asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about cuts in defence expenditure including those employed in the guided weapons industry; how many letters have been received; and if he will make a statement on the number of deputations received.

Ministers have received a large number of representations from trade unionists and other concerning the loss of job opportunities in the defence contracting industries and amongst civilians employed by the three Services. There has been, in particular, a continuous process of consultation about the consequences of recent decisions affecting the guided weapons industry, involving much correspondence and several deputations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how he intends to achieve his manpower target of 4,500, inclusive of 665 apprentices, in Chatham Dockyard by 31st March 1976, in view of the fact that the labour force in October 1975 was 4,537;(2) if he will make clear that his manpower target for Chatham Dockyard of 4,500 by 31st March 1976 makes no provision for an increase in the number of apprentices.

We expect to achieve the target of 4,500 through a balance of normal wastage and appropriate selective recruitment. As I said in my answer to the hon. Member on 5th November—[Vol. 899, c. 182–3.]—the normal annual intake of apprentices will be preserved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to replace special schools for blind children with a series of blind education units attached to convention schools.

I have little to add to my predecessor's reply of 7th March 1975 to my hon. Friend—[Vol. 887, c. 532.] By the end of this month all the first meetings of the fresh series of regional conferences will have been held; but it will be some time before any regional reviews of provision for the handicapped are completed. In the meantime the Warnock Committee is considering the whole question of the extent to which handicapped children should be educated in ordinary schools, whether in special units or otherwise.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will seek to amend the Education Act 1944 so as to remove the compulsory act of worship in State schools;(2) if he will seek to amend the Education Act 1944 so as to delete the requirement that children should receive compulsory religious instruction and to replace it by optional teaching of comparative religious and non-religious studies for life.

My right hon. Friend is not at present considering any amendment of the religious education provisions in the Education Act 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has yet received any proposals from the teachers' organisations on the establishment of a Teachers' General Council; and whether he will make a statement.

Proposals were made in 1970 by a working party on a teaching council for England and Wales which did not prove acceptable to all the teachers' associations. I am ready to consider, in consultation with other interests, any alternative proposals the teachers' associations may put forward jointly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the 1975–76 allocation towards nursery education was not taken up; and if he will list the authorities who were offered finance and did not accept it.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of 27th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short). Somerset has since relinquished its allocation in full. The relinquished sums, which are not grants, but authorisations for capital expenditure, total £3·6 million, of which £1 million has been reallocated to other authorities which requested additions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of ongoing costs to local education authorities per £100,000 of grant towards nursery education.

There is no specific grant from my Department to local education authorities for nursery education. Forecast expenditure by local education authorities on nursery education is taken into account in determining their aggregate expenditure relevant to rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the number of nursery school places in the public sector over the last two years; and if he will estimate how many full-time equivalent places will be lost according to local education authority plans submitted for the coming year.

In January 1975 there were 38,575 whole-day and 100,253 part-day pupils occupying 88,701 full-time equivalent places in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in England. The corresponding figures for January 1974 were 37,148, 86,443 and 80,369 respectively. My Department has not to date been notified by local education authorities of decisions on their part to reduce the number of places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is now his projection of the number of nursery places required in England and Wales; and what percentage of these places will be planned in respect of full-time children.

My Department's Circular 2/73 gave estimates of additional places that would be required to provide education in 1982 for 15 per cent. of 3 and 4-year-olds full-time and for 35 per cent. of 3-year-olds and 75 per cent. of 4-year-olds part-time. On current population projections the total number of full-time equivalent places that would be needed for that objective, including those already in existence, would be 510,000, of which some 35 per cent. would need to be occupied by children attending full time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the position of nursery education in his Department's list of priorities.

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of 14th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts).—[Vol. 897, c. 1116.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the expenditure of each polytechnic in the years 1969–70 to 1974–75, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much annual grant each polytechnic in England and Wales receives, expressed as (a) a total amount, and (b) an amount per full-time student and full-time equivalent student, for academic year 1974–75.

Polytechnics do not receive an annual grant but are funded by local education authorities. Unit costs at individual institutions are influenced by the range and balance of courses and by the proportion of advanced and non-advanced work undertaken. I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give an undertaking that none of the direct grant schools which elect to remain in the maintained sector will be granted voluntary aided status.

No. My right hon. Friend expects most if not all direct grant schools which enter the maintained sector to do so as voluntary aided schools. All will do so as comprehensive schools within a local education authority's pattern of secondary education; that will be an indispensible condition of entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent in real terms by his Department for 1973–74 and 1974–75;and what is the anticipated expenditure in real terms for 1975–76.

The estimated cost of administration of my Department in 1975–76 at present pay and price levels is about £16 million. The cost in 1973–74 and 1974–75 on the same basis was also about £16 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will itemise any increased expenditure in real terms in 1974–75 over 1973–74 and any anticipated increase in expenditure in real terms for 1975–76 over 1974–75.

There have been no significant changes in real terms in items of administrative expenditure between 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made in studying his Department's estimates with a view to making economies.

My Department's Estimates for 1976–77 are currently being prepared. They will be consistent with the policies for containing public expenditure which my right hon. Friend announced in his Budget speech last April.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will transfer an official from his present duties in the Department with a view to seeking out possible areas where economies can be made in the Department's spending, and for formulating plans for implementing economies.

Expenditure is largely undertaken by local education authorities, the universities and research councils and not directly by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the expenditure in the Department's car pool in 1973–74 and 1974–75; and what is the anticipated expenditure in 1975–76.

£15,383, £21,891 and £55,500 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science for what reasons any extra staff were recruited between March 1974 and the present time; and for what reasons any extra staff will be recruited for the rest of this year and 1976.

Within the Department of Education and Science recruitment since March 1974 has been mainly to fill vacancies which existed at that date. 12 extra staff will be recruited during the rest of this year to permit two-shift working of the Department's computer at Mowden Hall, Darlington, and it is expected that more of the existing vacancies will be filled in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff were employed by his Department in March 1974; how many are employed now; and what increase, if any, he expects for the rest of this year and 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of vacancies in his Department for which recruits are required but which have not yet been filled.

80.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many public relations officers were employed by his Department in March 1974;

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the titles and numbers of directives issued by circular from his Department involving local authorities in additional expenditure since March 1974.

These circulars bear implications of additional expenditure:

The information requested is as follows:how many are employed now; whether he expects to recruit any more during the rest of 1975 and 1976; and what are the salaries of those he has recruited and expects to recruit.

No public relations officers are employed. Information officers employed by the Department, who undertake a wide range of information services, including publications as well as Press relations, are:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the anticipated level of coal importation during the next five years.

Imports and exports of coal are subject to a wide range of internal and external factors and are very erratic from year to year. Thus in the past five years imports of coal have fluctuated from well under 1 million to nearly 5 million tons. In 1974 the figure was about 3·5 million tons, and a slightly higher total is likely this year. It is impossible to make a firm forecast up to five years ahead, but as current contracts expire I expect a marked decline.

asked the Sercetary of State for Energy whether he will consider alternative arrangements for funding the British Nuclear Fuels Limited through an issue of shares on the market in conformity with former proposals instead of to the AEA.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list in the Official Report the orders in hand with United Kingdom yards for oil or

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the next order to be given to a United Kingdom yard for a major oil or gas production platform; which yard he expects will be given the order; and for which field the platform will be intended.

There are four to six orders expected by the end of 1976. My Department is discussing with the oil companies the timing of these orders, and we will take all appropriate steps to encourage the placing of the orders with United Kingdom yards.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if the United Kingdom will be a free agent, so far as selling prices are concerned, when it is in a position to export either crude oil or refined products derived from the North Sea.

It is the Government's intention that North Sea oil should be disposed of at market prices.

The following table outlines the orders for oil and gas production platforms in hand with United Kingdom yards.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy by how much the amount of electricity generated in England and Wales in the first eight months of 1975 rose over the corresponding months of 1974; by how much the amount generated by nuclear power fell in the same period; and if he will give an estimate of the cost to the CEGB of thus switching from nuclear to fossil fuels in this period.

The amount of electricity generated by the public electricity generation system in England and Wales in the first eight months of 1975 and the corresponding months in 1974 is given in the October 1975 issue of "Energy Trends" The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether, in view of the fact that while the total sales of electricity in the second quarter of 1975 were virtually the same as in the corresponding quarter of 1974 and the sales to commerce and to public services rose by almost 8 per cent., he will take steps in the "Save It" campaign or otherwise to ensure that these categories of consumer use power rationally and economically.

Figures for total sales of electricity in the second quarter of 1974 were distorted by the three-day wek and associated circumstances. A more realistic comparison is between the second quarters of 1973 and 1975—this shows total sales down by about 4 per cent. and sales to "other" consumers, mainly commercial, as being roughtly unchanged. The Government energy conservation programme will continue to encourage more economic use of energy by all consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what representations have been made to him by the coal and electricity supply industries about the current level of gas prices; and what replies he has sent.

This information is being collected and I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that funds available for lending from building societies match the appropriate capacity of the building industry.

I have no reason to think that the supply of mortgage finance is at present acting as a constraint on private housebuilding activity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of their funds he foresees the building societies investing in mortgages on older properties such as local authorities have done in the past; and what was the comparable sum for local authorities.

Up to about one-fifth of building society loans are made on pre-1919 properties. I have at present no directly comparable figures for local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government propose to set up a national construction and procurement agency, and with what functions and responsibilities.

I have no present plans to set up a national construction and procurement agency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the penalties for pollution of freshwater rivers were last laid down; and whether he is satisfied with their adequacy.

Increased penalties for the pollution of rivers were laid down by Parliament in the Control of Pollution Act 1974, but the provisions in question are not yet being brought into force. Until they are the penalties prescribed in the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) Acts 1951–61 in England and Wales and in the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) Acts 1951–65 continue to apply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the co-ordination of the provision of sewerage and other facilities with the housing development programme at Fieldhead, Markfield, Leicestershire, and in particular what resources will be available to enable the completion of the new sewerage treatment works by 1978 so that continuity of housing development can be assured.

I understand from the Severn-Trent Water Authority that facilities are available for the first stage of housing development at the Fieldhead site. Provision of a new sewage treatment works which would serve the second stage is under consideration as part of the authority's current review of its five-year capital programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his estimate of the increase in the number of persons who will become eligible for rent rebates as a result of the increase in savings disregards;(2) what is his estimate of the number of persons who will become eligible for rent rebates as a result of the increased needs allowance.

The increases in the needs allowances, and in the amount of uninvested savings which is disregarded as income, are primarily intended to preserve the real value of rent rebates, and are not expected to have an appreciable effect on the number of tenants who are eligible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he is aware that traffic noise levels recorded in the vicinity of the Bury St. Edmunds bypass exceed the limits imposed on statutory undertakers by the Land Compensation Act and subsequent noise regulations approved by the Noise Advisory Council, and that distress is being suffered and has been suffered for two years by residents on Eastgate Street and Thirgoe Hill; and why his Department and its agents, who built the bypass and are responsible at law for protecting or compensating those afflicted by excess noise, so far have failed to carry out their statutory duties;(2) if he will instruct the Eastern Road Construction Unit, his regional director and the local authority employed as his agent in this case forthwith to insulate from excessive noise, or alternatively to pay compensation to, those householders living in the vicinity of the Bury St. Edmunds bypass who for nearly two years have been suffering from statutory noise nuisance.

It is regretted that progress has not been better. Difficulties have been encountered in costing the insulation work, and some properties have presented ventilation problems. Detailed offers of insulation, or a grant in lieu, should be made within the next eight weeks. On receipt of responses the work will go ahead as quickly as possible on those dwellings for which the offer of insulation is accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. T. Carrol in the light of the hearing at Billericay Magistrates' Court on 29th October; and if he will give instructions to Redland Purle to ensure that adequate controls are maintained to avoid a repetition of this type of accident.

Mr. Carroll died when the load of waste chemicals he was discharging reacted with waste which had already been deposited to produce hydrogen sulphide gas. Essex County Council has powers to lay down conditions for disposal of waste at Pitsea and, as in this case, to prosecute for breach of these conditions. I am satisfied that these powers and those shortly to be introduced under the Control of Pollution Act provide safeguards which should as far as possible avoid more accidents of this type.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many staff were employed by the Property Services Agency in March 1974; how many are employed now; and whether he expects any additional recruitment in the rest of 1975 and 1976;(2) for what reasons any extra staff have been recruited by the Property Services Agency between March 1974 and the present day; and what are the reasons for any anticipated additional recruitment for the rest of 1975 and 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many staff were employed by the Property Services Agency for March 1974; how many are employed now; and whether he expects any additional recruitment in the rest of 1975 and 1976;(2) for what reasons any extra staff have been recruited by the Property Services Agency between March 1974 and the present day; and what are the reasons for any anticipated additional recruitment for the rest of 1975 and 1976.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison) on 5th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what construction of office space in square feet for the Department of Education and Science by the Property Services Agency has been started, and at what cost, since March 1974;(2) how much office space in square feet the Property Services Agency has rented on behalf of the Department of Education and Science in London and the rest of the United Kingdom, respectively, since 1974; what is the total cost to the Exchequer; and what is the average cost per square foot in (

This information is not immediately available. However I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much extra office accommodation has been used by his Department since March 1974, including offices for agencies for which his Department is responsible; how much extra office accommodation his Department and agencies for which his Department is responsible expect to use for the rest of 1975 and 1976; and what is the cost of its acquisition or rent.

I believe the hon. and learned Member is interested in accommodation for Departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is responsible. This information is not immediately available. However, I will write to him shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to ensure that a recovery in private housebuilding is not inhibited by financing problems.

I have received suggestions from a number of quarters that the industry is facing, or may face, problems in terms of building finance. To get at the facts of the situation I have commissioned Messrs. Binder Hamlyn Singleton Fabian to carry out a quick study; they have already started work and I have asked them to report their findings within three months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries within the EEC make provision to enable rail commuters to set off all or part of the cost of their fares to work against tax.

Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands are the only EEC countries which make specific provision of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, to reduce unemployment and curtail imports, he will ease the present hire-purchase and credit restrictions on radios, television sets, electrical appliances and motor vehicles which are made in Great Britain.

No. To discriminate in this way in favour of home-produced goods would contravene our obligations under GATT and as members of the EEC.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any contractual arrangements have been made with any other country, or foreign commercial organisation such as the International Monetary Fund, whereby North Sea oil has been pledged as collateral against the United Kingdom's external borrowing requirements.

No

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give instructions to Customs and Excise officers handling value added tax to provide zero rating for distress alarms fitted to the homes of disabled and elderly persons; and if he will make a statement regarding the present value-added tax position.

The application of VAT to distress alarms is under review but I have no power to override the existing legal provisions. At present, since distress alarms are goods of a kind suitable for domestic use which are operated by electricity, they are chargeable at the 25 per cent. rate of VAT under Group 1, Item 1 of Schedule 7 to the Finance (No. 2) Act 1975. Where, however, a distress alarm system is installed as a fixture in a purpose-built home for elderly or infirm people, both the installation and the equipment are zero rated under Group 8 of Schedule 4 to the Finance Act 1972; and, if a distress alarm is supplied for the benefit of a handicapped person by a local authority under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 it is in effect free of VAT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any works of art have recently been accepted in lieu of estate duty.

Yes; a drawing by Andrea Mantegna entitled "St. James led to martyrdom"; two paintings, one by Camille Pissarro entitled "Maison du Pere Gallien a Pontoise" and one by Juan Gris entitled "Le Verre"; two portraits, by Sir Thomas Lawrence, the first portraying Emily Lamb, later Lady Cowper then Lady Palmerston, with her sister Harriet when children, the second portraying the Honourable William Lamb, afterwards second Viscount Melbourne; a painting, known as "The Brown Boy" by Sir Joshua Reynolds of Master Thomas Lister later first Lord Ribblesdale, and an early eighteenth century walnut bureau cabinet made by John Gatehouse have been accepted.The total cost borne by the National Land Fund after allowing for exemption from estate duty and capital gains tax is £164,675.The Minister with particular responsibility for the Arts and the Secretary of State for Scotland, after taking advice from the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, will in due course announce the destination of these objects.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much of the £6 million to £7 million unemployment relief scheme is to be spent in County Armagh during the coming winter.

Approximately £130,000 will be spent in County Armagh up to 31st March 1976 on projects specially designed to alleviate unemployment, including work on water services, roads, amenities in forests, historic monuments and projects being carried out by Enterprise Ulster.The package of measures announced on 14th October to alleviate unemployment in Northern Ireland also included schemes to subsidise the employment and training of young people in industry. The uptake of these subsidies in any particular area cannot be predicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which charges brought against suspects initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act have been dropped before the case was heard; and which charges have led to successful and unsuccessful prosecution, respectively, at the latest date for which information is available.

No charges have been made against persons initially held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been charged under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act in Northern Ireland; and under which section of the Act at the latest date for which figures are available.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been detained in Northern Ireland under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have subsequently been charged with offences; and with what offences have they been charged at the latest date for which figures are available.

Five persons have been arrested under Section 7 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons excluded from Great Britain under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Act have been sent to Northern Ireland; and how many have been subsequently detained or charged with offences in Northern Ireland at the latest date for which figures are available.

Thirty-Six persons excluded from Great Britain have been sent to Northern Ireland under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974. Nine of these were arrested on arrival but all were released after questioning.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been excluded from Northern Ireland under the provisions of the

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report a weekly list since the provisional cease-fire, showing the number of releases of persons held without trial in Northern Ireland, in each case showing the balance of numbers still held and indicating any fresh ICO's or detention orders.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his previous Question on 14th October 1975.—[Vol. 178, c. 682].—Additional information is as follows:Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and how many have been sent to Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, respectively, at the latest date for which figures are available.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the difference in régime between that exercised in control units and that exercised in cells for prisoners segregated under Rule 43 in the interests of good order and discipline.

The régime in the control unit involved, for all sent to it, a detailed, standardised and phased programme of not less than 180 days in a single location, whereas removal from association under Rule 43 may occur only under regular review, often for much shorter periods, and varies according to the circumstances of individuals, and, to some extent, to available local facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted football hooligans are at present doing community service on Saturday afternoons; and what form such service takes.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory requirements with regard to television licences for a hotel providing multiple reception from a single aerial.

The statutory requirements for television licensing, which are set out in Section 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949, are the same for hotels as for other places.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unlicensed television sets there are in Belfast; and which areas are mostly affected.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers, who, having been in post for more than five years, at the time when A and B grading was introduced in 1972, were refused B grade and have either continued in post on A grade or have subsequently retired.

I regret that this information is not readily available, and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the National Association of Probation Officers about the treatment of the probation officers who were refused B grade.

The association has been in correspondence with my Department or behalf of certain long-serving probations officers who have not been advanced to this higher salary scale. By virtue of an agreement reached within the Joint negotiating Committee for the Probation Service the advancement of individual officers to the higher salary scale is at present a matter for the probation and after-care committees concerned in accordance with the agreed criteria and procedure. Any proposals for changes in the present arrangements would need to be discussed within the Joint Negotiating Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the circumstances of the police raid on the Derbyshire premises of the Workers' Revolutionary Party, on 25th September; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Derbyshire on the raid on the WRP School: and if he will make a statement.

The Chief Constable of Derbyshire tells me that police inquiries have not yet been completed. It would not be proper for me to comment further at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been subsequently charged with offences; and with what offences they have been charged at the latest date for which figures are available.

An extension of the period of detention under Section 7 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act has been approved in 126 cases. A further 364 have been detained for 48 hours or less under Section 7 of the Act. 558 people have been detained pending examination at the ports under the supplemental orders made under the Act. 51 people have been charged with offences in Great Britain, eight of them with murder, three with attempted murder, one with conspiracy to cause an explosion, seven with unlawful possession of explosives, six with conspiracy to possess or procure explosives with intent to endanger life, one with contravention of section 1 of the Firearms Act 1968, five with conspiracy to defraud the Inland Revenue, ten with theft, one with robbery, two with burglary, one with assisting offenders, one with causing criminal damage, one with attempted criminal deception, one with handling a stolen motor vehicle and three with wasting police time. In addition, one was returned to the Irish Republic and three charged with robbery.The latest date for which statistics are available is 4th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been charged with offences under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; and under which sections of the Act have the charges been brought at the latest date for which figures are available.

Three persons had been charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(b) of the Act up to 5th November 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has refused an extension of five days to the police for the holding of a suspect under the Prevention of Terrorism Act; and on how many occasions.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what factors he has taken into account in determining whether a person who was originally admitted to Great Britain subject to conditions should be granted the right of settlement; and, in particular, whether account is taken of conditions of the general employment situation and housing conditions in the country.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Question on 17th July.—[Vol. 895, c. 1697–98.]—The Immigration Rules for Control after Entry, which set out the criteria for allowing settlement, reflect the economic circumstances of this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that during 1974 the number of people admitted to Great Britain from the countries of the New Commonwealth exceeded by 89,000 the number of those who left the country, he will state why this figure is that much higher than for any previous year.

The total to which the right hon. Member refers—which is calculable from Table 2(a) of the Immigration Statistics 1974: Cmnd 6064—is based on an estimated figure for embarkations. Estimation was necessary because a clerical error had resulted in double counting of embarkations at London Airport. I regret that the same error affected the 1973 figures. The estimated net balance for 1973 is 86,000 not 17,000 as appeared from the corresponding table in the published statistics for that year.Thus, the figures for both 1973 and 1974 showed a substantial increase over previous years. But net, balance figures are not a reliable indication of the numbers of people settling in this country. In 1972 for instance the net balance figure was substantially below the total for settlement. The only reliable figures are those of admissions for settlement and acceptances for settlement by revocation of conditions. Net balance figures are affected by all sorts of factors which govern the numbers of people who come here from time to time for temporary purposes. I agree, however, that large variations in the figures over several years would give legitimate ground for concern about either the statistics or the facts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the figures relating to persons from the Commonwealth entering or leaving Great Britain each year are reliable.

I believe that landing figures have always been reliable, but this has not always been the case with embarkation figures in the past. However, since 1st March 1975 citizens of Commonwealth countries and citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies who are subject to immigration control have been required to complete landing and embarkation cards. One of the reasons for introducing this change was to improve statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the reasons for the increase of about 10,000 to a total of some 19,000 in the number of successful applicants in 1974 as compared with the previous year in the number of applicants who successfully applied for permission to settle in Great Britain, after having been admitted on a temporary basis subject to conditions.

The increase is largely due to (1) acceptances for settlement on marriage to persons, male and female, already settled here; and (2) the qualification of Commonwealth citizens for the immunity from deportation granted by Section 7 of the Immigration Act 1971 to those who were ordinarily resident in this country on 1st January 1973 and who have been so resident for five years. In 1974 I decided to revoke their conditions of stay in order to recognise this immunity. The great majority of those so dealt with were lawfully resident for the whole of the five-year period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been served with exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act; how many have been deported to (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Republic of Ireland; how many have appealed against exclusion orders; and how many appeals have been successful at the latest date for which figures are available.

I have made 66 exclusion orders. Notice of the making of an exclusion order has been served on 58 people, 53 of whom have been removed, 36 to Northern Ireland, and 17 to the Irish Republic. Sixteen of the 58 made representations objecting to the order. I revoked the order in five of these 16 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to purchasing Departments to give preference to textiles which have been spun, woven, finished and made up in Great Britain.

My Department has been instructed that where a choice exists between British and imported materials, orders should specify imported materials only where this gives a clear advantage in value for money.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables on the extent to which the police seek to bar any vehicle from overtaking police cars whilst those police cars are leading convoys of traffic on dual carriageways in foggy conditions and on what powers they rely for this purpose; and if he will make a statement.

The extent to which, and the manner in which, police deploy vehicles to control traffic on the roads in foggy conditions, in the exercise of their general responsibility to protect life and property, is a matter for individual chief officers of police. We would not feel justified in asking chief officers for reports.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) what central and local funds are available to her staff for the implementation of price control legislation and consumer credit generally;(2) what steps her Department has taken, and what funds are available or have been expended, to ensure the public is aware of price control and consumer credit legislation.

Under the Counter-Inflation Act 1973 the Price Commission is responsible for implementation and publicity of the Price Code, and has made extensive efforts to achieve the best results in these respects. Parliament voted the Commission £3·7 million for the current year. Under the Prices Acts 1974 and 1975, my Department is responsible for the administration and publicity of price regulation orders.Apart from my responsibilities for making orders and regulations under the Consumer Credit Act, the Director General of Fair Trading has various functions thereunder including those relating to

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will list the increases in departmental expenditure that have occurred since the financial year 1973–74.

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 6th November 1975] gave the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will publish the numbers and titles of directives issued by circular from her Department involving local authorities in increased expenditure in 1974 and 1975.

pursuant to her reply[Official Report, 6th November 1975]; gave the following information:My Department has issued 12 numbered circulars since their introduction last year. None of these involves local authorities in increased expenditure in 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 6th November 1975] gave the following information:Since my Department was created in March 1974 one additional Principal Information Officer—salary scale £5,680—£7,450 p.a.—post has been added to the establishment transferred from the former Department of Trade and Industry. During the same period one Principal Information Officer, three Senior Information Officers—salary scale £4,900—£5,900 p.a.—and three Information Officers—salary scale £3,900—£4,700 p.a.—have been added to the establishment of the Office of Fair Trading.No such additions have been made in the Price Commission, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission or the Metrication Board. The scales quoted exclude London weighting.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will publish the increases in the number of civil servants, other categories of pubic sector officials and local government staff since 1973–74, as a result of central Government legislation, sponsored by her Department.

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 6th November 1975]; gave the following information:About 220 civil servants, mostly for the administration of the food subsidy programme and new consumer credit legislation. Of these, 25 are in the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.There may have been a very small increase in the other categories mentioned, but details are not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with the imbalance between amounts spent by the tobacco industry on sales promotion and the amount spent by the Government in anti-smoking undertakings.

No, I am not, and that is why in July 1974 I proposed to the tobacco industry that it should voluntarily contribute a sizeable proportion of its total expenditure on promotion towards public education about the dangers to health of smoking. This proposal was rejected by the industry. At present the Government's health education programme on the dangers to health from smoking has to be met from within the overall NHS budget which makes it impossible to justify matching the industry's promotional activity. I have made it clear in the current discussions with the industry over the application of the Medicines Act 1968 that I consider that there is a possible rôle for advertising and promotion in encouraging those who cannot immediately give up smoking to switch progressively to cigarettes giving lower yields of the products which on medical and scientific grounds are most dangerous to health.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate she has made of the present amount spent by the tobacco industry on sales promotion.

The tobacco industry does not reveal its total promotional expenditure. We have been told by the industry that expenditure on Press, poster and cinema advertising of cigarettes in the United Kingdom was about £15 million in the financial year 1974–75.I have no information about what is spent by the industry on coupon schemes, but we estimate that the value of gift coupons, which is, of course, reflected in the price of cigarettes, was over £50 million last year.I asked the Tobacco Advisory Committee for information about promotional expenditure through sponsorship as I had agreed to do in my reply to the hon. Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on 17th July—[Vol. 895, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the Government's financial contribution in aiding anti-smoking endeavours of all kinds.

Expenditure incurred directly by the Department of Health and Social Security on reducing the dangers to health of smoking is estimated at about £250,000 during the present financial year. Expenditure by the Health Education Council in this connection is now expected to be not less than £360,000; by the Scottish Health Education Unit £174,000; and by the Medical and Social Science Research Councils about £34,000. The relatively small levels of expenditure by other Government Departments, mainly in staff costs, are not readily ascertainable, nor can the expenditure by health authorities on anti-smoking clinics and health education on smoking be readily identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what figures are now available to her Department concerning the incidence of Huntington's chorea in Great Britain.

I regret that there are no statistics of the incidence of Hunting-ton's chorea in Great Britain but I understand that the number of people suffering from it is believed to be some 3,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether circulars are available from her Department instructing area health authorities in the prompt registration of sufferers from Huntington's chorea.

No instructions have been issued by the Department to health authorities about the registration of sufferers from Huntington's chorea. We are, however, currently considering, in consultation with the Clinical Genetics Society, ways in which genetic counselling services might be more effectively provided for potential sufferers from this disease, including the expansion of existing schemes for the registration of known sufferers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the amount of Government-sponsored research into Huntington's chorea in 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.

A wide range of basic neurological work which could advance the knowledge of the nature of Huntington's chorea is being promoted by the Medical Research Council. The major part of the research programme at the MRC Neurochemical Pharmacology Unit is concerned with studies of the biochemical changes underlying the disease; while other biomedical investigations are in progress at the MRC Brain Metabolism Unit and in the Division of Molecular Pharmacology at the National Institute of Medical Research. The Department of Social Medicine at Edinburgh University is engaged on a project of the incidence and family distribution of the disease. The Department is also supporting from its own research funds a project in the NHS on various aspects of the disease. The greater part of this research forms part of basic research programmes and costs relating specifically to the disease are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what categories of visitors coming to the United Kingdom from EEC countries are not given free medical attention in view of the fact that self-employed persons going to EEC countries are not covered on a reciprocal basis; if she will seek to renegotiate the position; and if she will make a statement.

With the exception of citizens of Denmark and Gibraltar, any nationals of other EEC countries visiting the United Kingdom who are not employed persons or pensioners or dependants of these are not entitled to free treatment, as they are not covered by EEC Social Security Regulations. However, like visitors from other countries, they would not be denied free emergency treatment if they fell ill or had an accident in this country, or if some pre-existing condition worsened to such an extent that its treatment could not wait. All citizens of Denmark and Gibraltar visiting this country are entitled to urgent treatment under the National Health Service on the basis of bilateral reciprocal agreements. Medical treatment is available under these same agreements to all United Kingdom visitors to Denmark and Gibraltar and should be available shortly to those visiting the Federal Republic of Germany. Her Majesty's Government have consistently urged in Brussels that the EEC Regulations should be extended to cover the self-employed and a Commission working party is currently being set up to examine the question.I have written in greater detail to my hon. Friend, in reply to his letter of 25th October on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of policies underwritten by the ECGD in 1974 in respect of companies with headquarters in England.

The information as requested by the hon. Member is not readily available, nor is it possible to say, in the case of companies operating throughout the United Kingdom, where any particular business is carried out. However, the hon. Member may find the following information which relates to credit arrangements made through the ECGD offices in England helpful.At the end of 1974 Comprehensive Guarantees current in respect of companies in England amounted to £4,601·2 million. The value of individual guarantees issued in 1974 to companies in England in respect of specific capital goods contracts was £1,329·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the value of policies underwritten by the ECGD in 1974 in respect of companies with headquarters in Scotland.

The information as requested by the hon. Member is not readily available, nor is it possible to say, in the case of companies operating throughout the United Kingdom, where any particular business is carried out. However, the hon. Member may find the following information which relates to credit arrangements made through the ECGD office in Scotland helpful.At the end of 1974 Comprehensive Guarantees current in respect of companies in Scotland amounted to £269·4 million. The value of individual guarantees issued in 1974 to companies in Scotland in respect of specific capital goods contracts was £146·3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the current total number of companies operating in the United Kingdom; and what proportion are members of the Confederation of British Industry.

The number of companies incorporated under Companies Acts in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is approximately 680,000, including those in liquidation or in process of being removed from the registers.I am not responsible for the membership of the Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to introduce surveillance licensing for imports of footwear.

We are considering a request from the United Kingdom footwear industry for the introduction of surveillance licensing on footwear and hope to give it a final answer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will give a general direction to British Airways to purchase British textiles wherever possible.

I do not consider that it would be appropriate to give such a direction. British Airways have assured me that it is already their policy to buy British textiles wherever possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what imports he anticipates of Korean cars in 1975 and 1976.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many applications to the High Court have been made for the winding-up of companies either by his

According to information immediately available, the Department with its predecessor Department since 1st January 1961 have presented 95 petitions to the High Court for compulsory winding up. Winding-up orders were made in 85 cases and in four cases orders were made on creditors' petitions. In one case a winding-up order was made, but was later rescinded, and in another case the petition was dismissed. At present four petitions are before the court.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement confirming the Government's commitment to the principle of "fair comparison" in relation to the determination of Civil Service pay.

The Government remain committed to the "fair comparisons" principle. But in order that their own employees shall be treated consistently with the rest of the community, the settlement of Civil Service pay must obviously be considered in relation to the development of our counter-inflation strategy.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether the settlement of Civil Service pay by "fair comparisons", now suspended, will be restored as soon as circumstances permit.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich (Mr. Barnett) today.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how frequently he collects statistics of departmental staff; and when later figures than those relating to 1st July 1975 will be available to him.

statistics of departmental staff are collected from Departments at quarterly intervals. Staff in post figures for 1st October 1975 will be available later this month, and I shall then write to the hon. Member with the up-to-date figures.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the annual cost of chauffeur-driven cars, including salaries and mileage, used by the Civil Service in London.

I am having the information assembled and will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total advertising budget of his Department in each year from 1970 to 1974; and if he will give a breakdown by media, subjects and languages.