asked the Minister for the Civil Service what proportion of Government printing was carried out by the private sector of the printing industry in Scotland, Wales and England in 1973–74 and 1974–75.

The proportions of all Government printing carried out by the private sector of the printing industry in Scotland, Wales and England were as follows: 1973–74 1974–75 Per cent . Per cent . Scotland … … 4.3 4.1 Wales … … 1.1 0.8 England … … 61.0 64.0

Of the total of Government printing carried out in each of these regions the proportions undertaken by the private sector were as follows: 1973–74 1974–75 Per cent . Per cent . Scotland … … 77.6 78.6 Wales … … 100.0 100.0 England … … 66.9 69.3

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total number of United Kingdom civil servants employed at the latest available date; and what is the sum of their salaries.

There were 701,370 United Kingdom based civil servants in post on 1st April 1975. The provision in the 1975–76 Supply Estimates for their salary and other related costs was£2,022,331,000.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of civil servants who have not, since January 1972, received cumulative salary increases of 28 per cent.

Salary increases for individual civil servants vary according to circumstances. The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Practically all civil servants have received cumulative increases of at least 28 per cent. during this period. The known exception is Permanent Secretaries, details of whose pay are given below.

salary at 1st January Current salary Percentage increase Number of staff in post in the Home Civil Service at 1st increase April 1975 £ £ 16,750 20,175 20.4 3 15,750 18,675 18.6 23 14,750 17,175 16.4 16

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical practitioners will be released from Her Majesty's Forces as a result of the curtailment of expenditure on the defence programme.

On present plans, none.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed list of the salaries paid to the top paid people in the defence organisations at January 1972, and what increases they have had since this date, and on what stated dates.

The following are representative examples of the salaries paid to senior personnel in the defence organisations at January 1972 and the increases to these salaries at stated dates which were determined by Government pay policy.

( a ) CIVILIANS Permanent Under Secretary: £ 1st January 1972 … … … 15,750 1st April 1973 … … … 16,000 1st January 1974 … … … 16,350 1st January 1975 … … … 18,675 Second Permanent Under Secretary … … … 1st January 1972 … … … 14,750 1st April 1973 … … … 15,000 1st January 1974 … … … 15,350 1st January 1975 … … … 17,175 Deputy Under Secretary: 1st January 1972 … … … 10,500 1st April 1973 … … … 10,750 1st January 1974 … … … 11,100 1st January 1975 … … … 14,000 Assistant Under Secretary: 1st January 1972 … … … 8,250 1st April 1973 … … … 8,500 1st January 1974 … … … 9,000 1st January 1975 … … … 12,000

Note: Assistant Under Secretaries, but not more senior officers, also receive London Weighting as follows: £ Inner London: 1st January 1972 … … 175 7th November 1973 … … 228 1st April 1974 … … 410 Outer London: 1st January 1972 … … 90 7th November 1973 … … 110 1st April 1974 … … 260

( b ) MILITARY The following are the rates for service officers Army Rank (and equivalent ranks in the other Services). Field Marshal: 1st January 1972 … … … 15,750 1st April 1973 … … … 15,998 1st January 1974 … … … 16,345 1st January 1975 … … … 19,674 General: 1st January 1972 … … … 14,250 1st April 1973 … … … 14,498 1st January 1974 … … … 14,845 1st January 1975 … … … 17,925 Lieutenant General: 1st January 1972 … … … 10,749 1st April 1973 … … … 10,997 1st January 1974 … … … 11,344 1st January 1975 … … … 13,998 Major General: 1st January 1972 … … … 8,749 1st April 1973 … … … 8,997 1st January 1974 … … … 9,344 1st January 1975 … … … 11,998

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the persons who were employed in his office or Department in January 1972 at salaries around£4,500 per annum and what increases they have received to date.

The following are representative examples of persons, both civilian and military, employed by the Ministry of Defence in January 1972 at salaries around£4,500 per annum, together with their current salaries: ( a ) CIVILIANS Principals: £ 1st January 1972 … … 3,478–4,708 1st April 1975 … … 5,680–7,450 Principal Scientific Officer: 1st January 1972 … … 3,317–4,387 1st April 1975 … … 5,514–7,205 Principal Professional and Technology Officer: 1st January 1972 … … 4,010–4,760 1st April 1975 … … 6,280–7,450

Note: Staff working in London receive London Weighting in addition as follows: Inner London: 1st January 1972 … … … 175 1st April 1975 … … … 410 Outer London: 1st January 1972 … … … 90 1st April 1975 … … … 260

( b ) MILITARY

Lieutenant Colonels in the Army and the equivalent ranks in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force on the maximum of the scale for the rank received£4,515 a year. In April 1975 the rate of pay at the same point for the same rank was£7,457.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the Official Report the mileage allowance granted to civil servants in his Department and those institutions, offices and research establishments for which he is responsible, respectively, indicating variations for the different grades of seniority and type of car permitted.

The motor mileage allowances paid to civil servants are determined by the engine capacity of the vehicle and the regulations under which the journey is made.

The official duty rate applies when special permission is given for the use of a private vehicle on an official journey when alternative official or public transport is not available or would cause serious delay or marked inconvenience. This rate is assessed on the total cost of running a vehicle and the current rates are: Per mile Cars: 501 to 1,000 cc … 7. 9p 1,001 to 1,750 cc … 9. 4p 1,751 cc and above … 10.2p Official passenger allowance … 0. 5p

The public transport rate applies when a private vehicle is used, without special permission, on an official journey and particularly over routes covered by public transport. The rate is assessed on the average cost of public transport and is currently 3.7p a mile.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the editor of the Royal Air Force News did not publish a letter from Squadron Leader Armstrong, intended to draw attention to the effect of the current high rate of inflation on Service pensions.

Squadron Leader Armstrong's letter was addressed to RAF personnel contemplating redundancy. The letter was not published because it was felt that much more information is already available to and studied by those contemplating redundancy in the regulations about pensions increases than was contained in Squadron Leader Armstrong's letter. The effects of inflation, on which he also commented, must be clear to all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the likely level of increases in local authority housing rents.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 35 of the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation".

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that under existing legislation tenants of publicly-owned housing whose family incomes exceed£100 a week are paying an appropriate rent.

The responsibility for public sector rents lies in law with local authorities and new town corporations. I would not favour a system under which standard rents were based directly on individual householders' incomes. Levels of financial assistance are dealt with by rent rebates and allowances, the equity and effectiveness of which along with the system of tax remission and option mortgage subsidy fall to be examined in our housing finance review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many vehicular accidents in each of the last five years were attributed wholly or in part to loss of vision after toughened glass windscreens had shattered; and how many casualties, fatal and non-fatal, resulted.

Exact figures are not available, but the best estimate is something less than five accidents in 1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will conduct a review of the Land Compensation Act 1973.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effects on the finances of the British Railways Board, the National Freight Corporation and the National Bus Company of the enactment of the Community Land Bill.

The Bill itself will not directly affect the finances of these undertakings until the basis of compensation for compulsory purchase is changed to current use value on the second appointed day. It is impossible to forecast what land transactions they might be engaged on thereafter and the financial effects of these.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with representatives of outside interests on possible changes to the Community Land Bill.

Both I and my officials have had a wide range of discussions in recent weeks with associations and individuals representing local authority, housing, industrial and commercial, agricultural, planning, financial and other interests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future use of surpluses accruing to new town corporations, indicating whether or not any change envisaged will affect the level of new town rents.

Any changes of policy on the use of such surpluses would derive from the current review of new towns policy generally. For the meantime surpluses will be recovered for the Exchequer as appropriate under present legislation and rents charged by development corporations will not be affected by this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Enviroment what progress has been made in reaching a decision to insulate Southampton houses against noise from the M27.

A provisional noise map will be passed to the local authority shortly for implementation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to enforce cash limits for local authority expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures he expects to use to enforce cash limits on wages in local government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now say whether he is proposing to fix cash limits for local authority expenditure in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with the Consultative Council or the local authority associations about the application of cash limits to local authority expenditure in the coming year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how he proposes to make cash limits on local authority expenditure effective.

The White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" states that work is in hand to introduce cash limits where appropriate in 1976–77. Until that work is complete I cannot say how local government spending may be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next proposes to take the chair of the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.

On 1st August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent guidance he has given local authorities regarding the control of their expenditure this year.

I made a statement on this matter in the House on 19th June. A copy of this statement was sent to all English local authorities on 27th June as DOE Circular 67/75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which Ministers attended the second meeting of the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance.

The Secretary of State and the Under-Secretary for the Environment, the Secretaries of State for Social Services, for Education and Science, and for Wales, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Minister of State, Home Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure is expected to be incurred in the current year on the purchase of private houses by local authorities under the Government's municipalisation policy.

£185 million at November 1974 prices, this being the equiva lent of the estimated expenditure by local authorities in the last financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he now proposes to take to reduce the growth in local authority expenditure.

This matter will fall to be discussed both in the context of the 1976–77 RSG negotiations and at meetings of the Consultative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will request the committee inquiring into housing finance to publish an interim report on the measures needed to mitigate the effect on rents of sustaining the present level of council house building.

Government subsidies under the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975 meet 66 per cent. of the approved cost of all council house building. As the housing finance review is intended to be of a comprehensive character, an interim report on the lines suggested would be inappropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with local authorities about the use of building materials in the construction of public sector housing; whether there are any current or planned laboratory tests on any materials now in use; and if he will make a statement.

There are frequent discussions between local authorities and the Department's regional offices on various aspects of housing construction, including materials, usually arising from applications for loan sanction for housing schemes. Local authorities also seek advice from the Department's Building Regulations divisions at headquarters and from the Building Research Establishment. Laboratory tests of materials form a permanent and significant part of the Building Research Establishment's research programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue a circular to local authorities encouraging them to keep rate increases for the forthcoming year under 10 per cent.

No. It is too early to take any view about rate increases in 1976–77, which I shall be discussing in the rate support grant negotiations and in the Consultative Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet reached decisions on the report of the Layfield Commission on the Greater London Development Plan.

I hope to make a statement about the plan shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for encouraging owner-occupation in new towns.

Development corporations may make land available to private builders wishing to build houses for sale, to individuals wishing to build a house for their own occupation, and to co-ownership groups. Corporations may also build houses themselves for sale, particularly at the lower end of the price range. At the appropriate time I will consider whether further measures are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by his Department in implementing his proposed policy to introduce a pattern of lorry routes.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Faversham (Mr. Moate) and the hon. Member for Bath (Sir E. Brown) on Wednesday, 7th May 1975.—[Vol. 891, c. 444 .]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the working of the Highways Act 1959; and if he will make a statement.

The operation of this Act is kept under running review. On the whole I think that it works satisfactorily, but if the hon. Member has evidence to the contrary I should be glad if he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if Her Majesty's Government will initiate legislation to exempt student accommodation from the Rent Act 1974 in time to assist those students who will be beginning courses in the forthcoming academic year.

After consulting a wide range of outside bodies we have concluded that such an exemption would be unlikely to yield significant benefits of a sort that would justify the time of Parliament in the remainder of this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in the light of the recent proposals for Government restrictions on expenditure, he will now announce the abandonment of plans to extend the M23 motorway.

Decisions on individual roads must await my right hon. Friend's decision on the Greater London Development Plan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the indestructibility of glass, whether he will set up an inquiry to consider the effect on the environment of the increasing use of non-returnable bottles.

A working group of the Waste Management. Advisory Council is already considering this and other issues relating to packaging and containers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has concluded his inquiries into methods of preventing the hazard of jackknifing in articulated lorries; and if he will make a statement.

Standards to control jackknifing have recently been agreed by the European Community. I am considering in the light of a report from the Transport and Road Research Laboratory whether such standards should be made compulsory for all new articulated vehicles in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to propose amendment of the law in respect of the rating of caravans.

At the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of authorised improvement grants in the first four months of this year compared with the first four months of 1974.

41,500 house renovation grants were approved in England and Wales, compared with 111,900 in the same period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the regulations concerning overhaul maintenance and servicing of coaches, particularly holiday tour coaches; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am making a review of the standards and procedures prescribed by these regulations and hope to announce the outcome in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up a series of regional centres for vehicle licence renewal by post, in addition to the driver and vehicles licensing centre at Swansea.

I am reviewing the handling of postal applications for the renewal of vehicle licences. Regional centres are a possibility being considered as part of this review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the extent of the dependence of English conurbations on Welsh water.

Some 133 million gallons a day are sent direct to England from reservoirs and abstraction points in Wales. The largest supplies go to Birmingham and Liverpool. In addition some 270 million gallons a day are abstracted in England from the Dee and Severn to serve Merseyside, the West Midlands and cities near the lower Severn. The flow of these rivers is regulated by reservoirs in Wales which allow much larger amounts to be abstracted than would otherwise be possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list in the Official Report the criteria he adopts for deciding eligibility for home loss payments.

Eligibility is governed by Sections 29–33 of the Land Compensation Act 1973. If my hon. Friend is referring to eligibility for extra-statutory expenditure under Section 161 of the Local Government Act 1972 in certain home loss cases, the main criterion is that the circumstances of the claimant must have been such that it would have been unreasonable to expect him to make a claim within the statutory claim period. Each case is considered on its merits within this principle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the Beverley SW bypass and the northern approach road to the Humber Bridge.

A local public inquiry into the draft proposals for the Beverley south-western bypass was held from 20th to 23rd May, and the inspector's report is now under consideration. Any new road to the Humber Bridge from north of the A63 trunk road would be the responsibility of the Humberside County Council. I understand that it attaches importance to the provision of such a road and hopes to commence works when resources permit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the effects of the penalty which is imposed by his Department by discontinuing authority to test motor cars in garages, when an employee of a garage steals a blank certificate and makes improper use of it; and whether he will consider the application of this policy so as to make it less rigid.

I am indeed aware of the problem; but the test is designed to protect the public from the dangers of defective vehicles, and authorised examiners are expected to take responsibility for the actions of their employees. In future, however, this will not usually be done without warning.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to give greater publicity to the need for motorists to give proper signals when changing lanes on motorways and trunk roads.

I fully endorse the importance of drivers giving signals correctly when they change lanes dramatically. This has already been the subject of publicity and was emphasised most recently and dramatically in the road safety film "Drive Carefully, Darling", which was widely seen on television. But the funds available for sustained publicity of this kind are subject to many competing demands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding preservation orders placed on British Rail stations; and what system of appeal against such orders exists.

If my right hon. Friend concludes, after taking appropriate expert advice, that a station is of special architectural or historic interest, he is bound to list it as such. There is no appeal against listing, but there is an appeal to my right hon. Friend if the owner is refused consent to alter or demolish a listed building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the most recent information on the numbers receiving rent rebates and rent allowances and on the percentage take-up of these benefits.

The estimated number of tenants in England and Wales receiving rent rebates and allowances is 2.2 million, representing 27 per cent. of all tenants. These figures include approximately 1.25 million tenants who receive rent rebates and allowances as part of their supplementary benefits payments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he is currently offering to local authorities on types of heating installations and standards of installations to be provided both in new council houses and in conversion and improvement schemes.

Subject to installations being capable of meeting the minimum heating standard for new housing, the choice of installation is a matter for the local authority. As regards thermal insulation, the improved standards laid down in the Building (Second Amendment) Regulations 1974, SI 1974–1944, apply to all new housing schemes. The question of insulation for local authority conversion and improvement schemes is one for the local authority concerned to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the priorities for housing expenditure in the next financial year.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer on capital expenditure priorities given to my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Cartwright) on 5th May 1975.—[Vol. 891, c. 308–9 .]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the adoption by local authorities of schemes whereby tenants on council estates play a part in their management.

The preliminary results of a recent survey show that formal systems of tenants' participation in housing management have been introduced by 75 per cent. of the London boroughs, 28 per cent. of metropolitan district councils and 6 per cent. of district councils in England and Wales. 12 authorities have co-opted tenants to their housing committees; 52 authorities have introduced regular consultative machinery and 144 authorities hold regular meetings with tenants. I am anxious that more local authorities should enable and encourage active participation by tenants in decisions affecting their own estates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the difficulties and dangers caused by the concentration of driving tests and driving schools using part of the Garston constituency; and if he will take appropriate action.

I am sorry to learn of these difficulties. In choosing driving test routes we do our best to avoid inconvenience to local residents and we urge driving schools to do the same. But the present concentration of learner drivers in the Garston area is mainly due to the closing of a neighbouring test centre. I have instructed that the search for alternative premises should be intensified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to hold a public inquiry into the proposed route for the Castle Donington section of the M42 motorway.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement on this subject early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference of the recent Transport and Road Research Laboratory contract with the University of Surrey into public participation in highway planning, the reasons for the study, the origin of the request for it, and its cost.

The University of Surrey is carrying out two studies, one to determine the part played by pressure groups in public participation, the other to evaluate methods of communicating information on road proposals to the public. The cost of the first is£9,060 and of the second£ 19,500. The work was commissioned by the Department as part of a general programme of research into the effectiveness of current public participation procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the persons who were employed in his office or Department in January 1972 at salaries around£4,500 per annum and what increases they have received to date.

Persons employed in January 1972 at salaries around£4,500 were those one increment from the maximum of the Principal Grade scale. It would also have been the salary of comparable grades in other groups. As from 1st April 1975 a Principal and equivalent grades in other groups at the same point on the scale have received£7,150.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many major road schemes are currently envisaged by his Department; and what is their total cost.

There are some 480 schemes in the national trunk road programme with an approximate total cost of some£2,480 million at November 1974 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the total number of staff employed by local authorities in Cheshire on 1st April 1973 and 1st April 1975 or the latest convenient date for which figures are available;

(2) what is the latest official figure of the net increase in local government staff which has taken place in the North-West Region since 1st April 1973 after taking into account the transfer of National Health Service and sewerage and water supply staff.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will name the members and state the terms of reference, of the special study group on social ownership and renovation of council dwellings, which is being chaired by the Minister for Housing and Construction; and when he expects thy: group to report.

The current members of the study group are as follows:

Chairman: Minister for Housing and Construction.

Association of District Councils: Councillor F. D. Bushell. Councillor J. Brocklebank. Councillor W. J. Passmore. Councillor A. G. Wyatt. Councillor C. E. Merrett. Councillor C. E. Shopland.

Association of Metropolitan Authorities: Councillor J. Smart. Councillor T. McLatchie. Councillor H. L. Cowans.

Greater London Council: Councillor R. A. Balfe.

London Boroughs Association: Councillor D. B. Hoodless. Alderman P. H. Hartley.

Department of the Environment: Mr. P. E. Lazarus. Mr. S. W. Gilbert. Mr. D. C. Pickup. Mr. M. H. Revell, Secretariat. Mr. V. Matley, Secretariat.

The terms of reference of the Study Group are: (i) to examine programmes proposed by local authorities in England for: ( a ) acquiring privately-owned dwellings; and ( b ) renovating council-owned dwellings by means of improvement and capitalised repairs; and in the light of available evidence as to relative needs, based on authorities' renewal strategies and other sources of information, to assess priorities within these programmes for the allocation of available resources from 1976–77 onwards; (ii) to consider means whereby the current administrative controls over the municipalisation and council house renovation programmes might be adapted so as more effectively to further the achievement of priority objectives; and (iii) to be available for consultation on any general circulars or other forms of advice to be issued by the Department on matters affecting the municipalisation and council house improvement programmes.

In order to facilitate its work the study group will remit to a working party of officers and officials the tasks of coordinating the assembly of data and of producing advice to the study group, on the following specific issues: ( a ) distribution of resources relating to improvement and capitalised repair planned by local authorities as between purpose-built council estates and municipalised property, and as between different categories of purpose-built estates; ( b ) assessment of future acquisition programmes in various parts of the country in relation to stated priorities; ( c ) assessment of overall needs for improvement and the identification of special local or regional problems; ( d ) standards of house renovation and unit costs; and ( e ) assessment of the level of investment necessary to sustain realistic five-year forward capital programmes of acquisition, renovation, repair and associated environmental works, having regard to the physical and financial resources likely to be available.

The working party is due to present reports to the study group for examination as a basis for decisions which I have to take on policy and the use of resources in this field. The programme of work does not envisage a report from the study group as such, but no decision has been taken on this yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the members of the study group evaluating housing information of the kind outlined in paragraph 2 of the Department of the Environment Circular 64/75; and how many times to date the group has met.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Wainwright). The study group has met once to date, and the associated working party has met twice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the local authorities which have sought loan sanction from him for acquisition of dwellings outside the categories listed in paragraph 18 of the Department of the Environment Circular 64/75; what was the total number of dwellings for which each local authority sought sanction; and in which cases it was ( a ) approved, ( b ) refused or ( c ) deferred.

I will write to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in consideration of the capital expenditure involved, he will raise the ceiling of MOT tests carried out annually by any testing station from 300 to 600 to qualify for exemption from the requirement to install a roller brake testing machine.

No. Brake failures account for more than a quarter of road accidents in which the defective condition of vehicles results in death or serious injury. I attach importance to providing more effective means of assessing the braking performance of vehicles which undergo the MOT test. While the threshold of 300 tests a year recognises the special problems of providing this service in remote areas with low population, to raise it would defeat the purpose of this requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the number of elderly people who find kerbs hazardous and who would benefit from the ramping of pavements;

(2) what is his estimate of the number of people who propel prams or pushchairs out of doors who would benefit from the ramping of pavements;

(3) what is his estimate of the number of people who use wheelchairs out of doors who would benefit from the ramping of pavements;

(4) what is his estimate of the number of wheelchair users who do not venture out of doors because of the hazards involved in negotiating pavements;

(5) what is his estimate of the total number of people who would benefit from the ramping of pavements.

There are no comprehensive statistics in the categories my hon. Friend has defined, and these would be formidably difficult and expensive to compile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the number of wheelchair users who do not venture out of doors because they are prevented by the design of their house and the access to and from it.

There is all too little evidence on which to base such an estimate and I should welcome information and views from those able to supply relevant material. My present advice is that there are probably very few wheelchair users who do not venture out of doors solely by reason of the design of their house and the access to and from it. Where they do not, it may well be because of other factors, such as the availability of private transport, having a friend or relative who can push the wheelchair, being able to sit in a wheelchair without discomfort when out of doors and not being worried about incontinence.

As a follow up to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction on 4th February the Department has prepared a paper, "Wheelchair Housing", giving guidance aimed at avoiding the kind of obstacles which my hon. Friend is concerned about. It is hoped to circulate the paper to local authorities and other interested bodies as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory obligations to provide temporary or permanent accommodation to immigrants holding United Kingdom passports who are admitted to the United Kingdom from any other country.

Social services authorities have a duty under Section 21(1)( b ) of the National Assistance Act 1948 to provide temporary accommodation for those who are in urgent need of it, in circumstances which could not reasonably have been foreseen, or in such circumstances as the authority may determine in any particular case. The duty itself is not limited to any particular group or section of the comunity. The joint circular on homelessness issued in February last year recommended that housing authorities should accept the prime responsibility for homeless people and their accommodation; and that local authorities should use their powers in the way most appropriate to individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a statement about the coach accident at Dibble's Bridge, Yorkshire, on 27th May.

Yes. On the afternoon of 27th May a coach went out of control on the steep hill approaching Dibble's Bridge on the B.6265 road from Pateley Bridge to Grassington. It failed to take a sharp right-hand bend, crashed through a parapet, and landed upside down in a field 16 ft. below, 32 people were killed and 14 were injured.

At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was given.

The Department's vehicle inspectors have now completed their investigation and I am studying their detailed report. Their opinion is that the cause of the accident was failure of the brakes resulting from the poor condition of the braking systems, which were defective because of serious faults in the offside rear brake unit, compounded by faulty adjustment of the front brakes. The vehicle had undergone its last annual inspection in December, when no serious defects were discovered.

Those who operate public service vehicles have, of course, a continuing responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are properly maintained. I am, however, arranging for our vehicle inspectors throughout the country to be informed of the mechanical causes of this accident and intend to introduce other measures to reinforce the inspection of the braking systems of public service vehicles.

Public concern has been expressed about the roof strength of coaches. As I stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) and the hon. Member for Devon, West (Mr. Mills) on 24th June—[Vol. 894, c. 126–7 ]—I intend to prescribe minimum strength requirements as soon as a suitable technical standard is available; but it would be unrealistic to expect any coach design to withstand the impact of a 16 ft. drop as occurred on this occasion.

Anxiety has also been expressed about drivers' hours. The driver of the coach, who was also killed, was licensed to drive public service vehicles, and there was no evidence that he was in breach of the regulations on drivers' hours or in any way unfit to drive.

I should like to take this opportunity of expressing my sympathy with those who were bereaved or injured by this tragic accident. I assure my hon. Friend of my determination to ensure that everything will be done to lessen the chance of a repetition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has given to local authorities on the standard and type of provision of emergency accommodation for the homeless.

Guidance on standards has been given over the years for the kind of accommodation the hon. Member seems to have in mind. But homeless people are not a homogeneous group and their needs vary widely. We are, therefore, asking local authorities and housing associations increasingly to use for homeless people a variety of accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received on the introduction of VASCAR as a method of speed detection.

Thirteen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of those members of the police force who were in January 1972 in receipt of salaries of£4,500 per annum and what increases they have received to date; on what dates these were paid and whether, in view of the economic situation, he intends to reduce any of the proposed increases recently announced.

In January 1972 the salaries of officers of all ranks above chief superintendent either exceeded£4,500 or were in ranges with maxima that did so. They were increased on average by 7¾per cent. from 1st July 1972, 4 per cent. from 1st July 1973, and 16½per cent. from 1st July 1974, and the Police Council recently agreed a further increase of 22 per cent. from 1st July this year. The policy set out in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd. 6151) will apply to this group.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy towards the proposed increases in the salaries of police officers of£4,500 per annum in the light of the economic situation of the country.

Existing Police Council agreements will be implemented in accordance with the policy set out in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd. 6151).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the relationship of the habit of glue sniffing to criminal offences.

We have no cogent evidence relating to this country which establishes a causal relationship.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a decision has been made to go ahead with the second stage of the prison building under construction at Ulnes Walton in the Chorley constituency.

A firm decision about the possibility of building a second prison at Ulnes Walton has not yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of women imprisoned for soliciting in the last year for which figures are available.

100 in 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of persons imprisoned for drunkenness in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were men and how many women.

2,976 males and 115 females in 1974. Of these, 2,576 males and 99 females were fine defaulters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of drug addicts imprisoned in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were men, how many women and how many juveniles.

1,071 persons received into custody during 1974 were reported as having some dependence on drugs. Of these all but 31 were males. No separate figures for juveniles are readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of persons imprisoned for sleeping out and begging in the last year for which figures are available; and how many were men and how many women.

263 people were imprisoned in 1974 for begging or sleeping out. Of these 254 were males and nine females.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what offences he is currently considering depenalising.

We have recently asked the Advisory Council on the Penal System to undertake a major inquiry into the existing structure of maximum powers of sentence and we are always prepared to consider changes in the law governing the powers of the courts where the treatment of offenders will not be impaired and the public not put at unacceptable risk. In particular, we should like to see the prison pouulation reduced, and we hope it may be possible to continue to narrow the range of offences for which imprisonment is available, as has already been done in the road traffic field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any discussions of either a formal or informal nature have recently taken place between officials of his Department and any local authority with regard to preparations to meet an anticipated influx of immigrants whether or not they are United Kingdom passport holders or with regard to related matters.

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman means by "anticipated influx of immigrants", so there has been no discussion; but there have been representations from a number of local authorities about individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many United Kingdom passport holders and their dependants have been admitted to the United Kingdom from Malawi during the six months ended 30th June 1975; what is the comparable figure for the first six months for 1974; and what recent discussions have taken place with the Government of Malawi concerning the rate of admissions during 1975.

Information about the number of United Kingdom passport holders admitted from Malawi is not available because arrivals of United Kingdom passport holders are not counted by reference to country of origin.

On the last part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to his Question on 18th July.—[Vol. 895, c. 629 .]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances Mr. Mohammed Amin and his family were admitted to the United Kingdom at London Airport from Malawi on 24th May; whether any check was made by immigration officials to ascertain whether he and his family had visible means of support; why and at whose expense they were accommodated at the Post House Hotel; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Amin, who is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, was granted a special voucher after he had waited 12 months, because of the straitened circumstances of himself and his family. He arrived here with his family on 24th May. Some families who are admitted under the voucher scheme are unable to provide for themselves immediately on arrival, and it would not be desirable, given that one of the objects of the scheme is to assist such citizens, to refuse them on that account. Mr. Amin and his family were lodged for four days at the Post House hotel at public expense because it was not possible to arrange other temporary accommodation for them over the spring holiday weekend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Anglo-Polish relations following his recent visit to Poland.

I visited Poland from 13th to 15th July 1975 at the invitation of Mr. Stefan Olszowski, the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs. My visit followed his visit to London in April 1974. and was the first visit to Poland by a British Foreign Secretary since the one made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Fulham (Mr. Stewart) in 1965.

I should like to express my very warm appreciation of the hospitable reception which our Polish hosts gave to my wife and myself and to the members of the party who accompanied us.

On my way to Warsaw I visited Gdansk, and had the pleasure of meeting the leaders of the local party and Government organisations there. I was also able to see for myself the most impressive way in which the people of the city have reconstructed it following the very heavy damage which it suffered during the last War.

In Warsaw I had talks with Mr. Olszowski, and also made calls on Mr. Gierek, First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party, Dr. Jablonski, Chairman of the Council of State, and Mr. Jaroszewicz, Chairman of the Council of Ministers.

At the end of my visit, Mr. Olszowski and I signed a Declaration on the Development of Friendly Relations between the United Kingdom and the Polish People's Republic, which I hope to arrange to be published shortly.

The communiqué issued after my visit, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, said that the talks and meetings were conducted in an atmosphere of friendship, co-operation and mutual confidence reflecting the tradition of friendly relations between the two countries".

The excellent state of our relations with Poland is of course well known to the House, and is reflected in many fields, notably our trade, and the number of visitors from each country to the other.

In our talks we discussed a broad range of international affairs, as well as our bilateral relations. We were of course particularly interested in the work of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe. I also took the opportunity to assure my Polish hosts that our membership of the European Community, far from diminishing our bilateral relations, would enhance them by making us a more worthwhile and influential partner.

I therefore have every confidence that, as a result of my visit, and those made by other Ministers in both directions, our relations with Poland, already good, will continue to develop further in a wide variety of fields.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many vehicles there are on the roads of Hong Kong at present; and how many there will be by the time the mass transit system is completed.

There are currently 190,000 vehicles on the roads in Hong Kong. If it is decided to proceed, the initial system of the mass transit railway is planned to be completed by 1980 when the number of vehicles is expected to have reached 270,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people would be employed in the construction of the mass transit system in Hong Kong.

It is estimated that about 2,500 people would be employed in the early stages of building the modified initial system of the Mass Transit Railway. The number would rise to some 4,500 between 1976 and 1978, when the bulk of the work would be undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many work stoppages owing to strikes took place in Hong Kong in 1974.

Nineteen.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the rate of inflation in Hong Kong over the last 12 months.

The most representative indicator of the rate of inflation in Hong Kong, the General Index of Consumer Prices, rose by 1.8 per cent. between the second quarter of 1974 and the second quarter of 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many working days were lost in Hong Kong owing to strikes during 1974; and how this compared with the previous five years.

7,347. The figures for the previous five years are: 1969 … … … 40,216 1970 … … … 47,212 1971 … … … 25,600 1972 … … … 41,834 1973 … … … 44,164

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in what way Hong Kong's Mutual Aid Committee Scheme has contributed in the fight against crime.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 17th February. Only 19 out of 1,636 committees are inactive. The close liaison formed with the police has led to greater understanding of police work and willingness to report crime; and more widespread precautionary measures against robbery.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what unemployment benefit is paid in St. Helena.

No unemployment benefit as such is paid in St. Helena, but the Government operate a work scheme for those who would otherwise be unemployed. Payments under this scheme are up to£7 per week. This system will be examined once we receive the reports of the economist who has just returned from the island and the Salaries Commissioner who is due there next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the increase in the cost of living in St. Helena in each of the last five years.

The St. Helena cost of living index shows the following increases since the last base was set: 1971 … … … 100 1972 … … … 112 1973 … … … 131 1974 … … … 160 1975 (April) … … … 192

There is a case for widening the basis on which the index is constructed—e.g. rents, unchanged since 1971, are not included. An economist has recently visited the island, and will be advising the Governor on a restructuring of the index.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the scale of wages of male employees in the Government service in St. Helena in each of the last five years.

The current scale of wages of all St. Helena Government employees was set following the last salaries review in 1971. There has been no increase in basic wages since then, but two cost of living allowances have been introduced. A further salaries review is to be carried out in September. In view of their length I am arranging for copies of the current wages scales and cost of living allowances to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have approved the statutes of the World Tourism Organisation.

Yes, Her Majesty's Government have approved the statutes of the World Tourism Organisation subject to formal adoption.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will announce the United Kingdom's ratification of the United Nations Covenant on Economic and Social Rights 1966 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966; and whether such ratification will extend to the optional clause and the optional protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Our studies of ratification by the United Kingdom of the International Covenants on Human Rights, including the optional clause and the optional Protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, are continuing. Therefore I cannot yet indicate a date by which an announcement on ratification may be possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has caused to be given to accounting officers in Government Departments about strict control of their expenditure votes.

Every accounting officer, on his appointment by the Treasury, receives detailed instructions on the scope of his duties and on his responsibilities for strict control over expenditure of public funds.

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer if he will set up an investigation into the extent of compliance by the Inland Revenue with the Welsh Language Act 1967 and its responses to citizens who correspond with it in Welsh and request Welsh or bilingual documents.

I am satisfied that the Inland Revenue's policy is in accordance with the requirements of this Act and that the Department has consistently followed the recommendation of the Hughes Parry Committee. Welsh versions of official forms should be produced where there is a fair demand for them. The principal forms necessary to the legal process of tax collection, that is, returns of income, notices of assessment and demand notes, are, for the years of assessment from 1975–76 onwards, available in Welsh to those taxpayers who request them. I shall be glad to look into any particular case of difficulty which the hon. Member may have in mind, but I do not consider that any general investigation is necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he now expects to be able to introduce legislation to impose the development land tax.

I expect to introduce this Bill in the next Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the mileage allowance granted to civil servants in his Department and those institutions, offices and research establishments for which he is responsible, respectively, indicating variations for the different grades of seniority and type of car permitted.

There are no variations in mileage allowances granted to civil servants in my Department based on grades of seniority. Such allowances depend solely on the engine capacity and type of vehicle used by the officer concerned. The allowances are those laid down by the Civil Service Department, which are currently as follows: Type of Vehicle and Engine Capacity Standard rate per mile Motor cycle Motor car including 3-wheel vehicle 1.8p … 150 cc or less 150 cc or less 2.3p … 151–244 cc. 151–244 cc. 3.1p … 245–500 cc. 245–500 cc. 3.9p … 501 cc and over 7.9p … — 501–1,000 cc. 9.4p … — 1,001–1,750 cc. 10.2p … — 1,751 cc and over

Type of Vehicle and Engine Capacity Public Transport rate per mile Motor cycle Motor car including 3-wheel vehicle 1.8p … 150 cc or less 150 cc or less 2.3p … 151–245 cc. 151–245 cc. 3.1p … 246–500 cc. 246–500 cc. 3.7p … 501 cc and over All other engine capacities

These allowances are payable only when officers use their private cars on official business. Whether a particular journey attracts the standard rate of mileage allowance or the public transport rate depends upon the circumstances and the application of rules laid down by the Civil Service Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual rate of increase of public expenditure in real terms between 1970 and 1974, and what is the estimated rate of increase between 1974 and 1978.

The annual average rate of increase of public expenditure in volume terms between 1970–71 and 1974–75 was 5.4 per cent. The rate of increase to 1978–79 will be affected by the annual review of public expenditure programmes which is now in progress. The outcome of this reappraisal will be published in the annual public expenditure White Paper later in the year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current debt of the Electricity Council broadly identified by class of creditor.