asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a transcript of his Press conference on the economy on Friday 11th July.

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) on 29th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange to meet the heads of the nationalised industries to discuss his statement of 11th July on the economic situation.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange to meet the heads of the nationalised industries to discuss his statement of 11th July on the economic situation.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange to meet the heads of the nationalised industries to discuss his statement of 11th July on the economic situation.

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Mid-Sussex (Mr. Renton).

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Secretary of State for Education and Science at the meeting of the Council of Local Education Authorities in Cardiff on 16th July on education policy represents Government policy.

I have been asked to reply.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his last meetings with the TUC and the CBI.

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend had meetings with both the TUC and CBI, to discuss the Government's proposals for dealing with inflation, on Thursday 10th July. Both bodies made clear their support for a policy to limit pay increases in the coming round and achieve an inflation target of 10 per cent. by the late summer of next year.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the TUC and the CBI.

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 31st July.

I have been asked to reply.

As the House knows, my right hon. Friend is attending the third stage of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe which is taking place in Helsinki.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about his meeting with European Heads of Government in Brussels on 16th July.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about his recent discussions with European Heads of Government.

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Graham) on 22nd July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with European Heads of Government on 16th July.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Graham) on 22nd July.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from any overseas sources about the counter-inflation policy measures he announced on 11th July.

I have been asked to reply.

None.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied that there is adequate co-ordination between the various Ministers concerned with remedial measures over pollution in the sea; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister on how many days he will have answered Questions between 1st November 1974 and 31st July 1975; and on how many occasions the Lord President has answered for him.

I have answered Questions on 48 occasions during the present Session, and my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council has answered Questions on my behalf on 18 occasions. As the House knows, he has acted for me in my unavoidable absence to attend, with other Heads of Government, three meetings of the European Council in Paris, Dublin and Brussels; the Commonwealth Conference in Jamaica; the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe now taking place in Helsinki, and on other occasions when I have thought it necessary and in the best interests of this country to initiate discussions with other Heads of Government, whether in Moscow, Washington or Ottawa or within the European Community.

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government with regard to investment in South Africa by nationalised industries.

Our policy remains as set out by my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary in the course of his statement on Southern Africa on 4th December 1974.

asked the Lord President of the Council what discussions he has had with representatives of the eight Scottish universities over devolution; and whether he has any plans to meet the principals of these universities.

I have had no discussions, but I am aware of the views of the Scottish University Principals following their meeting earlier this year with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I hope to meet representatives of the universities myself when I visit Scotland in September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can reach an early decision upon the Greater London Council's application for grant aid in adopting dwellings to be occupied by disabled persons.

I have been unable to trace an application which fits this description, but if my hon. Friend would care to let me have details I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek fully to implement the provisions of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 so that the secrecy requirements concerning effluent disposal can be dispensed with and the results of samples be recorded in a register open to public inspection.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consult the GLC on the number of properties occupied in Greater London by unauthorised squatters; what information it has about deaths from unnatural causes in such premises over the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that about 750 properties owned by the Greater London Council and about the same number owned by London boroughs are currently occupied by unauthorised squatters. In addition some 2,000 are legally occupied by temporary licensees. The council does not collect information about properties owned by others. The investigation of deaths from unnatural causes is a matter for the police, but I understand that tenures are not normally recorded in such cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to prevent local authorities from leasing public recreation facilities to private clubs for their exclusive use.

It is our policy that recreational facilities should be made available for the widest possible use. The present law seems adequate for this purpose. If there are cases where members of the general public are denied public recreational facilities because all available facilities are exclusively used by private clubs, the remedy is to take the matter up with the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of recent accidents and in order to protect passengers in motor coaches when the vehicles are in accidents involving overturning, he will introduce regulations to secure the provision of structural members similar to those known as roll-over bars as a prerequisite to the granting of a public service vehicle licence; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the introduction of regulations for the structural strength of coaches as far as new construction is concerned, but I am advised that the fitting of roll-over bars to existing coaches could in some cases increase the likelihood of overturning in accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to give a decision on the installation of a pedestrian crossing on the A27 multi-crossing formed by Bridge Road, Bath Road, Bridgefoot Path and Warblington Road.

Shortly. A suitable site is being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of previous earnings levels and savings before the authorisation of rent and rate rebates to the unemployed.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing applicants' likely income during a rebate period. To do this they take into account income in any previous periods they consider appropriate. This will include earnings and regular income from savings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation that would enable a rating authority to send one rate demand note to each site owner rather than making separate assessments in respect of holiday caravans.

I hope to introduce legislation to ease the rate collection difficulties of rating authorities at the first available opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in the light of the recent accident at a flat in John Nash Crescent, Hulme, Manchester, in which a five-year-old boy fell 65 ft. to his death, he will introduce revised building regulations in respect of verandah walls; and if he will make a statement.

I was sorry to learn of the sad accident in my hon. Friend's constituency. The Building Regulations require a balcony to be guarded by a balustrade parapet or railing not less than 1.1 metres high, built so as to provide reasonable safety for anyone using the balcony, and I believe that this requirement is generally satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation designed to reduce the number of stray dogs.

The need for new legislation on this subject will be considered when the recommendations of the inter-departmental Working Party on Dogs, which I set up last year, have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how large an element is the cost of land, on average, in the final cost of development of residential, commercial and industrial sites, both within and outside the central London area.

In outer London about one-third, one-half and one-quarter respectively. The corresponding figures for residential and commercial development in central London are two-fifths and three-quarters respectively. Industrial development in central London would not normally be practicable at the high densities necessary to make it viable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now bring forward a measure to give relief to charities from water service charges.

We shall examine this possibility when we review the operation of the Water Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether the recently proposed rent increases by the Liverpool City Council breach Her Majesty's Government's anti-inflation policy;

(2) whether he is satisfied that the recent Liverpool Corporation rent increases ranging between 50 per cent. and 200 per cent., details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange, are in conformity with Her Majesty's Government's anti-inflation policies.

The Government's anti-inflation policy is aimed at securing that in 1976–77 local authority rents do not on average rise faster than prices generally. Most authorities have by now fixed their rents for 1975–76. but the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" recognises that other authorities have rent increases in the pipeline because of rising costs. In the case of Liverpool, I understand that the proposed rent increases, which average about £1 a week from August, or about 65p spread over the current financial year, arc the first since October 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the report of the traffic inspector into the industrial dispute at F. B. Atkins Ltd., Findern.

The investigation and subsequent action are matters for the East Midland Licensing Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of planning appeals in which he overruled a recommendation by his inspector to permit private house building on sites of five acres or more during ( a ) the last quarter of 1974 and ( b ) the first quarter of 1975; and what were the equivalent figures for the same two quarters in each of the five previous years.

The following table shows the number of occasions on which the inspector's recommendation to allow a planning appeal has been overruled in each of the quarters in question since March 1970. Separate figures relating to private house building on sites of 5 acres or more are not available.

Quarter ended Number 31st March 1970 … … 7 31st December 1970 … … 5 31st March 1971 … … 6 31st December 1971 … … 5 31st March 1972 … … 3 31st December 1972 … … 6 31st March 1973 … … 6 31st December 1973 … … 2 31st March 1974 … … 4 31st December 1974 … … 10 31st March 1975 … … 8

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against refusal or deemed refusal of planning permission for private housing on sites of five acres or more were lodged in ( a ) the last quarter of 1974 and ( b ) the first quarter of 1975; what were the comparable figures for the same two quarters in each of the previous five years; and in what proportion of these appeals permission for house building was eventually granted.

Information in the form requested is not available but I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for new road signs indicating priority for cyclists.

Advice about signs for various kinds of cycling facilities is being prepared. My right hon. Friend hopes to send it to all local authorities soon. Information about some new signs will be included.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many miles of priority cycleway are now in use; and how many are planned;

(2) what was the expenditure on construction of priority cycleways during 1974; and what were the comparable figures for Government expenditure in the other eight EEC countries and in the United States of America.

I take priority cycle-way to mean a track for cyclists completely separated physically from the carriageway for motor traffic. Responsibility for provision of this kind rests with the local authorities. No national statistics are maintained of the total mileage of existing cycleways, or of the expenditure on cycleway construction during 1974 or other years. I am not aware that such data are available for other countries. I cannot therefore make the comparison requested, nor do I know how many cycleways local authorities may be planning.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the application by Surrey County Council for the provision of a pelican crossing at the junction of Parvis Road and High Road, Byfleet.

The application was received by the Department on 22nd July 1975. It will be considered when Surrey County Council has provided the further information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will announce the Government's views on the Greater London Development Plan and the Layfield panel of inquiry before the Summer Recess this year.

No. My right hon. Friend will not be in a position to make a statement before the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will encourage local authorities not to reduce their support for voluntary organisations, in view of the need for voluntary assistance at a time of high inflation.

My right hon. Friend accepts the importance of continued voluntary effort in many fields. But the degree of local government support for particular voluntary organisations is entirely a matter for local decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used in determining the allocation of grants to voluntary bodies.

Grants are made to a wide range of voluntary bodies for a variety of purposes. In allocating the funds avail- able, regard is had to the value of particular proposals and their relevance to policy objectives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many water companies and water authorities in England and Wales charge more than 63p per 1,000 gallons for metered water; and what rates are charged by those companies and authorities.

No water authority charges, on average, more than 63p per 1,000 gallons. One water company, the Tendring Hundred Waterworks Company, makes a higher charge of 69p per 1000 gallons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many claims under the Land Compensation Act 1973 have been received since 22nd June 1975 relating to the M6 Motorway, Birmingham; and what decisions have since been made on these claims.

Thirty-one claims have been received. Fourteen have been accepted because the claimant had previously given notice of intention to claim. Twelve have been refused because they were not received within the time limit and five because they were not valid for other reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider proposing a system of inspection and licensing for summer camps catering for children of school age.

I have been asked to reply.

I am sure my hon. Friend will accept that parents have a certain responsibility to satisfy themselves as to the standards of summer camps to which they let their children go. So far as any formal system of inspection or licensing is concerned, I doubt whether it would be appropriate to impose controls on every kind of camp, scout camps for example, but if my hon. Friend has a particular case or class of cases in mind, and if he will send me details, I shall of course consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current unemployment rate in Walsall; and how this compares with the position at the corresponding dates during the previous five years.

Following is the information: Percentage rate of unemployment in the Walsall travel-to work area July 1975 … … … 4.3 July 1974 … … … 1.8 July 1973 … … … 2.0 July 1972 … … … 3.8 July 1971 … … … 2.7 July 1970 … … … 1.9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the average payment of unemployment and additional benefits to unemployed building trade workers; and what is the average weekly wage in the building industry.

I regret that information to answer the first part of the Question is not available because details of amounts paid are not collected in a form which would allow analysis by reference to the occupation or industry in which a claimant was employed. In October 1974 the average weekly earnings of full-time manual men aged 21 and over who were employed in the construction industry in the United Kingdom were estimated to be £48.75.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the results of the pilot study of rigorous enforcement of the quota scheme in six areas; and if he will make a further statement.

Before the programme of stricter enforcement in the six selected areas and a full evaluation of its results can be said to be complete, I have to consider whether it will be necessary to institute proceedings against any employers for apparent infringements of the quota provisions. It is not possible to say at this point whether any such proceedings will he necessary until reports of inspections of employers' records have been studied. But as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Oldham, East (Mr. Lamond) on 1st July—[Vol. 894, c. 1165–66]—the results of the exercise in creating additional jobs for disabled people are disappointing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the term "the employer" in paragraph 26 of the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd. 6151) is a reference to all employers, or whether it refers exclusively to employers in the private sector.

The paragraph to which the hon. Member refers does not differentiate between employers in the public or private sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the proposal by the Horserace Betting Levy Board to establish appropriate negotiating machinery throughout the racing industry which would enable a minimum wage scale for stable staff to be negotiated by 1st June 1976 has been considered by his Department and by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service and whether he will make a statement.

My Department had no knowledge of this proposal. I understand that the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has been in touch with those concerned and is ready to advise if asked.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the operation of the law relating to the conveyance by road of toxic and other dangerous materials, particularly so far as labelling is concerned.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there are regulations for the labelling of containers used during conveyance by road of inflammable liquids, corrosives and organic peroxides and that additional proposals are under active consideration for the labelling of containers used for the conveyance of toxic and other hazardous substances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: UNITED KINGDOM Stoppages beginning in period Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in period All industries and services All industries and services excluding coal mining All industries and services All industries and services excluding coal mining January-June 1975* … … 1,345 1,230 3,861,000 3,829,000 January-June 1974† … … 1,386 1,323 8,856,000 3,266,000 January-June 1973 … … 1,488 1,326 4,159,000 4,113,000 January-June 1972 … … 1,238 1,167 15,515,000 4,773,000 January-June 1971 … … 1,221 1,150 10,965,000 10,940,000 January-June 1970 … … 2,355 2,265 5,002,000 4,975,000 January-June 1969 … … 1,489 1,379 2,668,000 2,628,000 January-June 1968 … … 1,134 1,022 3,109,000 3,085,000 January-June 1967 … … 1,079 857 1,066,000 1,006,000 January-June 1966 … … 1,190 867 1,786,000 1,715,000 January-June 1965 … … 1,372 928 2,010,000 1,653,000 * Provisional. † In the period from January to March 1974 information was not available for stoppages in the coalmining industry other than for the major national stoppage from 10th February to 8th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures for the number of industrial disputes and the number of days lost since 1st March 1974, and for the comparable

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: UNITED KINGDOM Stoppages beginning in period Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in period Sixteen-month period All industries and services All industries and services excluding coal mining Alt industries and services All industries and services excluding coal mining March 1974-June 1975*† … 4,047 3747 14,313,000 12,553,000 November 1972-February 1974† … 3,415 3,066 12,101,000 8,103,000 * Provisional. † In the period from January to March 1974 information was not available for stoppages in the coalmining industry other than for the major national stoppage from 10th February to 8th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the accident on 28th July in Daneholes, Grays, Essex, involving a vehicle carrying toxic materials en route to Tilbury; and if he will have an investigation made into what safety precautions had been taken in respect of this load.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety

in the Official Report the latest figures for the number of industrial disputes and the number of days lost so far in 1975, together with the comparable figures for the last 10 years, including and excluding the mining industry.

Following is the information:

period before that date, including and excluding the mining industry.

Following is the information:

Commission that he has received information that the accident on 28th July in Daneholes, Grays. Essex involved a flat bed lorry conveying three drums of a chemical 1 Bromo-3 Chloro-Propane—en route for a Purfleet wharf. Whilst negotiating a roundabout one of the drums fell from the lorry causing the lid to split with the spillage of a small quantity, estimated at one cup-full, of the chemical on to the roadway.

When the driver returned to the scene the police were in attendance and in attempting to move the drum the officers and the driver were affected by fumes generated. They were taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment and the fire brigade was summoned. On attendance the officer in charge sought the assistance of the manufacturers of the substances who promptly provided a team of specialists with apparatus to enable the drum to be removed. Neither these workers nor the fire brigade officers were affected, as suitable protective clothing was worn. It is understood that those taken to hospital were allowed to go home after treatment.

An investigation will be made and I will let my hon. Friend know the outcome as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the unemployment statistics for each region of the United Kingdom in percentage and numerical terms, at the latest available date.

Following is the information: UNEMPLOYED ON 14TH JULY 1975 Number Percentage rate of unemployment South East 224,857 3.0 East Anglia 23,992 3.5 South West 77,880 5.0 West Midlands 107,838 4.7 East Midlands 62,359 4.1 Yorkshire and Humberside 88,662 4.3 North West 168,640 6.1 North 87,275 6.7 Wales 65,005 6.3 Scotland 129,836 6.0 Northern Ireland 51,525 9.9 The figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how the policy set out in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" applies to increases in London weighting.

The pay limits apply to any such increases on or after 1st August, and they will then have to be kept, together with the annual settlement, within the £6 limit with the cut-off at £8,500. Reviews of London weighting with due dates before 1st August may be nego tiated only in strict accordance with the existing guidelines.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what estimate he has made of the percentage of young people aged 16 to 18 years resident in the Bowhouse, Alloa, who are currently unemployed;

(2) what estimate he has made of the percentage of males aged between 16 and 65 years resident in the Bowhouse, Alloa, who are currently unemployed.

, pursuant to his reply [ Official Report, 1st July 1975; Vol. 894, c. 413 ], gave the following information: NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED IN THE ALLOA EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AREA AT JULY 1975 Males Females Aged under 18 … 164 100 Aged 18 and under 65 … 704 231 Total unemployed … 868 331

The figures are not adjusted to take account of amendments notified on the four days following the count.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men over 55 years of age are at present registered as unemployed in the Blaydon area; and for what period they have been unemployed.

, pursuant to his reply [ Official Report, 8th July 1975: Vol. 895, c. 121 ], gave the following information: NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED MEN AGED 55 AND OVER IN THE BLAYDON EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AREA AT 14TH JULY 1975: ANALYSIS OF LENGTH OF TIME UNEMPLOYED Duration of unemployment in weeks One or less … … … 5 Over 1 and up to 2 … … … 4 Over 2 and up to 3 … … … 1 Over 3 and up to 4 … … … — Over 4 and up to 5 … … … — Over 5 and up to 6 … … … 2 Over 6 and up to 7 … … … 9 Over 7 and up to 8 … … … 1 Over 8 and up to 9 … … … 3 Over 9 and up to 13 … … … 5 Over 13 and up to 26 … … … 22 Over 26 and up to 39 … … … 14 Over 39 and up to 52 … … … 36 Over 52 … … … 125 Total … … … 227

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers are unemployed in the Hounslow, Brentford, Isleworth and Chiswick area at the latest available date, together with the comparable figures for the last five years.

Following is the information for the Hounslow and Brent-ford employment office areas, which include Isleworth and Chiswick.

Unemployed school leavers aged under 18 July 1975 … … … 10 July 1974 … … … 4 July 1973 … … … 3 July 1972 … … … 2 July 1971 … … … 2 July 1970 … … … 1

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he envisages any circumstances in which he would be prepared to sanction an atmospheric nuclear test.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the reason for the visit of the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy to Rosyth Dockyard on Friday 18th July.

To attend a meeting of the Royal Dockyards Policy Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian employees are at present employed at Rosyth Dockyard; and if he is satisfied that this employment is secure for the foreseeable future.

About 5,700 civilians are employed at Her Majesty's Dockyard, Rosyth. As I explained during the debate on the Navy Estimates, all the Royal dockyards will continue to be fully committed, and it is intended that any future marginal capacity that may become available should be used to undertake work for United Kingdom warship builders, foreign Governments and appropriate civil customers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

The total strength on the latest date for which the figure is available was 7,734.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment were formerly members of the Ulster Special Constabulary.

1,774 on 1st July 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been dismissed the service on being convicted of criminal offences;

(2) how many members of the Ulster Defence Regiment have been convicted of arms offences.

Since its formation in 1970, 22 members of the UDR have been dismissed on conviction for criminal offences, and of these five were convicted of arms offences.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many applicants have been refused admission to the Ulster Defence Regiment because of their involvement in political organisations.

I regret that this information is not available.

A number of factors are involved in any decision to accept an applicant into the Ulster Defence Regiment. The figures for 1974 show that overall approximately 12 per cent. of applicants were rejected for a variety of reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many weapons have been stolen from UDR armouries; and how many have been recovered.

Since the formation of the UDR in 1970, 315 UDR weapons have been stolen from armouries, of which 299 have been recovered. These arms were stolen as a result of two raids, one at Lurgan in 1972 and the recent one at Magherafelt.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether investigations are still continuing into the theft recently of arms from a UDR armoury in County Derry.

Yes. I can therefore add nothing to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Air Force on 19th June.—[Vol. 893, c. 522. ]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prison population; and what were the corresponding figures in each of the last five years.

On 30th June 1975 the total population in Prison Department establishments was 40,804 and on the corresponding date in each of the last five years the numbers were: 1974 … … … 37,024 1973 … … … 37,050 1972 … … … 38,465 1971 … … … 40,224 1970 … … … 40,137

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many open prisons have been closed during the past five years.

Three.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places are now available in probation hostels; and how this compares with 1970.

The number of places is now 744. These are available only to persons aged 17 and over. 1970 was a year of transition during which, by virtue of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969, persons under 17 could no longer be sent to probation hostels, and a few hostels were experimentally made available to persons aged 21 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take appropriate action to provide alternative forms of treatment to prison which nevertheless involve some deprivation of liberty.

The report which I commissioned from the Advisory Council on the Penal System on non-custodial and semi-custodial penalties laid the foundations of recent legislation to provide new alternatives to prison. I attach high priority to developing existing non-custodial alternative measures and have no plans to extend the range further in the semi-custodial field at a time of acute pressure on resources.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are detained in shared cells and how many prisoners are in cells shared by three persons; and what were the corresponding figures in each of the last five years.

Following is the information requested: Two in a cell Three in a cell Total 1975 (13th July) … 10,342 5,298 15,640 1974 (14th July) … 9,660 3,162 12,822 1973 (end June) … 8,582 3,666 12,248 1972 (end June) … 6,814 5,766 12,580 1971 (end June) … 6,212 8,238 14,450 1970 (end June) … 3,572 8,973 12,545

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners there are; and how many there were in each of the last five years.

On 15th July 1975 the total number of female prisoners was 1,313 and on the corresponding date in each of the last five years the numbers were: 1974 … … … … 1,043 1973 … … … … 1,070 1972 … … … … 978 1971 … … … … 1,046 1970 … … … … 1,022

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report the names of the prisoners who have died in custody in Her Majesty's prisons and other establishments for which his Department is responsible over the past four years, the prisons in which they died. and the relevant inquest verdicts in each case.

It would be inappropriate to give names. Following are the other details requested: 1974 Establishment Natural Verdict Non-Natural Suicide Males Closed Prisons Albany 0 1 0 Birmingham 2 0 1 Bristol 1 0 0 Brixton 2 1 1 Cardiff 1 0 0 Gartree 1 0 0 Gloucester 1 0 0 Hull 1 0 0 Latchmere House 0 0 1 Leeds 4 0 0 Leicester 1 0 0 Lewes 1 0 0 Liverpool 3 1 0 Lincoln 0 0 2 Manchester 2 0 0 Norwich 1 0 0 Nottingham 1 0 0 Parkhurst 0 0 1 Pentonville 1 0 0 Portsmouth (Kingston) 1 0 0 Swansea 1 0 0 Wakefield 1 0 0 Winchester Prison 3 0 0 Winchester Remand Centre 0 1 0 Wormwood Scrubs 1 1 0 Total 30 5 6 Open Prisons Ashwell … … 1 0 0 Ford … … 2 0 0 Total … … 3 0 0 Borstals Gaynes Hall … 0 1 0 Wetherby … 0 1 0 Total … 0 2 0 Detention Centres Whatton—Total … 1 0 0 Females Holloway—Total … 0 1 0

1973 Establishment Natural Verdict Non-Natural Suicide Males Closed Prisons Albany … 0 2 0 Ashford … 0 0 2 Birmingham … 1 0 0 Bristol … 2 0 2

Establishment Natural Verdict Non-Natural Suicide Brixton 4 0 2 Dartmoor 0 0 1 Gloucester 1 1 0 Hull 1 0 1 Leeds 2 0 1 Leicester 1 0 0 Liverpool 1 0 1 Lincoln 1 0 0 Manchester 1 0 0 Norwich 2 0 0 Oxford 1 0 0 Parkhurst 1 0 0 Pentonville 3 0 1 Preston 1 0 0 Risley 2 0 0 Wakefield 1 0 1 Wandsworth 5 0 1 Winchester 2 0 0 Wormwood Scrubs 3 0 1 Exeter 2 0 0 Total 38 3 14 Open Prisons Ford … … 1 0 0 Kirkham … … 2 0 0 Sudbury … … 2 0 0 Total … … 5 0 0 Borstals Grendon—Total … 0 1 0

1972 Establishment Natural Verdict Non-Natural Suicide Males Closed Prisons Bedford 0 1 0 Birmingham 1 0 1 Blundeston 2 0 0 Bristol 0 0 1 Brixton 0 0 1 Cardiff 1 0 0 Chelmsford 1 0 0 Dorchester 1 0 0 Durham 1 0 0 Hull 1 0 0 Leeds 0 0 2 Leicester 0 0 1 Lincoln 2 0 0 Liverpool 1 0 1 Maidstone 1 0 0 Parkhurst 2 0 0 Pentonville 2 0 0 Portsmouth (Kingston) 1 0 0 Preston 1 0 0 Shepton Mallet 1 0 0 Shrewsbury 1 0 0 Wakefield 1 0 1 Wandsworth 2 0 3 Winchester 1 0 1 Wormwood Scrubs 4 0 1 Dartmoor 1 0 0 Total 29 1 13

Establishment Natural Verdict Non-Natural Suicide Open Prisons Ford … 2 0 0 Kirkham … 1 0 0 Sudbury … 2 0 0 Thorp Arch … 1 0 0 Total … 6 0 0 Borstals Rochester … … 0 1 0 Feltham … … 0 1 0 Total … … 0 2 0 Detention Centres Campsfield House … 1 0 0 Erlestoke … 0 1 0 Total … 1 1 0

1971 Establishment Natural Verdict Non-Natural Suicide Males Closed Prisons Bristol 3 0 2 Brixton 4 0 0 Canterbury 2 0 0 Dartmoor 0 0 1 Exeter 4 0 1 Hull 1 0 0 Leeds 1 0 1 Leicester 1 1 0 Lewes 1 1 0 Lincoln 1 0 1 Liverpool 6 1 1 Manchester 0 1 0 Parkhurst 1 3 0 Pentonville 6 0 1 Reading 0 0 1 Wakefield 1 0 0 Wandsworth 3 1 1 Winchester 1 0 0 Wormwood Scrubs 2 0 1 Durham 0 0 1 Cardiff Remand Centre 0 0 1 Total 38 8 13 Open Prisons Eastchurch … 1 0 0 Ford … 3 0 0 Thorp Arch … 1 0 0 Total … 5 0 0 Borstals Dover … … 1 0 0 Rochester … … 1 0 0 Total … … 2 0 0 Detention Centres Whatton—Total … 1 0 0 Females Holloway—Total … 0 2 0

SUMMARY Year Natural Verdict Non-Natural Suicide 1974 … … 34 8 6 1973 … … 43 4 14 1972 … … 36 4 13 1971 … … 46 10 13 Total … … 159 26 46

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidelines are given to the police regarding the maintenance in their possession of photographs of unconvicted men and women;

(2) if, in consultation with chief constables, he will take steps to initiate a code of practice whereby, if the police are in possession of any photographs of unconvicted men and women and intend to preserve them, they will inform the subject of that decision.

The Home Office has from time to time discussed with chief officers of police their practice in this matter and the need to ensure that it does not go beyond what is essential for the proper performance of police duties. We do not consider it necessary to offer further guidance in addition to that issued and published in 1969, with the approval of the then Lord Chief Justice, on the use of photographs in identifying suspects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for criminal offences have been obtained in the Metropolitan Police area in the five years to 1st January 1975 when the evidence for the prosecution was based solely or substantially on identification; and if any persons with such convictions have been pardoned.

Information about convictions when the evidence for the prosecution was based solely or substantially on identification is not available. None of the persons granted free pardons during the period in question had been convicted in the Metropolitan Police area in these circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are used in determining the allocation of grants to voluntary bodies.

It is not possible to lay down general criteria which would cover the whole range of grants made by the Home Office. Each application is considered on its merits and grants are allocated according to the resources available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the expenditure of £355,000 for the improvement of perimeter security at Gartree Prison, Leicestershire, and make a statement on why this expenditure was considered necessary.

The estimated expenditure relates to the conversion of the outer fence to a reinforced concrete wall including capping (£239,700); alterations and improvements to closed-circuit television and lighting (£46,000); and improvements to the alarm system (£70,000). These measures form part of the general strengthening of the dispersal prison system referred to in paragraph 140 of the Annual Report of the Prison Department for 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the former President of the Republic of South Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen van Thieu, has applied for a visa to visit the United Kingdom; whether such an application has been granted; and what is the duration of the visa.

Mr. Thieu has applied for a visa to visit his son, who is a student in this country, and also other family connections who are resident here. I have agreed to the issue of a six-months' visa. Should Mr. Thieu apply for permission to remain here longer, his application would of course be considered in relation to the criteria we have traditionally applied.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his intentions are concerning the proposals in the Younger Report on young adult offenders published in May 1974.

I am giving close consideration to the report and to the many and varied comments which I have received on it since its publication, including those relating to some considerable difficulties raised for the probation service. I must also have in mind the problem presented by severe constraints on resources at the present time. I am not yet able to make a definitive statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether forestry is included in the expansion plans the Government have for agriculture.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement on the state of producers' returns in the dairy sector; and what action he now intends to take regarding the milk price.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement in the House last Thursday.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Milk Marketing Board in connection with the present situation in the dairy sector.

I have received a telegram sent jointly by the Chairmen of three Milk Marketing Boards and other trade interests; and a letter from the three appointed members of the England and Wales Milk Marketing Board; and a telegram from the Chairman of the northern regional committee of the board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the rate of the green pound and the rate of the £ sterling.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect of devaluing the green pound by 10 per cent. in terms of the consumers and the producer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the effect of the green pound on both consumers' and farmers' interests; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present situation regarding the green pound.

I would refer the hon. Members to the statement I made in the House on 24th July.—[Vol. 896, c. 791.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the effect of a 10 per cent. devaluation of the green pound would be on the milk price paid to producers.

A change in the representative rate for sterling does not automatically alter the level of the guaranteed price; but a 10 per cent. change—instead of the 5 per cent. which has been announced—would allow an increase in the guaranteed price of over 4p per gallon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what level the guaranteed prices of barley, oats, wheat and sugar-beet would rise if the green pound was devalued by 10 per cent.

The EEC minimum price for the 1975 United Kingdom sugar beet crop would increase to £13.84 a ton. There would be no automatic effect on our guaranteed prices for cereals. EEC support prices for cereals applicable in the United Kingdom would increase by just over 10 per cent. in sterling terms.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the European Commission or from other European partners wanting a realignment of the British green pound.

None. There were, however, informal discussions with the European Commission prior to last week's Council decision on the representative rate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in order to achieve the Government's declared aim to increase farm production, he will now seek to abolish the green pound system and also speed up the transition to EEC prices of agricultural produce.

I am not satisfied that such action in present circumstances is feasible or desirable I have said that we remain ready to consider further adjustments to the green pound should these be necessary to assure our agriculture industry of a fair return.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the green pound sterling and the Eire green pound to be at parity.

I cannot say when the gap between the two representative rates will be closed since the rate for the Irish Republic is primarily a matter for the Government of the Irish Republic. I have said that we remain ready to consider further adjustments to the United Kingdom rate should these be necessary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what would be the effects upon the retail price index if the green pound were brought up to the full value of the international £ sterling;

(2) what is the extent by which the green pound has been devalued as against the international £ sterling as of today.

The gap between the market value of the £ in agricultural units of account and the new representtive rate, if it were in force this week, would be about 12 per cent. It is impossible to forecast precisely what the effect on the retail price index would be of adjusting the representative rate so as to close this gap, but the increase might be of the order of just over ½ per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will pay an official visit to the livestock market in the city of Chester.

I have no plans to visit the city of Chester in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the recent announcement of the Icelandic Government of their unilateral extension of their fishing limits to 200 miles, indicating the effects this will have on the British trawler fleet; and what action he proposes to take.

The Government regret the Icelandic announcement, but the Icelandic Government have undertaken to hold talks with interested States, including ourselves, which I hope will begin soon. There will be no immediate effect on the United Kingdom fishing fleet since our interim agreement with Iceland operates until 13th November, and until negotiations have taken place it would be premature to speculate on the longer-term effect of the Icelandic action.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the position of farmers in relation to the Government's maximum £6 per week increase as set out in the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation".

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 21st July 1975.—Vol. 896, c. 60. ]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage the United Kingdom pig herd declined in 1974; and if he will make a statement on whether it is his intention that the United Kingdom pig herd should be expanded and how he intends that this should be achieved.

Between December 1973 and December 1974 the total United Kingdom pig herd was reduced by about 15 per cent. Since then market prices have improved substantially and the decline has been arrested. We hope to see a measure of expansion of pigmeat production over the next few years. I am discussing with the interests concerned the best means of achieving this objective, but the main incentive for growth must come from the market within the EEC system of support which is designed to maintain producer returns at a fair level.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how much butter private storage aid has been paid in the United Kingdom since 1st April 1974; and how much butter is now held in private store in the United Kingdom.

Between 1st April 1974 and 22nd July 1975, private storage aid has been paid on 72,032 tons of butter. 30,048 tons are still stored under the grant-aid arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further steps he proposes to take to combat Dutch elm disease; and if he will make a statement.