asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware of any United Kingdom citizens being arrested by the Government of India under the recent emergency regulations; what are the numbers of British journalists expelled from the country; and what action the High Commission in New Delhi has taken to protect their interests.

One United Kingdom citizen has been arrested and is being detained under legislation affected by regulations made since the proclamation of the state of emergency. His alleged offence is the smuggling of foreign currency. Consular access is being sought.

Two British journalists have been expelled from India and a further journalist was refused readmission to the country. The Acting British High Comm missioner in New Delhi has protested about the manner of these expulsions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are being taken in preparation for the extension of British fishing limits to 200 miles once the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference has ended.

Her Majesty's Government have Britain's fishing limits constantly under review. However, for the moment I cannot add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 1st May.—[Vol. 891, c. 194–95.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate in the Council of Ministers of the EEC proposals for a common EEC policy towards sanctions against Rhodesia.

The observance of United Nations resolutions on sanctions is the responsibility of individual member States. Co-operation between the Nine, who regularly exchange information at the official level on the practical application of sanctions, is working well.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in securing the payment of pensions due to British subjects from the Government of India as a result of the nationalisation of the Indian coal industry.

The British High Commission in Delhi has pressed the Indian authorities for full payment of pensions due to British subjects from nationalised Indian coal companies. The state-owned Coking Coal Company has now agreed to make ex-gratia payments of up to Rs 500 a month to pensioners, pending a full settlement of their claims; these payments have, however, not yet started. A similar interim decision is being sought from the company operating non-coking coal mines.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many White Papers giving a six-monthly report on EEC affairs have so far been published by Her Majesty's Government; and when he expects that the next White Paper in the series will be published.

The first six-monthly report (Command 5790) was published in November 1974. Two White Papers on Membership of the European Communities (Commands 5999 and 6003) were published in March. The next White Paper is due to be published later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning talks regarding the current Middle East situation that have taken place with EEC Ministers.

My right hon. Friend discusses the Middle East situation regularly with his colleagues from the Nine and we keep in constant touch at official level. The details of the discussions must remain confidential.

asked the Lord President of the Council what estimates he has made of the cost of a Scottish Assembly.

It is not possible at this stage to make realistic estimates. But in formulating our devolution proposals we are very much concerned to secure an economical and efficient system of administration.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is his present policy towards the Scottish Assembly having its own Civil Service.

The administrative arrangements needed to support the Scottish Assembly cannot be settled until the constitutional framework and the functions to be devolved have been decided. Our detailed proposals will be set out in the autumn White Paper.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the threat to international peace and the economic situation at home and abroad, he will advise the Conference on European Security that Great Britain intends to set an example by initiating a radical reduction in arms expenditure.

No. Although the "security" element in the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe has been small it has none the less made a step towards military confidence building in Europe. We must now look to progress in the Vienna negotiations on mutual and balanced force reductions if real progress is to be made in correcting the present imbalance of forces in Central Europe. For our own part we have already undertaken a thorough review of Britain's defence policy with the aim of reducing the burden of defence expenditure without jeopardising our security. But as has been made plain to the House on numerous occasions the Government do not plan, in advance of an MBFR agreement, to reduce the forces which we maintain in the Federal Republic of Germany below the level agreed in accordance with our Brussels Treaty obligations.

asked the Minister of State for the Civil Service what would be the cost to public funds of reducing the five-month delay in the implementation of pension increases under the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 to one month.

The present timetable reflects the processes which have to be gone through in assessing and implementing the increases. The retail price index for mid-June, on which the increases are based, is not published until towards the end of July. An order authorising the increases has then to be prepared and laid before Parliament, explanatory material has to be printed and the pension authorities have to revise over 1 million individual pension rates. It would involve disproportionate expense to establish the extra cost in terms of staff and equipment of achieving any significant shortening of the existing timetable.

The Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 does, however, allow for the five-month period by including an extra margin when a pension is first increased. This margin is carried forward at subsequent annual reviews so that pensions are, as nearly as possible, adjusted to 1st December price levels.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the entitlement in the Civil Service to sick leave, indicating whether this varies in different grades within the Civil Service; and if he will list the amount of sick leave taken in the various grades during the latest year for which figures are available.

All whole-time civil servants, other than those employed on a casual basis, irrespective of grade may be allowed sick leave on full pay for not more than six months in all during any period of 12 months; and thereafter sick leave on half-pay, subject to a maximum of 12 months' sick leave in any period of four years or less.

Staff employed on a casual basis may be allowed sick leave on full pay subject to a maximum of one week for every completed four weeks of effective service.

Departments closely monitor the sick records of individuals but overall information about the total amount of sick leave now taken by the various grades is not available and could be obtained only at disproprotionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of textiles purchased by his Department is British-manufactured at all stages of production.

Textiles purchased by the Northern Ireland Office are 100 per cent. United Kingdom-manufactured at all stages of production.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many self-employed persons in Northern Ireland have become unemployed since 1st January 1975; how many of these were farmers; how many self-employed persons in Northern Ireland are at present receiving family income supplement; and how many of these persons are farmers.

It is estimated that at 31st March 1975 family income supplement was being paid to 2,472 self-employed people, of whom 2,106 were farmers. The number of formerly self-employed people who register as unemployed is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will increase the salary of the Members of the Northern Ireland Constitutional Convention.

The salary of Convention Members, which is currently £2,500 a year, will be increased by £695 a year. The payment will be back-dated to 17th July 1975. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to Parliament in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportions of summonses are being successfully served, and warrants successfully executed, by the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

I am advised by the Chief Constable that approximately 95 per cent. of summonses are being served and 92 per cent. of warrants are being executed throughout Northern Ireland by the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about recruiting to the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the RUC Reserve.

During the first six months of this year 173 recruits were accepted for the RUC and 1,434 for the RUC reserve. During the same period in 1974 the corresponding figures were 154 and 164. Recruitment to the RUC has settled at a satisfactory level.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements he will make to provide Parliament and the public with further information on the financial and economic position of Harland and Wolff before the draft Shipbuilding Industry (No. 2) (Northern Ireland) Order 1975 is considered by both Houses.

Copies of an information document are being made available today in both Houses.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will list the appointments made in June to the committees of the United Kingdom Commission for UNESCO and to the Commonwealth Development Corporation.

The following appointments to the committees of the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO have been made since the beginning of June. A number of replies to other offers of appointment have not yet been received.

Communications Advisory Committee Mr. N. D. R. Calder. Professor C. Cherry. Dr. H. Coblans. Professor J. D. Halloran. Dr. T. Margerison. Mr. T. Neill. Miss L. V. Paulin. Mrs. J. Spicer.

Culture Advisory Committee Dr. N. J. Abercrombie. Sir Misha Black. Mr. A. Bowness. Mr. J. English. Professor J. D. Fage. Mr. S. Hall. Mr. J. McCarthy. Mr. M. M. Middleton. Mrs. J. B. Priestley. Professor R. Shaw. Dr. R. Strong. Mr. J. Noel White.

Education Advisory Committee Mrs. C. Benn. Dr. J. Hemming. Mr. G. Hubbard. Dame Margaret Miles. Mr. P. M. Oppenheimer. Mr. C. Price, MP. Professor A. M. Ross. Mr. E. E. Robinson. Sir Alex Smith. Dr. W. Taylor. Professor J. D. Turner. Professor G. L. Williams.

Royal Society UNESCO Committee Professor H. Charnock. Sir Kingsley Dunham. Professor J. S. Forrest. Sir John Kendrew. Professor R. D. Keynes. Professor R. Riley. Dr. L. Rotherham. Sir Harold Thompson.

Social Sciences Advisory Committee Mrs. K. Carmichael. Professor S. Cohen. Professor D. V. Donnison. Sir Edmund Leach. Professor B. Schaffer. Professor J. H. Smith. Professor P. P. Streeten. Professor P. Townsend.

So far as the Commonwealth Development Corporation is concerned, Sir Eric Griffith-Jones has been reappointed as Chairman and Mr. Jason Borthwick and Mr. James Millington-Drake have been reappointed as members. I intend to announce further appointments to the board shortly.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when he expects the White Paper on aid strategy to be published.

I cannot at present be more precise than the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Campbell) on 26th June.—[Vol. 894, c. 285.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when he expects a further statement to be made on the constitutional position of the Crown Agents.

I hope that it will be possible to make a statement in the autumn.

asked the Attorney-General what was the cost to public funds of the provision of legal aid in all civil and criminal cases during the last three financial years; and how much was recovered during this period from applicants for legal aid in civil cases, as a condition of the grant of the legal aid certificate, and in criminal cases, upon conviction or acquittal.

The figures for expenditure on criminal and civil legal aid for the last three financial years are as follows: 1972–73 … … … £26,310,274 1973–74 … … … £31,595,111 1974–75 … … … £43,616,000*

These figures do not include payments to local authorities in respect of expenditure incurred prior to the coming into force of the Courts Act in 1972.

The amounts recovered during this period from applicants for legal aid in civil cases, as a condition of the grant of the legal aid certificate and in criminal cases, upon conviction or acquittal, were as follows: 1972–73 … … … £3,000,824 1973–74 … … … £3,300,092 1974–75 … … … £4,379,443* * The figures quoted for 1974–75 are unaudited and have yet to be finalised.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is satisfied with the requirements under Scottish law relating to legally qualified people being involved in the administration of justice in Scottish courts.

Generally, yes, but I shall be willing to examine any point which the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the Lord Advocate when next he proposed to pay an official visit to Rockall.

As a Commissioner of Northern Lighthouses I visited the Rockall Bank on 19th July. I have no plans to pay a further visit to the area in the immediate future.

asked the Lord Advocate what recent consultations he has had with the EEC about matter relating to Scottish law.

Earlier this year I had consultations with members of the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg concerning the separate nature of Scots law and the Scottish legal system. Since then I have not been personally involved in consultations with the EEC about matters relating to Scots law. However, many proposals which are at present under discussion in the Community have implications for the law of Scotland, and I am kept informed of progress on these matters. Further, as I indicated in an earlier reply, I do my best to make certain that the interests of Scots law are kept prominently in view in all discussions and negotiations in Brussels.

asked the Lord Advocate what consultations he has had with other European Justice Ministers regarding evolution of common codes of law.

Projects of the kind which the hon. Gentleman has in mind formed part of the agenda of three conferences at which I have been present since I took office. These were the Conference of European Ministers of Justice in Vienna in May 1974—for the major part of which I represented the United Kingdom—the meeting of the Council and Conference of EEC Ministers of Justice in Brussels in November 1974—at which I formed part of the United Kingdom delegation, along with the Lord Chancellor—and an informal meeting of European Ministers of Justice at Obernai in May of this year—which the Attorney-General and I attended. Areas of law in which the prospects for harmonisation were discussed included the law relating to remand in custody and certain aspects of private international law.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will explain the criteria by which it is determined whether his presence is required at meetings of the Council of Ministers.

The question which of Her Majesty's Ministers will attend a particular meeting of the EEC Council of Ministers is decided, generally speaking, by reference to the agenda for that meeting and the commitments of Ministers. I would expect to be present at any meeting where important issues of law or legal policy affecting Scotland and her law were to be discussed. For example, along with the Lord Chancellor I formed part of the United Kingdom delegation to the Council of Ministers of Justice in November 1974, when a large number of items affecting the law of the various parts of the United Kingdom were discussed.

asked the Lord Advocate when he next proposes to meet with the Faculty of Advocates.

As a Member of Faculty I attend Faculty meetings when my Parliamentary duties allow. I do not have formal meetings with the Faculty of Advocates, but I am in regular contact with the Dean on matters affecting the Faculty.

asked the Lord Advocate if he is satisfied with the operation of and the penalties provided in the law against brakeris of dowcattis, steiling of beis ad of fisches furth of mennis stankis and propir Lochis, particularly as regards the ability of those brought before the courts for the offences to understand the charges.

My hon. Friend appears to have been misinformed. The Act of 1607 was indeed, until 1964, couched in the terms used in the Question. The Act was then revised and the Short Title "Theft Act 1607" applied to it. Those parts of the Act relating to "brakeris of dowcattis" and stealing fish "furth of menis stankis" were repealed.

The Act, as amended, refers to the theft of bees and the theft of fish from proper stanks. The penalty for an offence against this Act is £40 Scots—£3.32.

Were it not for the provisions of this Act, it is unlikely that anyone could be convicted of stealing another person's bees or fish, as they would be regarded as wild animals and in no degree sub dominio. This would be unfair to people who keep bees, or stock ponds with fish. As regards understanding the language of the Act, it is usually the practice to libel the charge relating to fish as one of stealing fish from a stank. Reference is then made to the Act being contravened. This is in no way different from libelling any statutory offence. In any event, the use of the words "steal fish" would convey the substance of the crime to people who do not understand Scots.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the experience of the Sheffield City Council, if he will take steps to expedite machinery to approve schemes for the improvement or conversion of dwellings.

The machinery is kept under continuous review. Where proposals and costs are economical, decisions are given in a few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will recommend that all local authorities operate and take note of the disabled drivers' badge scheme, and draw their attention to the need for a uniform implementation of the scheme.

Local authorities were advised of the "orange badge scheme" extensions, which came into operation on 1st June, in a circular issued by my Department on 11th March 1975. I have no evidence that the scheme is not being operated uniformly, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has any plans for preventing good agricultural land from being bought by speculators in order to split it into small parcels of land.

My Department is discussing the problem with the local authority associations and other interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has made about the future of the Stern Group of properties including Russell Court, WC1.

The Department is still in discussion with the liquidator about the future of these properties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the constituencies in England and Wales as to the degree of housing shortage.

I regret that there are insufficient data to provide even crude measures of housing shortage in the constituencies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information which he has on the average site cost per habitable room of local authority housing development in the South-East, outside the Greater London Council area.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many properties were acquired (i) under each heading of paragraph 29 of Circular 70/74 and (ii) outside those categories, for each district council from 1st April 1974 to 31st March 1975 and 1st April to 30th June 1975; and whether he will provide in the monthly and quarterly housing reports regular statistics on these acquisitions.

Information to this degree of detail cannot be readily provided, but consideration is being given to the possibility of periodical publication of basic statistics of such acquisitions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will amend the Building Regulations 1972 in order to require compartmentation in single-storey institutional buildings below 3,000 square metres and to require fire stopping in roof rails, in the light of the recommendations of the committee of inquiry into the fire at Fairfield Home, Edwalton, Nottinghamshire (Command Paper No. 6149).

An amendment to require fire stopping in roof voids has been prepared, and will shortly be circulated to interested bodies for comment. The recommendation that further compartmentation should be required is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that the training of architects employed by his Department includes in future a much extended study of fire protection and precautions in the light of the conclusions of the committee of inquiry into the fire at Fairfield Home, Edwalton, Nottinghamshire (Command Paper No. 6149) and the Report of the Summerland Fire Commission.

Training is given in the fire protection and precaution requirements of the National Building Regulations to architects employed by the Department on building work. In addition all professional and technical staff of the Property Services Agency have the advice of specialist fire officers. The report of the committee of inquiry into the fire at the Fairfield Home is being studied in detail and full account will be taken of it and of the Summerland Fire Commission Report in the training of the Department's staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require new town development corporations to transfer properties in their ownership to the appropriate local authority five years after the corporations have erected those properties.

I hope before long to implement our policy of transferring new town housing to local authorities, but my hon. Friend's suggested time limit is not necessarily appropriate. I would not rule out the possibility of transferring some housing less than five years after completion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the extent of assistance from central funds to assist towns in the United Kingdom with expenditure to foster their twin town connections.

There is no specific Exchequer assistance. However, any expenditure incurred for this purpose ranks as relevant expenditure and so attracts rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much the dog licensing system costs to administer; and what revenue it attracts.

In the year ended 31st March 1974, 2,948,284 dog licences were issued at a cost of about £1½ million. The revenue produced was £1.1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the future of the Selby Toll Bridge.

None at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects work to start on the Malton bypass.

In the autumn of 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the continuing series of accidents in Market Weighton, he will now announce a date for the commencement of the construction of a bypass for that town.

No. The possibilities are still being examined having regard to related trunk road issues. The accidents, while regrettable, are at a rate well below the national average for similiar urban roads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to allow taxi cabs to use segregated traffic lanes provided for buses except where they are provided to allow access solely to bus stations or bus-stops.

Traffic authorities can already make orders allowing taxis or other traffic to use bus lanes. The powers are under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 as amended, Sections 1—outside Londen; 6—London; and 9—experimental orders. It is for the authority to decide, in the light of local conditions, whether or not to use the powers. Where taxis are admitted there is currently no approved sign. I propose shortly to make regulations authorising one.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of textiles purchased by his Department is British manufactured at all stages of production.

All orders for textiles are placed in the United Kingdom. The percentage of finished goods and semifinished materials known to be imported is approximately 2.66 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimate cost of the landscaping in New Palace Yard.

About £300,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current number of cars in the Government car service pool; what was the amount of petrol used in the latest year for which figures are available and in the previous year; and what is the annual cost of the service.

The current number of cars operating in the Government Car Service Pool in London is 205.

The amount of petrol used in the year ended 31st March 1975 was 124,000 gallons as against 117,500 gallons the previous year.

The cost of the service for 1974–75 was approximately £1,160,000 net under

Forecast in June 1974 For August 1975 (vehicles) Actual flows (vehicles) Peak hour Daily (16 hours) Peak hour Daily (16 hours) M3 West of Sunbury 2,050 21,000 2,100* 23,000* A316 Sunbury Way (previously A305) 2,700 24,500 2,372† 26,136† A316 South Circular Road to Hartington Road 3,850 32,500 3,192† 29,426† A316 Burlington Lane 3,300 28,000 2,537† 24,574† A4 East of Hogarth Roundabout 9,000 110,000 No figures available Latest information available: * Actual flows for week ending 29th June 1975. † Actual flows for week ending 18th January 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish the latest actual traffic flows and the forecast traffic flows for the next three years, in vehicles two-way per hour (peak) and per 16-hour day at ( a ) A4 East of Hogarth roundabout, ( b ) A316 Burlington Lane, ( c ) A316 Harlington Road-South Circular Road and ( d ) A305.

The latest traffic flows along the A316, for which the Greater London Council is the highway authority, were recorded in January 1975. There are no comparable counts for the A4 east of Hogarth roundabout.

Actual—January 1975 Peak hour 16-hour flow A316 (ex A305) Sunbury Way 2,372 26,136 A316 Hartington Road to South Circular Road 3,192 29,426 A316 Burlington Lane 2,537 24,574

All counts are for two-way traffic in vehicles.

The traffic capacity of the road system east of Hogarth roundabout and the capacity of the traffic signals at Stavely Road and Edensor Road are such that no material increases in traffic flow are likely on the A4 East of Hogarth or in Burlington Lane (A316). Future flows will depend on drivers' choice between the fully costed commercial type accounting which has now been introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a comparison of the latest actual traffic figures with those forecast in June 1974 when the Sunbury-Lightwater section of the M3 was opened.

The comparison is as follows:

the A316 route and the alternative route to Hogarth via the A30 and A4 and on any traffic management measures which may be instituted by the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received expressing opposition to the decision by Skelmersdale New Town Corporation to apply for his approval to the extension of the designated area of Skelmersdale New Town; and whether he intends to hold an inquiry into the proposals.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from residents and local authorities opposing any extension to Skelmersdale New Town. His consultations with the local authorities are not yet complete. If, subsequently, he decides to make a draft designation order for an extension then, in accordance with the procedures in the New Towns Act 1965, a public inquiry will be held into objections.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what development he will now permit in the former category D villages of south-west Durham, in particular in the Eldon Lane and Close House area; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no changes in the county development plan as it affects south-west Durham since the last amendment was approved in May 1972. The local authorities have statutory powers for controlling development in their areas, and it is mainly for them to decide whether an application should be permitted. Those which come to me for decision are for the most part of regional or national significance, or on appeal against refusal by the planning authority. Individual decisions depend upon the merits of each case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make a statement on the proposed increase in Mersey Tunnel charges, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange:

(2) when he anticipates that toll charges will be abolished in the Mersey Tunnels.

The latest position is contained in the Department's letter of 16th July to Merseyside County Council of which my hon. Friend has a copy. Under the Mersey Tunnels Acts tolls are charged to repay loans raised to finance construction of the tunnels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list in the Official Report the public tunnels and bridges for which a charge is made and the current charges to the most recent available date;

(2) what percentage increase in charges on public tunnels and bridges have been made during the past year to the most recent available date;

(3) if he will list in the Official Report the road tunnels which are toll free to the most recent available date.

The Blackwall, Rotherhithe and Charmouth tunnels are all toll free. Tunnels in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. Current charges on English tolled bridges and tunnels are: Crossing Heavy Goods Vehicles (with trailer) Cars Motor Cycles Mersey … 40–50p 15p 5p … (100p) Tyne … 20p 12½p 5p Dartford … 20–30p 12½p 5p Severn … 12p 12p 5p Tamar … 40–70p 15p 4p

The charges on the Tamar Bridge were increased by about 50 per cent. in March this year. Applications for increases at Tyne and Dartford are currently being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost of motorway construction in the United Kingdom to the latest possible date since the inception of the motorway construction programme.

I regret the information requested is not readily available, because published expenditure figures do not distinguish between trunk roads and motorways.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet decided to bring into force Part II of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

The timetable for implementation is being reviewed in the light of the constraints on water authority expenditure. I hope that it will be possible to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the details of the research contract made between his Department on the one hand and the Children and Youth Action Group—Make Children Happy—on the other;

(2) how many research contracts have been made by him for work with children; and when each was made;

(3) if he will publish in the Official Report the grants he gives to children's voluntary organisations;

(4) what was the date of the grant to the Children and Youth Action Group (Make Children Happy); and how much it was;

(5) if he monitors or assesses research grants made to children's organisations.

A research contract was let to the Children and Youth Action Group on 20th January 1975. The cost ceiling is £70,000 over three and a half years, but payment is subject to detailed examination of individual items of expenditure and authorisation by my Department. The objective is to set up and operate an information service which will be used to evaluate and appraise the suitability of different types of play facilities. It is hoped to use this work as a first step towards future work on establishing standards for supervised play facilities. The contract is subject to the conditions on which the Department's research contracts are normally let. This is the only current contract specifically concerned with work on children's play.

My Department does not directly give grants to children's voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will arrange for an urgent study to be made of the damage being done and the nuisance being caused by juggernaut lorries using the A316 (Burlington Lane) in Chiswick;

(2) whether he will impose or support restrictions to limit or prevent juggernaut lorries from using the A316 (Burlington Lane) in Chiswick.

No. These are both matters for the Greater London Council as traffic and highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce tighter safety requirements on lorries carrying dangerous loads.

I have been asked to reply.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the work carried on by the Home Office with the object of extending regulatory controls over the conveyance of hazardous substances by road has been transferred to the Health and Safety Executive where it is being studied in relation to the Health and Safety at Work Act etc. 1974. In view of the proportion of the traffic involved priority is being given to the regulations affecting inflammable and corrosive substances. When it has been recast into a suitable form the appropriate legislation will be framed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many British-owned shipborne barges navigated the River Rhine in the last 12 months period for which figures are available; what cargoes they carried; and what ports they traded between.

None, but 81 shipborne barges are at present regularly carrying cargoes, mainly bulk and semi-manufactured materials, between the United Kingdom and Rhine ports up to Cologne.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what new trading conditions are anticipated when the Rhine is linked to the Danube in the 1980s; and what advantages are expected to accrue to the United Kingdom.

There will be new opportunities for trade between Eastern and Western Europe and for shipping services on the enlarged waterway network. The consequent advantages to the United Kingdom will depend partly on the measures adopted to meet these new conditions, which will be a matter for negotiation between the countries concerned, in particular those represented on the Rhine and Danube Commissions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a breakdown of the United Kingdom's estimated contribution in the 1975–76 Supply Estimates to the budget of the Central Rhine Commission.

About 88 per cent. is for salaries of the secretariat, consisting of three international civil servants and fourteen locally recruited staff. The remaining 12 per cent. is for maintenance and office supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the years since 1945 when British representatives have attended meetings of the Central Rhine Commission.

The United Kingdom has been represented at most, if not all, meetings of the commission since 1945.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many British commissioners are appointed to the Central Rhine Commission; what is their term of office; and what criteria he considers in making appointments.

Two, who are appointed for an indefinite term. There are no fixed criteria for selection. The aim is to pick the best person for the job on each occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place a copy of the most recent annual report of the Central Rhine Commission in the Library.

Copies of the 1973 annual report will be placed in the Library as soon as possible, I will notify my hon. Friend of their arrival.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of textiles purchased by his Department is British manufactured at all stages of production.

In 1974 about 98 per cent. by value of purchases of textile goods by the Ministry of Defence were placed with British manufacturers. Our best information is that they carried out all stages of production in the United Kingdom except in about 14 per cent. by value of our purchases. Even in these cases, the greater part of the manufacture was in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the existing number of crews for MCM vessels provided by the Royal Naval Reserve; and why it is proposed to cut this number to 18 crews, having regard to the continued vulnerability of British coastal waters to mining and the difficulty of dealing with sophisticated modern mines.

At present the Royal Naval Reserve is capable of training sufficient men for about 40 mine counter-measure vessel crews. Following the defence review, the plan is to train sufficient men to ensure the provision of 18 crews for war tasks together with a number of officers and ratings to man ships taken up from trade, some of which will be employed in a mine counter-measure rôle. The mining threat is, of course, a NATO matter, and defence planning takes full account of this.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he proposes to reduce the number of mine counter-measure vessels in the Royal Naval Reserve from 11 to six; and, in particular, why the cut is to be made before the Reserve is equipped with new vessels.

The reduction from 11 to six represents the Royal Naval Reserve's contribution to the overall reduction which is now required in the number of mine counter-measure vessels as a result of the defence review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Service men to be made redundant under the defence cuts already announced will receive pensions which are not protected from the effects of inflation.

Service personnel who are made redundant below the age of 55, and who qualify for immediate pension, will receive the same absolute level of pension until they reach age 55, unless they become incapacitated in the meantime. At age 55, taking into account any intervening rise in the cost of living, the original value of the pension will be restored and will thereafter be maintained by annual review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what cuts he proposes to make in percentage terms in the strength of the Royal Naval Reserve.

Details of the reductions in strength are still being worked out.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what dates discussions took place with the Government of Brunei over the Government's proposals to withdraw the Gurkha battalion based in Brunei.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs explained on 12th March, talks with His Highness the Sultan of Brunei began on 25th February. They were adjourned on 11th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date 63 Ormond Avenue, Hampton, Middlesex, was acquired for occupation by Army personnel; on what date it ceased to be so occupied; why it remained empty meanwhile; what action he is taking to dispose of the property; and what action he is taking to improve working methods in his Department to prevent a recurrence.

63 Ormond Avenue, Hampton, Middlesex was acquired in 1950. It ceased to be occupied in July 1973. During the next 12 months it was held while efforts were made to find another occupant and in July 1974 disposal was proposed. Subsequently a further likelihood of its being required as a quarter arose and disposal had to be postponed until February 1975. The property is now in the hands of the Property Services Agency which is responsible for disposal of all surplus Ministry of Defence property. The arrangements within the Department for ensuring that houses are not retained unnecessarily are under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service personnel from Chile are at the moment undergoing training in the United Kingdom; and if he will take steps to end this practice.

About 20 members of the Chilean Navy are undergoing training in this country. The courses are limited to training derived from existing naval Sales contracts that were negotiated in 1969, and I do not propose to interfere with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for development on the Wellington Barracks site; and when he expects such development to begin.

It is planned to rebuild Wellington Barracks on the present site. Subject to the necessary funds being available, the rebuild is planned to commence in October 1976 and to be completed in the spring of 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, following the Flixborough inquiry, he will refer to his Advisory Committee the question of the siting and design of control rooms both for new construction and for the modification of those in existence.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that the recommendations of the court of inquiry into the Flixborough disaster relating to the planning and construction of chemical plant, including the siting and design of control rooms, have already been brought to the attention of the Advisory Committee on Major Hazards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether the safety committees constituted under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act have the duty to consider plans for new plant;

(2) whether he will provide that where a completely new installation is proposed and a safety committee is not in being the appropriate unions shall be consulted.

The Health and Safety Commission is examining as a matter of urgency the related questions of safety representatives and safety committees as provided for in Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act. The commission has a duty under the Act to consult widely on its proposals. I must await this process before I can make the necessary regulations. The Act does, without regard to the existence or otherwise of safety committees, specifically require employers to provide information necessary to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of their employees. Plans for new plant or for new installations, if these effect the health and safety of the employees, would therefore he the subject of provision of information by employers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the definite closure of factory inspectors' offices under the reorganisation proposal those which are in doubt and those which are to remain open.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that its executive has not yet concluded consultations with its staff associations. Any agreement made will be conditional on the outcome of consultations that the executive will hold with local organisations including the regional councils of the TUC. Until negotiations are further advanced, I am unable to provide the lists my hon. Friend has requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the £6 a week limit on pay rises is to be a maximum for each person or an average for each employee.

The pay limit of £6 a week is a maximum for each individual employee aged 18 and above and earning less than £8,500 per year. The White Paper also states that already established incremental and wage-for-age scales are payable provided that this does not raise the overall wage bill by more than £6 per head.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of prosecutions under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 for the first six months of 1974 and the first six months of 1975 in each division of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that prosecutions under the relevant statutory provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in each division or area of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate during the first six months of 1975 and prosecutions taken under comparable legislation in the first six months of 1974, when the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act was not in force, are as follows: Prosecutions (Cases heard) Division or Area 1974 1975 Area South* — 26 Area North East* — 45 Northern* 86 — West Riding and North Lincolnshire* 86 113 Midlands (Birmingham) 132 72 Midlands (Nottingham) 46 61 London and Home Counties (North) 62 66 London and Home Counties (East) 74 106 London and Home Counties (West)* 95 66 Wales and South West* 80 66 North Western (Liverpool)* 43 53 North Western (Manchester) 36 62 Scotland 82 66 822 812 * Area South and Area North East were set up in the latter half of 1974. Boundary changes were thereby made in West Riding and North Lincolnshire, London and Home Counties (West), Wales and South West and North West (Liverpool) Division. Northern Division ceased as an operational Division.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of improvement and prohibition notices currently issued under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that in the period 1st January 1975 to 30th June 1975 inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive issued 1,743 improvement notices and 910 prohibition notices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements he is making to ensure that the members of trade unions within the United Kingdom, whether affiliated to the TUC or not, are represented in the Economic and Social Council of the EEC.

In accordance with past practice I sought advice from the Trades Union Congress, as the organisation most representative of workers' interests in the country, on how the eight seats available to United Kingdom trades unions might best be filled.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the male unemployment rate in the South-West Development Area and Plymouth Intermediate Area in July for each year since 1964; and what are the corresponding percentages for Great Britain.

I regret that the information could not be obtained in the

UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE EEC COUNTRIES, OTHER THAN THE UNITED KINGDOM, DURING THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS Percentage change in the number unemployed Country Percentage unemployed in May 1975 Number unemployed in May 1975 February 1975 to May 1975 November 1974 to May 1975 May 1974 to May 1975 Belgium 6.2† 161,113 +5.1 +28.5 +76.1 Denmark* 9.6† 86,800 -19.5 +9.7 +243.1 France 4.4‡ 736,900 -4.3 +6.3 +89.3 Germany, Federal Republic of 4.4‡ 1,017,799 -14.0 +27.3 +122.7 Ireland 8.5§ 102,300 -1.1 +25.7 +52.5 Italy 5.6§ 1,066,900 -3.0 +4.6 +12.9 Netherlands 4.5§ 173,428 -13.4 +12.5 +58.4 Explanatory Notes: The figures in the table are not seasonally adjusted. Consequently those for the shorter periods, particularly that of three months, reflect the normal decrease in unemployment in the summer months. * Trades unions benefit funds statistics are used to measure unemployment in Denmark. The data for the other countries are based on employment office statistics. † Percentage calculated on the basis of membership of unemployment insurance funds. ‡ Percentage calculated on the basis of the total of employees. § Percentage calculated on the basis of the working population.

Source: EEC Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many codes of practice are at present being prepared by ACAS; upon which subjects; and with what target dates for publication.

I am informed by the ACAS that preliminary work has started on the preparation of guidance on the following subjects: Disclosure of information by employers to trade union representatives. Time off for trade union activities. Collective bargaining procedures.

time available but I will circulate a table in the Official Report shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the latest total unemployment figures and percentages for the other member countries of the EEC, together with figures for the changes that have taken place during the previous three, six and 12 months.

The table below gives the information to May 1975, the latest date for which comprehensive data are available. Precise data are not available for Luxembourg, where unemployment is very low. The figures originate from EEC member Governments and reflect different national practices in measuring unemployment. They are collated for publication by the EEC Commission but are not strictly comparable.

Trade union recognition. Discipline and dismissals procedures.

It is too early to give publication dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the Official Report details of the number of industrial disputes in which ACAS has been asked to intervene, together with a summary of the results of its intervention.

I have been informed by the ACAS that from its inception on 2nd September 1974 to 30th June 1975 it had received 1,963 requests for conciliation. It is difficult to be precise about the outcome of such requests. However, I understand that in about 70 per cent. of cases the ACAS has been successful in assisting the parties towards a settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations, and upon what subjects, he has had with trade union and employers' organisations following undertakings and assurances given by Ministers during the Committee stage of the Employment Protection Bill; and with what result.

None. Officials of my Department have, however, had discussions with the TUC and CBI.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth will publish its first report.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Wealth and Income to publish its first report; and if he will make a statement.

The Royal Commission today published its first report under its standing reference on the distribution of incomes and wealth. The report is published as a Command Paper (Cmnd. 6171). Under the standing reference the commission was asked to undertake an analysis of the current distribution of personal income and wealth and of available information on past trends and to produce an initial report as early as possible. The report published today therefore represents the first stage in the continuing work of the commission of providing information and analysis about the distribution of personal incomes of all kinds and all forms of personal wealth.

The Royal Commission also published today as Command Paper 6172 a report on the income from companies and its distribution under the reference made to the Commission by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The Government are most grateful to the commission for producing these reports so speedily. Its recommendations will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the hon. Member for Tynemouth can expect to receive the letter promised on 17th July in answer to his query as to the effect of the Government's £6 a week limit for pay increases on members of a private pension scheme whose penson entitlement is computed on a basis that takes into account their income for the next year.

I have written to the hon. Member for Tynemouth today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the aggregate increase in prices is explicable by reference to the increase in the rates of pay.

Price increases over the last year have been mainly due, directly or indirectly, to increases in labour costs, as recent Price Commission reports have made clear. The proportion depends upon a number of other factors, such as the movement of import prices and the exchange rate, and it is not possible to be precise. The latest report of the Price Commission, published on 24th July, has a discussion of this point based on its own assumptions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the effect on tax revenue would be if spouses were to be treated as separate individuals for taxation purposes with the married allowance abolished and children's and other allowances available only to the spouse.

I regret that the information on which to base a precise estimate is not available, in particular, information about wives' investment incomes. But assuming that the intention is to treat all wives separately for tax purposes and to give the benefit of the child tax allowance only to them, it is likely that there would be a substantial increase in tax revenue, since many wives would not have sufficient income to make full use of the child tax allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to encourage pension funds to invest in manufacturing industry.

The Government's policies are aimed at generating a climate conducive to investment in manufacturing industry, in which a large proportion of institutional funds is already invested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing for 1949–50 and for 1974–75 ( a ) the national average manual wage and ( b ) the income tax threshold for a man with a wife and two children not over 11 years of age; and if he will also show what the 1974–75 threshold should be in order to preserve the earlier ratio between tax threshold and average wage.

The figures are as follows: Tax threshold for earned income£ Average earnings*£ Tax threshold as percentage of average earnings 1949–50 … 383† 371 103.2 1974–75 … 1,293 2,529 51.1 The 1974–75 tax threshold would need to be increased to £2,610 in order to preserve the 1949–50 relationship with average earnings. * The earnings shown are the annual equivalents of average weekly earnings of male manual workers aged 21 and over in manufacturing and certain other industries at October of each year. † After allowing for earned income relief and the national insurance allowance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress he has made in agreeing the criteria to determine which listed houses will be exempt from capital transfer tax and which will not be exempt; whether Her Majesty's Government propose to publish a list of capital transfer tax-exempt houses; and whether he will make a statement.

Exemption from capital transfer tax on any individual house can be granted only when the occasion of transfer arises, and undertakings required under the provisions of the Finance Act 1975 are entered into by the appropriate person. General guidance on the criteria to be satisfied before exemption would be granted will be issued as soon as possible, but not until consultation with the Departments concerned is completed.

No list of properties granted exemption under the provisions of the Act will be published; to do so would breach the confidentiality of the tax affairs of an individual.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response the Commission to the European Communities has made to Her Majesty's Government's announcement that she will continue to maintain exchange control restrictions after the dates set in the Treaty of Accession for their removal.

As I announced on 12th December 1974—[Vol. 883, c. 216–7. ]—and on 18th June 1975—[Vol. 893, c. 454 ]—the Government have invoked the balance of payments safeguard provisions under the Treaty of Rome so as to retain our eisting exchange control restrictions after the dates envisaged in the Treaty of Accession for their removal. The procedures laid down in these provisions have now been completed and the Commission have authorised the action proposed.