asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make a statement on transport policy.

As soon as the transport policy review is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on bus and coach safety, as indicated in his letter to the hon. Member for Cannock, dated 21st October 1975.

My hon. Friend the Minister for Transport will make a detailed statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the likely cost of the Community Land Act in 1976–77.

Expenditure on the land schemes in 1976–77 is under consideration as part of the annual review of public expenditure generally. I must ask the hon. Member to await an announcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the progress being made in the preparation of land acquisition and management schemes; and if he will make a statement.

My information is that in general excellent progress is being made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, if he will now announce the Government's intentions regarding legislation to make the wearing of car safety belts compulsory.

As my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House said following the business statement on 18th December last, the Road Traffic (Seat Belts) Bill will be reintroduced as soon as there is time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the response of local government to Circular 88/75.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the Layfield Committee Report concerning rates; and if he plans to implement that Report with or without modifications before 1st April 1977.

As for receipt of the Report, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Dr. Marshall) and the hon. Members for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) and Northampton, South (Mr. Morris). No undertakings can be given on implementation until we have seen the report and studied it in consultation with interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to finish his review of the Rent Acts.

The review of the Rent Acts will follow on from the main Housing Finance Review this year and should be completed during 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has now had with eye specialists and organisations with expert knowledge of optical matters about the compulsory use of dipped headlights; and whether he will make a statement.

We intend to consult a wide range of representative organisations about the use of headlamps at night, and copies of the consultation letter and draft regulations will be placed in the Library. We shall include representatives of the optical profession; but anyone may ask for a copy of the consultation documents and will be welcome to give their views.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to simplify the rate support grant.

I shall certainly consider this in the light of anything the Layfield Committee may have to say. But the hon. Member will appreciate that simplicity and equity do not always go together.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the Grand National.

I understand that an agreement has been made between Ladbrokes Ltd. and the Walton Group for the management of Aintree over the next seven years, which will guarantee that the Grand National will be held at Aintree for two years at least. The Government welcome this agreement, which will allow time for all parties concerned to discuss the longer-term future of the Aintree site.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage orders for new private industrial building declined in 1975 compared with 1974; and what further decline he anticipates in 1976 compared with 1975.

Orders for new construction work in the private industrial sector in the first 10 months of 1975 were 33 per cent. lower than in the corresponding period in 1974. I expect some recovery in the level of orders this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the local authorities.

I have regular discussions with representatives of local authorities at meetings of the Consultative Council on Local Government Finance. The most recent of these was on 21st November, when the Government's proposals for the rate support grant settlement were announced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in implementing the Dobry Report.

Work is proceeding on all the matters listed for action in my right hon. Friend's statement on 12th November. The circular to local authorities was issued today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the most recent cuts in the roads programme.

Following the Budget Statement last year by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the road construction programme for 1976–77 was cut by about 8 per cent. Any changes in the programme for subsequent years will be announced in the forthcoming White Paper on Public Expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has plans to introduce new legislation affecting drink and driving.

The Department has recently received the report of the Blennerhassett Committee, and we are studying its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to encourage local authorities to make grants to old and handicapped people for the purpose of home insulation.

The position was made clear to local authorities in Circular 160/74. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of it.Briefly, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is ready to consider sympathetically submissions for grant towards roof insulation for elderly or disabled persons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he remains satisfied with the level of activity in local authority direct labour building departments.

Subject to the constraints on local authority activities I wish to see the maximum possible expansion of efficient direct labour departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the report of his working party which is looking at the operation of direct labour departments.

I will decide when I receive the working party's report whether it should be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will further encourage local authorities to rehabilitate older property.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what calculations he has made of the import cost of raw materials required for a three-bedroom council house built to Parker Morris standards.

Out of a total average materials cost of about £4,000 per house, a reasonable estimate would be £450 to £500, mainly for timber and copper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any proposals to improve the productivity of ports and docks.

Productivity is a matter for individual port managements, to whom the advice of the National Ports Council is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations have been made to him on the matter of school transport.

We have received a number of letters from hon. Members about the use of school operated transport in relation to the public service vehicle licensing system. We have also received letters about the question of concessionary fares for children on school journeys, and this is also the subject of a current appeal to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Matters arising on the statutory provision of school transport are, of course, for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now introduce legislation to relieve the rate burden on owners of holiday caravans.

The Rating (Caravan Sites) Bill now before Parliament will, if enacted, lead in general to somewhat lower rate burdens in respect of holiday caravans. My right hon. Friend does not consider that a valid case exists for removing from caravan occupiers their legal obligation to contribute to the finances of the local authority in whose area the caravan is situated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council house tenants faced orders for possession of their houses last year; and how many occupants of agricultural tied cottages faced orders for possession during the same period.

The figures are not available in the form requested. However, during the first half of 1975 some 13,400 orders for possession were granted in England and Wales to social-type landlords—that is, local authorities, registered housing associations and new town development corporations. During the same period there were 668 orders for possession made in the case of agricultural tied cottages; that is at about four times the rate in respect of social-type landlords.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy concerning the establishing of Ministry of Transport vehicle testing centres; and how these will be financed.

I intend to continue the present arrangement under which authorised examiners for the MOT test are generally appointed from among commercial garages engaged in the servicing and repair of vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he hopes to make a firm decision about the termination of the M25 near Egham or Runnymede and the construction of the Heathrow Spur; and whether he will have in mind the effect on southern villages of the Beaconsfield constituency of any failure to provide suitably for the construction between the stretch of M25 south of the Thames and that immediately north of it.

Proposals for the extension of M25 from Egham across the Thames by a second Runnymede Bridge were published in November 1975 and the results of the public consultation exercise for the section from Egham to Maple Cross will be announced as soon as possible. Subject to completion of the statutory procedures and availability of funds, it is hoped to complete construction of M25 from Egham to Heathrow by 1981. It is the intention that completion of the final stages of the southern section of the M25 should as far as possible be phased to avoid creating problems on the local road system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the legal maximum widths allowed for commercial vehicles (a) unladen and (b) fully laden.

Normally 8ft 2½in and 9ft 6in respectively. Vehicles carrying indivisible loads up to 14ft may move subject to the direction of the police. If the load is wider than this, special permission is required and conditions may be imposed regarding the route.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to require highway authorities to (a) improve class A roads to acceptable standards and (b) restrict the use of class A roads by certain commercial vehicles.

As regards class A roads other than trunk roads, my right hon. Friend has no powers to require highway authorities to improve such roads. The regulation of traffic using them is, outside Greater London, the responsibility of the county council, and my right hon. Friend's powers of direction are limited to reserve powers under Section 84A of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967, as amended by subsequent legislation including the Heavy Commercial Vehicles (Control and Regulations) Act 1973, which he may use only in the circumstances described therein.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount spent to date by British Rail on the development of its TOPS system, the value of sub-contract work involved and the proportion, in value terms, of the sub-contract work placed with companies in Scotland.

I understand from British Railways that they have spent £16·6 million. Contractual matters lie within the commercial jurisdiction of the board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what methods are used or are likely to be used in the measurement of estimated savings accruing from further closures of railway routes or passenger services on them submitted to him by British Rail; and how any such estimates are related to estimated economies calculated for part-closures and measurements of the actual savings seen to arise from them.

The principle is to identify the escapable costs of the service and the potential loss of earnings. These are matters for the Railways Board in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he is making in relation to the future of British Railways; if he will take into consideration the social as well as the economic requirements of the travelling public; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans) and the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received against the proposal to build a road across Duxford Aerodrome, Cambridgeshire, the preservation of which is being sought as a monument to the deeds of allied air forces during World War II.

The Duxford Aviation Society has suggested a realignment of the confirmed route of the M11 Cambridge Western Bypass so that it avoids the main runway at Duxford Airfield. Letters of support for this proposal have been received from several people, mainly members of the Society. However, there is considerable opposition locally to their proposal, which would bring the road closer to Duxford and Whittlesford villages and seriously delay the start of works on this much needed bypass.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now seek powers to abolish the domestic rate.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reach his decision on the proposed pelican crossing at Clough Road Hull.

A site inspection has just taken place and a decision should be possible within the next few days. I will then write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of the construction of the Humber Bridge and its cost escalation.

I understand from the Humber Bridge Board that unless unfor- seen difficulties arise the bridge will be completed by late 1978. On the subject of cost, as my hon. Friend the Minister for Transport said in his reply on 3rd November, the cost of the bridge and its immediate approaches had risen to £45 million at current prices. This is mainly due to the added costs of inflation and to problems which arose in connection with the foundations for the south tower.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the fact that water authorities could save up to £3 million annually on borrowing for capital works by being granted trustee status, he will seek to amend the Water Act 1973 to this effect.

Without accepting the hon. Member's premise I can assure him that the full review of the water industry which the Government propose to start shortly will include borrowing by water authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if in the review of the Water Act 1973 he will seek to transfer the responsibility for emptying septic tanks from the district councils to the water authority to avoid the present anomaly whereby the councils empty the tanks but the water authority has to dispose of and treat the contents.

This is a matter on which my right hon. Friend will be inviting views from those concerned in a consultation document on the review of the water industry which he expects to publish shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the dimensions and estimated costs of the Members' Entrance canopy now under construction in New Palace Yard; what instructions he received from the Services Committee concerning the design and cost of this canopy; and who authorised the design and expenditure, respectively.

The overall dimensions of the Members' Entrance canopy are width 12 ft 4 in., depth 17 ft 7 in. and height 8 ft 6 in. The estimated cost is £26,830 although some saving is expected.The new canopy, a replacement for the porch which had to be demolished to allow the construction of the underground car park, was designed in consultation with the Services Committee, the Royal Fine Art Commission, and the Westminster City Council.My Department, acting under Treasury authority approved the expenditure. The cost reflects the desirability of designing the canopy, which is similar to the one at the Speaker's entrance, in a style appropriate to its setting and the incorporation of additional features, including those concerned with security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to appoint the members of the proposed London Rail Advisory Committee and announce its terms of reference.

The Greater London Council has recently informed my right hon. Friend that it supports the setting up of a London Rail Advisory Committee. Essential preparatory work is in hand, and my right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what, so far, has been the cost of evaluating the relative merits of laminated and toughened windscreens for motor cars.

The Department has been involved over the last 12 years in development work both on toughened and on laminated safety glass; in evaluating the relative merits of each; and in appraisals of relevant research and development work carried out by other bodies both in this country and abroad. The Department's total spending on all this work has been about £100,000. Since all these activities have taken place closely in parallel, however, it is not practicable to identify the amount spent on comparative studies of the kind to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to adjust the pay and conditions of service of members of the Diplomatic Service while serving abroad in view of their exposure to recently increased threats such as terrorist action or kidnapping.

Although it is true that members of the Diplomatic Service are increasingly exposed to threats of terrorism and kidnapping, I do not think that an adjustment in their pay or conditions of service to take account of these difficulties is necessary at this time. Arrangements exist to assist those officers or their dependants who suffer as a result of terrorism or kidnapping.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on discussions with the Icelandic Government over the "Cod War".

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 17th December, Her Majesty's Government wish to solve this dispute by negotiation and are willing to reach a compromise solution and to resume discussions with Iceland anywhere, at any level and at any time. This remains our position, and all that is required is an equally constructive attitude on the Icelandic side. I am glad of this opportunity to reaffirm our earnest desire for a peaceful, negotiated solution.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards a final constitutional settlement in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to comment on the progress of the talks now taking place between Mr. Smith and Mr. Nkomo. These are reported to be taking place in a cordial atmosphere, but both sides have agreed to keep the content of their discussions confidential for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his talks with Mr. Georg Kahn-Ackermann, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, during his official visit to London on 18th and 19th December.

My right hon. Friend and members of his Department had useful and detailed discussions with Herr Kahn-Ackermann on Council of Europe affairs. My right hon. Friend assured him of the high value we continue to place on the Council of Europe and the United Kingdom's participation in its work.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by what regular means Her Majesty's Government publish the list of Documents, Draft Regulations, Journals, and Bulletins of the EEC which are contained in House of Commons Demand Forms for Printed Papers; what is the cost of these to any subscribers; and by what means their availability is advertised.

As sales agent, Her Majesty's Stationery Office has available all English language EEC documents published for sale. Their availability is advertised in daily and monthly catalogues, and in the International Organisations and Overseas Agencies Publications Supplement to the Annual Catalogue of Government Publications. The annual subscription for the daily catalogue is £17 if posted daily, or £6·50 if posted weekly, and that for the monthly catalogue is £2·75. The 1974 Supplement was priced at 50p. The titles of all draft Council instruments are published in the reports of the Commons Select Committee on European Secondary Legislation and its counterpart in the House of Lords, which are available from HMSO at various prices ranging from about 12p to 65p.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on future defence expenditure.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave yesterday afternoon to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Chilean armed forces, by rank and service, are due to receive training in the United Kingdom between 1st January and 31st December 1976 at (a) Ministry of Defence establishments and (b) publicly-owned establishments.

As follows: (a) 12 naval officers, 40 naval ratings; (b) none.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Chilean armed forces, by rank and service, were under training on 1st January 1976 in the United Kingdom, at (a) Ministry of Defence establishments and (b) publicly-owned establishments.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is normally consulted or has to approve the admission of serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers to the United Kingdom for training purposes; whether he did so in the case of Comandante Juan Corda and Sergeant Hernan Miranda Ampuero of the Chilean Air Force 7th Group based at Cerrillos, Santiago; and, if so, on what date and for what period approval was given.

Requests for serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers to attend Service training courses in the United Kingdom are considered in the light of the vacancies available and of the political, defence, sales and other relevant factors. I assume that the second half of the Question refers to Colonel Juan Cerda who was Air Attaché at the Chilean Embassy in London from November 1973 to November 1975 and to a member of his staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about his present and future policy in relation to the training of serving members of the Chilean armed forces at establishments in the United Kingdom.

Training for serving members of the Chilean armed forces arranged by my Department is limited to that deriving from naval sales contracts negotiated some years ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the new helmets issued to troops in Northern Ireland.

The two types of helmets which have been on general issue to troops in Northern Ireland for several years are the general service steel helmet Mk 4 for fragmentation protection, and the anti-riot helmet for protection during mobile operations and riot situations. A new general service combat helmet, made of glass reinforced plastic and offering improved protection and increased comfort and stability, is currently under development. Prototypes of this helmet have recently been issued to units in Northern Ireland on a limited basis for evaluation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will undertake research to establish the reason for the increase in the North-West Region's unemployment figures relative to other regions.

No. Over the last year the increase in unemployment in the North-West was below that in the country as a whole and the region experienced the second lowest increase in unemployment of all the English regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what follow-up there has been to the recommendations made by the National Youth Employment Council Working Party's report on unqualified, untrained and unemployed young people, and in particular the suggestion regarding a junior TOPS scheme.

Those recommendations directed at Government Departments and the Manpower Services Commission have been carefully considered and a number of measures broadly in line with them have been taken. Recommendations directed at other interests have been drawn to the attention of responsible organisations. Many of the recommendations, including that specifically referred to in the question, relate to the field of vocational preparation. The Government have announced their intention to give priority, within available resources, to the vocational preparation of the 16 to 19 age group, and the Training Services Agency has published a closely-related discussion paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many special investigators of unemployment benefit fraud were employed by his Department in each of the years 1970 to 1975.

The cadre of special investigators for unemployment benefit fraud in my Department was as follows: 1970 to 1973, 30; 1974, 47; 1975, 58.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the size of the economically active population in Great Britain in 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975; what is the current forecast of its size by 1980 and 1985; and if he will also give the figures available as a percentage of total population or estimated population.

Projections of the size of the labour force for 1976, 1981 and 1986 were published in the Department of Employment Gazette for December 1975 and are given below, together with figures on a comparable basis for 1961, 1966 and 1971 derived from data in the Census of Population which have been adjusted to allow for under-enumeration, to exclude foreign forces stationed in Great Britain and to include British forces stationed overseas.The figures are as follows:

		Great Britain
		Total labour force '000	Labour force as percentage of total population
1961	…	23,959	46
1966	…	25,342	48
1971	…	25,223	47
1976 (projected)	…	25,186	46
1981 (projected)	…	25,960	47
1986 (projected)	…	26,808	48

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that some contributors to the retirement annuity scheme introduced in 1956 are now subject to such a high level of taxation on these annuities that they are unlikely to recover during their lifetime in annuities as much money as they paid in premiums; and whether arrangements can be made to allow a larger degree of commutation for persons in such circumstances.

If the right hon. Gentleman would care to let me have an example of the kind of case he has in mind I will be glad to look into the position.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when, under the Finance Act 1975, he proposes to name the appointed day in respect of the introduction of new rules for qualifying life assurance policies; why he did not name 1st January 1976 as the appointed day; and whether he will publish an estimate of the loss of tax revenue which will result assuming the appointed day is 6th April 1976.

It is proposed to fix 1st April 1976 as the appointed day and a statutory instrument providing to this effect will be made shortly. The appointed day could not be fixed earlier because of the time needed for the certification by the Board of Inland Revenue, and other preparations for putting into use, of the standard policies which life offices will use after the appointed day. It is not possible to estimate what losses or gains to the Revenue will result from the short delay in introducing the new rules, but the amounts are unlikely to be substantial.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received during July 1975 from the Motor Agents Association regarding corporation tax relief under the Finance Act 1975 on stock held by motor vehicle dealers; what reply he sent; and what further action he intends to take in this matter.

The President of the Motor Agents Association wrote to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8th July 1975 asking whether stock relief could be extended to the deposits which vehicle distributors have to place with certain manufacturers when cars are supplied to them on a consignment basis. He replied that the deposits were like many other monetary transactions which had been hit by inflation, and that it had not been possible to deal with these matters in the context of last year's scheme of stock relief. He is considering the future form of the relief in the light of the recommendations of the Sandilands Committee on inflation accounting, and will, of course, bear the association's representations in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will treat all maintenance income, instead of only that which is presently allowed, as earned income for tax purposes; what would be the additional cost of so doing; and how many recipients of maintenance income would benefit.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of loans borrowed by the British Government, nationalised industries, and other public bodies including local authorities, respectively, from foreign and international banks and institutions; what were the comparable figures on the date the Government were elected in February 1974; and if he will express the current total foreign indebtedness as a sum per head of population.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of long-term loans, Treasury bills and other forms of Government borrowing from the British public, British banks and institutions at the present time; what was the comparable total on the date of the election in February 1974; and if he will express the current total as a sum per head of population.

The information requested is published only for the end of each financial year. The table below gives estimated total market holdings of sterling national debt^* excluding overseas holdings and holdings by non central Government public bodies for 31st March 1975 and 31st March 1974.Estimated total holdings:

	£
At 31st March 1975	25,685,000,000
At 31st March 1974	22,695,000,000
At 31st March 1975 total per head of UK population (as at mid 1974) (approximate)	460
Including nationalised industries stocks guaranteed by the Government.

Source: Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin December 1975 and December 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate what the £5,000 base rate above which traders are obliged to register for VAT would have to be now in order to give it the same real value as when it was introduced.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Cordle) on 24th November 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total sum paid by local authorities in Scotland for the remuneration of local authority officials working in Scotland, in each year, from 1960 to 1975, giving the precise amount for each year.

Precise information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of local authority officials working in Scotland in 1960; and by how much that number was increased each year between 1960 to 1975, giving the exact number for each year.

The only information at present available relates to the total number of local authority employees:

	000's	Increase (000's)
1960	177·1
1961	179·1	2·0
1962	183·0	3·9
1963	188·8	5·8
1964	192·0	3·2
1965	198·1	6·1
1966	203·4	5·3
1967	210·6	7·2
1968	217·8	7·2
1969	220·6	2·8
1970	223·9	3·3
1971	232·0	8·1
1972	243·6	11·6
1973	245·4	1·8
1974	253·4	8·0
*1975	270·0	16·6
* This figure is provisional, and includes staff engaged on services transferred to local government on reorganisation because of changes in responsibilities—e.g., for water, for some health and social work and for some public transport functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of stocks of ware and seed potatoes in Scotland.

On the basis of an 86 per cent. return, the Potato Marketing Board estimates that the stocks of ware and seed potatoes held by registered producers in Scotland were 470,000 tons on 29th November last.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers obtain free school meals; and what is the total annual cost of the concession.

Teachers who undertake supervision of pupils at the meal or during the mid-day break are entitled to free school meals, but up-to-date information about the number involved, or the cost, is not available and could not be provided without a special inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of schools in England and Wales, at the last convenient date, in which more than 30 per cent. of the pupils were New Commonwealth immigrants or the children of New Commonwealth parents; and whether the figures thus given have taken into account the child-fren of parents who have been in the United Kingdom more than 10 years.

The figures are not available in the form requested. In January 1972 there were 597 maintained primary and secondary schools—out of a total of 28,372 such schools—in which the proportion of immigrant pupils exceeded one-third. At that date about 87 per cent. of all immigrant pupils were of New Commonwealth origin. These figures did not include children born in the United Kingdom to parents who have lived in this country for more than 10 years prior to 1st January 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost of, and number of people employed in his Department in 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75.

The information requested is as follows:

		Average Number of Staff in Post	Total Cost £
1970–71	…	3,000	8,061,234
1971–72	…	2,929	8,943,437
1972–73	…	2,885	9,361,325
1973–74	…	2,810	10,546,739
1974–75	…	2,785	13,169,229

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what was the total cost of, and number of people employed in, his Department in 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75.

The total cost of and the number of people employed in my Ministry were as follows:

1970–71	2,473	6,799,783
1971–72	2,442	7,679,895
1972–73	2,332	8,322,614
1973–74	2,219	9,264,648
1974–75	2,223	12,152,590

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has now received the final proposals of the Clwyd Area Health Authority with regard to the future of Llangwyfan Hospital; and, if not, when he expects to receive them.

Not yet. The Authority is still carrying out local consultations. It is likely to be some months before firm proposals are received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent studies have been carried out on the feasibility and likely cost of introducing postal votes at parish council elections; and if he will consider making available postal votes for the 1976 elections.

We are not aware that any recent studies have been made, but the arrangements would certainly be both complicated and costly and we do not consider that they would be justified at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complainants in rape cases, brought to trial since 1st January 1974, were permitted to remain anonymous during the course of the trials at which they gave evidence; in how many such cases anonymity was extended to the defendants; in how many such cases the defendants were acquitted; in how many cases the cloak of anonymity was allowed to be lifted after acquittal at trial; and in how many cases applications were made on behalf of acquitted defendants after acquittal for the lifting of the anonymity of the complainants concerned refused by the trial court.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the White Paper, Immigration Statistics 1975, Command Paper No. 6064, published in May 1975, did not draw attention to the fact that the annual net balance figures given in Table 2(a) differed materially from the sum of the officially published quarterly net balance figures for the same year.

The published figures are of admissions, for all purposes, and embarkations. I regret that a note was not added to Table 2(a) of Cmnd. 6064 explaining that the annual embarkation figures for 1974 had been adjusted to take account of the estimated effect of some double counting.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of people from the New Commonwealth, including Pakistan, (a) admitted for settlement in the United Kingdom and (b) accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom by revocation of conditions, in 1969 and each subsequent year, the figures for 1975 being estimated on the basis of the latest available monthly totals calculated at an annual rate.

The information is as follows:

CITIZENS OF COUNTRIES OF THE NEW COMMONWEALTH AND OF PAKISTAN ACCEPTED FOR SETTLEMENT ON ARRIVAL AND BY REVOCATION OF CONDITIONS
		Acceptances for settlement on arrival	Acceptances for settlement by revocation	Totals
1969	…	40,191	4,312	44,503
1970	…	33,401	4,492	37,893
1971	…	35,175	9,086	44,261
1972	…	59,850	8,669	68,519
1973	…	25,530	6,717	32,247
1974	…	25,306	17,225	42,531
1975	…	35,000*	18,000*	53,000*
*Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that no significant clerical error affected any of the figures published in Table 1 of the 1972 Commonwealth immigration statistics, Command Paper No. 5285, or in the comparable figures for any of the three preceding years; and, if not, if he will publish the appropriate corrections.

I have no reason to believe that the figures for 1972 and the preceding years were affected by clerical error.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the estimated net balance for 1973 of 86,000 referred to in his Written Answer of 7th November 1975, Official Report, column 352, includes holders of Pakistani passports for the whole year or for the first eight months only; and, in the latter event, what would be the corresponding figure if holders of Pakistani passports were included for the whole year.

The estimated net balance for 1973 of 86,000 takes account of Pakistani passport holders who arrived in or embarked from the United Kingdom during the period 1st January 1973 to 31st August 1973. An estimate of the net balance relating to New Commonwealth citizens and Pakistani passport holders for the calendar year 1973 is also 86,000 because in the last third of that year the figures for the arrivals and departures of Pakistani passport holders show them as being almost exactly in balance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the estimated net balance for 1973 of 86,000 referred to by the Secretary of State for the Home Department in his Written Answer of 7th November 1975, Official Report, column 352, represents United Kingdom passport holders.

Of the estimated 86,000 net balance of movements for 1973 relating to New Commonwealth citizens, United Kingdom passport holders account for 15,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from the New Commonwealth, including Pakistan at present in the United Kingdom on a temporary basis, have applied either for a relaxation or a revocation of their conditions of entry; how many in each of these two categories have appealed against a refusal by the Home Office either to vary or remove their conditions of stay and are at present awaiting the outcome of their appeals; and what is the present average length of time between the lodging of any such appeal under the official appeals procedure and the appeal being heard and its outcome made known.

The information requested in the first part of the Question is not available, nor would it be possible without disproportionate effort to ascertain how many applicants from the New Commonwealth and Pakistan are currently awaiting the outcome of appeals against a refusal to vary or revoke their conditions of stay. 2,193 such appeals by Commonwealth citizens generally—excluding Pakistanis—were outstanding on 30th November last. The average length of time taken to determine such appeals is from five to six months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the error occurred which resulted in double counting of embarkations from London airport in 1973; and what steps he is taking to avoid a repetition.

A change was made on the coming into force on 1st January 1973 of the Immigration Act 1971, by which the embarkation of certain Commonwealth citizens was recorded on two different cards. As a result of a misunderstanding at that time both sets of cards were counted in arriving at the total of embarkations. This double counting continued for about 18 months. The two-card arrangement was ended early in 1975. The estimated embarkation figures published for the year 1974 in May 1975 were, to the best of my belief, correct. The process of correcting those for 1973 was not completed until October 1975. The corrected net balance figure relating to New Commonwealth citizens for 1973 was given on 7th November 1975.I think it right that the circumstances in which this error occurred should be looked into from outside the Home Office. I have, therefore, asked Sir Claus Moser, the Director of the Central Statistical Office, to inquire fully and quickly into the matter, and to report to me, so that all necessary lessons can be learned from the mistake.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of conducting the poll in the referendum on Great Britain's membership of the EEC.

The exact cost is not yet known, because many accounts have still to be examined, but we have no reason to believe that the final figure will differ significantly from the previous estimate of £5 million for the costs incurred by returning officers and counting officers at the referendum. This figure excludes costs incurred by the Post Office in connection with postal votes and the delivery of poll cards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date and for what purpose Comandante Juan Corda and Sergeant Hernan Miranda Ampuero, of the 7th Group from the Chilean Air Force base at Cerrollos, Santiago, were admitted to the United Kingdom; what is the anticipated length of their stay; and whether he will make a statement.

Colonel Cerda, to whom I think my hon. Friend is referring, came to this country on 29th November 1973 on his appointment as Air Attaché at the Chilean Embassy in London. He left on 16th November last. I understand that Sergeant Ampuero, who has also left, was a member of his staff.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will initiate discussions with the NFU and other interested bodies to consider the steps which might be taken to ensure that potatoes are available to the public at more reasonable prices and of improved quality.

My officials maintain regular contact with representatives of potato producers and other interests. Current supply difficulties arise from the hot, dry summer which reduced production by an estimated 2¼ million metric tons compared to last season. The Government lifted the normal ban on imports of potatoes on 1st September 1975 and imposed a ban on exports of ware potatoes with effect from 17th October 1975. The Potato Marketing Board has relaxed the riddle sizes which normally apply. These measures alleviate but can- not make good the shortfall in supplies available for consumption. Prices are, therefore, bound to reflect this shortfall until early potatoes are available in quantity. The Potato Marketing Board is ready to investigate compaints about the quality of home-produced potatoes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will tabulate in the Official Report the approximate capacity of each member of the EEC to refine sugar beet to raw sugar, and raw sugar to refined sugar, respectively, for each sugar beet year; and give also the current and future quotas in each category for each country.

No precise information is available on the capacity of each member State to refine sugar beet into raw sugar and refined sugar respectively. However, an indication of approximate capacity for refining sugar beet is given in the following table, which shows for each EEC member State the highest level of production reached between 1960–61 and 1974–75, expressed in terms of white sugar.

	White sugar: 000 metric tons
(1) Italy (1969–70) campaign)	1,268
Netherlands (1971–72 campaign)	771
Belgium/Luxembourg (1971–72 campaign)	772
United Kingdom (1971–72 campaign)	1,086
(1) Germany (1973–74 campaign)	2,260
(2) France (1973–74 campaign)	3,258
Ireland (1973–74 campaign)	176
Denmark (1974–75 campaign)	383
(1) Including sugar from molasses.
(2) Including production in French Overseas Departments.

The basic production quotas in each member State are set out below. These are fixed in terms of white sugar only. They will apply for the five sugar campaigns from 1975–76 to 1979–80, when they will be reviewed; no change is expected in the quotas before that time.

			White sugar: 000 metric tons
Italy	…	…	1,230
Netherlands	…	…	690
Belgium / Luxembourg	…	…	680
United Kingdom	…	…	1,040
Germany	…	…	1,990
France	…	…	2,996
Ireland	…	…	182
Denmark	…	…	328

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in the Official Report, the names, qualifications and salaries of the political advisers appointed as assistants to Ministers, with the terms of their appointments, job specifications, and the Departments to which they have been appointed.

The names of the special advisers to the Prime Minister were given in my answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gow) on 8th December 1975 and there have been no changes. The names of the 22 other special advisers and the Departments in which they serve are listed below.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) on 21st May 1974 that it has not been the practice to disclose the salaries of individual advisers.Special advisers are appointed personally by the Ministers whom they serve and both the duties they perform and the qualifications required of them vary according to the wishes of the Ministers concerned.Miss V. Kidd, Privy Council Office.Mr. T. McNally, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Mr. D. J. Grennan, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Mr. M. A. Oakeshott, Home Office.Mr. A. P. Lester, Home Office.Lord Kaldor, Her Majesty's Treasury.Mr. A. Ham, Her Majesty's Treasury.Mrs. S. Greenhall, Department of Education and Science.Mr. D. Lipsey, Department of the Environment.Mrs. A. Carlton, Department of the Environment.Dr. F. Cripps, Department of Energy.Mrs. F. Morell, Department of Energy.Mr. J. Lyttle, Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what regulations exist in respect of retirement pensions of civil servants of Assistant Secretary grade and above who after retirement assume salaried appointments outside the public service; and where notifications have to be made if he will list particulars of such notifications since 1st January 1972.

None. As with other occupational pension schemes in both private and public serctors, the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme does not restrict the right of the pensioner to to draw his pension if he takes up employment with another employer.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) if he will list in the Official Report the names and positions of administrative grade civil servants who resigned from the service prior to normal retirement age to take up positions outside the public service since 1970, together with the positions taken up, stating if permission was granted in each case;(2) if he will tabulate in the

A copy of the rules governing these matters was deposited in the Library when my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave a Written reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 3rd July 1975. Under these rules civil servants require to seek permission to accept appointments only with firms or organisations in contractual or other special relationship with the Government. Most cases can be dealt with by the Departments concerned without consultation with the Civil Service Department. The only records readily available are those of cases in which the Civil Service Department has to be consulted.The figures of the grants of permission to civil servants of Under-Secretary rank and above, including those with specialist qualifications, are as follows:

Table I.—Cases where permission was granted to take up outside appointments 1960–1975
1960	…	…	…	…	6
1961	…	…	…	…	7
1962	…	…	…	…	2
1963	…	…	…	…	7
1964	…	…	…	…	5
1965	…	…	…	…	6
1966	…	…	…	…	1
1967	…	…	…	…	6
1968	…	…	…	…	8
1969	…	…	…	…	9
1970	…	…	…	…	10
1971	…	…	…	…	13
1972	…	…	…	…	7
1973	…	…	…	…	12
1974	…	…	…	…	9
1975	…	…	…	…	13

Table II.—Cases where permission was granted to take up outside appointments following Resignation 1.1.1971 to date
1972	…	…	…	…	1
1973	…	…	…	…	2
1974	…	…	…	…	2
1975	…	…	…	…	1

Note: It is not known in how many cases the proposed appointment was actually taken up.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total sum paid by the Treasury for the remuneration of civil servants working in Scotland, in each year from 1960 to 1975, giving the precise amount for each year.

I regret that the information requested is not available, since statistics of the geographical distribution of individual civil service grades are not maintained. It is not, therefore, possible to calculate the annual salary bill by geographical area.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total sum paid from the Treasury for the remuneration of civil servants in Great Britain in each year from 1960 to 1975, giving the precise amount for each year.

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

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total number of civil servants working in Scotland in 1960; and by how much that number was increased each year between 1960 and 1975; giving the exact number for each year.

The information needed to answer this Question is not readily available and I am not, therefore, able to give the hon. Member a detailed reply today. I am having the material assembled and will provide a full answer shortly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the total number of civil servants in Great Britain paid by the Treasury in 1960; and by how much that number was increased each year between 1960 and 1975, giving the exact number for each year.

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

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what proposals he has to inform hon. Members of the services provided to the House of Commons by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

I have arranged for an exhibition of HMSO services to Parliament to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 19th to 30th January. I am pleased to announce that my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council will formally open the exhibition. I hope that many Members of this House and of another place will be able to visit the exhibition during the course of the next two weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will issue a general direction to those nationalised industries for which he is responsible not to offer fixed price contracts.