the discontinuance of the foregoing payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the terrorist actions known to the police in the Londonderry area since 1st January 1975.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the amount of annual remuneration for doctors in the hospital service in Scotland in the grades of consultant with A plus merit award and those with A, B, C and D awards, also the salary of a consultant on the maximum basic scale and the minimum scale in June 1972 and June 1975, respectively.

The annual remuneration figures for consultants with merit awards are not available, particularly as a considerable number are part-time or are university staff with honorary contracts. The minimum and maximum of the consultant scale in June 1972 were £4,836 and £7,350 respectively. The figures for June 1975 are £7,536 and £10,689.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total amount paid in merit awards in Scotland and the total number of consultants receiving merit awards in the financial years ended April 1972 and April 1975, respectively.

The total amounts paid in distinction awards in Scotland in the years ended April 1972 and April 1975 were £1,434,000 and £1,728,000. The total numbers of consultants receiving awards were 579 and 651 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when funds will be made available for a new operating theatre at the Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, Thanet; and if she will make a statement.

The identification of needs and priorities for hospital development is the responsibility in the first instance of the area and regional health authorities and they are considering this scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much cash was paid out by the Weymouth office in the last convenient week; and how much in a comparable week one and two years earlier, respectively.

In the period of the month of May in 1973, 1974 and 1975 cash payments by the Weymouth office totalled £6·25, £1, and £11 respectively. It would not be possible to give a figure of total benefit payments—including girocheques and order books—without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the total amount paid in merit awards in England and Wales and the total number of consultants receiving merit awards in the financial years ended April 1972 and April 1975.

About £7·7 million paid to 3,880 consultants in 1971–72, and about £9 million to 4,140 consultants in 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claims for industrial injury benefit and disablement benefit there were in Hamilton and Larkhall areas for the years 1971 to 1975.

The number of claims for industrial injury benefit and disablement benefit made at the Department's offices at Hamilton and Larkhall during the years in question were as follows:

	Hamilton
	I.B.	Dis.B.
1971	2,260	505
1972	2,140	480
1973	2,419	456
1974	2,329	469
1975 (to 22nd April)	739	299
	Larkhall
	I.B.	Dis.B.
1971	545	115
1972	490	105
1973	624	83
1974	524	129
1975 (to 22nd April)	136	47

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the national average waiting list time for admission to hospital for gynaecological consultancy in the national health hospital service; how long the current delay is at the Basingstoke District General Hospital; and what are the corresponding figures for 12 months ago.

A meaningful figure for the national average waiting time cannot be given, as the length of time a patient may have to wait for admission to hospital depends upon the degree of urgency for treatment and the length of the appropriate waiting list. At Basingstoke District General Hospital at the present time non-urgent cases may wait up to 19 months: the corresponding figure for mid-1974 was 11 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what stocks of antirabies vaccine are available in the United Kingdom: and what machinery exists for the supply and use of this vaccine at short notice in all parts of the country.

Supplies of rabies vaccine for active immunisation against rabies, and of rabies anti-serum for immediate passive protection, are available to medical practitioners from the Central Public Health Laboratory at Colindale and the regional public health laboratories at Newcastle, Cardiff and Liverpool. Stocks are held to cover the vaccination programme for people at risk—e.g., workers in quarantine kennels, etc.—and to ensure that reserves of vaccine and of antiserum are maintained at all times. Area health authorities are aware of the location of laboratories holding stocks, all of which maintain a 24-hour service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she expects to receive the report of the inquiry into the circumstances of the fire at Fairfield Old People's Home, Edwalton, Nottinghamshire.

I have recently received the report. I have it under consideration and hope to publish it very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will announce her decisions on the proposals contained in the consultation paper "Democracy in the National Health Service".

The consultation paper "Democracy in the NHS", which was issued in May 1974, proposed changes in the membership of regional and area health authorities in England to make the health service more responsive to the views of the people it serves, and to enable staff to have a stronger voice on authorities.I have decided to implement the proposal that one-third of the members of the regional and area health authorities should be drawn from local authorities, and have today laid before both Houses of Parliament the necessary statutory instruments.We also proposed in the consultative document that two representatives of those working in the NHS, other than doctors and nurses—who are already represented—should be added to these health authorities. Consultations with staff organisations not his matter are not yet complete, but as an earnest of our intentions the statutory instruments which have today been laid provide for the addition of these two representatives.In the light of representations which have been made I have decided not to implement the proposal that each community health council should nominate two of its members to serve on area health authorities. Instead, community health councils will be entitled to send one of their members to area health authority meetings with the right to speak but not to vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she has any further information on tests being carried out in Great Britain and the United States into any possible risk of cancer from the long-term use of certain hair dyes.

Further to my reply to my hon Friend on 8th July—[Vol. 895, c. 108–9]—I apologise that it was not clear from my initial answer that the statement that early indications are that tests are proving negative did not refer to the study conducted by the University of Birmingham but to long-term American tests.Two areas of research are involved, studies of mutagenicity and studies of carcinogenicity. As to the first, studies on the mutagenic effects of certain hair dyes on bacteria have been carried out at the University of Birmingham and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and the results have been published. Similar studies have been carried out in the United States, and the Department's medical advisers have examined the results. Although mutagenic effects were observed in both sets of studies it is not yet possible to be certain about the relevance of such effects for human health.The Department's medical advisers have studied carefully the results of long-term American tests in animals for cancer which they consider to be far more relevant in which some of the dyes subjected to mutagenicity testing have been used. So far they can find no evidence that they produce cancer. Similar long-term studies using the remainder of the dyes subjected to mutagenicity testing are in progress, and the Department's medical advisers will examine the results of these studies as soon as they become available. The study conducted by the University of Birmingham to which I referred in my earlier reply is one of these.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice she gives to voluntary agencies in the United Kingdom regarding their applications to the EEC for financial support, and in particular whether she advises them that any such support will affect any existing Her Majesty's Government payments to them.

pursuant to her reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 8th July 1975; Vol. 895, c. 111–2], circulated the following information:Voluntary organisations would be informed, if they sought advice from my Department, of the criteria laid down by the Community which govern assistance from EEC sources. The effect, if any, on grant aid from the Government of any Community support would depend on the purposes for which this support was given and the circumstances as a whole.At present the main source potentially available to voluntary organisations is the European Social Fund. Despite its title this fund does not provide general welfare assistance, and is limited to meeting half the cost of training and resettlement schemes which facilitate the geographical and occupational mobility of particular groups of workers. The primary interest in the fund rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, and so far as my responsibilities are concerned the fund's scope is limited to rehabilitation, training and resettlement of disabled people to enable them to take up employment in the open market and possibly certain measures to assist immigrant workers and their families.My Department made three applications for grants in respect of the disabled for 1974 and another three for 1975. One of the 1974 applications was successful and decisions are still awaited on this year's applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the Department's inquiry into marine safety organisation will be concluded; whether its conclusions will be published; and if he will make a statement.

My Department keeps its marine safety organisation under review in order to keep pace with change. From time to time it conducts reviews into specific areas, of which the following are some examples. Regulations for the safety of fishing vessels have recently been promulgated. The search and rescue organisation has been reviewed and it is hoped to make an announcement shortly. Two working groups are considering the question of discipline at sea. Proposals for converting certain "M" Notices into legislation have recently been put to both sides of industry. Announcements on the outcome of such reviews are announced as and when appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the annual cost to public funds of rescue operations at sea.

The total cost incurred by the Department of Trade in 1974–75 in connection with civil marine search and rescue operations was approximately £3¼ million. The provisions of Article 12 of the UN Convention on the High Seas 1958, which require the captain of any ship to render assistance in the saving of life at sea, are used as guidance by Her Majesty's ships. No separate record of these costs is maintained. Similarly it is not possible to identify the cost to Defence Votes of mounting air search and rescue (SAR) operations. SAR flights are provided to meet Service requirements but are deployed, when available, on behalf of the civil community.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proposals he has for renewing the trade treaties with COMECON countries; and, particularly, what are the proposals in respect of a renewal for footwear.

Relations with Eastern European countries on trade questions which fall within the common commercial policy of the EEC, including tariffs and quotas, are now a matter for the Community as a whole. Our post-war bilateral agreements with Eastern European countries will have expired by the end of this year and will not be renewed. We can still conclude agreements for economic co-operation, and such agreements have been concluded with a number of these countries.As regards the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the answer which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry gave to a Question from my hon. Friend on 23rd May.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what recent consultations his Department has had with members of the Ceylon Association about conditions on British-owned tea estates in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the Ceylon Association on 30th May, and further discussions are taking place with officials of my Department. These discussions are concerned with conditions on the tea estates in Sri Lanka, with particular reference to the recommendations in the report prepared by the group of hon. Members under the chairmanship of my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Warrington (Mr. Williams) and to the tea companies' ability to implement them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will investigate the fire on the trawler "Granton Harrier"; and if he will make a statement.

I much regret to have to inform the House that four persons lost their lives, and a fifth was injured, as a result of the fire which broke out on the trawler "Granton Harrier" on the afternoon of 8th July. Two of those who lost their lives are reported to have been 16-year-old trainee fishermen. I have appointed an inspector to carry out a statutory preliminary inquiry into this distressing casualty under Section 465 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894.I am sure that the House would wish to join me in offering the deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of those who lost their lives in this tragic occurrence.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he can yet announce his decisions on the proposals contained in the consultation paper "Making Welsh Health Authorities more Democratic".

Orders have today been placed before both Houses of Parliament which implement decisions I have made to make health authorities in Wales more democratic. The size of area health authorities in Wales is to be increased and additional appointments made so that at least one-third of the membership is drawn from local authorities. Members, additional to those already appointed by county councils, will be appointed on the nomination of district councils in each AHA area.Consultations are proceeding with staff organisations on the proposal to appoint to health authorities representatives of staff working in the NHS, other than doctors and nurses who are already represented. As an earnest of my intention the orders provide for the addition of staff members.Further, I have decided that community health councils will be entitled to send one of their members to AHA meetings with the right to speak but not to vote.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what imports or refined or partially refined white beet sugar have been received by the United Kingdom in 1975; what imports are expected; for what purposes; and under what arrangements.

Some 300,000 tons were imported up to the end of May, and contracts are believed to have been made for the import of around 150,000 tons during the remainder of the year. Virtually all these imports are from other EEC member States. So far as I am aware, the sugar has been imported either for retail sale or for use by the food industry, although some is, I understand, first being re-refined in this country. No special arrangements apply to these imports, which take place under the normal rules of the EEC's agricultural policy designed to facilitate the free movement of goods within the Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tied dwellings are owned by farmers and other private landowners in England and Wales; how many there are which are associated with commercial undertakings—that is experimental farms—the Forestry Commission, and agricultural colleges and university departments engaged in teaching agriculture.

Our departmental statistics do not take in ownership data of this kind, and my right hon. Friend is not responsible for the teaching, etc., establishments concerned. For a broad overall picture the hon. Member may care to refer to the basic statistics in the Tavistock Institute's recent Report on "Tied Cottages in British Agriculture", copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. Judging by the institute's sample, the stock of cottages on farms in England and Wales totals about 137,250, of which some 70,000 are estimated to be occupied by farmworkers. At 31st March 1975 there were about 1,500 tied dwellings on properties in England and Wales managed by the Forestry Commission and about 200 on experimental centres operated by my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the money value of the cheese imported into Great Britain in the year ended 30th April 1975.

No figures are available for Great Britain. The value of imports of cheese into the United Kingdom in the year ended 30th April 1975 was £92,103,689. This figure does not take account of monetary compensatory arrangements which applied throughout the period.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are placed on the import of potatoes; and how many firms hold licences for their import.

In line with the United Kingdom's policy of achieving self-sufficiency in main crop potatoes, imports of main crop are normally prohibited. Except in September and October, new potatoes may be imported without quantitative restriction—although in the case of the Eastern Area imports are allowed only between 1st November and 14th May —from countries that are able to meet the requirements of our plant health legislation. These requirements permit imports from some countries at any time and from other countries at specified periods. Licensing arrangements do not apply.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what acreage of potatoes was planted in 1975; and how this compares with the years 1974, 1973 and 1972.

At this time of year it is not possible to estimate the 1975 planted acreage with precision, as details are not yet available, but present indications are that this will be slightly less than in 1974. Details for the United Kingdom over the past three seasons are as follows:

1974	…	…	532,000 acres
1973	…	…	555,000 acres
1972	…	…	584,000 acres

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much prices have risen for the various grades of potatoes in the last six weeks.

The potatoes guarantee arrangements for the home crop do not come into operation until 1st August, and at this time of year merchants are not required to supply details to the Potato Marketing Board for full calculations of an average price. I understand from the board, however, that producer prices at 7th July were in the range of £175-£210 per ton but that today the main range had fallen to £95-£120 per ton. There is no comparable price range for new potatoes six weeks ago because the new crop was not then being marketed in sufficient quantities to provide meaningful data.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the production of potatoes in Great Britain is used by fish and chip fryers; and whether the needs of the trade are considered fully by his Department.

My Department's estimates of potato requirements take account of the Potato Marketing Board's records of the quantities of potatoes moved through licensed merchants but do not separately distinguish between the final users. I understand, however, that the National Federation of Fish Fryers estimates that 600,000 tons of potatoes are used annually by fish fryers. This represents about 9 per cent. of total requirements. In operating the guarantee arrangements my Department takes full account of the needs of all users, including the fish fryers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated production of potatoes for 1975; how this compares with 1974, 1973 and 1972; and what is the estimated acreage and production for 1976.

It is too early to estimate production from the 1975 crop; and neither is it possible to predict the situation in 1976. The figures for the past three seasons are as follows:

1974:	6,680,000 tons (provisional)
1973:	6,737,000 tons
1972:	6,424,000 tons

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his plans to ensure continuity of supply of potatoes to the frying industry.

The difficulties currently facing the fish fryers result from exceptional weather conditions which have delayed the bulking up of the new crop here and reduced supplies from Cyprus. The Government's continuing objective is that United Kingdom production, supplemented by imports of new potatoes, should be sufficient to meet all demands, including those of the fish fryers. The potato guarantee for main crop and our marketing arrangements are designed to achieve this aim.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the composition, according to professions, of the Potato Marketing Board; and how many members represent the fish and chip fryers of the country.

The composition of the Potato Marketing Board is prescribed by the Potato Marketing Scheme which has effect under the Agricultural Marketing Act 1958. The scheme provides that the board shall consist of 25 district members, one special member for Scotland and three special members for England and Wales, all of whom are elected by registered producers. In addition Ministers appoint four members who must be persons who have had experience or shown capacity in commerce, finance, administration, public affairs or the organisation of workers or who are specially conversant with the interests of consumers of potatoes. The board is required by the scheme to consult with committees representing the distributive and user interests, and the National Federation of Fish Fryers is represented on one such committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report the aids which are currently given by the different member countries of the EEC to the glasshouse sector of the horticulture industry, showing separately fuel subsidies, direct and indirect grants for construction, loans with rate of interest, and other aids.

It would be impracticable to list in detail all the different forms of assistance available to glasshouse growers in EEC countries. Current usage of fuel oil is not being subsidised except in Belgium, where a subsidy of 30 centimes per litre—rather less than 1·5p per gallon—is being paid until 31st December 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that the rabies frontier in northern Europe is estimated to he moving north and is now not far from the Channel coast, he will consider the desirability of making known to the public the importance of adherence to all the provisions of the Rabies Act 1974.

In reply to the hon. Member for Argyll (Mr. MacCormick) on 5th May I outlined the measures we were taking to inform the public of the dangers of rabies and of the importance of observing our quarantine regulations. As a result of recent events, including two tragic deaths, I believe the public are now more aware than they have ever been of the threat we are facing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the increasing danger of rabies-carrying animals reaching the United Kingdom, he will take steps to ensure that adequate preventive action is taken at all ports and airports including those not designated under the Rabies Act.

Customs and Excise are our first line of defence against the entry of rabies-carrying animals from abroad. Customs officers are present at all ports and airports including those not designated under the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974, and they are fully aware of the vital part they have to play in preventing entry of this disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the recent deaths in this country resulting from rabies, he will specify the precise steps which have been taken and which he intends to take in the near future to implement the provisions of the Rabies Act 1974.

Since the Waterhouse Committee of Inquiry on Rabies was appointed in 1970 to review our policy on rabies a whole series of measures has been taken to strengthen our safeguards against imported animals which are rabies-susceptible. These have included:

1. extension of the species to which import controls and quarantine apply;

2. vaccination of all dogs and cats in quarantine;

3. more stringent standards for quarantine premises and for the transportation of animals to quarantine;

4. limitation of points of entry for imported animals;

5. more stringent import licensing arrangements to reduce the chances of unlicensed animals obtaining entry to this country;

6. power to destroy illegally landed animals;

7. substantially increased penalties for animal smuggling;

8. increased publicity about rabies and our quarantine regulations.

The Rabies Act 1974 was one part of this complex of measures. Two orders have been made under it: the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and Other Mammals) Order 1974 to consolidate the regulations governing import control; and the Rabies (Control) Order 1974 to provide comprehensive powers to deal with the disease should we be unfortunate enough to have outbreaks.Our policy is kept under constant review and additional measures will be taken as necessary.