asked the Secretary of State for Trade when Mr. L. H. Trimley of Bexhill-on-Sea may expect a reply to his letter of 27th April 1975 regarding the liquidation of Nanwa Gold Mines Limited.

The letter to which the hon. Member refers cannot be traced within my Department. If he will let me have a copy, I shall arrange for a reply to be sent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what average, and maximum, noise levels in perceived noise decibles are being experienced at the boundaries of the areas within which noise insulation grants are applicable around Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, respectively.

The boundaries of the noise insulation grant schemes at Heathrow and Gatwick are related to NNI contours. The NNI figure at any particular point is a combination of the number of aircraft flying over it and their known noise characteristics; for example, a point on the 55 NNI contour could arise from 300 flights a day with an average noise of 98·5 PNdB or 30 flights a day with an average noise of 113 PNdB. Thus, there are no average or maximum noise levels common to all points along the noise insulation grant scheme boundaries, nor are measurements of peak noise along these boundaries available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade why the Postal Inquiry Service at Companies House concerning company registrations has been discontinued; what consideration was given to the alternative policy of raising charges from the previous level of 5p to economic levels; and what representations he has received upon the matter.

The service has been discontinued because the volume of work arising from the statutory duties at Companies House continues to increase and it is no longer possible to provide the staff needed for the postal inquiry services, which are non-statutory functions. The staff previously employed on these services are being redeployed on the statutory duties of the office.Consideration was given to increasing the charges, which were based on a minimum not of 5p but of 49p plus VAT. In order to cover the costs of this service it would have been necessary to increase the charge by at least 400 per cent., but this would not have solved the manpower problem.I have received 21 representations in addition to the previous two Questions on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will announce the membership of the committee which the Government propose to set up to inquire into industrial democracy.

My right hon. Friend is still considering the composition of the committee and hopes to be able to announce the membership shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will now publish the names of his committee of inquiry into the extension of industrial democracy in the private sector and the exact terms of reference of this inquiry.

I have been considering the composition of the committee and intend to announce the names of the chairman and members shortly. As I said in my statement to the House on 5th August—[Vol. 897, cols. 245–6]—the committee will have the following terms of reference:

"Accepting the need for a radical extension of industrial democracy in the control of companies by means of representation on boards of directors, and accepting the essential role of trade union organisations in this process, to consider how such an extension can best be achieved, taking into account in particular the proposals of the Trades Union Congress report on industrial democracy as well as experience in Britain, the EEC and other countries. Having regard to the interests of the national economy, employees, investors and consumers, to analyse the implications of such representation for the efficient management of companies and for company law."

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if, in the light of evidence of allegedly fraudulent but successful applications for the Queen's Award to Industry and the possible misuse of either properly or improperly obtained Awards, he will forthwith review the criteria and workings of the Office of the Queen's Award and the use of this distinction by firms.

The Queen's Awards Office has noted recent reports in the Press concerning a company which won awards for exports in 1973 and again in 1975, and which is now in receivership. So far, it has received no evidence of allegedly fraudulent applications or possible misuse of awards.A Queen's Award may be withdrawn at any time for breach of the rules or on any other grounds which are considered to justify withdrawal. Under these rules, issued to holders of the awards, they are required to notify the Queen's Awards Office of any change in their circumstances during the period in which they hold an award which might affect their title to it.The Queen's Awards Office is looking into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his estimate in a full year of the cost incurred through travel and subsistence of sending Ministers and officials to meetings of EEC institutions.

£80,000, of which about £35,500 is recoverable from EEC institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) what discussions are currently in progress within the EEC on the dumping of Japanese alloy steel;(2) if he will take anti-dumping action against imports of Japanese stainless steel, currently being sold at 40 per cent. below production costs in the United Kingdom.

The industry has not applied for anti-dumping action against imports into the United Kingdom of Japanese stainless steel. If it wishes to do so my Department will be happy to consider its application and give what help it can. The European Commission deals with complaints about dumped imports into the Community. I know of no formal application to it for antidumping action against Japanese alloy steel, but I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry that the Commission is studying the wider problem of the import of steel at low prices. These studies have included bilateral exchanges with some countries including Japan.There have also been multilateral discussions within OECD.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now order an inquiry into the affairs of Slater Walker Ltd.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 3rd November 1975.—[Vol. 899, c. 69.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a further statement on the progress made in arranging the dispersal of civil service jobs from London to Scotland.

In the period between 1963 and October 1975 about 6,000 Civil Service posts have been dispersed from London to Scotland, with a further 1,300 posts due to move within the next few years. In addition, 7,000 posts will be dispersed to Scotland under the major dispersal programme announced by the Government in July 1974, and planning for those moves is well advanced.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service by how many has the number of civil servants increased this year as a result of legislation enacted by the present Government; and how many additional numbers will be required next year to meet the requirements of such legislation.

We currently estimate that the legislation already enacted by this Government will require approximately 6,500 civil servants by 1st April 1976 and a further 4,000 by 1st April 1977.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what proposals he has to reduce the number of special advisers to ministers.

None.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the London allowance as it affects civil servants.

An offer has been made to the National Staff side in response to its claim for increased London weighting for non-industrial civil servants. This offer, which was based on the 1974 recommendations of the Pay Board, was not accepted. We are ready to refer the issues to arbitration, but the National Staff Side has made recent representations which are under urgent consideration. A reply will be sent as quickly as possible, but mean-while it will be appreciated that I cannot anticipate the possible outcome.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is satisfied with the recruitment and training of administration trainees in the Civil Service.

Yes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will clarify the relationships envisaged by the Government between the Civil Service working for the national assemblies in Cardiff and Edinburgh, and those serving Parliament at Westminster.

The administrative arrangements to support the new Scottish and Welsh Assemblies will be dealt with in the White Paper to be published this Thursday.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what is the maximum pension payable to a civil servant, expressed as a percentage of his final salary;(2) what is the minimum number of years' service that is required before a civil servant qualifies for the maximum pension payable.

Civil servants receive pensions calculated at the rate of 1¼ per cent. of pensionable pay for each year of reckonable service and a lump sum of three times this amount. This is well within the Inland Revenue code of practice for the approval of occupational pension schemes, which also requires that no more than 40 years' service can be taken into account at the normal retirement age. If retirement is deferred beyond that age, up to five extra years are allowed to count. In the Civil Service, pensionable pay is the actual pay received in whichever of the last three years of service gives the highest figure, and the maximum pension payable, after a minimum of 45 years' reckonable service, is thus 56·25 per cent. of this figure.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what percentage of a civil servant's salary is deducted for pension contributions; and what is the employer's contribution.

Apart from the 1½ per cent. contribution which male civil servants pay for family benefits the pension scheme is non-contributory. However, in determining Civil Service pay rates by comparison with those for comparable employment outside the outside pay rates are reduced to take account of this factor and of differences in the value of benefits.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what arrangements have been made to protect the value of Civil Service pensions against increases in the cost of living.

The Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, as amended by the Superannuation Act 1972, provides for public service pensions, which include Civil Service pensions, to be increased as necessary from 1st December each year in line with increases in the cost of living.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why he has decided to close the automatic data processing training unit in the Civil Service College in Edinburgh; and where alternative training facilities will now be made available to Scottish based civil servants seconded to training in this subject.

The automatic data processing training unit at the Edinburgh centre covers only a small part of the total college training effort in this field. As part of an exercise currently being undertaken by the Civil Service College to rationalise the use of its resources the college has decided to transfer the ADP training at present done in Edinburgh to its London centre, where the bulk of this work is undertaken. Scottish-based civil servants will continue to receive college ADP training as at present.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants are currently paid a salary of £12,000, or more, per annum.

The latest available figures are for 1st October 1975, when 1,023 civil servants were in receipt of a national rate of £12,000, or more, per annum.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his estimate in a full year of the additional ministerial, civil service and parliamentary travel and subsistence costs incurred because of United Kingdom membership of the EEC.

I am having the information assembled and shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total amount spent last year on procurement of alcoholic refreshments for Government Ministries and functions involving hospitality.

The total amount spent by the Government Hospitality Fund in the financial year ending 31st March 1975 on the procurement of alcoholic beverages for use at official functions was £29,423·42. No information is held centrally about the amount spent on the procurement of alcoholic beverages by Departments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his estimate of the Government's expenditure on advertising in 1973, 1974 and the present year; and if he will list the main advertising campaigns showing the cost against each.

The amounts spent in each financial year were as follows:

	£
1973–74	19,360,185
1974–75	18,857,130
1975–76 (estimated)	25,679,710

The main advertising campaigns in each year were:

Campaign	Cost
	£
1973–74
Army Recruitment	1,987,000
Navy Recruitment	1,302,000
RAF Recruitment	989,000
Fuel Emergency and Petrol Coupons	2,543,000
Classified advertising through HMSO	2,460,905
Department for National Savings	1,467,271
Wearing of Seat Belts	965,000
Pedestrian Safety	929,000
1974–75
Army Recruitment	2,026,000
Navy Recruitment	1,252,000
RAF Recruitment	976,000
Classified advertising through HMSO	2,822,152
Department for National Savings	1,550,848
Energy Conservation	1,442,000
Pedestrian Safety	789,000
Wearing of Seat Belts	728,000
1975–76 (estimated)
Army Recruitment	1,785,000
Navy Recruitment	1,133,000
RAF Recruitment	764,000
Classified advertising through HMSO	3,526,000
Energy Conservation	3,471,000
Department for National Savings	1,744,860
Counter-Inflation	1,650,000
Pedestrian Safety	886,000

asked the Secretary of State for Defence approximately how many former British Service men are currently serving with the Rhodesian armed forces.

My Department does not keep records of the employment of individual ex-Service men.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any British Service men, including members of the SAS, currently in Rhodesia.

There are no British Service men currently serving in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of States for Defence what is the current number of civil servants in his Department; and what was the number in 1964 and the percentage increase or decrease between the two dates.

Including the royal ordnance factories and locally engaged civilians abroad, the total number of civil servants currently employed by the Ministry of Defence is 317,300. The number on 1st April 1964 was 400,200. On the basis of these figures the decrease between the two dates is 20·7 per cent. Had it not been for changes in departmental organisation during this period, the chief of which was the transfer into the Department of 28,000 Ministry of Aviation Supply Staff in 1971, the current number employed would have been significantly lower and the percentage reduction correspondingly higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men are stationed in Malaysia; whether any of them are seconded to the Malaysian Government; and, if so, how many.

There are 31 members of the British forces in Malaysia at present, of whom 18 are on loan to the Malaysian Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many foreign service men are currently undergoing training in the United Kingdom; and from which countries they come.

At mid-November 1975, about 2,300 foreign and Commonwealth Service men were attending training courses run by the Services. The Service men came from the following countries:

Algeria	Lebanon
Argentina	Libya
Australia	Malawi
Bangladesh	Malaysia
Barbados	Nepal
Belgium	Netherlands
Belize	New Zealand
Brazil	Nigeria
Brunei	Norway
Burma	Oman
Canada	Pakistan
Chile	Peru
Denmark	Phillip nes
Ecuador	Qatar
Eire	Saudi Arabia
Egypt	Sierra Leone
Fiji	Singapore
France	South Africa
Gambia	Sri Lanka
W. Germany	Sudan
Ghana	Sweden
Greece	Switzerland
Guyana	Thailand
India	Tonga
Indonesia	Trinidad and Tobago
Iran	Turkey
Israel	United Arab Emirates
Iraq	United States
Italy	of America
Jamaica	Venezuela
Jordan	Zaire
Kenya	Zambia.
Kuwait

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any British Service men, including members of the SAS currently in Angola.

No British Service men are currently serving in Angola.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men, including those seconded to the Omani armed forces, have been killed in Oman in the last five years.

I regret that in the last five years there have been 24 fatal casualties among members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces serving in Oman.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men have been killed in Oman since the outbreak of the current insurgency in 1965.

I regret that since 1965, 24 members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces have been killed in Oman.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any British pilots took part in the bombing raids carried out against South Yemen in October 1975 by planes based on Oman; and, if so, who gave the authorisation for their participation in this attack.

No member of Her Majesty's Forces took part in these raids.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement about the implementation of the defence cuts.

I am satisfied that steady progress is being made in implementing the defence review decisions set out in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1975 (Cmnd. 5976).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what foreign visits he and other Ministers in his Department have made since 1st March 1974.

Defence Ministers have made the following foreign visits:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what visits he and other Ministers in his Department have made to defence factories in the United Kingdom since 1st March 1974.

Defence Ministers have visited the following royal ordnance factories and defence contractors:—ROF Leeds.ROF Blackburn.ROF Enfield.ROF Radway Green.ROF Birtley.Marconi Space and Defence Systems Ltd—Portsmouth.Vickers Shipbuilders Ltd.—Barrow-in-Furness.BAC (Guided Weapons Division)—Steven-age.Hawker Siddeley Dynamics—Hatfield.Kelvin Hughes—Hainault.Vickers—Newcastle-upon-Tyne.GEC-Marconi—Chelmsford.Westlands Helicopters—Yeovil.BAC (Military Aircraft Division)—Preston.Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Ltd.—Scotstoun.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost of running the Royal Yacht in the current financial year.

The running costs of the Royal Yacht for the financial year 1975–76 are estimated at about £2¼ million. This figure reflects the cost of "Britannia's" triennial refit, which will be carried out early in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the annual cost in each of the past five years of testing nuclear devices; and what sum has been allocated in the current financial year for such purposes.

For security reasons it is not the practice to disclose information of this nature. Only one nuclear device test has been conducted by us in the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many inquiries were received for information following the recent Press advertisement about commissions and engineer officers in the Royal Navy.

The advertisement for the shortage category of engineers which has recently been running in a number of newspapers has so far led to 115 inquries for further information. There have also been requests for copies of the drawings in the advertisement from schools, technical colleges, cadet units, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to make a reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Gosport dated 30th October 1975, on the subject of the possible move of HMS "Daedalus" from Lee-on-the-Solent.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many students claimed unemployment benefit in the months of July, August and September this year; and what was the cost of paying those benefits.

The number of unemployed students registered for employment was 91,963 at 14th July 1975; 93,464 at 11th August 1975 and 97,399 at 8th September 1975. Our records of claims and payments of unemployment benefit do not distinguish between claims made by students and those made by other unemployed persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the Government intend to activate the provisions of the Employment Agencies Act.

We are aiming to bring the Act into operation early next summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to publish a draft of the code of practice on disclosure of information to independent trade unions during the course of collective bargaining; and when he expects to lay this before Parliament.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 10th November—[Vol. 899, c. 504]. I cannot forecast how long preparation of the code and consultation on the draft will take; but the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is fully aware of the urgency and importance of this task.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which of the employers' associations required to file their annual returns by 1st June under Section 11 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act had not done so by 1st November; what proportion they formed of the associations required to file their returns; what reminders they have received; and what steps it is proposed to take to ensure their compliance with Section 11.

I understand from the Registrar of Friendly Societies that the annual returns of 31 employers' associations listed under Section 8 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974 and required to send returns to the Registrar before 1st June 1975, had not been received by 1st November 1975. These 31 employers' associations are listed below.These 31 associations represent 16·8 per cent. of listed associations required to submit returns before 1st June.Each of these associations has been sent reminder letters drawing attention to its failure to furnish a return. Where appropriate, the notice of the association has been drawn to the fact that refusal or wilful neglect to furnish a return is an offence under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the Institute of Journalists and the Hospital Consultants' and Specialists' Association have yet filed the returns required under Section 11 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations Act 1974; if so, on what date they were filed; and how late this was compared with the requirement of Section 11.

I understand from the Registrar that the Institute of Journalists submitted its return on 28th August 1975 and the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association on 4th August 1975. In each case, under Section 11 of the Act, returns were required to be sent to the Registrar before 1st June 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will confirm that piloting a Concorde aircraft is a change of work as understood by his Department and that persons so employed are exempt from the £6 per week pay limit and the £8,500 income limit beyond which no increase is permissible.

It is primarily for the negotiators to decide how the policy set out in Command Paper No. 6151 applies to their particular situation, and I have received no indication from the parties which would enable me to form a view on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and which Directors General has Great Britain been allocated in the Commissions, the British nationals appointed to the post and actually serving and any relinquishments made or projected.

When the United Kingdom joined the EEC the following United Kingdom nationals were appointed as Directors General:

• Directorate General III, Mr. R. H. Grierson, Industrial and Technological Affairs.
• Directorate General V—Mr. M. J. Shanks, Social Affairs.
• Directorate General VII—Mr. R. E. M. Le Goy, Transport.
• Directorate General XIII—Mr. R. K. Apple-yard, Scientific and Technical Information and Information Management.

Mr. Grierson resigned in 1974 and his post has not been filled. Directors General are appointed by the Commission from nationals of member States. There is no fixed allocation of posts to member States. I cannot forecast future changes which are dependent on decisions of the Commission and of the individuals concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the United Kingdom's current annual contribution to the upkeep of the United Nations Organisation and its agencies.

It is estimated that the total contribution by Her Majesty's Government to the United Nations and its various agencies for 1975 will amount to £48,172,168. This figure does not include United Kingdom contributions to finance institutions. The International Development Association and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development are not technically within the UN system, although they, like the other specialised agencies, have formal agreements with the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the precise treaty commitment undertaken by Great Britain as to the timing of direct elections for the European Assembly.

Article 138 of the EEC Treaty provides for the Assembly to draw up proposals for elections by direct universal suffrage in accordance with a uniform procedure and for the Council to lay down appropriate provisions to be recommended to member States for adoption in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements. No time limit is specified in the treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support Her Majesty's Government gives to the International University Exchange Fund.

Her Majesty's Government do not give any financial support to the International University Exchange Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware of any attempts by the Rhodesian Government, or persons claiming to be acting on behalf of the Rhodesian Government, to recruit British Servicemen for service in Rhodesia; and, if so, under what circumstances such recruitments have been made.

I have no evidence of any concerted campaign by the illegal régime to recruit British Servicemen for service in Rhodesia; if my hon. Friend is aware of any such attempts at recruitment I shall be glad to receive details so that the matter can be investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how soon he expects to be in a position to announce a decision about the ratification by the United Kingdom of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The work necessary to determine whether the law and practice of both the United Kingdom and each Dependent Territory is in conformity with the provisions of international instruments that are as wide-ranging as the covenants is extremely involved and therefore time consuming. I commissioned work as a matter of priority on these issues on taking up my appointment last year, and work is now proceeding, inter alia, on the extent and formulation of the reservations that would need to be entered by the United Kingdom on ratification. I cannot, however, name a date by which ratification will be possible.

Country				Transport	Official entertainment
				£	£
United States of America (Washington)	…	…	…	79,900	121,000
New Zealand (Wellington)	…	…	…	8,000	12,400
India (New Delhi)	…	…	…	16,000	18,400
West Germany (Bonn)	…	…	…	135,800	64,900
France (Paris)	…	…	…	87,500	99,000
Egypt (Cairo)	…	…	…	10,200	11,000
Saudi Arabia (Jedda)	…	…	…	12,700	7,400
Iran (Tehran)	…	…	…	18,700	23,300
Italy (Rome)	…	…	…	36,300	30,800

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the individual costs in the current financial year of running United Kingdom embassies or high commissions in the United States of America, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Argentine, Cuba, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Egypt, Algeria, Zaire, Zambia, Morocco, Israel, South Africa, Sudan, Spain, East Germany, Romania, Hungary, Poland, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Austria, Malta, Finland,

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what sum his Department expects to spend this year on delegations brought from foreign countries; and how many foreign persons are likely to be involved.

The Department expects to spend approximately £170,000 on bringing a total of 207 visitors to Britain this year in groups of two or more. Records are not kept which distinguish delegations from other groups within this total.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the following embassies or high commissions are expected to spend in transport and hospitality, respectively, in the current financial year; United States of America, New Zealand, India, West Germany, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Italy.

In the current financial year the provisions for transport and official entertainment, respectively, at the British embassy or high commission in the following countries are:Sweden, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Bangladesh, India, Iran, Pakistan, West Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Belgium, Eire and the United Nations.

I regret that the records of the costs of individual posts abroad are not maintained in a form from which it would be possible to estimate the information required within the time available. I shall write to my hon. Friend about this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the British financial contribution in a full year to the upkeep and expenses of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Under a scale agreed between Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1965, Britain contributes 30 per cent. of the net annual budget of the Commonwealth Secretariat. Our share of the budget for the current financial year is £486,521. We also make available, rent-free, the Secretariat's main office accommodation in Marlborough House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate in a full year of the cost incurred through travel and subsistence of sending Ministers and officials to meetings of EEC institutions.

The gross cost to the Diplomatic and Consular Services Vote is estimated at £33,500 in a full year. After refunds by the EEC for certain journeys the net cost is £29,300.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is spent each year from Government sources in maintaining contact between NATO parliamentarians in conferences, meetings and exchange visits.

Her Majesty's Government contribute 19·5 per cent. of the budget of the North Atlantic Assembly, which is an unofficial assembly of parliamentarians from NATO member countries. In the financial year 1974–75 Her Majesty's Government's share amounted to £42,250 and was borne on the FCO vote. The budget of the NAA meets the costs of the Assembly secretariat and of Assembly activities. It does not meet the expenses of British parliamentarians attending NAA meetings, which are borne on the Votes of the House of Lords or the House of Commons.The FCO also sponsors visits to the United Kingdom by parliamentarians from other countries, including NATO member countries. In 1975, 17 NATO parliamentarians visited the United Kingdom under this scheme, at a total cost to Her Majesty's Government of £4,895.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much is spent each year from Government sources to assist BBC foreign broadcasting services; and if he will provide a breakdown of the expenditure by service.

Details of the grant in aid to the Britsh Broadcasting Corporation in respect of external broadcasting and monitoring services are published in the annual Supply Estimates. Net estimated totals for the last three years have been:

1973–74	£15,854,000
1974–75	£16,549,000
1975–76	£22,751,000

In the current year the net cost of the External Broadcasting Service, excluding capital expenditure and the cost of the BBC Monitoring Services but including the cost of the relay stations for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible, is estimated at £21,640,000.With the apportionment of all overheads, this sum is broken down into services, as follows:

English-speaking broadcasting and associated activities	£8,483,000
Foreign language broadcasting of which:	£13,157,000
Central European Service	£1,644,000
East European Service	£1,769,000
South European Service	£1,040,000
French Service	£0,987,000
German Service	£0,862,000
Eastern Service	£1,413,000
Far Eastern Service	£1,386,000
Latin American Service	£1,023,000
African Service	£0,600,000
Arabic Service	£2,433,000

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which countries, if any, in the Warsaw Pact bloc he has addressed public representations during the last 18 months on the question of sentences, trials, arrests, interrogation and alleged ill-treatment of foreign nationals.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary, made representations, which were made public at the time, to the German Democratic Republic in September 1974, asking for clemency for Miss Susan Ballantine and Mr. Alan Watson. There have been no other cases in which my right hon. Friend has acted in the manner described by the hon. Member. But on occasion representations and expressions of concern have been made privately to Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the official representation of Her Majesty's Government at General Franco's funeral and explain why the decision taken on this issue was reached.

Her Majesty's Government were represented at the funeral by the Lord Privy Seal. This was a conventional courtesy on the occasion of the funeral of the Head of State of a country with which we have diplomatic relations. Our views on the régime which has ended are in no doubt, and have not changed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the recent increase in gas prices conforms with the Government's counter-inflation policy.

Yes. This increase was in accordance with provisions of the Price Code, as well as reflecting the need, recognised in the Government's White Paper on "The Attack on Inflation," to increase nationalised industry prices this year in order to eliminate deficits.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what recent studies he has made into the viability of a Severn barrage scheme for producing electricity from tidal power; and if he will make a statement.

The viability of a Severn barrage was considered in detail earlier this year by the Advisory Council on Research and Development. The Central Electricity Generating Board advised on the economics of a barrage as a power generator, while the Department of the Environment advised on transport factors, such as the benefit of a road crossing on the barrage and on the probable environmental costs and benefits of the scheme. The conclusion of the council was that a full feasibility study could not be justified, although some further studies were desirable to throw light on one or two of the more critical technological factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the saving in reduced oil imports if a Severn barrage scheme were built and in full operation.

It is estimated that the most economically attractive Severn barrage scheme would save just under 2½ million tons oil equivalent of fuel per annum. The effect of a barrage on the consumption of different fuels would depend on a number of factors such as the availability and relative costs of these fuels in the year in which the barrage is assumed to be operating.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many evictions there were from tied accommodation provided by the National Coal Board for each of the past 10 years.

This is a matter of day-to-day management for the National Coal Board in which I do not normally intervene, and I am asking the chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal has been imported from Vietnam in the last 12 months; and how much he expects to be imported from Vietnam in the next 12 months.

Total imports of anthracite nuts, the only solid fuel being imported from Vietnam during the last 12 months, were about 25,000 tons. A further 50,000 tons may follow within the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many interviews have been conducted by, or on behalf of, his Department with a view to finding a chief executive for the BNOC.

The number and nature of interviews held with a view to public appointment are a matter of confidence between the Government and the candidates concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he still intends to appoint a full time chief executive of the BNOC.

I must ask the right hon. Member to await the announcement of further appointments to the BNOC. The appointment of one of the board members as chief executive is for the corporation to make, with my approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he proposes to bring the various parts of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act into force.

I shall lay commencement Orders in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if his Department uses executive aircraft; and, if so, how much he estimates will be spent on this type of travel in the current financial year.

The cost of occasional use of executive aircraft by my Department is estimated as £2,000 in the current financial year. Whenever possible, Government-owned aircraft are used.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate in a full year of the cost incurred through travel and subsistence of sending Ministers and officials to meetings of EEC institutions.

The cost of travel and subsistence incurred by Ministers and officials of my Department attending meetings of EEC institutions is estimated as £18,500 in the current financial year. Reimbursement of about half of this amount is expected from the EEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what would be the known reserves of oil and natural gas, expressed as (a) a quantity, and (b) a percentage of total known reserves, in the English sector of the North Sea, if the boundary line between the English and Scottish sectors were taken to be a prolongation of the land frontier from the point at which it intersects the coast, as in accordance with international maritime law, rather than the line of latitude at which the land frontier intersects the coast.

There are no sectors in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, but because there are three systems of law in the United Kingdom it is necessary to define the areas of their respective jurisdictions. The resulting divisions are solely for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the proven oil reserves in British waters off Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Orkney and Shetland Islands, respectively; and what percentage of the total each represents.

Proven oil reserves in United Kingdom waters amount to about 1,060 million tons. Since there is no basis for defining what sectors of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf would be appropriately regarded as belonging to different parts of the country, I can make no estimate of what percentage of total reserves might lie in these hypothetical sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the initially projected contractors' costs of preparing the platform building site at Portavadie; and what are the contractors' costs incurred to date.

The initially projected contractors' costs of that part of the platform building site at Portavadie which the Government are financing was £11·6 million. The contractors' costs incurred to date are £9·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when it is projected that the prepartion of the platform building site at Portavadie will be complete; whether the completion date will be within the timetable originally laid down; and what by then will be the total of contractors' costs involved.

The estimated completion dates are:

• Dock Phase 1—2nd November 1975 (Actual)
• Dock Phase 2—28th November 1975
• Dock Ancillary Works—22nd February 1976
• Village—8th February 1976

The original timetable was:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make an estimate of the size of the work force necessary to build a caisson gate at the platform building site at Portavadie.

On the basis that it would take nine months to build a caisson gate the contractor's estimate of the size of the work force required is 72·5 man-years, with a peak work force of about 13 man-years.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the total amount of time lost on the preparation of the platform building site at Portavadie through industrial disputes.

Nil.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what alternative uses for the platform building site at Portavadie have been considered.

A preliminary study has indicated that the site could be converted into a ship repair yard suitable for large semi-submersibles, Derrick barges, pipe laying and Bury barges.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many of the work force at present employed at the platform building site at Portavadie are from (a) Argyll and Bute district and (b) the rest of Strathclyde Region; and what percentage of the total workforce on the site (a) and (b), respectively, represent.

The figures are:

(a) Argyll and Bute District	206 (42%)
(b) Rest of Strathclyde Region	142 (29%)

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the work force in Cowal and Kintyre is employed at present on the platform building site at Portavadie.

Approximately 1·6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will give general directions to the CEGB and the British Gas Corporation to recover the cost of electricity and gas, respectively, consumed in premises occupied by squatters or to cut off the supply.

No; the procedures of the electricity boards and gas regions for obtaining payment do not differentiate between squatters and the general body of consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present capacity of the emergency accident unit at Broad Green Hospital, Liverpool.

There is no ready measure of the capacity of an accident and emergency department which is dependent on the facilities available elsewhere in the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if there is to be a new emergency accident unit at Broad Green Hospital, Liverpool.

The Mersey Regional Health Authority will be considering plans for the extension of the accident and emergency department at Broad Green for inclusion in its programme of capital works, when it is advised of its capital allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the Davies Report on complaints by patients will be implemented; what discussions have taken place with the community health councils in relation to this report; and what is to be the rôle of community health councils in relation to the operation of the report.

I am still considering the Davies Committee's Report. I hope to make an announcement before too long. Community health councils had not been set up when consultations took place on the report. They will, however, be consulted on any proposals relating to complaints procedure in the health services arising from decisions on the report. Community health councils already have a part to play in relation to complaints: for example, in meeting requests for advice on making a complaint and in acting as "patient's friend" when needed. I would expect them to continue in this rôle in the future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much grain was imported in 1972, 1973, 1974 and in 1975 to date from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; and what proportions of such grain were of North American, or other non-Soviet, origin.

During the period in question the only United Kingdom grain imports from the USSR were those in 1972, when 253,581 tons of wheat were imported. These figures show only the country from which the grain was shipped; details of country of origin are not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current number of civil servants in his Department; and what was the total in 1964 and the percentage increase or decrease between the two dates.

The total number of staff in the Ministry at 1st October 1975 was 15,557 compared with a total of 15,753 at 1st October 1964. This is a decrease of 1·24 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate in a full year of the cost incurred through travel and subsistence of sending Ministers and officials to meetings of EEC institutions.

The total estimated annual cost is £200,000, of which about £115,000 is recoverable from the Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the cost to the British taxpayer, in each year the United Kingdom has been in membership, of EEC policies to store or destroy beef, milk powder, wine or fruit; and what has been the cost of subsidised exports to third countries such as the Soviet Union.

The United Kingdom contributes to the Communities' budget as a whole and not to its individual parts. The United Kingdom contribution was 8·78 per cent. in 1973 and 11·04 per cent. in 1974.The costs of the EEC policies are set out below:

COST OF STORAGE
	1973	1974
	£ million	£ million
Beef and veal	5·6	102·8
Skimmed milk powder	0·5	−6·8*
Wine	2·8	10·8
* This figure reflects the change in the value of skimmed milk powder stocks.

There is no policy for storing fruitWhere there are surpluses of these products in their original form they are, with the exception of beef which is stored in frozen or preserved form, converted into other products either for human or animal consumption or for other uses. Separate figures for the cost of conversion of wine and fruit are not available. The cost of conversion of powdered skimmed milk cannot be separated from that of liquid milk. The cost of conversion of both products was £169·3 million in 1973 and £234·6 million in 1974.

COST OF SUBSIDISED EXPORTS TO THIRD COUNTRIES
	1973	1974
	£ million	£ million
Beef and veal *	1·1	23·1
Milk products *	310·2†	143·5
Wine	0·2	0·04
Fresh fruit and vegetables *	10·5	7·1
* Figures for beef, milk powder and fruit are not separately available.
† Includes sale of butter to USSR, £121·8 million.

All the figures are converted from units of account at the rate of £1 = 2·4 u.a.

1,135 on 1st November 1975 and 1,509 on 1st November 1964. This represents a decrease of

ENGLAND: NUMBERS AND EARNINGS NUMBERS OF PERSONS
					June	June	June
					1973	1974	1975*
Hired:
Regular whole-time—
Males	…	…	…	…	136,427	131,682	127,412
Females	…	…	…	…	12,921	12,972	11,463
Regular part-time—
Males	…	…	…	…	17,253	16,474	15,667
Females	…	…	…	…	23,081	23,599	23,219
Family:
Regular whole-time—
Males	…	…	…	…	31,152	26,569	25,648
Females	…	…	…	…	8,385	8,062	7,171
Regular part-time—
Males	…	…	…	…	8,771	8,331	8,392
Females	…	…	…	…	14,384	14,139	14,491
Seasonal or casual	…	…	…	…	67,809	64,216	59,200
Managers	…	…	…	…	5,275	5,947	6,020
Total Workers	…	…	…	…	325,458	311,991	298,683
Farmers, partners and directors	…	…	…	…	192,036	185,555	185,409
Total Persons	…	…	…	…	517,494	497,546	484,092
* Provisional.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current number of civil servants in his Department;

The number of persons employed in agriculture in England over the past three years, together with earnings for regular whole-time hired workers is set out below.Information is not available on the earnings of farmers, partners and directors, but the Farm Management Survey shows that the average net income—the return for the labour of the farmer and his wife and return on farm capital excluding land and buildings—of full-time farms in England was £5,773 in 1972–73 and £6,910 in 1973–74. The 1974–75 figure is estimated to be about 10 per cent. below the 1973–74 level.and what was the total in 1964 and the percentage increase or decrease between the two dates.

1,135 on 1st November 1975 and 1,509 on 1st November 1964. This represents a decrease of 25 per cent., but the two figures are not comparable, because that for 1964 includes staff engaged on Civil Service pay and management work which in 1968 was transferred to the newly-established Civil Service Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase would have to be made in the £5,000 exemption limit for value added tax in order to restore the limit to the same real value as when that tax was first introduced; and what would be the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer if the limit was so raised.

The exemption limit would need to be raised to £8,000 a year, and the cost to the Exchequer would be about £25 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce appropriate legislation to enable all individuals and businesses registered for value added tax purposes to deduct a sum equal to 1 per cent. of the total output tax due for remittance from time to time to the Commissioner for Customs and Excise up to the maximum of £100 in each case so as to remunerate them, in part at least, for their services as collectors; and what would be the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer if such legislation were to be enacted.

No. It is not possible to give a precise estimate of the annual cost, but it could be some £50 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the loss of revenue arising from an exemption from capital gains taxes on owner-occupied homes which are part let, but in which the owner retains use of (a) half or more and (b) two-thirds or more, of the accommodation.

I regret that the information upon which to base such an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of Great Britain's contribution to the expenditure incurred in a full year by the Commission of the European Communities.

Contributions by the United Kingdom to the budget of the European Communities in the two full years since accession were as follows:

	£ million
	1973	1974
Gross contributions	181	179
Receipts	77	148
Net Contribution	104	31

Forecasts of contributions in future years were given in "Public Expenditure to 1978–79" (Cmnd. 5879).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the annual revenue implications for Her Majesty's Government in travel, subsistence, additional staffing of Parliament, Ministries, and Community institutions including the European Assembly, arising out of United Kingdom membership of the EEC.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.