asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the implications for the policy of his Department of paragraph 127 of the White Paper, Command Paper No. 6348.

The implications are that the relationship between my Department and the universities, through the UGC, will remain unchanged. Arrangements should be made for close liaison between the Scottish universities and the Scottish administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce a system of student loans for postgraduates to pay for their maintenance while students.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of all persons employed by education authorities throughout the country are teachers.

In June 1975 the percentage in England and Wales was 50. Many local education authority employees are part-time, and it is estimated that in terms of equivalent full-time service the percentage was 56. About three-quarters of the employees who are not teachers are manual workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are at present employed in the public sector of education in England and Wales; and what is his estimate of the corresponding figure for each of the next three years.

549,000, expressed as full-time equivalents in September 1975, excluding part-time teachers in further education. Figures for the next three years will depend upon teacher wastage and further public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present number of qualified teachers who are unemployed; what has been the increase during the past year; and if he will make a statement about the future training programme of teachers in the light of these figures.

In September 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, 3,911 unemployed school teachers were recorded at employment offices in England and Wales. This is 1,598 more than a year earlier. After consultations with the Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers I reduced the intake to courses for non-graduate initial training in 1976 from 23,000 to 20,000. The Committee will continue to keep the numbers for later years under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has of the number of teachers likely to graduate from colleges of education in 1976; how this compares with the previous three years; and what is the estimated proportion of these likely to find immediate employment in the teaching profession.

The numbers of students successfully completing courses of initial training in England and Wales are estimated to be:

1973	42,000
1974	41,600
1975	40,000
1976	37,600

A high proportion, but not all, of those who complete their courses next year and seek employment in the teaching profession are likely to find it. Uncertainty about trends in wastage from and re-entry to the profession rules out precise estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has had any discussions with the Schools Council about the introduction of a new grading system for the General Certificate of Education ordinary level examinations.

The new grading system, which was used for the first time this year, was approved by the then Secretary of State in April 1974, on a recommendation from the Schools Council. The system is explained in the Department's Administrative Memorandum No. 5/75, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when next he intends to meet the UGC.

I visited the University Grants Committee during its meeting on 24th November. I have no plans to meet it again in the immediate future.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to reduce the numbers of closed and restricted scholarships and exhibitions which can be awarded by British universities.

No. These awards do not come from public funds and do not materially affect the chances of other candidates for places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the provision of fire alarm systems in schools.

My Department, in its publication Building Bulletin 7, "Fire and the Design of Schools", issues general guidance about different types of fire warning systems appropriate for schools and encourages consultation locally with the chief fire officer of the fire authority concerned. Responsibility for fire precautions in their schools, however, rests with the local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposal he has received to move Parmitters School to Watford; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received no proposals for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what letters he has received concerning the future of secondary education in Newcastle-under-Lyme; and what has been his reply.

The only letter my right hon. Friend has received has been from my hon. Friend, who will by now have received his reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received from South-East Derbyshire about his refusal to support the decision taken by the Derbyshire Education Committee to establish sixth forms at the Western Mere and Friesland schools.

Representations have been received from the Governors of the Western Mere Secondary School, the Breaston Parish Council, the Breaston Parents Committee and 14 individuals about the Western Mere school. No representations have been received about the Friesland school other than from the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of fees at independent schools and direct grant schools are at the moment paid by local authorities in respect of pupils living in their area, or by local Government departments in respect of pupils whose parents are Government employees.

Local education authorities at present pay the fees of virtually all the pupils who attend non-maintained special schools, about half of those attending direct grant schools—other than special schools, and about 7 per cent. of those attending independent schools. Certain Government Departments pay to employees, in certain circumstances, education allowances which may be used in payment or part payment of fees for their children at non-maintained schools; and local education authorities have power to give assistance with fees at non-maintained schools to the extent necessary to avoid hardship. The proportion which children covered by these arrangements represents of the total numbers attending the schools concerned is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now answer Questions on school curricula.

I shall continue to answer Questions on any matters for which I have responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the dates at which children may leave school.

The dates on which children may leave school are at present fixed by the Education Act of 1962. Those children born between 1st September and 31st January may leave at the end of the Easter term following their sixteenth birthdays; those born between 1st February and 31st August may do so at the end of the summer term. A Bill to bring forward the summer leaving date from the end of the summer term to the last Friday in May was introduced in another place on 11th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he takes into account the past record of museums and galleries in raising funds from private sources when deciding whether to make special grants of funds for the purchase of works of art of national importance which come unexpectedly on to the market.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the procedures for validating degree programmes proposed by colleges and insti- tutions of higher education; and whether he is satisfied with the present situation.

In addition to the Council for National Academic Awards there are over 20 universities which validate degree programmes at the colleges. They have full responsibility for approving the academic content or standard of the courses they validate, and it is for them to consider any evidence of unsatisfactory standards for validation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what study he has made of the disadvantages of correspondence course students as compared with their college counterparts; whether he has any plans for assisting correspondence course students on approved vocational courses; and if he will make a statement.

I have received about 50 letters from MPs enclosing almost identical letters from students on correspondence courses protesting that they are at a disadvantage in relation to taxation, postage and local education authority grants. Two of these are areas for which I am not responsible and I have passed the letters on to the Ministers concerned. It is open to local education authorities to make discretionary awards to them, as to students taking such vocational courses in colleges. I have no powers to make such awards mandatory, and I do not consider it appropriate to seek such powers in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider giving correspondence colleges representation upon the Business Education Council.

The Business Education Council already has substantial experience available in this field. Its Vice-Chairman is also Chairman of the Council for the Accreditation of Correspondence Colleges and there is one other member who serves on both bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to enable him to give guidance to the local education authorities as to the minimum annual expenditure which they should allocate per school per pupil on text and exercise books.

No. Expenditure on books, whether through individual schools or otherwise, is properly a matter for the discretion of the local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet concluded his studies concerning capitation allowances by local education authorities in respect of books and consumable materials used in primary and secondary schools.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what allocation of money he proposes to make to Derbyshire County Council for replacement of primary schools in the Bolsover constituency.

It is for the local education authority to decide what projects it wishes to start in any particular year within the lump sum authorisation for school building allocated to the authority by my right hon. Friend. Derbyshire was notified in August of an allocation of £2,878,000 for school building in 1976–77. The authority's list of intended major school building starts within that sum includes no replacement projects for any part of the county.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will extend the range of statistics used by his Department so as to include such matters as the numbers of children in different types of school, and the incidence of truancy.

My Department already publishes annual statistics showing the total numbers of children in different types of school. As I told the House on 11th November—[Vol. 899, c. 1118–9.]—school absence returns are among the possibilities we shall be considering in the light of the responses to our consultative letter on behavioural problems in schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is considering proposals to allow local authorities to levy a charge for milk supplies to schoolchildren aged 8 to 11 years; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with local authorities.

It is a requirement of the Education (Milk) 1971 Act that the cost of any milk supplied by local education authorities to pupils who are not entitled to it free must be covered by the charge made. The Government plan to remove this requirement at the first opportunity, but the question of the subsequent changes in the arrangements is still under discussion with the local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress he has made in generating more industrial and private patronage for the arts.

I am still having talks with the CBI about the setting up of some suitable machinery for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate from information available to him the average cost per pupil of primary education in Cornwall, England and Wales, and that area of England and Wales which has the highest cost per pupil; and if he is able to provide any information about the comparative quality of the education provided.

In the financial year 1975–76 estimates of the average cost of primary school pupils in Cornwall, and in England and Wales generally, are £180·9 and £219·8 respectively. The highest estimated average cost per pupil is £311·2 for the Inner London Education Authority. It is not my right hon. Friend's practice to make general comparisons of the education provided by different local education authorities, nor is it clear how such comparisons might profitably be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate from information available to him the average cost per pupil of secondary education in Cornwall, England and Wales and that area of England and Wales which has the highest cost per pupil; and if he is able to provide any information about the comparative quality of the education provided.

In the financial year 1975–76, estimates of the average cost of secondary school pupils in respect of the Cornwall LEA and England and Wales generally are £322·3 and £346·9 respectively. The highest estimated average cost per pupil is £442·8 for the Inner London Education Authority.It is not my right hon. Friend's practice to make comparisons of the education provided by different local education authorities, nor is it clear how such comparisons might profitably be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the level of discipline in schools.

I doubt whether there has even been a time when one could have been wholly satisfied about this. I release that there are influences mainly outside the school which make discipline these days more difficult; but I do not accept that behaviour problems are as widespread as is often suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions are planned with local authority representatives in relation to spending on educational provision in 1976, 1977 and 1978, respectively.

Since the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance was set up in May of this year it has engaged in extensive discussion of local authority expenditure levels in 1976–77 on education and other services, in preparation for the rate support grant settlement recently reported to this House. Similar discussions in relation to 1977–78 are due to take place next year. I shall continue to take part in these discussions and also to use other suitable means of consultation on matters of education policy and expenditure, including the Council of Local Education Authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has yet initiated the necessary consultations with regard to the UNESCO recommendation concerning education for international understanding and human rights adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 19th November 1974; and with what results.

Yes. My Department has now had the views of the education departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and of the local authority associations. It is currently consulting the teachers' associations, but the comments of all of them have not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about proposals he has received concerning the reorganisation of secondary education in Whitehaven.

My right hon. Friend has received and approved proposals for the Roman Catholic High School in Whitehaven to reorganise on comprehensive lines. He has not yet received any proposals in respect of the county schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many colleges of further education provide courses for ESN(M) and ESN(S) students.

I do not have precise information, but a growing number of local education authorities are making provision of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if there are any statutory provisions which allow parents the right to refuse a place allocated to their child at an ESN school.

Section 36 of the Education Act 1944 imposes a duty on parents to secure that a child receives efficient full-time education suitable to his age, ability and aptitude. They may perform this duty either by accepting a place offered by a local education authority or by making other suitable arrangements for the child.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, bearing in mind the contribution which is made to the inner urban environment of Birmingham, he will ensure that St. Peter's College, Saltley, continues to have a teacher training role and will maintain a normal intake of students in 1976.

I am considering the future of St. Peter's College, Saltley, along with that of other Church of England colleges of education. I have had many representations on behalf of this college and will bear in mind its special position.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received following the decision to prevent pre-rising 5s from starting school in 1976; and what reply he has made.

Many letters have been received in protest against economies in education expenditure, and a substantial proportion have referred to provision for the under-5s. Replies have emphasised the provisional status of the advice in the Department's Circular 10/75; the objective is to moderate the rate of growth of education expenditure, not to put it into reverse in real terms responsibility for decisions lies ultimately with individual local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if any local education authorities have informed him that they intend to continue admitting pre-rising 5s to school in 1976.

No. They are not required to offer such information to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated saving in public expendi- ture in preventing local education authorities from admitting pre-rising 5s to school.

If all local authorities were to refuse admission of pre-rising 5s to infant classes, and if they secured savings in proportion to the resultant diminution in numbers attending primary school, the total saving would be of the order of £25 million.

asked the Secretary ot State for Education and Science whether he is yet in a position to announce the Government's plans for a first phase of construction of the new British Library building on the Euston Road site.

The Government are actively considering in conjunction with the British Library Board the size and scope of such a first phase on which detailed design work is to go forward, as I announced to the House on 5th August.—[Vol. 897, c. 143.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek powers to authorise experiments in the voucher system by one or more local education authorities.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many federated institutes of the British Postgraduate Medical Federation there are; and how many of their teaching and research staff receive public money, including salary supplements.

There are 13 institutes in the British Postgraduate Medical Federation, which is a school of the University of London. The federation had 523 full-time academic staff in 1974–75, of whom 315 were wholly, and seven were partly, paid from the university's general income. Supplementary grants are made to the university by the University Grants Committee to cover the cost of salary increases in respect of these staff. Salaries of the remaining 201 staff are met from a variety of sources, including research grants from both public and private funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has given consideration to the level of tuition fees in institutions of higher and further education for the academic year 1976–77; and if he will make a statement.

I have considered the question of tuition fees in further education in consultation with the local authority associations as part of the annual review of fees proposed in Circular 3/75. I have also considered the recently published Interim Report of the Joint Working Party on Tuition Fees set up by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the University Grants Committee. This Joint Working Party has recommended, as an interim measure to be implemented in the academic year 1976–77. a percentage increase in existing fees in line with increases in costs. I understand that an increase of this nature would also be acceptable to local authorities.The relevant cost increases over the past year are of the order of 30 per cent. both for universities and for institutions of further education. I am, therefore, issuing within the next few days a further circular to local education authorities recommending that fees should be

							Industrial	Non-Industrial
H.M. Dockyard Naval Base, Rosyth			…	…	…	…	5,504	2,549
HMS "Caledonia", Rosyth	…	…	…	…	…	…	114	62
Royal Naval Store, Lathalmond		…	…	…	…	…	140	23
Royal Naval Armament Depot, Crombie			…	…	…	…	304	132

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses owned by his Department have been changed from solid fuel to other forms of heating since March 1974; and whether he will stop the policy forthwith.

The information is not readily available but I will arrange for details to be published in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce his decision on the most suitable site in South Wales for the Ministry of Defence establishment that it has been agreed to transfer from London.

We hope to do so soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) industrial, (b) non-industrial civil servants there are employed in Her Majesty's Dockyard Naval Base Rosyth, HMS "Caledonia", Rosyth, Royal Naval Store, Lathelmond, and the Royal Naval Armament, Depot, Crombie, respectively.

From the latest information available the numbers of Ministry of Defence civilians employed at these establishments is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Scottish university students asking for increased allowances to meet the cost of higher rents; and if he will make a statement.

I have received several letters from students or student bodies which have included such representations. In addition I have received 18 letters representing that the rents charged in a particular hall of residence are too high. The rates of student grant for 1975–76 were settled after consideration of all relevant factors including costs of board and lodgings. These rates will be revised for 1976–77 and the review will again take account of all these factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many projects similar to the Government-sponsored English Inner Area Study Reports have been undertaken in Scotland;(2) what studies have been undertaken under his sponsorship on urban housing problems since 1970;(3) what studies similar to the English Inner Area Study Reports have been undertaken or are planned for those areas in Clydeside highlighted as areas of maximum urban deprivation in the recent Department of the Environment survey statistics;(4) whether he will initiate Inner Area Study reports in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

A number of corresponding studies and projects have been carried out, suited to Scotland's problems which are not confined to inner city areas. These include the West Central Scotland Plan which is being followed up in the Strathclyde Regional Report; a report, shortly to be published, on housing needs and strategies; community and housing projects, e.g., at Alloa, Govan, Mother-well and Paisley; and other local activities. Earlier this year, I set up a small Urban Renewal Unit in the Scottish Development Department to co-ordinate and promote work in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much financial assistance was given in 1974–75 to the Football Association of Scotland; and what is the estimated figure for the current financial year.

Government assistance to sport in Scotland is channelled through the Scottish Sports Council. In 1974–75 the council gave no financial assistance to the Scottish Football Association, but it recently offered the association a grant at the rate of £2,000 a year for three years from 24th November 1975 towards the salary and expenses of a national coach, I understand that in the current financial year the grant is expected to amount to about £1,100.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportions of the total of £1,392,658 outlayed from the Legal Aid (Scotland) Fund in respect of matrimonial actions for the year to 31st March 1975, were for solicitor's charges, counsels' fees and outlays.

Precise figures of the kind requested are not readily available. It is, however, reasonable to assume that the percentages of the total legal aid expenditure in matrimonial cases attributable to solicitors' fees, counsel's fees and outlays do not differ greatly from the percentages of all civil court cases which for the year ending 31st March 1975, were respectively 65·37 per cent., 10·22 per cent. and 24·41 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will authorise the Scottish Development Agency to establish a Scottish-based venture capital company for the initial financing of entrepreneurs in Scotland.

This is a matter for the Agency itself to consider in the first instance in the context of devising appropriate machinery for the exercise of its industrial investment functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of the Government's current grant to the Scottish Council (Development and Industry); and what is the purpose of this grant.

Grant in aid of up to £150,000 per annum is available to the Scottsh Council (Development and Industry) this year and in 1976–77 to help defray the cost of the council's worldwide campaign to attract industry and investment to Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance is being given by him to operators of air services in the Highlands and Islands area during 1975–76; and what services are to be assisted.

In terms of Section 21 of the Scottish Development Agency Act 1975, which came into operation yesterday, Loganair Ltd. is being financially assisted for the current financial year for the services shown below, aid for the first two services will cover the full financial year, and for the latter two is for the periods until 28th September and 30th September 1975 respectively.

	£
Glasgow to Tiree and Barra	64,100
Glasgow to Skye	31,724
Glasgow to Oban and Mull	4,500
Shetland inter-island air services	18,000
	118,324

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the reactions that he has received to the White Paper on devolution.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have so far received about 50 letters commenting on the White Paper. It is much too soon to make any reliable estimate of public reaction to the Government's proposals. We have yet to hear from nearly 400 organisations which have been invited to comment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now appoint a Minister with specific responsibility for Government borrowing.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his question on 3rd December.My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has specific responsibility for Government borrowing.—[Vol. 901, c. 558.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the categories of self-employed or unemployed persons who pay tax under Schedule D arrangements.

All profits from self-employment are chargeable to tax under Schedule D. Unemployed persons with no profits are chargeable under Schedule D only if they have certain other income, such as interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing (a) total national insurance contributions, distinguishing between employers' and employees' contributions and (b) income tax liability, each as a percentage of the gross wage of a man with a wife and two children not over 11 years of age earning 50 per cent., 75 per cent., 100 per cent., 150 per cent., and 200 per cent. of average manual earnings in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1975 and 1976, assuming for 1976 the new rates of national insurance proposed to take effect from 1st April 1976, and assuming that average earnings in 1976 will be £6 higher than in 1975.

The figures are as shown in the table below.For the purpose of the calculations it has been assumed that

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a buyer's commission charged by a fine art auctioneer selling original oil paintings is subject to value added tax.

A commission charged on a supply of services by an auctioneer to a buyer is chargeable with VAT. Auctioneers normally charge a commission to the seller, but some auctioneers also add a percentage to the hammer price, calling it a "buyer's premium" and treating it as part of the consideration for the goods rather than for the supply of auctioneer's services. Such a buyer's premium is then dealt with for VAT purposes in the same way as the goods themselves. If they are sold on behalf of an unregistered person, no VAT is chargeable, but if on behalf of a taxable person, the buyer's premium bears VAT in the same way as the goods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual loss of revenue if VAT exemption is given to the hand controls of disabled drivers' vehicles.

The revenue loss would be very small if relief could be restricted to this one item.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number and type of aids to disabled people which are now exempt from VAT.

Any medical or surgical appliance designed solely for the relief of a severe abnormality or severe injury is zero rated under Item 2 of Group 14 of Schedule 4 to the Finance Act 1972 when supplied to a chronically sick or disabled person for his domestic use and provided the supply is supported by a medical certificate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the extra yield of VAT would be if the standard rate were raised to 9 per cent., 10 per cent., 11 per cent., 12 per cent., 15 per cent., 20 per cent., and 25 per cent., respectively.

It is estimated that the additional revenue in a full year From raising the standard rate of VAT would be:

Change in VAT Rate	Additional Revenue
	(£ million)
from 8 per cents to 9 per cent.	250
to 10 per cent.	500
to 11 per cent.	750
to 12 per cent.	1000
to 15 per cent.	1750
to 20 per cent.	3000
to 25 per cent.	4000

The larger increases in the rate of VAT would cause considerable changes in the economy and estimates for them are correspondingly uncertain.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the viability of the secondary banks subject to the City rescue operation of 1973–74.

The support operation has been successful in its primary objective of preserving confidence in the banking system generally. Depositors with the companies that have been assisted have been protected from loss. The details of the operation are a matter for the Bank of England and the clearing banks, on the one hand, and the companies assisted, on the other. I do not think that it would be in the public interest to comment on the position of individual companies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish an estimate of the amount of interest on Eurodollar loans set off against the repatriation of funds by British overseas companies in the latest 12-month period; and what percentage of total profits this is.

The payment of interest on Eurocurrency loans taken by British companies to finance overseas subsidiaries is normally required to be offset in due course against matching benefits received from the subsidiary before exchange control permission is given for the repayment of the loan. Aggregate figures of the amount of interest paid on such loans are not available, and I regret that the required estimates cannot be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is possible for Customs officers to identify at ports of entry (i) carded or combed vicuna hair (ii) uncarded or uncombed vicuna hair (iii) cloths made from vicuna hair; which of these products is a restricted import; and if there is any reason for any distinction in restriction on the three categories of commodity.

The importation of vicuna hair, whether or not carded or combed, is restricted, but importation of cloth made from the hair is not. Identification of the hair is difficult and whilst Customs officers are given general guidance as to its characteristics cases of doubt can normally be resolved only by the reference of samples for laboratory examination. The identification difficulties are greater in the case of cloth, particularly

					US $ million		Canadian $ million
					1974	1975	1974	1975
Her Majesty's Government $2·5 million loan from clearing banks	…	…	…	…	1,250	2,500
Long term loans, mainly dating back to the Second World War	…	…	…	…	3,461	3,398	853	831

In addition, identified overseas holdings of United Kingdom Government Stocks and Treasury Bills amounted to about £2·38 billion at the end of September 1975, compared with £2·75 billion a year earlier.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the proportion of total costs that is represented by wages and salaries in both the economy as a whole and in manufacturing industry.

The percentage contributions of income from employment to the gross domestic product at factor cost for the economy as a whole, and to the output generated in manufacturing industry, are given for each of the years 1970 to 1974 below. Estimates for the economy as a whole are given on page 118 of the October 1975 issue of Economic Trends for a longer run of years.

	Whole economy	Manufacturing industry
1970	69·9	76·4
1971	69·4	77·0
1972	68·8	76·3
1973	69·0	78·0
1974	72·3	83·2

Income from employment includes wages, salaries and employers' contributions to National Insurance and superannuation funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest level of Her Majesty's Government's debts to overseas creditors; and how this compares with the corresponding figure 12 months previously.

At the end of November 1975, foreign currency borrowing by Her Majesty's Government totalled some $6·7 billion, compared with $5·6 billion a year earlier. These totals are made up as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to make a preliminary statement on the Inter-Departmental Committee on Industrial Democracy in the public sector; and whether the small businesses association and other management bodies will be invited to give evidence.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th December 1975; Vol. 902, c. 462], gave the following reply:In the first part of the Government's study of industrial democracy in the nationalised industries each of the industries, the unions and all other interested parties will be asked for their views. Any organisation which wishes to give evidence may do so. We will announce our proposals when we reply to the report of the independent committee of inquiry which is examining questions on representation at board level in the private sector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the procedure for the reimbursement of the Exchequer by Departments in respect of public expenditure incurred on activities which the courts have subsequently found to be unlawful.

Departments attempt to recover from the recipients, for surrender to the Consolidated Fund, any sums unlawfully paid and charged to public funds. The procedure for writing off any such sums which prove to be irrecoverable depends on the type of expenditure and the circumstances. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will let me know the details.

						1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974
As a percentage of expenditure based gross domestic product at factor cost:
Total public expenditure		…	…	…	…	50·3	50·6	50·0	50·1	51·1	57·3
of which, goods and services*			…	…	…	30·0	30·8	30·7	30·2	30·4	33·0
Gross domestic fixed capital formation in manufacturing industry			…	…	…	4·7	4·9	4·5	3·7	3·9	4·5
As a percentage of income based gross domestic product at factor cost:
Wages and salaries		…	…	…	…	61·1	62·0	61·5	60·7	60·7	63–3
Company profits†	…	…	…	…	…	11·6	10·5	10·8	10·7	9·8	6·7
Source: National Income and Expenditure 1964–74.
* That part of public expenditure which pre-empts directly part of the gross domestic product.
† After providing for stock appreciation but before providing for depreciation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of income was paid in income tax and national insurance contributions, respectively, and in total, by a single man and by a married man with two children, respectively, each havingThe figures are as follows:—

			Single Man			Married Man—2 children not over 11
Year			Tax Per cent.	N.I. Per cent.	Total Per cent.	Tax Per cent.	N.I. Per cent.	Total Per cent.
1945–46	…	…	23·0	1·6	24·6	4·4	1·6	6·0
1946–47	…	…	10·5	3·3	13·9	—	3·2	3·2
1947–48	…	…	14·2	3·1	17·3	—	3·0	3·0
1948–49	…	…	12·5	3·6	16·0	—	3·4	3·4
1949–50	…	…	17·8	3·4	21·3	—	3·3	3·3
1950–51	…	…	11·0	3·3	14·2	0·5	3·2	3·7
1951–52	…	…	13·1	3·1	16·2	0·7	3·0	3·6
1952–53	…	…	11·2	3·2	14·4	—	3·1	3·1
1953–54	…	…	10·6	3·0	13·6	0·3	2·9	3·2
1954–55	…	…	11·8	2·8	14·6	1·0	2·7	3·7
1955–56	…	…	12·7	3·0	15·7	0·4	2·9	3·3
1956–57	…	…	18·5	2·8	21·3	0·8	2·7	3·6
1957–58	…	…	18·8	2·9	21·7	1·5	2·9	4·4
1958–59	…	…	19·0	3·9	22·9	1·8	3·9	5·6
1959–60	…	…	14·4	3·7	18·1	2·3	3·6	5·9
1960–61	…	…	15·1	3·4	18·5	3·2	3·3	6·6
1961–62	…	…	15·5	5·1	20·6	3·7	5·0	8·7
1962–63	…	…	16·0	4·9	20·9	4·1	4·8	8·9
1963–64	…	…	16·1	5·5	21·6	3·0	5·3	8·3
1964–65	…	…	17·2	5·3	22·5	4·5	5·2	9·7
1965–66	…	…	18·9	5·4	24·3	5·9	5·3	11·3
1966–67	…	…	19·3	5·5	24·8	6·5	5·4	11·9
1967–68	…	…	20·0	5·8	25·7	7·4	5·7	13·1
1968–69	…	…	20·8	5·6	26·4	10·8	5·4	16·2
1969–70	…	…	21·7	5·2	26·8	12·5	5·0	17·5
1970–71	…	…	22·9	5·9	28·8	14·2	5·7	19·9

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures showing the proportions of the gross domestic product taken up by public expenditure, by wages and salaries, by corporate profits and by investment in manufacturing industry from 1969 to the latest convenient year.

The following table shows the figures requested:average earnings, in each year since 1945.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 9th December 1975; Vol. 902, c. 111], gave the following information:

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place a copy of his public speech on the economy made in Carlisle on 29th November in the Library.