Written Answers

Written Answers To Questions

Monday 19th January 1976

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Lancaster

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what invitations he has received to attend and give evidence to Select Committees during the current Session of Parliament; and what answers have been given.

I have received an invitation from the Trade and Industry Sub-Committee of the Expenditure Committee to attend and give evidence on public expenditure on Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, who has direct ministerial responsibility for this, was to give evidence on behalf of the whole Government. Accordingly the principle of collective Cabinet responsibility, which has my full support, required that the invitation should be declined.

Prices And Consumer Protection

Departmental Staff

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

My Department was created on 5th March 1974. The average number of people employed during the financial year 1974–75 was 256, and their total cost was £1,466,000. This does not include staff of the Price Commission, the Office of Fair Trading, the Monopolies Commission or the Metrication Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by how many the number of civil servants in her Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

It is not possible to make this comparison, since 1974–75 was the first year of my Department's existence.

Fireworks

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will take steps to restrict the sale of fireworks to designated organisations for a limited period before 5th November.

Following the review of firework safety which I undertook last year I announced on 25th November, in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts), that the existing controls over fireworks were to be strengthened. One of the measures being taken by voluntary agreement with the trade is to restrict to three weeks immediately before 5th November the period during which fireworks will be on general sale to the public. This is in addition to the manufacturers' agreement to halve their banger production over the next two years and to box most fireworks except bangers within the same period. The Government support legislation which will raise the minimum age of sale of fireworks from 13 to 16 years.

Potatoes

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she is aware that poor potato harvests last year have led to increases in the price of this food; and if she will take steps to seek to prevent or reduce further increases.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Taylor), Cannock (Mr. Roberts) and Birmingham, Yardley (Mr. Tierney) on 14th January 1976.—[Vol. 903, c. 179–80.]

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations have been made by fish fryers associations regarding potato prices during the past three months.

I have received one letter from a fish fryers' association about the price of potatoes. I also understand that the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has received several letters on this subject.

Duty-Free Shops

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will refer to the Price Commission the charge made for liquor at the duty-free shops at Heathrow Airport.

No, my right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she is satisfied that the prices charged at the duty-free shops at Heathrow Airport for liquor are in the consumer's interest.

The British Airports Authority's last Annual Report makes the point that these prices compare favourably with those at most world airports. Airport users also benefit from the airport facilities which revenue from these sales helps to finance, and the economy benefits from the foreign currencies earnings they yield.

Food Subsidies

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what plans she has for changes in food subsidies.

Expenditure on food subsidies during 1975–76 has continued to be greater than forecast, due to rather higher levels of consumption. I have, therefore, decided, in order to hold down the level of expenditure, to reduce the cheese subsidy from £188 per ton to £157 per ton with effect from Sunday 25th January. The reduction is equivalent to about 2p per lb at the retail level and is estimated to save £2 million in the current financial year.I will be reviewing the rate of the butter subsidy in the light of negotiations in Brussels about CAP prices and subsidies for 1976–77, but I have no plans for other reductions in food subsidies before the end of July 1976.

Legislation

34.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement about the timetable for intro- ducing Government legislation in the present Session of Parliament.

Yes. Thirty Government Bills have been introduced so far in this House and in another place, of which five have received the Royal Assent. A number of further measures will be brought forward in an orderly way as the Session proceeds.

House Of Commons

Car Park

36.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will take action to ensure the availability of the first and second floors of the car park in New Palace Yard for hon. Members.

The first three floors of the underground car park are reserved for hon. Members. At no time has space not been available on one of these floors.

Broadcasting Of Proceedings

39.

asked the Lord President of the Council what consultations he has had with the BBC and IBA about broadcasting the proceedings of the House.

Preliminary discussions have been held with the BBC and IBA about both the experiment and about the form of any permanent system of sound broadcasting should the House so decide. The House is at present awaiting the report of the Broadcasting Sub-Committee of the Services Committee on last year's experiment.

Ale

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange for a supply of real ale to be available at one of the bars at the House of Commons.

I have been asked to reply.No. I regret that the Refreshment Department does not have the necessary storage or mechanical facilities for handling or serving non-keg beers.

Members' Secretaries And Research Assistants

37.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members, to his knowledge, are not drawing the full amount of allowance for secretaries and research assistants.

In the year ended 31st March 1975, 293 Members claimed less than the maximum allowance.

asked the Lord President of the Council what response he has made to the First Report from the Select Committee on Assistance to Private Members (the Provision of Secretaries for Members).

The Members' secretarial allowance was increased last June to £3,200, as proposed by the Top Salaries Review Body. This has effectively implemented the main recommendation in this Report, that every Member should, if he wishes, be able to employ a full-time secretary. The other recommendations of the Select Committee can most appropriately be considered when the TSRB submits Part II of its report.

Inflation (Central Statis- Tical Office Advertisements)

38.

asked the Lord President of the Council what has been the total cost of the recent series of advertisements about curbing inflation which have been placed in national newspapers by the Central Statistical Office.

The recent counter-inflation advertisements which were placed by Her Majesty's Government have appeared in the national Press since mid-August at a total cost of £457,000.

Privy Council Office

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will give details of the numbers and salaries of the extra public relations and information officers recruited by his Department and agencies for which it is responsible between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

During the periods stated one extra Information Officer has been added to the staff of my office, at a present salary of £4,770.

Environment

M4 (Slough Interchange)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment at what cost, and for what purpose, two elevated sections have been added to the hard shoulder near the Slough interchange of the M4 motorway.

Police observation platforms have been erected on the M4 motorway south of Bray about 3 kilometres—1·9 miles—west of interchange No. 7. These allow police vehicles to park clear of the hard shoulder and where they can better observe traffic flows and driver behaviour and can be seen to be so doing. The cost of each platform was about £1,300.

Drivers (Provisional Licences)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the Road Traffic Act so as to make it an offence for an employer to allow an employee with only a provisional licence to drive other employees during the course of his employment.

The essential safeguard is that the holder of a provisional licence must always be accompanied by a qualified driver. If that requirement is satisfied, I see no advantage from my hon. Friend's suggestion, which would have the effect of preventing any firm from training its own drivers.

Noise Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to bring Part III of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 into force.

Part III commenced in England and Wales on 1st January 1976.

Compulsory Purchase Order (Islington)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the long delay in reaching a decision on the Islington—Alexander road—CPO, bearing in mind the poor housing conditions in the area.

The inspector's report on this order has now been received. My right hon. Friend would normally expect to be able to issue his decision within a month; but if, as appears likely in this case, it is necessary to go back to the parties for clarification of an important issue, this period may lengthen.

Driver And Vehicle Licensing Centre

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current staffing establishment of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre and what is the annual cost to public funds of this body, including provision for salaries and administrative overheads.

The authorised staff complement at the centre and at its Associted Local Vehicle Licensing Offices as at 1st April 1976 is 6,480. The estimated cost to public funds in 1975–76 is £31·1 million.

Tax Offices (Staffs)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of staff employed in local taxation offices as agents for his Department in each year since responsibility was transferred to his Depart-

ENGLAND AND WALES
Agent Council				Local Taxation Office Location			Total complement approved for April 1976
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	…	Barnsley	…	…	11
Barrow-in-Furness, Borough of	…	…	…	Barrow-in-Furness	…	…	6
Bath City Council	…	…	…	Bath	…	…	9
Bedfordshire County Council	…	…	…	Bedford	…	…	40
Berkshire, Royal County of	…	…	…	Reading	…	…	59
Birmingham District Council	…	…	…	Birmingham	…	…	81
Blackburn, Borough of	…	…	…	Blackburn	…	…	9
Blackpool Borough Council	…	…	…	Blackpool	…	…	12
Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	…	Bolton	…	…	14
Bournemouth District Council	…	…	…	Bournemouth	…	…	19
Bradford, Metropolitan Council City of	…	…	…	Bradford	…	…	19
Brecknock, Borough of	…	…	…	Brecon	…	…	6
Brighton District Council	…	…	…	Brighton	…	…	15
Bristol, City Council of	…	…	…	Bristol	…	…	47
Buckinghamshire County Council	…	…	…	Aylesbury	…	…	67
Burnley Borough Council	…	…	…	Burnley	…	…	9
Bury, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	…	Bury	…	…	6
Cambridgeshire County Council	…	…	…	Cambridge	…	…	31
Cambridgeshire County Council	…	…	…	Peterborough	…	…	24
Calderdale, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	…	Halifax	…	…	7
Canterbury City Council	…	…	…	Canterbury	…	…	6
Cardiff City Council	…	…	…	Cardiff	…	…	62
Carlisle, City of	…	…	…	Carlisle	…	…	5
Cheshire County Council	…	…	…	Chester	…	…	95
Chester City Council	…	…	…	Chester	…	…	7
Clwyd County Council	…	…	…	Ruthin	…	…	16
Clwyd County Council	…	…	…	Mold	…	…	16
Cornwall County Council	…	…	…	Truro	…	…	33

ment in 1971; and what was the total annual cost to public funds for each year.

Information by financial years is as follows: I regret that information for calendar years is not available.

			Staff as at 1st April	Annual cost £million
1971–72	…	…	5,298	10·7
1972–73	…	…	5,693	12·5
1973–74	…	…	6,119	14·7
1974–75	…	…	6,185	18·6
1975–76	…	…	6,146	23·7

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the local authorities which are still running local taxation offices as agents for his Department; and what is the authorised staff complement of each local authority for the current year.

The information is as follows—though the hon. Gentleman should note that the complements approved for the financial year beginning April 1976 will reduce progressively as the year proceeds and work is transferred from the local authorities concerned to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre and its outstationed offices:

Agent Council				Local Taxation Office Location				Total complement approved for April 1976
Coventry City Council	…	…	…	Coventry	…	…	…	33
Cumbria County Council	…	…	…	Carlisle	…	…	…	11
Cumbria County Council	…	…	…	Kendal	…	…	…	6
Darlington, Borough of	…	…	…	Darlington	…	…	…	6
Derby Borough Council	…	…	…	Derby	…	…	…	17
Derbyshire County Council	…	…	…	Matlock	…	…	…	40
Devon County Council	…	…	…	Exeter	…	…	…	45
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council		…	…	Doncaster	…	…	…	9
Dorset County Council	…	…	…	Dorchester	…	…	…	36
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	…	Dudley	…	…	…	16
Durham County Council	…	…	…	Durham	…	…	…	42
Dyfed County Council	…	…	…	Aberystwyth	…	…	…	6
Dyfed County Council	…	…	…	Carmarthen	…	…	…	11
Dyfed County Council	…	…	…	Haverfordwest	…	…	…	10
Eastbourne Borough Council	…	…	…	Eastbourne	…	…	…	7
East Staffordshire District Council	…	…	…	Burton-upon-Trent		…	…	6
East Sussex County Council	…	…	…	Lewes	…	…	…	38
Essex County Council	…	…	…	Chelmsford	…	…	…	103
Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council		…	…	Gateshead	…	…	…	103
GLC Central Office	…	…	…		—	…	…	327
GLC North-West Office	…	…	…		—	…	…	294
GLC North-East Office	…	…	…		—	…	…	163
GLC South-West Office	…	…	…		—	…	…	117
GLC South-East Office	…	…	…		—	…	…	108
Gloucester District Council	…	…	…	Gloucester	…	…	…	10
Gloucestershire County Council	…	…	…	Gloucester	…	…	…	57
Great Yarmouth, Borough of	…	…	…	Great Yarmouth	…	…	…	7
Grimsby Borough Council	…	…	…	Grimsby	…	…	…	8
Gwynedd County Council	…	…	…	Llangefni	…	…	…	7
Gwynedd County Council	…	…	…	Caernarvon	…	…	…	12
Gwynedd County Council	…	…	…	Dolgellau	…	…	…	4
Gwent County Council	…	…	…	Newport	…	…	…	22
Hampshire County Council	…	…	…	Winchester	…	…	…	105
Hartlepool Borough Council	…	…	…	Hartlepool	…	…	…	5
Hastings Borough Council	…	…	…	Hastings	…	…	…	7
Hereford and Worcester, The County Council of	…	…	…	Hereford	…	…	…	16
Hereford and Worcester, The County Council of	…	…	…	Worcester	…	…	…	10
Hertfordshire County Council	…	…	…	Hertford	…	…	…	69
Humberside County Council	…	…	…	Beverley	…	…	…	19
Kent County Council	…	…	…	Maidstone	…	…	…	121
Kingston-upon-Hull City Council	…	…	…	Kingston-upon-Hull			…	23
Kirkless Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	…	Huddersfield	…	…	…	9
Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	…	Dewsbury	…	…	…	6
Lancashire County Council	…	…	…	Preston	…	…	…	115
Leeds City Council	…	…	…	Leeds	…	…	…	23
Leicester City Council	…	…	…	Leicester	…	…	…	23
Leicestershire County Council	…	…	…	Leicester	…	…	…	43
Lincolnshire County Council	…	…	…	Boston	…	…	…	13
Lincolnshire County Council	…	…	…	Sleaford	…	…	…	14
Lincolnshire County Council	…	…	…	Lincoln	…	…	…	44
Liverpool City Council	…	…	…	Liverpool	…	…	…	45
Luton, Borough of	…	…	…	Luton	…	…	…	16
Manchester City Council	…	…	…	Manchester	…	…	…	45
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council	…	…	…	Merthyr Tydfil	…	…	…	5
Middlesbrough Borough Council	…	…	…	Middlesbrough	…	…	…	20
Montgomery District Council	…	…	…	Welshpool	…	…	…	4
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Metropolitan District Council	…	…	…	Newcastle-upon-Tyne			…	17
Newport Borough Council	…	…	…	Newport	…	…	…	11
Norfolk County Council	…	…	…	Norwich	…	…	…	44
Northampton Borough Council	…	…	…	Northampton	…	…	…	10
Northamptonshire Borough Council	…	…	…	Northampton	…	…	…	29
Northumberland County Council	…	…	…	Newcastle-upon-Tyne			…	29
North Yorkshire County Council	…	…	…	Northallerton	…	…	…	25
Norwich City Council	…	…	…	Norwich	…	…	…	16
Nottingham City Council	…	…	…	Nottingham	…	…	…	21
Nottinghamshire County Council	…	…	…	Nottingham	…	…	…	51
North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	…	North Shields	…	…	…	5
Oldham, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	…	Oldham	…	…	…	10
Oxfordshire County Council	…	…	…	Oxford	…	…	…	45
Plymouth City Council	…	…	…	Plymouth	…	…	…	16

Agent Council			Local Taxation Office Location			Total complement approved for April 1976
Portsmouth City Council	…	…	Portsmouth	…	…	20
Radnor District Council	…	…	Llandrindod Wells	…	…	4
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	Rochdale	…	…	7
Rotherham Borough Council	…	…	Rotherham	…	…	7
Rutland District Council	…	…	Rutland	…	…	5
Salford City Council	…	…	Salford	…	…	11
Salop County Council	…	…	Shrewsbury	…	…	34
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	Warley	…	…	14
Sandwell, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	West Bromwich	…	…	13
Sefton, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	Bootle	…	…	7
Sefton, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	Southport	…	…	12
Sheffield City Council	…	…	Sheffield	…	…	46
Solihull, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	Solihull	…	…	11
Somerset County Council	…	…	Taunton	…	…	64
Southampton, City of	…	…	Southampton	…	…	20
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council	…	…	Southend-on-Sea	…	…	16
South Tyneside, Borough of	…	…	South Shields	…	…	6
Staffordshire County Council	…	…	Stafford	…	…	48
St. Helen's Borough Council	…	…	St. Helens	…	…	10
Stockport, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	Stockport	…	…	11
Stoke-on-Trent, City of	…	…	Stoke-on-Trent	…	…	19
Suffolk County Council	…	…	Ipswich	…	…	34
Suffolk County Council	…	…	Bury St. Edmunds	…	…	17
Sunderland, Borough of	…	…	Sunderland	…	…	8
Surrey County Council	…	…	Surbiton	…	…	148
Swansea District Council	…	…	Swansea	…	…	14
Torbay, Borough of	…	…	Torquay	…	…	9
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council	…	…	Wakefield	…	…	5
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	Walsall	…	…	15
Warrington Borough Council	…	…	Warrington	…	…	6
Warwickshire County Council	…	…	Warwick	…	…	47
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	Wigan	…	…	7
West Sussex County Council	…	…	Chichester	…	…	50
West Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council	…	…	Wakefield	…	…	118
Wight, Isle of, County Council	…	…	Newport	…	…	9
Wiltshire County Council	…	…	Trowbridge	…	…	42
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council	…	…	Wallasey	…	…	19
Worcester City Council	…	…	Worcester	…	…	10
Wolverhampton, Metropolitan Borough of	…	…	Bilston	…	…	23
York District Council	…	…	York	…	…	9
TOTAL FOR ENGLAND AND WALES				…	…	4,419

SCOTLAND
Banff and Buchan District Council	…	…	…	…	Banff	…	…	…	4
Berwickshire District Council	…	…	…	…	Duns	…	…	…	3
Borders Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Selkirk	…	…	…	6
Caithness District Council	…	…	…	…	Wick	…	…	…	3
Central Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Alloa	…	…	…	4
Central Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Stirling	…	…	…	13
Dumfries and Galloway Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Dumfries	…	…	…	7
Dundee District Council	…	…	…	…	Dundee	…	…	…	10
East Lothian District Council	…	…	…	…	Haddington	…	…	…	5
Fife Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Cupar	…	…	…	16
City of Glasgow District Council	…	…	…	…	Glasgow	…	…	…	31
Grampian Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Aberdeen	…	…	…	32
Inverclyde District Cpuncil	…	…	…	…	Greenock	…	…	…	5
Inverness District Council	…	…	…	…	Inverness	…	…	…	11
Kirkcaldy District Council	…	…	…	…	Kirkcaldy	…	…	…	5
Lothian Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	…	9
Lothian Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Edinburgh	…	…	…	25
Monklands District Council	…	…	…	…	Coatbridge	…	…	…	3
Moray District Council	…	…	…	…	Elgin	…	…	…	5
Motherwell District Council	…	…	…	…	Motherwell	…	…	…	4
Nairn District Council	…	…	…	…	Nairn	…	…	…	—
Orkney Islands Council	…	…	…	…	Kirkwall	…	…	…	3
Renfrew District Council	…	…	…	…	Paisley	…	…	…	6
Shetland Islands Council	…	…	…	…	Lerwick	…	…	…	3
Strathclyde Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Lochgilphead	…	…	…	6

Agent Council					Local Taxation Office Location				Total complement approved for April 1976
Strathclyde Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Ayr	…	…	…	19
Strathclyde Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Rothesay	…	…	…	2
Strathclyde Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Dumbarton	…	…	…	9
Strathclyde Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Hamilton	…	…	…	21
Strathclyde Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Paisley	…	…	…	10
Sutherland District Council	…	…	…	…	Sutherland	…	…	…	3
Tayside Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Forfar	…	…	…	6
Tayside Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Kinross	…	…	…	2
Tayside Regional Council	…	…	…	…	Perth	…	…	…	11
Wigtown District Council	…	…	…	…	Stranraer	…	…	…	4
					SCOTTISH TOTAL	…	…	…	306
					TOTAL FOR ENGLAND AND WALES		…	…	4,419
					ENGLAND, WALES AND SCOTLAND TOTAL			…	4,725

Land Compensation Claimants (Birmingham)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many claimants under Part I of the Land Compensation Act 1973 in the Great Barr and Perry Beeches area of Birmingham obtained their mortgage from the local authority.

Sixty-one.

Road Signs

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take the first legislative opportunity to introduce countrywide provisions, such as those contained in the current Greater London Council (General Powers) Bill, to permit the positioning of road signs on walls instead of on signposts.

Powers already exist; but I shall review them while considering the Greater London Council's proposals.

Norman Shaw North Building

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Norman Shaw North Building was considered to be ready for occupation in January 1975 when a year's building work lay ahead and the work of hon. Members has been constantly interrupted.

The phased occupation of the Members' and secretaries' offices, which were urgently required in view of the severe pressures on Members' existing accommodation at the time, was undertaken before the completion of all the ancillary services, in agreement with the Services Committee and the House authorities. A number of unavoidable factors, including difficulties in the supply of materials, has delayed completion of the rehabilitation services which is now expected by mid-March 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the noise of power tools of various kinds which has continued for 11 months on the north side of the Norman Shaw North Building will end.

In mid-March 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any part of the cost of the television studio being constructed on the north side of the Norman Shaw Building falls on public funds.

The cost of constructing and furnishing the television studio for parliamentary use will be met from public funds. Specialist television equipment, however, will be installed and maintained at the broadcasting authorities' expense.

Community Land Schemes

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will list the county planning authorities which did not meet the date of 31st December 1975 prescribed in Section 16(4) of the Community Land Act 1975 for making a land acquisition and management scheme; and to what dates each of those authorities has asked him for an extension of time;(2) whether he will list the county planning authorities which have so far sent to him, as required by paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 5 to the Community Land Act 1975, a completed and agreed land acquisition and management scheme.

I would prefer to wait until after the 1st February deadline for the submission of land acquisition and management schemes before embarking on lists of this sort.

Rate Refunds

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to provide for interest to be paid on rate refunds made by local authorities in line with the arrangements for the payment of interest on tax refunds in accordance with Section 47 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 1975.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has at present no plans to do so. It is relevant that interest is not chargeable on overdue rate payments.

Caravans

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest estimate for (a) the number of families and (b) the number of persons living in caravans on a permanent basis.

Precise information is not available centrally. Estimated figures are as follows:

	England and Wales	Scotland
Number of households	61,000	3,850
Number of persons	120,000	7,800
These figures exclude those living permanently on gipsy sites

Railway (Leeds, Harrogate, York)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give an assurance that the level of Government grant to British Rail will be sufficient to maintain the present service of the Leeds, Harrogate, York line, under existing arrangements.

The Government grant is for the operation of the railway passenger system as a whole and not for individual passenger services. The responsibility for deciding the level of the Leeds, Harrogate, York service lies with the Railways Board and the West Yorkshire County Council and its passenger transport executive.

Caravan Sites

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many caravan sites are officially registered in each respective region of the United Kingdom.

The latest available information is for early 1975 and is as follows:

Region		Number of sites registered^*
England
South East	…	1,848
East Anglia	…	680
South West	…	969
West Midlands	…	438
East Midlands	…	500
Yorks and Humberside	…	240
North West	…	303
North	…	135
Wales	…	Scotland
No figures are available for Northern Ireland.
^*Registered sites containing mobile homes occupied by permanent residents. Figures are not available centrally for sites catering exclusively for seasonal or recreational caravans.
†Sites with at least three homes permanently occupied.

Palace Of Westminster

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total floor space utilised for office usage within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster.

About 143,200 square feet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total floor space provided for Members of Parliament and their secretaries within the precincts of the Palace of Westminster.

About 79,900 square feet is provided for use as offices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the programme for the redecoration works currently being undertaken in the Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster.

The redecoration of the roof interior above the lantern was completed on 2nd December 1975, the lantern level on 17th December 1975, and the area between the lantern and the belfry on 31st December 1975. Work in the belfry began on 31st December and in the clock mechanism room on 12th January 1976 and is still in progress. It will be necessary to close down the striking and chiming mechanism from 9 a.m. on Tuesday 20th January until 12 noon Thursday 22nd January while the areas in the immediate vicinity of the striking mechanism, including the lever arms, are repainted and the bells cleaned. The clock itself will not be stopped.

Home Department

Charitable Status

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take action to ensure that organisations concerned primarily or substantially in political propaganda are prevented from registering as religious charities.

It is already the position under existing law, as defined by the courts, that an institution whose main purpose is political is not regarded as having charitable status. In an individual case this is a matter in the first place for the judgment of the Charity Commissioners.

Mr James C Wreden

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement concerning the circumstances of the detention of James C. Wreden, the conditions under which he is kept and the assessment of his personal health by the authorities at Ashford Remand Centre.

Mr. Wreden is detained at Ashford as a place of safety in pursuance of an order made by the Crown Court on 17th December under the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Act 1964 requiring his admission to such hospital as may be specified by the Secretary of State. He is located in a single room in the hospital at the remand centre, but he has association with other young men detained there. The opinion of the medical authorities at Ashford is that his physical health is satisfactory. Urgent action is being taken to find a suitable hospital vacancy for him.

Police (Equipment Purchasing Policy)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a circular to police authorities and chief constables of police encouraging them to purchase British equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Each police authority has to decide what equipment will best meet the operational needs of its force and local considerations, including the cost falling on ratepayers. It is also necessary to have regard to international agreements on the avoidance of discrimination. None the less, as regards the purchase of vehicles, which form a significant part of the purchases of equipment, all police authorities and chief constables have already been told that we assume that they will wish to survey the market carefully before buying a foreign vehicle and satisfy themselves that no suitable British-made vehicle of comparable specification and price is available. They will no doubt wish to act similarly in relation to the purchase of other equipment.

Chilean Military Personnel

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many entry visas were issued to serving members of the Chilean armed forces in 1974 to enable them to visit or undertake training at privately-owned manufacturers of defence equipment in the United Kingdom.

Visas are not required by Chilean nationals.

Workers' Revolutionary Party (Derby)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters and telegrams he has received or his office has received, regarding the police raid at the WRP's educational centre in Derbyshire; and if he will list them.

My Department has received 164 letters and telegrams. Twelve of these were sent by Members of Parliament, 69 by trade unions, 19 by trade councils, 26 by political organisations, 31 by student organisations, and seven from other organisations and individual members of the public.

Fire Service (Thanet)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current manning complement of fire officers in Thanet, and how many vacancies exist.

The current establishment of all ranks at the Thanet fire station is 81, including five officers. There is one fireman vacancy.

Holloway Prison (Largactil And Paraldehyde)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total volume of largactil and paraldehyde prescribed in Holloway Prison in the last year for which figures are available.

I regret that information in the form requested is not available.

Women's Prisons (Male Officers)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances male prison officers are employed in women's prisons.

Male prison officers are employed at women's prisons to carry out gate and security duties. They may also be employed where there is a shortage of women specialist prison officers—e.g., caterers, physical education instructors.

Immigrants

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the number of people from the New Commonwealth, including Pakistan, (a) admitted for settlement in the United Kingdom, (b) accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom by revocation of conditions and (c) admitted to the United Kingdom net of corresponding embarkations (the net balance), in each case for the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

In the period November 1974 to October 1975, the latest 12-month period for which figures are available, 33,026 citizens of New Commonwealth countries and citizens of Pakistan were accepted for settlement on arrival in the United Kingdom, and 19,026 were accepted for settlement on removal of the time limit on their stay. In the same period, 555,921 citizens of New Commonwealth countries and citizens of Pakistan were admitted to the United Kingdom for all purposes, for example as visitors or students, and 466,295 embarked, giving a net balance of 89,626. Figures for embarkation and landing relate to passenger movement and should not be used to estimate the number who have settled here.

Central Intelligence Agency

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he remains satisfied that no interference by the CIA is taking place in the affairs of British political parties and for their affiliate and associated organisations.

Yes.

Scotland

Local Government (Electoral Boundaries)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the alteration of electoral boundaries for local elections in Scotland; what is the estimated cost of these proposals; and how many objections he has received to these proposals.

None until the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland reports to me on the initial reviews it is required to carry out as soon as practicable under Section 20 of and Schedule 5 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. The annual cost of the Commission, which is charged with the duty of reviewing local authority boundaries as well as electoral boundaries, is estimated to be around £90,000, but the extra cost to local authorities of their involvement in this continuing function is not readily identifiable and will vary according to the relative complexity of the review in each area and the extent to which they are able to use existing staff and other resources. In addition to representations from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities for postponement of the reviews I received seven individual representations.

Roads (Housing Estates)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to local authorities in Scotland concerning the criteria which have to be observed before these local authorities will take over roads from building contractors in completed housing schemes.

General guidance on roads in new housing developments is given in the Scottish Housing Handbook and in Scottish Development Department Circular No. 110/1975 sent to local authorities on 29th October 1975. It is for local highway authorities to determine, in the light of local conditions, the specifications to be met by housing developers, whether private builders or housing authorities, before they will take over the roads on completion. I would expect highway authorities, particularly in present economic circumstances, not to lay down unreasonably high standards.

Rates

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to reduce the rates of those householders not connected to the main drainage system.

No.

School Leaving

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet completed his review of school leaving arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Following careful consideration of the many differing representations put to me in the course of the review of the present school leaving dates system, I have decided to put proposals before Parliament to introduce the following school leaving arrangements in Scotland:

(a) Children reaching the age of 16 on or between 1st March and 30th September will become eligible to leave school on 31st May;

(b) Children reaching the age of 16 on or between 1st October and the last day of February will become eligible to leave at the beginning of their school's Christmas holidays.

I hope that legislation to give effect to these proposals will be introduced during the current Parliamentary Session.

Scottish Development Agency

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce the appointment of the Chief Executive of the Scottish Development Agency.

I am pleased to announce that Mr. Lewis Robertson, CBE, the Chief Executive and Deputy Chairman of Grampian Holdings Ltd., who is already a member of the Scottish Development Agency, has accepted an invitation from me to become Deputy Chairman and Chef Executive of the Agency on a whole-time basis. The appointment, which is for a five-year term, has been made in consultation with Sir William Gray, the Chairman of the Agency, and with his full agreement. Grampian Holdings have agreed to release Mr. Robertson for service with the Agency once satisfactory arrangements are made for his replacement. In the meantime he will play a formative role as Chief Executive designate in the development of the Agency's organisation and strategies.

Duchy Of Lancaster

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give details of the numbers and salaries of the extra public relations and information officers recruited by his Department and agencies for which it is responsible between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

I have no public relations or information officers on my staff.

Industry

Engineering

13.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what recent discussions have been held with representatives of employers and trade unions concerning the prospective level of investment in the engineering industry; and if he will make a statement.

Investment has been discussed with representatives of both sides of industry at recent meetings of the NEDC and its subsidiary committees. The need to increase its level in engineering and other industries is widely recognised. The Government have already introduced a number of schemes to encourage this and further measures are being considered.

Chrysler United Kingdom Limited

18.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the estimated amount of money from public funds advanced to Chrysler United Kingdom Limited, to be invested in Chrysler factories in Dunstable, the Midlands and Linwood in 1976; what the estimated figures from public funds for investment will be in those factories for 1977, 1978 and 1979; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot make details of Chrysler's expenditure available. To do so would be prejudicial to the interests of the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will place in the Library a copy of the heads of agreement with Chrysler, together with a copy of the main agreement when it is signed.

I have placed the Agreement, together with copies of the following documents, in the Library:The Guarantee from the Secretary of State for Industry to the Midland Bank in respect of the £35 million loan.The Deed of Indemnity between Chrysler Corporation, Chrysler United Kingdom Limited and the Secretary of State for Industry in respect of the guaranteed £35 million loan by the clearing banks.The Deed of Guarantee between Chrysler Corporation and the Secretary of State for Industry in respect of the £28 million loan.The Debenture for the £27 million loan.The Deed of Waiver between Chrysler Corporation and Chrysler United Kingdom.The letter dated 5th January from Mr. R. H. W. Bullock to Chrysler (United Kingdom).The "facility letter" dated 5th January from the Midland Bank to Chrysler (UK) Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in the light of contrasting responses to the company's voluntary redundancy schemes, particularly at Linwood and Ryton, Coventry, he will immediately undertake further discussions with the Chrysler management with a view to continuing Avenger assembly at the Ryton plant; and seek other ways of transferring less work from Coventry to Scotland.

No. The plans for Chrysler United Kingdom Limited have been accepted in principle by the majority of the Chrysler work force.

Northern Region

19.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with industrial progress in the Northern Region.

We continue to do everything possible to foster industrial progress in the region.

Merseyside

20.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has had to set up a Merseyside Development Agency.

None.

Government Aid

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in the case of companies which have received a contribution from Government funds, what detailed information is sought by the Government as of right and at what intervals, as to (a) monthly cash flow statements, (b) quarterly and six monthly profit and loss statements, and (c) annual reports and accounts.

Procedures have been evolved to enable appropriate scrutiny to be exercised over the proper application of financial assistance under the Industry Act 1972. These include conditions about payment of assistance and access to the necessary information. The type and frequency of the information required depends on the amount and form of assistance, taking account also of the degree of risk involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total amount of financial aid paid to companies by his Department for the last 12 months for which figures are available.

£761 million in the 12 months to 30th November 1975. This represents the gross total of expenditure by the Department of Industry under the regional support and general support to industry programmes, plus assistance to Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd., but less the refinancing of home shipbuilding lending and certain other services not involving direct aid to individual companies. It includes the purchase of shares in British Leyland.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list the assistance granted to special schemes under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972 since April 1975.

The following expenditure has been allocated for special schemes under Section 8 of the Industry Act 1972:

	£ million
^*Wool Textile Scheme	3
Ferrous Foundry Scheme	25
Machine Tool Industry Scheme	20
Clothing Scheme	20
Deferred projects, divided between:
New Investment	100
Modernisation	20
Total	188
^* This is additional to the sum of £15 million which was allocated on 19th July 1973.

Payments and commitments do not arise until individual proposals have been approved and offers accepted.

Scotland

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will visit the west of Scotland to review the economic prospects for the area.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland keeps my right hon. Friend fully informed about economic prospects in the west of Scotland.

Zip Fasteners

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he will reply to the submission sent to his Department on 22nd January 1975 by the Zip Fastener Manufacturers Association concerning the level of Japanese imports of zip fasteners.

A reply was sent on 7th January.

Sub-Post Offices

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many sub-post offices have been closed in Great Britain for the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the figures published annually in the Post Office's Report and Accounts. These show a net decline in the number of sub-post offices under its control as follows:

1971–72	…	…	…	…	127
1972–73	…	…	…	…	162
1973–74	…	…	…	…	234^*
1974–75	…	…	…	…	216
^*This includes 38 sub-post offices transferred to the Isle of Man Administration.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Industry by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

It is not possible to make this comparison as 1974–75 was the first year of the Department's existence.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether his Department employs any representatives or staff outside the United Kingdom and at what total cost on an annual basis.

The Department employs five staff overseas. Their total cost for the financial year 1974–75 was £37,811.

Jaguar Cars

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the number of Jaguar cars produced in 1975, 1974 and 1973.

The Government do not publish statistics of output of individual makes of cars. Information on Jaguar/Daimler production in 1973 and 1974 is given in "The Motor Industry of Great Britain, 1975" and for the first 10 months of 1975 in the "Monthly Statistical Review" (Issue 11–75), both published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited. These publications are in the House of Commons Library. I am sending copies of the relevant material to my hon. Friend.

Aircraft

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he expects to meet the Confederation and Shipbuilding Engineering Unions for further talks regarding organisation, production, sales and other major subjects involving the future of the British aircraft industry.

I have been in touch with the CSEU and offered to meet the

Equity and Preference Shares Held	Disposal	Date
The Hoffman Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Note 1) 4,800,000 Ordinary Shares of 25p	Ransome & Manes Bearing Co.	May 1969
The Nuclear Power Group Ltd. 150,000 Ordinary Shares of £1	Sir Robert McAlpine & Sons Ltd. and Head Wrightson & Co. Ltd.	March 1971
Ransome Hoffmann Pollard Ltd. 155,000 Ordinary Shares of 25p	Institutional investors	August 1971
The Laird Group 4,900,830 Ordinary Shares of 25p	Securities Agencies Ltd.	November 1971
Ransome Hoffmann Pollard Ltd. (Note 1) 1,200,000 Deferred Ordinary Shares of 25p	Institutional investors	December 1971
Chrysler United Kingdom Ltd. 7,561,1407% Cumulative Preferred Ordinary Shares of 20p	Chrysler UK Ltd.	January 1972
Herbert Ingersoll Ltd. 38,250 "A" Ordinary Shares of 50p	Alfred Herbert Ltd.	March 1973
36,750 "B" Ordinary Shares of 50p	Ingersoll Milling Machine Co.	July 1973
Brown Bayley Steels Ltd. (Note 1) 2,404,000 Ordinary Shares of 50p	Dunford & Elliott Ltd.	December 1973
Kearney & Trecker Ltd. 300,000 Redeemable Convertible Third Preference Shares of £1	Kearney & Trecker Marwin Ltd. (Note 2)	August 1974
George Kent Ltd. 4,261,757 Ordinary Shares of 50p	Brown Boveri Ltd	December 1974
British Nuclear Design and Construction Ltd. 260,000 Ordinary Shares of £1	National Nuclear Corporation Ltd.	March 1975
Saxondale Motors Ltd. (Note 3) (formerly Brown Bayley Ltd.) 2,400,000 Ordinary Shares of £1	Members Voluntary Liquidation	June 1975
Nuclear Enterprises Ltd. 7,353 "B" Ordinary Shares of £1	Still held by Department of Industry
Notes:
1. Investments held by Brown Bayley Ltd.
2. 65,000 shares were redeemed by K. & T.M. Ltd. The balance is still held by the Department of Industry.
3. Name chanced on 17th May 1974.

Standard Telephones And Cables Ltd

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what investment or other allowances, or tax savings, or any other moneys spent at the expense of the taxpayers were authorised by Her Majesty's Government in respect of investment at the North Woolwich plant of Standard Telephones and Cables since 1968; and at what dates.

Records for investment grants are not maintained for individual companies and tax matters are Confederation as soon as it can be arranged.

Industrial Reorganisation Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what shares were held by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation; to whom they were subsequently sold; and on what dates.

The list of equity and preference share acquired by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation and their subsequent disposal is as follows:confidential. No other Government assistance has been given.

Post Office (Review Committee)

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what criteria were used in the selection of the members of the Post Office Review Committee.

I have sought to appoint a committee of individuals whose combined experience and expertise makes it capable of a dispassionate appraisal and evaluation of the issues covered by the terms of reference. No member of the team is regarded as representative of any specific interest: that is a rôle appropriate to witnesses.

Energy

Departmental Staff

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

My Department was not created until 9th January 1974. The average number of people employed during the year ended 31st March 1975 was 1.155, at a total cost of £5·1 million, of which salaries and wages represented £3·9 million. Staff transferred to the Health and Safety Executive on 1st January 1975 have not been taken into account in arriving at these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

My Department was not created until early 1974. The total number of people employed at 1st April 1974 was 1,019 and at 1st April 1975, 1,292. The 1974 figure excludes staff transferred to the Health and Safety Executive on 1st January 1975.

Gas And Electricity Bills

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will issue general directions to encourage the electricity and gas industries to make the sale of savings stamps for the payment of electricity and gas bills more widely available.

The range of easy payment methods offered to consumers by electricity area boards and gas regions varies from one part of the country to another, but both industries fully accept the need to use the best means available to meet the convenience of customers wishing to make payments on account. I understand that they are satisfied that the facilities offered are adequate but will ex- pand them as may be desirable and practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many electricity and gas boards currently operate savings stamp schemes; and at what outlets, other than the board's own showrooms, stamps are currently available.

Savings stamps are on sale in the showrooms of nine electricity area boards and nine gas regions. The other three gas regions will introduce savings stamps as soon as the necessary arrangements have been finalised. In certain places a long way from showrooms the industries have arranged for authorised agents to sell stamps on their behalf.

District Heating

21.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what studies are being made of the possibilities of increasing district heating systems deriving their heat from power stations, especially nuclear power stations.

A group, under the chairmanship of Dr. Marshall, the Chief Scientist, is studying the future rôle of combined heat and power in the United Kingdom. A major part of this study is concerned with the supply of heat from power stations to district heating schemes, and both conventional and nuclear stations are being considered.

North Sea Oil

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on progress towards 51 per cent. Government participation in North Sea oil.

Progress continues towards the first full agreements with those who have accepted the principle of majority State participation; and useful discussions are also being held with a number of other companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if it is still Government policy to obtain a 51 per cent. State stake of the equity of the oil companies operating in the North Sea.

It remains the firm aim of the Government to secure majority State participation in commercial oilfields under development now or found under fifth round licences, but this will not normally involve purchase of a stake in the equity of oil companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what assurances he has given the oil companies operating in the North Sea about their expected profits; and how these would be affected by the Government taking a 51 per cent. stake in the industry.

In the White Paper "United Kingdom Offshore Oil and Gas Policy" (Cmnd. 5696) the Government recognised that the oil companies require a suitable return on their capital investment and this principle is reflected in the subsequent Oil Taxation Act. Majority State participation in commercial fields under existing licences—which does not normally involve acquisition of a stake in the equity of companies—is not designed to increase Government revenue: companies have been assured that participation agreements will leave them financially neither worse nor better off. Methods of achieving this objective are currently under discussion with the companies.

Fuel Prices

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the average increase in the price of electricity, gas, oil and coal, respectively, since 1st August 1964.

The prices of fuels vary widely according to such factors as type of consumer, location, terms of contract, rate of use and pattern of consumption. Estimates of the movements in prices to domestic consumers are shown below:

Estimated price increases August 1964 to December 1975
Coal and coke¹	…	…	+228 per cent.
Gas¹	…	…	+ 87 per cent.
Electricity¹	…	…	+201 per cent.
Oil²	…	…	+263 per cent.
¹ Movements in the sub-groups of the General Index of Retail Prices.
² Published price for 200 gallon delivery of standard grade burning oil (Inner Zone).

Prime Minister's Staff

asked the Prime Minister by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

Over the period the increase in staff was 70.

Special Advisers

22.

asked the Prime Minister what are the duties of each of the seven special advisers to the Prime Minister.

Advice covering the range of the Government's activities come to me, at my request, from the Policy Unit as a whole at No. 10 Downing Street. I do not look to individual members of the unit for advice on particular subjects.

Shops Acts

asked the Prime Minister whether he will reallocate Ministerial responsibility for the administration of the Shops Acts 1950 and 1965 from the Home Office to the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection.

I see no reason for altering the present allocation of departmental responsibilities for shops.

Civil Service

Unemployment

25.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the expected impact upon the level of unemployment in the Civil Service as a consequence of the economies in public spending being sought by the Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost) earlier today.

English Usage

29.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he last issued guidance to the Civil Service on the use of the English language.

Continual attention has been paid to this subject since Sir Ernest Gowers' "Plain Words" was issued in 1948. This was followed in 1954 by "The Complete Plain Words", which was subsequently revised by Sir Bruce Fraser in 1973. The work is recommended reading for all new entrants to the Civil Service and is widely read by both senior and junior staff. In addition, my Department has produced a programmed text on letter-writing, which is revised and reprinted annually for distribution to all Departments. Other approaches include formal training courses and handbooks designed particularly for the clerical and executive officer grades.

Manning And Efficiency

30.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will define his responsibilities for studies of manning and efficiency in the Civil Service.

The Civil Service Department is responsible for the overall control of the number of civil servants. In co-operation with Departments it is concerned with promoting efficient management, but departmental Ministers are themselves responsible to Parliament for the efficiency of their Departments.

Civil Servants (Incomes)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what are the average earnings of members of the Civil Service.

On 11th December, my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal mentioned in another place that the average earnings of non-industrial civil servants were £54 per week. This figure was calculated with reference to the Department of Employment's New Earnings Survey national average figure of £60·8 a week. The equivalent figure for the whole of the Civil Service was £51 a week.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the occasions over the last 15 years when Civil Service pay awards have been delayed or cut because of Government incomes policies.

Awards for various groups were delayed or cut by policies operating in 1961, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1973 and 1975.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when civil servants last received an award following a pay review; and what period it brought them up to date with.

Most non-industrial civil servants received a pay award effective from 1st April 1975 which brought their pay up to date at that time. For the most senior grades the last pay award related to 1st January 1975 but full implementation of this has been deferred.The last award for most industrial civil servants was effective from 1st July 1975 and took account of the relevant circumstances up to that time.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the occasions, including the current suspention, when Government has interfered with awards made under the fair comparison procedure since it was introduced following the Royal Commission recommendation in 1954.

The implementation of pay awards, following from pay research exercises for the non-industrial Civil Service was modified as a result of Government incomes policies effective in 1966, 1968 and 1973. In addition the Government's current counter-inflation policy has required the suspension of pay research.

Government Hospitality

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the cost to public funds of the Government hospitality organisation in the year 1974–75; and what it will be in the current financial year.

The expenditure of the Government Hospitality Fund in the year 1974–75 was £243,537.In the current financial year expenditure is estimated to be £285,000.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many of all those invited to functions sponsored by the Government hospitality fund in the past 12 months have been members of the Government, the Armed Forces, the Civil Service, or the nationalised industries.

The Government Hospitality Fund does not sponsor functions; it arranges them on behalf of Government Ministers.A member of the Government is host at all functions arranged by the Government Hospitality Fund. Other members of the Government, Civil Service, the Armed Forces and the nationalised industries are invited by the sponsoring Department to attend functions on the basis of the essential minimum number of public servants having a contribution to make to the purpose of the function. This preserves the long-standing policy that only those public servants directly and necessarily concerned with the subject matter should be invited.Figures are not readily available for the total number of guests attending Government Hospitality Fund functions in any of the categories in any given year.

Pensions

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the number of employees entitled to and receiving pensions under the Superannuation Act 1972 and the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971, and the proportion of those who are, or were, civil servants.

It is estimated that a total of some 714,000 pensions are in payment to former employees in the Civil Service, the National Health Service, local government, the police and fire services, the teaching profession and other smaller groups who retired under schemes now directly covered by the Superannuation Act 1972 and the Pensions (Increase) Act 1971. Of these rather fewer than one in three are former civil servants.

Pay Research Unit (Reports)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list all the reports produced by the Civil Service Pay Research Unit during the past year; which of these have been published; and if he will place a copy of every report produced, both published and unpublished, in the Library of the House of Commons.

In the last year before the suspension of pay research, the Pay Research Unit issued on a confidential basis to the parties responsible for negotiating non-industrial Civil Service pay 15 reports covering the grades of staff listed below:

Administration Group (Middle and Higher Grades).
Administration Group (Clerical Grades).
Typing and Machine Grades.
Teleprinter Operating Grades.
Messengers and Paperkeepers.
Cleaners.
Professional and Technology Group (in six parts:
Architecture.
Civil Engineering.
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering.
Quantity Surveying.
Lands/Estate Surveyors/Valuers, Electronics).
Telecommunications Technical Officers.
Radio Technicians.
Instructional Officers.

The understanding between the unit and the organisations participating in surveys is, and always has been, that its reports will not be published on any wider basis. I am, therefore, unable to meet the hon. Member's request to place copies of these reports in the Library of the House.

Statutory Instruments (Publicity)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what arrangements are in force for informing the public of the issue of draft Statutory Instruments requiring the approval of Parliament; and if there are any arrangements to ensure a minimum time between any such notifications and relevant motions being taken in the House of Commons.

Departments are not under any formal obligation to notify the public of the issue of draft Statutory Instruments requiring the approval of Parliament. They do, however, frequently issue Press notices about such instruments, and often give notice of them to organisations particularly affected. In addition, most draft instruments are published when they have been laid; that is, they are put on sale by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, and appear in the daily list of Government publications. In general, I think that Departments are well aware of the need to keep the public informed of impending subordinate legislation.

There is no requirement, either by statute or in the Standing Orders of the House, for a particular period to elapse between the laying of a draft affirmative instrument and the taking of the motion to approve it. All such instruments are, however, subject to scrutiny by the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments or House of Commons Select Committee on Statutory Instruments, and a considerable proportion are referred to Standing Committees.

Overseas Development

Ministerial Staff

asked the Minister of Overseas Development by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

The number decreased by 250.

		1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75
Number of people	…	12	14	19	20	21
Total cost	…	£42,822	£55,173	£68,284	£74,864	£106,287

asked the Attorney-General by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

The number of civil servants in my Department increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75 by nine.

asked the Attorney-General if he will give details of the numbers and salaries of the extra public relations and information officers recruited by his Department and agencies for which it is responsible between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

Neither my Department nor any office for which I have ministerial responsibility employs any officers whose sole duties are concerned with public relations and information.

Trade

New Delhi (Minister's Visit)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on his recent visit to New Delhi.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will give details of the numbers and salaries of the extra public relations and information officers recruited by his Department and agencies for which it is responsible between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

No extra staff of this kind have been recruited.

Law Officers' Department (Staff)

asked the Attorney-General 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 number of people employed in my Department and the total cost of their salaries and estimated general administrative expenses is as follows:

I visited New Delhi and Calcutta at the invitation of the Government of India from 4th to 9th January 1976. I met the Prime Minister and other Indian Ministers, as well as a large number of Indian and British businessmen. I signed an exchange of letters with the Indian Minister of Commerce establishing an Indo-British Economic Committee to promote the further development of economic and commercial relations between our two countries. I also discussed with the Indian Government many aspects of the general relations between our two countries including matters connected with our trade, investment, aviation and shipping services.

Defence

Admiralty Research Establishment, Teddington

23.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Admiralty research establishment at Teddington.

As was announced in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1975 (Chapter VII, paragraph 7), establishments engaged in marine technology are being considered along with others as part of the proposals for the second stage of rationalisa-

	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75
Total number	321,900	334,500	319,600	317,200	315,600
	£m.	£m.	£m	£m.	£m.
Actual cost at current prices	455	550	578	647	814

Because of changes in departmental organisation the figures are not directly comparable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

There has been no increase but a fall.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total present establishment of the United Kingdom based non-industrial staff of his Department; and how this differs from the actual strength, by grades.

Including the Royal ordnance factories the total establishment of United Kingdom based non-industrial staff is 140,400 and the total strength is 131,600. A detailed breakdown of strength by grades is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) overseas by staff of his Department during the financial year 1974–75; and what estimate has been made of the corresponding cost in the current financial year.

tion of the defence R & D establishments. No decisions have yet been taken.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Defence 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 and average number of civilians employed in the Ministry of Defence at home and overseas including the Royal ordnance factories, in the years 1970–71 to 1974–75 is as follows:

The cost to public funds of travel by civilian staff of the Ministry of Defence including fares, motor mileage and other associated allowances within the United Kingdom and overseas during the financial year 1974–75 was approximately £14·5 million and £3·1 million respectively. The estimate of the corresponding cost in the current financial year is approximately £19 million and £42·million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the non-industrial staff of his Department have been on training courses during the past 12 months; and at what cost to public funds.

Statistics are collected annually in August. In the year ending 31st July 1975, 46,349 non-industrial civilians attended training courses held within the Department or at the Civil Service College, and 12,181 attended external courses. Costs are not separately recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average annual wastage from the staff of his Department over the past five years; and how much of this has been attributable to retirement, resignations and illness, respectively.

Due to organisational changes in the Ministry of Defence it has not been possible to obtain figures over five years. But the average annual wastage of non-industrial staff in the Ministry of Defence over the past four years has been 11,550, which is approximately 9 per cent. of strength. Of this total, 50 per cent. can be attributed to resignations, 25 per cent. to retirements at or above the minimum age and 3·5 per cent. to ill health.Wastage figures for industrial staff are maintained at local level and cannot be obtained without disproportionate effort.

Recruits

asked the Secretary of States for Defence whether there are any height requirements for recruits to the Armed Services.

In most cases, yes.

Disaster Relief (Nato Aid)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will support the setting up of a NATO disaster relief force to provide shelter, food, medical and other humanitarian assistance at the request of any allied Government stricken by a national disaster.

In the event of disaster NATO has long-standing arrangements for the co-ordination of action and the exchange of information for the use of national civil emergency organisations, of NATO military forces and of other facilities. I am not persuaded of the need for a NATO disaster relief force.

British Army Of The Rhine (Radar Systems)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to order either the Sanders Associates Forward Area Alerting Radar (FAAR) or the MRDR 30 radar system for service in BAOR.

None, at the moment.

Battle Of Jutland (Anniversary)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any plans to mark the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland which falls on 31st May-lst June this year.

At the present time the Royal Navy has no formal plans to do so.

Expenditure

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing the proportion of the gross national product of each member country of the NATO alliance spent on defence.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) on 13th January 1976.—[Vol. 903, c. 187–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish figures showing the annual amount proposed in defence cuts for the next nine years.

The savings resulting from the defence review were published in the 1975 Defence White Paper (Cmnd. 5976). When the current public expenditure survey exercise is finalised, the future level of the defence budget will be published in the usual way.

Sky-Spy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the suitability of Short's Sky-Spy for the Armed Forces and for NATO.

Short's Sky-Spy was assessed, together with competing concepts, in the pre-feasibility study of systems to meet the British Army's requirement for a medium-range unmanned surveillance system, but was considered unsuitable. This remains the position. The assessment of Sky-Spy's suitability for other prospective purchasers would be made on a commercial basis between Shorts and the country concerned.

Chilean Personnel (Training)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Chilean service men are currently undergoing training in the United Kingdom.

At present there are no Chilean service men undergoing training in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the treatment of Dr. Cassidy by the Chilean régime, he will now take steps to cease all training of Chilean military personnel in the United Kingdom.

No. The training in the United Kingdom arranged by my Department for Chilean military personnel is limited to that deriving from existing naval sales contracts negotiated many years ago.

Bangladesh

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received from the Government of Bangladesh about possible assistance on defence matters; and what help he proposes to give.

My Department has received a number of requests from the Government of Bangladesh for places on training courses in Britain; these are considered in accordance with our normal procedures. Requests for supply of military equipment are considered on their merits taking into account all the relevant factors.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Departmental Staff

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 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	Cost^ £million*
1970–71	…	…	16,005	33·6
1971–72	…	…	15,898	37·6
1972–73	…	…	15,629	39·7
1973–74	…	…	15,212	42·9
1974–75	…	…	15,169	53·6
^*Salaries etc. (excluding fees and honoraria) and general administrative expenses (including all travelling expenses).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

The numbers of staff in my Department fell by 836 between 1970–71 and 1974–75. Industrial staff are included in the figures but not casual seasonal and fee-paid staff whose numbers vary considerably over the year but on average accounted for perhaps 300 man-years in 1970–71 and 600 in the later year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his Department employs any representatives or staff outside the United Kingdom and at what total cost on an annual basis.

Two veterinary officers from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service are permanently stationed in Buenos Aires, at a cost to the Department of about £37,000 per year.One ADAS officer is temporarily attached to the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels at an annual cost of some £6,000.

Glasshouses (Gale Damage)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on damage sustained by glasshouse growers as the result of high winds earlier in January; and if he will provide assistance to those who suffered heavy losses to enable them to overcome the problems they face as a consequence.

For a statement on the damage to glasshouses, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym) on 16th January. My officials have already been approached informally by the National Farmers' Union on the question of assistance and we are considering the points made on behalf of the growers affected.—[Official Report, Vol. 903, c. 286.]

Fishing Industry (Inshore Fleet)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the proposal of the EEC Commission for a £200 million fund to be used by the Commission to reduce the size of the European inshore fleet; what effect this will have on the inshore fleets within the United Kingdom; and what size he envisages the fleet reaching.

The fund is one element in the proposals published by the EEC Commission in December last for common action for the restructuring of the Community inshore fishing industry. An explanatory memorandum— Ref.: R/2988/75—on these proposals was submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 5th January.The proposals are still under initial study by the industry and the Fishery Departments as a prelude to joint consideration, and they will also be discussed between member States in the usual way.I feel that it would be premature for me to comment in detail on these proposals which are of a very general character until they have been developed with greater precision as a result of these various discussions.

Hill Calves (Prices)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the latest available figures for hill cow suckler calf prices at markets in England, Scotland and Wales.

I have no comparable information to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 4th December 1975. This recorded the outcome of the majority of hill cow suckler sales. Subsequent sales appear to have resulted in similar prices.—[Vol. 901, c. 690.]

Hill Sheep Subsidy

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the additional hill sheep subsidy announced early in 1975 to be received by the producers; and if he will make a statement.

Subsidy at the increased rates announced following the 1975 Annual Review will be paid during the early part of this year on hill sheep kept in eligible flocks during 1975. The slight deferment in the date of payment is a result of the replacement of the Hill Sheep Subsidy Scheme—with a December qualifying day—by the Hill Livestock (Compensatory Allowances) Regulations, which came into operation on 1st January last and which provide for a common qualifying day for sheep and cattle of 1st January.

Brucellosis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans for the extension of the brucellosis eradication programme in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

On 30th December, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was able to announce further areas in which the compulsory eradication of brucellosis would commence on 1st November 1976. The Minister also said that urgent discussions would be held with the National Farmers Union and the British Veterinary Association on the remainder of the eradication programme and that a further announcement would be made early in the new year. These discussions have been completed and I can now give farmers in the remaining parts of England and Wales an indication of when their areas will be brought within the scope of compulsory eradication measures.The following is the programme:

Starting 1st November 1976

South Glamorgan and remainder of West Glamorgan, Mid Glamorgan and Gwent;
Salop and Hereford and Worcester west of the A49;
The Wrexham-Maelor District of Clwyd;
Somerset west of a line from Axbridge to Crewkerne;
Kent and adjacent parts of Greater London;
East Sussex;
Remainder of West Sussex;
The New Forest;
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire south of the M40;
Lincolnshire;
The Rutland District of Leicestershire;
Humberside south of the Humber and east of the Trent;
Remainder of the Craven District of North Yorkshire;
In Lancashire, the Borough of Burnley, the Pendle and Hyndburn Districts and the re mainder of the Ribble Valley Borough.

Starting 1 November 1977

Dorset;
Durham and Tyne and Wear to the south of the River Tyne;
Remainder of Devon;
Remainder of Hampshire;

Remainder of Lancashire;
Remainder of Leicestershire;
Remainder of Oxfordshire;
Remainder of Salop;
In North Yorkshire, the Harrogate district and so much of the Richmondshire and the Hambleton districts as lie to the west of the A1;
In Hereford and Worcester, the remainder of the old county of Hereford;
The Sefton district of Merseyside;
Cheshire to the west of the River Dee;
Remainder of Clwyd excluding the part north of the River Dee.

Starting 1 March 1978

Remainder of Somerset.

Starting 1 November 1978

Cleveland;
Greater Manchester;
Northamptonshire;
Nottinghamshire;
Wiltshire;
Remainder of Buckinghamshire;
Remainder of Hereford and Worcester;
Remainder of Merseyside;
Remainder of North Yorkshire;
The Boothferry district of Humberside;
Gloucestershire north of a line from South Cerney to Gloucester and including the Forest of Dean.

Starting 1 November 1979

Avon;
Derbyshire;
Warwickshire;
West Midlands;
West Yorkshire;
Remainder of Gloucestershire;
Remainder of Humberside;
The eastern part of Cornwall.

Starting 1 November 1980

Northumberland;
South Yorkshire;
Staffordshire;
Remainder of Cheshire;
Remainder of Cornwall;
Remainder of Tyne and Wear;
Remainder of Clwyd.

The decision to extend compulsory powers to the areas listed above for eradication to commence in 1976 and 1977 is firm; we propose to make the necessary order for the 1976 areas in a few days' time, and that for the 1977 areas in the coming Spring. The remainder of the list must still be regarded as tentative at this stage, and the possibility of later adjustment, either forward or backward, cannot be ruled out: progress of the brucellosis eradication campaign must continue to be subject to any demands on staff caused by possible future outbreaks of exotic disease, which will have to be given priority.

Free 45/20 Vaccination Scheme

A free 45/20 vaccination scheme has been introduced in the counties of Cheshire (and an adjacent part of Clwyd), Staffordshire, Northumberland (and an adjacent part of Tyne and Wear) in order to reduce the level of infection in those counties and make it feasible for compulsory measures to be introduced in them in 1980. Following the dis- cussions with the NFU and BVA, we have agreed that as from 1st March 1976 farmers with actively infected herds in the other areas scheduled for compulsory eradication to begin in 1979 and 1980 may also apply for free vaccination under these arrangements. I must, however, emphasise that the use of 45/20 vaccine in adult cattle is being advocated by the Ministry as an extension of and not a departure from existing policy on brucellosis vaccination. It remains our policy to encourage the use of S.19 vaccine in female calves as a means of conferring early and lasting protection against the disease.

Incentive-expired Herds

Members of the Brucellosis Incentive Scheme whose herds became accredited on or before 1st April 1971 will cease to be eligible for incentive payments after 31st March next. Those who became accredited on later dates will similarly cease to qualify for incentive payments once a period of five years since the date of accreditation has passed. All such herd-owners who remain in the voluntary Scheme will continue to have their cattle tested free of charge and will qualify for compensation at the rate of 75 per cent. of accredited market value for all reactors revealed, subject to whatever maximum payment is in force. I believe that these terms will offer the herd-owners concerned whose farms are not yet within eradication areas sufficient encouragement to remain accredited within the voluntary Scheme. I would nevertheless urge them to take out insurance against the losses that they themselves would have to bear should reactors occur in their herds.

Potatoes

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the level of potato prices and the work of the Potato Marketing Board; and if he will make a statement.

On prices, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Taylor) on 14th January. I am satisfied that the Potato Marketing Board has taken what action was open to it to alleviate the situation by relaxing the normal riddle sizes and drawing attention to the need for orderly marketing. But action by the Board could not make good the estimated shortfall in home production this season compared with last.—[Vol. 902, c. 169–70.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation requiring potato processors to use imported potatoes for the bulk of their demand.

In view of the limited supplies of potatoes of suitable quality at present obtainable from overseas any such legislation would be impracticable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were

1975
MONTHLY AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICKS OF HOME PRODUCED POTATOES IN ENGLAND AND WALES
£ per cwt.
		January	February	March	April	May	June
Potatoes (Main Crop):
King Edward VII produced in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire	…	2·09	1·91	1·94	2·34	2·76	4·14
Other districts	…	1·99	1·90	1·96	2·28	2·68	4·42
Other red potatoes	…	1·86	1·73	1·73	2·15	2·53	4·07
Whites	…	1·75	1·58	1·62	2·11	2·47	4·08
Potatoes (New):
Produced in:
Pembroke	…	—	—	—	—	…	8·38
Cornwall, Scilly Isles	…	—	—	—	…	10·41	8·29
Other districts				—	—	—	8·79

£ per cwt.
		July	August	September	October	November	December
Potatoes Main Crop):
King Edward VII produced in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire	…	…	5·92	4·93	5·17	5·77	7·05
Other districts	…	—	5·82	4·63	5·13	5·78	7·12
Other red potatoes	…	—	5·76	4·67	4·93	5·50	6·80
Whites	…	…	5·57	4·47	4·75	5·37	6·65
Potatoes (New):
Produced in:
Pembroke	…	8·62	—	—	—	—	—
Cornwall, Scilly Isles	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Other districts	…	6·93	—	—	—	—	—
… Negligible quantities marketed
Figures are provision

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Cyprus

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to set up a relief fund to assist those British citizens who have suffered hardship as the result of recent events in Cyprus.

No. There are no funds available for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take action, both independently and through the United Nations and NATO, to improve facilities for the free movement of United Kingdom citizens between the north and south areas of Cyprus.

As a result of strenuous representations by the British High the wholesale prices of potatoes per hundredweight for each month in 1975.

The information below is derived from Ministry market reports in nine large wholesale markets.Commissioner in Nicosia, restrictions on the movement of British residents of Northern Cyprus into Southern Cyprus were lifted as from 7th January 1976. The need for action through other bodies does not therefore arise.

India

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to pay an official visit to India.

My right hon. Friend looks forward to visiting India in due course, but he has no immediate plans to do so.

Oecd (Diplomatic Representation)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will, in order to bring United Kingdom diplomatic representation at OECD into line with that of other countries, abolish the separate embassy and allocate the functions to the British Embassy to France.

Our diplomatic representation is already in line with that of most other countries as 21 out of the 24 member countries of OECD maintain separate delegations.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff, of all grades, are

			1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75
United Kingdom-based staff:
Cost (£ million)	…	…	17·1	18·6	19·4	21·9	26·6
Numbers	…	…	3,321	3,251	3,203	3,244	3,260
Locally-engaged staff:
Cost (£ million)	…	…	10·9	11·8	13·0	15·9	19·0
Numbers	…	…	8,523	8,270	8,275	8,283	8,336

All members of the Diplomatic Service are required to be citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies. Exact details of the nationality of all locally-engaged staff are not kept centrally, but it is estimated that some 30 per cent. of the present numbers are British nationals, although not necessarily United Kingdom citizens. No figures are available for previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how many the number of civil servants in his Department, other than those concerned with overseas aid matters, and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

The number of staff employed in my Department both at home and overseas, was 10,590 United Kingdom-based staff and 8,523 locally-engaged staff in 1970–71, and 10,255 United Kingdom-based staff and 8,336 locally-engaged staff in 1974–75. There was therefore no increase in staff between these two dates but a decrease of 335 United Kingdom-based staff and 187 locally-engaged staff.

Diplomatic Service (Accommodation)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total cost of employed by his Department outside the United Kingdom; what has been the total cost of such staff over the last five years on an annual basis; how many such staff are United Kingdom nationals; and how many are non-United Kingdom nationals.

The numbers and cost of all staff employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office overseas, including staff of other Government Departments seconded to the Diplomatic Service, over the past five years are as follows:rentals and acquisitions of property outside the United Kingdom by his Department over the last five years on an annual basis, and the total costs of repairs and modernisation to such buildings over the same period; and what arrangements there are for authorising such expenditure.

The total cost of rentals and maintenance of residential and office accommodation at posts overseas as borne by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Vote during the past five years is given in the table below.

			Rent £ million	Maintenance £
1970–71	…	…	41	199,481
1971–72	…	…	4·3	245,514
1972–73	…	…	4·5	238,871
1973–74	…	…	5·2	294,889
1974–75	…	…	6·2	317,617

The Property Services Agency is responsible for acquisition of property overseas by purchase or construction, for long-term leased accommodation, and for the cost of repair, modernisation and maintenance of such property.Expenditure on residential and office accommodation by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is subject to continuous budgetary control within the Department. Accountable delegated authority is granted to heads of overseas posts for certain minor routine maintenance expenditure which, under the terms of the lease of the property concerned, is not the responsibility of the landlord.

Embassies And Missions (Entertainment Costs)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost of entertainment made available by United Kingdom embassies and missions abroad over the last five years on an annual basis; and what arrangements exist for authorising such expenditure.

The total cost in each of the last five complete financial years was as follows:

				£
1970–71	…	…	…	1,193,246
1971–72	…	…	…	1,234,368
1972–73	…	…	…	1,282,319
1973–74	…	…	…	1,540,601
1974–75	…	…	…	1,783,066

As regards arrangements for authorising such expenditure, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Lamont) on 15th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 239.]

United States Of America (Bicentenary)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what amount Her Majesty's Government is proposing to spend on the celebrations commemorating the bicentenary of the United States of America.

Her Majesty's Government propose to allocate an amount of up to £0·5 million for the official British contribution to the celebrations. The expenditure will be spread over five years on a series of projects approved by the British Bicentennial Liaison Committee.The funds have been broadly allocated as follows:up to £105,000 for expenses in connection with the loan for one year by Parliament to Congress of Magna Carta, the gift of a showcase and a permanent replica;£180,000 for a joint five-year programme with the United States Government of exchange fellowships in the creative and performed arts;£150,000 to cover British theatrical, orchestral and other artistic performances in the United States during the bicentennial period;up to £35,000 for a bicentennial bell for the American people, to be hung in Philadelphia;£30,000 for activities in the regions of the United Kingdom, publicity and various minor activities and administrative costs.

Iceland (Fishing Dispute)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether British policy in the cod war has the support of the United Kingdom's Common Market partners.

My right hon. Friend is confident that our partners in the Common Market have a full understanding of the problem we face in the dispute with Iceland. He has been keeping them fully informed of developments and will continue to do so.

Diplomatic Service (Allowances)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the total cost of allowances made available to staff of his Department abroad enabling children to attend private schools within the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available.

The total cost of these allowances for oversas staff in the financial year 1974–75 was £1,045,779.

Wales

Dangerous Substances (Carriage By Road)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will define his responsibilities for the control of dangerous or explosive materials carried by road in Wales.

Responsibility for the control of safety of transportation of such goods by road in both Wales and England lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

Llangollen, Clwyd (Junior School)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects the building of the proposed new junior school at Llangollen, Clwyd, to commence, in view of the fact that the Clwyd County Council has already purchased the school site.

This is a matter for decision by the Clwyd County Council.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Wales 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 is as follows:

(a) Number of staff in post:
1970	…	…	842
1971	…	…	923
1972	…	…	968
1973	…	…	1,104
1974	…	…	1,251

(b) Total staffing costs:
			£
1970–71	…	…	1,691,717
1971–72	…	…	2,214,944
1972–73	…	…	2,499,474
1973–74	…	…	2,897,083
1974–75	…	…	4,188,549

The increases reflect the continuing growth in functions and responsibilities of the Welsh Office during the period; in many cases staff have been transferred from other Departments or public bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by how many the number of civil servants in his Department and other categories of public sector officials, including any industrial civil servants, increased between 1970–71 and 1974–75.

Between 1st April 1971 and 1st April 1975 the number increased by 516, reflecting the growth in Welsh Office functions during this period.

Roads

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what major road improvement schemes on the trunk roads of Wales are scheduled for the financial year 1976–77; what is their individual cost; and what length of roads are involved in each instance.

This information will be available following publication of the Supply Estimates which will be presented to Parliament in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how much money he estimates would be saved in the next 10 years by adopting the accepted English design standards for road construction in Wales;(2) why a single carriageway 7·3 metre road in Wales has an assumed maximum peak hour capacity for design purposes of under 800 vehicles per hour when the same road in England has an assumed peak hour capacity of between 1,200 and 1,600 vehicles per hour; and why a dual carriageway 7·3 metre road has an assumed peak hour capacity in one direction of about 1,750 vehicles per hour in Wales, when the same road in England has an assumed capacity of between 2,025 and 3,000 vehicles per hour.

I am working generally in Wales to the design capacities which were laid down in "Layout of Roads in Rural Areas" published in 1968 by HMSO. These are the standards to which most of the new roads in Great Britain have been built in recent years. In practice the standards to be adopted in any individual case must depend on the circumstances of the particular scheme. For this reason it is not possible to make meaningful estimates of the cost of adopting different standards, but in general it would be possible on only a limited scale to substitute single for dual carriageways.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how much money he estimates could be saved in the forthcoming decade by devising a road building programme for Wales based on the same projected increase in traffic as that projected for England;(2) if road building in Wales is to proceed for a greater forecast increase in traffic than that forecast for England or Scotland; and, if so, how this is justified.

Road building in Wales is an intrinsic part of our regional policy of encouraging economic growth and I consider the forecast increase to be justified. It is not possible to indicate how much, if anything, might be saved by building roads to a standard lower than is needed.

Sports Centres

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many sports centres exist in each of the counties of Wales.

In addition to the National Sports Centre at Cardiff there are 10 sports centres in Clwyd, one in Dyfed, 11 in Gwent, one in Gwynedd, nine in Mid-Glamorgan, and one each in South and West Glamorgan. Two further centres are under construction—one in Gwent and one in West Glamorgan.

Council Of Ministers

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects next to attend a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the EEC.

Whenever it is necessary to do so.

Area Health Authorities

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what general additional supplementary allocation he is granting to each area health authority in Wales for 1975–76.

I hope it may prove possible to make some small additions to the revenue allocations of area health authorities in the present financial year.

Housing (District Councils)

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why he has decided to combine the allocation to district councils in Wales in 1976–77 for capitalised repairs on local authority housing stock, acquisition of private market housing and finance for HAA and GIAs into one allocation.

As explained in the Welsh Office letter of 22nd December 1975 to all local authorities in Wales, the allocations are combined in order to give councils greater flexibility in applying the money available.

Regional Development Assistance

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will set up an inquiry into the use and misuse of regional development assistance by firms establishing or promising to establish new operations in Wales, inviting interested parties, especially redundant workers, to submit evidence.

I am satisfied that regional development assistance is being used effectively in Wales, and I see no purpose in setting up a special enquiry.

Employment

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many new jobs in Wales were provided by firms which have occupied Government premises in 1975.

377.

Factories

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in advance factories in Wales at 31st December 1975; and what was the number employed in advance factories approved since February 1974.

Some 5,500 people are employed in advance factories built since January 1965. Two advance factories approved since February 1974 have so far been completed. Neither is yet tenanted.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many advance factories in Wales were under construction, completed, vacant, and formally alocated at 31st December 1975, calculated on the same basis as the table published in the Official Report of 9th December 1975.

The position at 31st December 1975 is as follows:

Under construction	Constructed	Vacant	Formally allocated
38	88	14	74

Industry

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many official visits were made by firms outside Wales seeking industrial locations; and how many official inquiries from firms outside Wales were made in 1975.

There were 146 initial visits by industrialists from outside Wales during 1975. Of these, 84 made subsequent visits. During the same period there were 315 enquiries from firms outside Wales.

Education And Science

St Paul's School Site, Hammersmith

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the cost of developing the St. Paul's School site at Hammersmith for educational purposes and what action he proposes to take in consequence.

I have received several representations about the cost of this development compared with suggested alternatives. This is a matter in the first place for the Inner London Local Education Authority and I have, therefore, sought its comments. I will write to the hon. Member.

Direct-Grant Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many direct-grant schools opted to join the State system; and how many became independent schools.

51 have opted to enter the maintained sector; the future of the other 119 is a matter for their proprietors to decide. They will remain direct-grant schools so long as grants are being paid to them.

Tax Exemptions

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what saving to the Exchequer would arise if tax exemptions, such as those relating to mortgage interest repayments and business expenses, were claimed against that part of income which is liable to the standard rate of income tax, rather than that part of income which is liable to the highest rate applicable.

The estimated yield for 1975–76 from restricting relief on mortgage interest payments to the basic rate of income tax is about £60 million. I am not sure what other special exemptions for tax purposes my hon. Friend has in mind; there is no such exemption for allowable business expenses, which are merely those items of expenditure which are deducted in computing profits assessable to tax.

National Finance

Departmental Staff

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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 following is the information:

			Numbers	Cost £
1970–71	…	…	1,050	2,660,067
1971–72	…	…	1,076	3,128,828
1972–73	…	…	1,071	3,378,621
1973–74	…	…	1,031	3,609,177
1974–75	…	…	1,058	4,658,999

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department employs any representatives or staff outside the United Kingdom and at what total cost on an annual basis.

The Treasury employs two United Kingdom based members of the United Kingdom Treasury and Supply Delegation in the USA. They are paid £41,739 by way of salaries and allowances.

Value Added Tax

asked the Chancellor of Exchequer whether, to assist in the removal of dead elm trees and the extensive replanting of other species that is now necessary, he will remove VAT from the charges of contractors involved in this work.

No. Such a concession would be inconsistent with the broad-based nature of the tax.

Comprehensive Schools (Examination Results)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the boroughs which now have fully comprehensive education publish examination results from their comprehensive schools; and how many do not.

I regret that this information is not available.

Expenditure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his approximate estimates of the supply and use of resources in 1975, if necessary based on trends in the first six or nine months of the year, using the classification of economic activities of table 1.1 of Command Paper No. 5879.

The supply and use of resources is estimated for complete calendar years only and not for part years.

	£ million, demand terms at 1970 factor cost prices‡
	1970	1971	1972	1973
A. Supply of Resources:
(1) Gross Domestic Product	43,200	43,700	44,900	47,200
(2) Net flow of resources out of balance of trade in goods and services	-100	300	-500	-800
(3) Available for Domestic use	43,300	43,400	45,400	48,000
B. Domestic use of Resources:
(1) Private Investment including stock building^*	4,700	4,000	4,200	5,300
(2) Nationalised Industry Investment including stock building	1,400	1,500	1,300	1,300
(3) Public Expenditure:†
(a) Public consumption	8,400	8,700	9,000	9,400
(b) Public Investment†	2,300	2,300	2,400	2,300
(c) Total direct Public Expenditure	10,700	11,000	11,400	11,700
(d) Indirect Public Expenditure	4,700	4,700	5,300	5,600
(e) Total Public Expenditure	15,400	15,700	16,700	17,300
(4) Personal Consumption:
(a) Privately Financed	21,800	22,200	23,100	24,100
(b) Publicly financed	4,700	4,700	5,300	5,600
(c) Total	26,500	26,900	28,400	29,700
^* Excluding private investment in housing, which is included with personal consumption.
† Excluding nationalised industry investment.
‡ Totals do not sum exactly because of rounding.

Trade Balance

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level, respectively, of imports and exports in visible trade, the surplus on invisible earnings, the excess of invisibles over the trade deficit on current account, and the net capital outflow each year since 1945.

The information requested has been published by the Central Statistical Office for the years 1953–74 in "UK Balance of Payments 1964–1974", tables 1 and 2; and for the years 1946–52 in "UK Balance of Payments 1971", table 4 and the tables on pages 86 and 87. Copies of both publications are in the Library.

Fringe Benefits

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculation he has made of the value of fringe bene-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the supply and use of resources, using the classification of economic activities of table 1·1 of Command Paper No. 5879, for each year from the earliest available date up to and including 1973.

The table below shows the supply and use of resources for each year from 1970 to 1973 inclusive, using the same format and price basis as table 1.1 of Cmnd. 5879.fits offered to business executives and the amount which would be recovered by making the value of such benefits liable to taxation; and when he now expects to bring forward proposals to implement such a policy.

As I told my hon. Friend on 1st May last, the term "fringe beenfits" covers a wide range of facilities, and the information available is not sufficient to enable a calculation of their overall value to be made. As far as the remainder of the Question is concerned, I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

Vehicle Excise Duty (Yield)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from motor vehicle licence taxation in the last financial year; and by how much it would be necessary to increase taxation per gallon on petrol to compensate for the abolition of the licence duty, assuming no alteration in the level of petroleum consumption by road users as a result.

The yield of vehicle excise duty for 1975–76 is estimated to be about £770 million. In order to obtain the same revenue it would be necessary to increase the duty on road fuel by 14½p per gallon. This would result in an increase in the price of petrol, including VAT, of about 18p per gallon.

Nationalised Industries

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which nationalised industries have a statutory duty to achieve a specified return on capital stating the specified return in each case; and which nationalised industries have a statutory duty to break even.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None". But the Civil Aviation Act 1971 requires that the British Airways Board must be set a reasonable target rate of return, unless some other financial duty is substituted by Order. The Iron and Steel Act 1975 provides that a reasonable target rate may be set for the British Steel Corporation. The statutes of all the nationalised industries contain provisions requiring them to break even, taking one year with another. In the case of the British Steel Corporation and the British Airways Board these provisions are suspended when they are set target rates of return. This is because the statutory provision for setting target rates of return for these two industries is related to the provision of public dividend capital (PDC) as a substantial element of their capital structure. Since dividends on PDC are not a charge to revenue account, the break-even obligation would be inappropriate.

Pensioners

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to relieve the pressure of taxation on pensioners whose retirement pensions are supplemented by small pensions received from employment in manfacturing industry, and who now find themselves worse off in real terms than they were two years ago.

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

Inland Revenue (Form P265)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when form P265 was used for the first time by the Inland Revenue; and how many have been sent out since November 1975.

About 73,000 have been issued, starting on 29th December 1975.

Wealth Tax

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now introduce legislation applying a wealth tax; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave on 18th December in reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Battersea, North (Mr. Jay.)—[Vol. 902. c. 705–6.]

Company Taxation (Yield)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net result of all corporate taxation collected less all Exchequer aid given throughout the private sector for the years 1966–67, 1970–71 and 1974–75; and if he will circulate the information in the form of an itemised balance sheet.

I regret that this Question could only be answered in full at a disproportionate cost of time and effort. However, there are certain areas where figures are available and I will write to my hon. Friend.

National Water Council (Iranian Loan)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the £200 million loan from Iran due to the National Water Council last year has yet arrived.

No. The loan contract between the Iranian Government and the National Water Council was signed in mid-November, and provides for the drawing to take place within a specified contract period which has not yet expired.

Children's Incomes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the limit of £115 of a child's income to be disregarded in determining the parent's entitlement to child allowance for income tax purposes was fixed; what would be the equivalent figure today allowing for the fall in the value of the pound; what would be the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the limit to that figure; and whether he will do so.

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

Borrowing Requirement

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place in the Library a copy of his reply to the letter from the right hon. and learned Member for Surrey, East (Sir G. Howe) of 14th January 1976, concerning the public sector borrowing requirement.

Yes, I am doing so today.

Alimony

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.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th January 1976; Vol. 903, 106-1], gave the following information:Income from maintenance payments up to £1,000, or up to £2,000 if the recipient has no other investment income, is taxed no more heavily than earned income. I do not think that it would be right to abandon these limits. I am afraid that it is not possible to estimate the cost of abandonment, nor the numbers who would benefit.

Northern Ireland

Vandalism And Violence (Penalties)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with the penalties for crimes of vandalism and violence; and what were the penalties imposed by the courts in 1975 for those found guilty of such offences.

I am satisfied with the maximum penalties prescribed in law for crimes involving vandalism and violence. Details of the penalties imposed by the courts for such offences in 1975 could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

Transport Authorities (Finances)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public transport authorities in Northern Ireland are in financial deficit; what is the total current debt; what plans he has to enable this debt to be discharged; and whether he has given any consideration to the encouragement of greater use of rail and bus services.

All the public transport companies in Northern Ireland with the exception of Northern Ireland Carriers received financial assistance in some form in 1974–75, the total subvention amounting to £7·8 million. The assistance given to City Bus and NI Railways Co. Ltd., included contributions towards revenue deficits.The total debt of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, which is the parent body of the public transport companies, stands at some £3·7 million. It is not considered necessary to take special steps to enable the Holding Company to discharge this debt.The bus and railway companies are mindful of the importance of continuing their efforts to encourage the use of public transport.

Housing Finance

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for bringing the subsidy paid to house purchasers more into line with the amount of the subsidy paid in respect of housing put up by the Housing Executive.

It is not possible to make realistic comparisons between the 60-year subsidy paid by the Government to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in respect of the provision of new houses for rent and the assistance to private housing including the private enterprise subsidy paid by district councils to encourage the building of houses for sale. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is, however, considering what further steps could be taken in the present difficult economic circumstances to encourage the building of more houses for sale, especially for families seeking to buy a house for the first time.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what action he proposes to ensure that the house building programme is not held up through inadequate building society funds or a shortage of skilled manpower;(2) what plans he has to help provide mortgages to would-be house purchasers to whom building societies would not normally grant a mortgage because of low or uncertain income, or because they are unable to find a deposit.

I announced as an emergency measure on 19th November 1975 that the amount of money available to the Housing Executive under its home loans scheme had been increased to enable the Executive to lend around £600,000 a month to people who were unable to obtain loans from building societies. I am continuing my discussions with the Building Societies Association about the volume of building society lending in Northern Ireland. The Construction Industry Advisory Council and its standing committee on manpower, education and training have both advised me that there are unlikely to be any major problems.

Social Security (Frauds)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the number of claimants for unemployment and sickness benefits in Northern Ireland who have been investigated for committing fraud; how many were brought to court in 1973, 1974 and 1974; and with what results.

The number of people whose claims to unemployment benefit, sickness benefit or supplementary benefit in Northern Ireland were investigated because fraud was suspected was 1,255 in 1973. In that year 416 claimants were prosecuted; 404 were sentenced by the courts, of whom 14 received terms of imprisonment. The comparable figures for 1974 were 1,130; 312; 306; 11. Final figures for 1975 are not yet available. The provisional ones are 1,200: 340; 330; 13.

Housing Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost of the home renovation scheme in the 1975–76 financial year; and how many grants have been paid in that year up to the latest available date.

It is estimated that in the 1975–76 financial year expenditure on private sector improvement and standard grants under the Housing Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 will be £1,350,000 and that reconditioning grants payable under the Housing on Farms Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 will amount to £300,000. In the period 1st April to 31st December 1975, 806 improvements grants, 407 standard grants and 221 reconditioning grants have been paid.

Departmental Staff

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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 Northern Ireland Office was set up as a Department of State on 1st April 1972 and the information required is provided from that date.Number of United Kingdom civil servants in the Northern Ireland Office were:

1972–73	…	…	…	…	96
1973–74	…	…	…	…	148
1974–75	…	…	…	…	210

Total staffing and general administration costs were:

1972–73	…	…	…	£687,627
1973–74	…	…	…	£999,694
1974–75	…	…	…	£1,896,487

Local Authorities (Cash Limits)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with district councils, education and library boards and health and social services boards about cash limits; and when he expects to introduce cash limits into the local authority sector generally.

The Government set out in "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd. 6151) its intention to bring about the extensive use of cash limits in 1976–77, and my right hon. Friend th Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in the debate on the Address on 25th November 1975—[Vol. 901, c. 708]—details on the application of cash limits to central Government Departments would be published around the beginning of the financial year. The introduction, application and general pattern of coverage in respect of cash limits for Northern Ireland will be similar to those for Great Britain.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have held discussions with representatives of the Association of Local Authorities of Northern Ireland about the general implications of cash limits. Officials have also had informal talks with officers of education and library boards and health and social services boards.

11-Plus Examination

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will name the schools in which 12 of 100 test questions had been used for practice purposes as ascertained by the Department of Education in its investigation into alleged irregularities in the 11-plus examination.

No. The Northern Ireland Department of Education, in its investigation, was unable to identify all schools where the 12 questions may have been used for practice purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will name the area referred to in Written Answer No. 199 in which children had been coached in the complete test paper to be used in the 1975 11-plus examination, as discovered in the Department of Education's investigation into alleged irregularities.

The area referred to in Written Answer No. 119 was within the local government district of Londonderry which is part of the area of the Western Education and Library Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a list of the voluntary primary and controlled primary schools within the old Londonderry county borough; and if he will publish the gross total of applicants from each group which entered the 11- plus examination and the percentage of passes in each group.

I shall reply to the hon. Member's Question as soon as possible.

Grammar School Places

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the number of grammar school places which were available each year between 1970 and 1975 in the area presently covered by the Western Education Board.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Social Services

Prescriptions

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which diseases attract free prescriptions; how they are determined; and whether additional diseases are being considered for similar treatment.

People suffering from the following specified conditions can obtain prescription charge exemption certificates: (a) Permanent fistula—including caecostomy, colostomy, or ileostomy—requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance.(

b) The following conditions for which specific substitution therapy is essential: Diabetes mellitus, myxoedema, hypoparothyroidism, hypopituitarism, Addison's disease and other forms of hypoadrenalism myasthenia gravis.

( c) Epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy.

( d) A continuing physical disability which prevents the patient leaving his residence except with the help of another person. This does not mean a temporary disability even if it is likely to last a few months.

The list was drawn up prior to the reintroduction of prescription charges in 1968 in consultation with the representatives of the medical profession and includes only well-defined conditions which in virtually all cases call automatically for continuous medication. The list is the maximum on which successive Governments have found it possible to agree with the profession's representatives.

There is cause for concern about some medical conditions which the criteria do not cover and I will be considering every practicable way of helping more of the chronic sick when we are able to make some further progress in phasing out prescription charges.

Departmental Staff

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

The details are as follows:

	Average number of staff	Staff cost £
1970–71	71,166	106,000,000
1971–72	73,469	127,200,000
1972–73	76,817	135,750,000
1973–74	80,960	162,800,000
1974–75	85,930	218,850,000
The figures include staff at the special hospitals and other special units.

Doctors

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how much money has been spent from October 1974 to October 1975 on the employment of locum and agency doctors in National Health Service hospitals;(2) how much money, normally spent on extra duty allowances, has been saved since junior hospital doctors started their 40-hour working week.

					Expenditure	Percentage of NHS Budget
Administrators and other senior NHS staff (including doctors) engaged on administrative duties:
Central expenditure	…	…	…	…	£850,000^*	0·025
Expenditure by health authorities	…	…	…	…	Not centrally available
Engineering staff	…	…	…	…	£200,000	0·006
^* includes non-recurrent expenditure for training related to NHS reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement on the future of the National Health Service works staff, indicating if any cuts are envisaged; and when works staff will be occuping substantive posts.

My right hon. Friend gave an assurance during the debate on the NHS on 27th October—[Vol. 898, c. 1054]—that the Government were not proposing to drop the regional tier from the National Health Service or to make

I regret this information is not available.

National Health Service Staffs

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of postgraduate courses for consultants, senior house officers and all other medical or para-medical staff in total and a percentage of the National Health Service budget, in the last year for which figures are available.

Expenditure from NHS funds on postgraduate medical courses in England, other than for general practioners, for the financial year 1974–75, is estimated at £3·3 million, almost 0·1 per cent. of the estimated NHS budget for that year. Information about the cost of postgraduate courses for para-medical staff is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of postgraduate courses for administration and engineering staffs in the National Health Service, both in total and as a percentage of the National Health Service budget in the last year for which figures are available.

The available figures for expenditure, excluding salaries, in England in 1974–75 on postgraduate and post-experience education and training for these categories of staff are as follows:any sudden, drastic change in any of the tiers. We see the works organisations as continuing elements of these tiers, but we are looking to health authorities to seek maximum economies in costs of administration in all disciplines, after the fullest consultation with staff representatives. I am anxious that the fullest use should be made of regional works staff for design work and I have been assured that such use is made before regional health authorities obtain outside design help. Advice was given last month to health authorities on reviewing the position of works staff with the object of removing uncertainty about substantive appointments.

Benefits (Married Women)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost, in a full year, of allowing married women with full national insurance contribution records to claim dependant's benefit in respect of children and non-employed husbands during periods of sickness or unemployment.

The National Insurance Scheme already provides that a married woman who pays full contributions can receive an increase of sickness benefit, invalidity benefit or unemployment benefit for her husband and dependent children where her husband is incapable of self-support and is not himself entitled to benefits. I regret that the available information does not enable an estimate to be made of the cost of paying dependency benefit in other cases where the wife is the breadwinner.

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will pay the motor insurance premium of all registered disabled persons.

No. It would be very costly to do so for all car owners among the 700,000 registered disabled in England and Wales, only a proportion of whom are specially dependent on motoring for their mobility. Disabled people of working age who are unable or virtually unable to walk will be able to devote the new £5 a week mobility allowance towards motoring costs, or other means of mobility, as they wish. People aged 15–25 are already eligible for this allowance, and payments have begun; applications are now being invited from the age group 26–50 and further age groups will be phased in as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her latest estimate of the proportion of physically disabled people in residential care in homes run (a) by local authorities and (b) by voluntary bodies.

It is estimated that between 1 and 2 per cent. of physically handicapped people under the age of 65 in England and Wales are in local authority residential homes and a roughly similar proportion in voluntary homes. It is not possible to provide comparable figures in respect of people aged over 65.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will list the representatives of voluntary bodies who have been invited to her Department's forthcoming seminar on the problems of the physically disabled;(2) if she will list the local authority representatives who have been invited to her Department's forthcoming seminar on the problems of the physically disabled;(3) if she will list the academics who have been invited to her Department's forthcoming seminar on the problems of the physically disabled;(4) how the interests of physically disabled people in residential care will be covered at her forthcoming seminar at Sunningdale.

Following is a list of participants other than Ministers and other hon. Members from both sides of the House, advisors and officials. A number of those taking part have specialist knowledge of the needs of physically disabled people in residential care and one at least has had personal experience. I am also approaching Group Captain Cheshire to ask him if he would like to look in on the seminar on the second day.

Dr. R. C. B. Aitken, Professor of Rehabilitation Studies, University of Edinburgh.
Professor J. Blackie, Chairman, Scottish Committee for the Welfare of the Disabled.
Miss M. Blackwood, Hon. President, Disablement Income Group, Scotland.
Cllr. P. Bolshaw, Chairman, Social Services Committee, Herts. C.C.
Mr. W. E. Boyce, Director of Social Services, Essex C.C.
Mr. J. Bradshaw, University of York, Rowntree Trust research worker.
Mr. C. J. Carey, Director of Social Services, Cleveland C.C.
Dr. I. Chesham, Specialist in Community Medicine (Child Health) Cheshire Area Health Authority.
Mr. G. V. Cooke, County Education Officer, Lincs, C.C.
Mr. W. D. Davies, Director of Social Services, Mid-Glamorgan C.C.
Cllr. J. C. Dodd, Chairman, Social Services Committee, Clwyd.

Cllr. N. M. E. Eady, Chairman, Social Services Committee, Leics. C.C.
Mr. J. Edmonds, General and Municipal Workers' Union, Member of National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People.
Mr. G. Gilbertson, Chairman, National Advisory Council on Employment of Disabled People.
Mr. D. R. Gray, Headmaster of Brays School for Physically Handicapped Children, Birmingham.
Mr. D. Guthrie, Director, National Fund for Research into Crippling Diseases.
Lady Hamilton, Chairman, Disabled Living Foundation, Chairman, Central Council for the Disabled.
Mr. P. Hunt, Member of Disablement Income Group and other organisations for disabled people.
Mr. D. Hutchison, Head of Work Orientation Unit, North Nottinghamshire College of Further Education
Miss J. Jones, Area Nursing Officer, Leics. Area Health Authority (Teaching).
Mr. P. Large, Disablement Income Group and Chairman, Joint Committee on Mobility for the Disabled.
Mr. G. Lee, Secretary-General, National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children. Mr. J. Loring, Director, Spastics Society.
Mr. W. Merritt, Leeds Social Services Committee, Vice-Chairman, Social Services Committee, Association of Metropolitan Authorities.
Mr. P. Mitchell, Research Officer, All-Party Disablement Group.
Mr. T. Parker, General Secretary, National League of the Blind and Disabled.
Dr. F. Reid, Past President, Federation of the Blind.
Mr. L. Roberts, Deputy Secretary, Association of County Councils.
Dr. J. Rowley, Chairman, Wales Council for Disabled.
Dr. J. Sommerville, Director, Camden Medical Rehabilitation Centre.
Dr. A. Stokes, Chairman, Disabled Drivers Motor Club.
Professor P. Townsend, Professor of Sociology, University of Essex.
Mr. S. Tumim, Chairman, National Deaf Children's Society.
Councillor W. Turner, Chairman, Social Services Committee, Birmingham.
Professor M. Warren, Director, Health Services Research Unit, University of Kent.
Mr. G. Wilson, Director, Central Council for the Disabled.

Institute Of Hearing Research

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the proposed Institute of Hearing Research under Section 24 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act will be constituted; when the director will be named; and if she will make a statement.

The decision in principle has been taken to establish the institute. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science that interviews for the post of director are proceeding. Further developments await the appointment of the director and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

Spectacles

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many injuries from the breakage of ordinary glass lenses were treated by hospitals during the most convenient reporting period; and how many of these cases involved children.

I regret that this information is not collected routinely. However, a limited survey undertaken by the Department several years ago indicated that the number of injuries caused by breakage of glass lenses was very small.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the additional cost charged for splinter-proof glasses; and what would be the cost of supplying all children under the age of 16 years with splinterproof glass lenses on the National Health Service.

The current additional charge for the supply of laminated or toughened glass lenses under the NHS general ophthalmic services is £1·85 for each single-vision lens and £2·57 for each bifocal lens.Our statistics do not distinguish between children under 16 and children over 16 and who are still at school and who are, therefore, still exempt from optical charges. Nor do we have statistics for the number of children—a substantial proportion—who are supplied with lenses under the hospital eye service or the school eye service. However, the cost in a full year of supplying toughened or laminated glass lenses free of the additional charge to children who get their lenses free under the general ophthalmic services would be about £890,000 in a full year. This figure is based on 1974 statistics and assumes that the vast majority of children continue to have just one pair of single-vision lenses. There would also be an additional cost of the order of £70,000 in replacements of lost or damaged lenses.Toughened and laminated glass lenses are already available free of extra charge to children—and to adults—through the hospital eye service when they are prescribed as clinically necessary.

Opticians (Patients' Waiting Times)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time before appointments with opticians can be arranged under the National Health Service.

I regret this information is not available. I have had no complaints to suggest that delay in getting NHS ophthalmic appointments is a problem, but if my hon. Friend has information to the contrary I should be glad to receive it and will look into the matter.

Office Of Health Economics

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Office of Health Economics is in receipt of any grant from her Department; and, if so, what is the amount of grant per year and what conditions are attached to the grant.

The Office of Health Economics receives no grant from the Department.

Merseyside Regional Health Authority (Works Office)

asked the Secretary or State for Social Services why consultants have been employed by the Mersey Regional Health Authority Works Office; and what is the total cost.

Inevitable fluctuations in workload and in the need for particular forms of expertise make it uneconomic for regional health authorities to employ sufficient staff to cope with all tasks falling on regional works organisations. The Mersey Regional Health Authority engages consultants when work is outside the capacity of the regional works organisation. The total cost of fees paid by its consultants in 1974–75 was £888,697.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost of furniture for the Mersey Regional Health Authority Works Office board-room.

The Works Department of the Mersey Regional Health Authority does not have a boardroom but the rooms used for meetings of the Authority and its committees were furnished in April 1975 at a total cost of £5,631.

Retirement Age

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated savings in unemployment and supplementary benefit and in other social security payments if the retirement age for men were reduced to 64 years.

There would probably be a small increase in the cost of supplementary benefits, but together with the savings in short-term national insurance benefit the combined effect would be to reduce the gross cost of the proposal by about £70 million a year. This saving was taken into account in my reply to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 3rd November 1975.—[Vol. 899, c. 48.]

Heating Allowance

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the number of pensioners benefiting from heating allowances on 31st December in each of the last five years; and what has been their cost.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. The number of supplementary pensioners receiving discretionary extra heating additions in November of the years 1971 to 1974, and in May 1975, the most recent date available, was as follows:

November 1971	…	…	159,000
November 1972	…	…	193,000
November 1973	…	…	445,000
November 1974	…	…	663,000
May 1975	…	…	701,000

Before 1973 part of an extra heating addition may have been offset by the former long-term addition applicable to all supplementary pensioners. Also the supplementary pension in payment—that is the difference between the pensioner's resources and his requirements, including any extra heating addition, may be less than the amount of the extra heating addition allowed in the calculation. For these reasons the actual amounts in payment in respect of extra heating are not known, and it is, therefore, not possible to indicate the actual cost of these additions.

Employment

Professional And Executive Register

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Professional and Executive Register does not deal with recruitment into the Civil Service.

The Civil Service Commission is by Order-in-Council responsible for recruitment into the Civil Service. I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, however, that details of all impending vacancies within its occupational scope are notified to PER in addition to being advertised.

Married Women

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many married women, in couples where both husband and wife are in employment, are earning more than their husbands.

I regret that the information cannot be extracted in the time available. I will circulate the information in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many married women whose husbands are at home are in employment; what proportion of these husbands fall into each of the following categories: (a) disabled, (b) unemployed, or (c) staying at home to care for children or other dependants.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

Overtime And Working Week

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will maintain levels of employment by bringing forward legislation to restrict overtime working in industry, and by encouraging moves to a 35-hour working week.

We have no plans to introduce the measures proposed by my hon. Friend.

European Community Standing Committee

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many meetings of the EEC Standing Committee on Employment were held in 1975; and how many were attended by him or by the Minister of State.

The Standing Committee on Employment in the European Communities met on three occasions in 1975: on 17th February, 3rd June and 4th December. On the first and last of those occasions the United Kingdom was represented by a Minister—by me.

Engineering Training (Girl Technicians)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the Engineering Industry Training Board's scholarship scheme for girl technicians has been confined to Birmingham and the South-East.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Engineering Industry Training Board is introducing later this year a pilot scheme to provide scholarships for girl school leavers to demonstrate the possibilities of training young women as technicians in the engineering industry. Birmingham and two locations in the South-East have been selected for these pilot schemes as they are considered to be in catchment areas offering the best prospects of success. The extension of the scheme to other areas will depend on the results of these pilot courses.

Job Creation Programme (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the Official Report the number of projects submitted by each local authority in Scotland under the job creation programme showing the value of each project and the number of jobs and their duration in each case and indicating which have been approved, which have been rejected and which are still under consideration, respectively.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that tables 1a and 1b below give an analysis of project applications up to 9th December 1975, the latest date for which information is available in the form requested.Table 2 gives details of projects sponsored by local authorities in Scotland which have been approved between 9th December 1975 and 9th January 1976.

TABLE 1(A)
SCOTLAND EAST AND NORTH
			Projects approved			Still under consideration				Projects approved and started
Sponsors		Number applications received	Number approved	Number of jobs	Cost to MSC	Refer back	Awaiting Action Committee	Awaiting Central Unit	Number rejected or withdrawn	Number started	Number of jobs
Glenrothes Development Corporation	…	2	2	35	26,495	—	—	—	—	2	35
Dunfermline District Council	…	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Dunfermline District Council	…	5	2	25	16,371	—	—	—	3	2	25
Fife Regional Council	…	15	6	132	196,295	2	—	—	7	4	100
N.E. Fife District Council	…	4	2	20	15,192	—	—	—	2	2	20
Edinburgh District Council	…	10	6	88	59,861	2	—	—	2	4	52
Kirkcaldy District Council	…	4	4	57	51,417	—	—	—	—	4	57
East Lothian District Council	…	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—
Tayside Regional Council	…	4	2	40	15,589	—	—	1	1	—	—
Midlothian District Council	…	2	2	20	22,262	—	—	—	—	—	—
Lothian Regional Council	…	5	2	33	18,303	—	—	—	3	—	—
Stirling District Council …	…	1	1	10	8,045	—	—	—	—	—	—
Dundee District Council…	…	5	5	60	34,657	—	—	—	—	—	—
Western Isles Islands Council	…	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—
Stornoway Education Department	…	1	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	—

TABLE 1(B)
SCOTLAND WEST AREA
					Projects approved					Projects started
Local Authorities				Number applications received	Number approved	Number of jobs	Cost to MSC	Number of projects still under consideration	Number rejected or withdrawn	Number started	Number of jobs
Strathclyde Regional Council	…	…	…	20	18	290	292,855·94	2	—	—	—
City of Glasgow District Council	…	…	…	15	14	166	111,455·19	—	1	1	4
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth District Council			…	4	4	27	18,747·92	—	—	3	22
Cumnock and Doon Valley District Council			…	1	—	—	—	1	—	—	—
Cunninghame District Council	…	…	…	3	1	4	2,636·40	2	—	—	—
Hamilton District Council …	…	…	…	4	2	27	24,906·42	2	—	—	—
Lanark District Council	…	…	…	1	—	—	—	1	—	—	—
Monklands District Council	…	…	…	7	7	119	70,103·83	—	—	—	—
Motherwell District Council	…	…	…	8	6	83	41,735·72	1	1	—	—
Nithsdale District Council	…	…	…	1	1	5	5,389·02	—	—	—	—
Renfrew District Council	…	…	…	4	—	—	—	4	—	—	—
Strathkelvin District Council	…	…	…	9	—	—	—	9	—	—	—

TABLE 2
LOCAL AUTHORITY SPONSORED PROJECTS APPROVED IN SCOTLAND: 9TH DECEMBER 1975–9TH JANUARY 1976
Sponsor				Number of projects approved	Number of jobs	Number of man-weels	Total MSC grant (E)
Tayside Regional Council	…	…	…	1	11	122	4,233
Dundee District Council	…	…	…	4	33	614	20,496
Western Isles Islands Councils	…	…	…	4	47	619	26,329
Lothian Regional Council	…	…	…	3	30	715	23,521
East Lothian District Council	…	…	…	2	22	370	15,103
Caithness District Council	…	…	…	2	10	120	3,846
Edinburgh District Council	…	…	…	1	9	234	10,192
Glasgow District Council	…	…	…	2	30	390	15,495
Cunninghouse District Council	…	…	…	2	6	140	3,549
Hamilton District Council	…	…	…	3	50	1,096	38,976
Renfrew District Council	…	…	…	5	46	842	38,870
Strathclyde Regional Council	…	…	…	2	15	390	13,907
Cumbernauld Development Corporation			…	1	20	280	8,164
Strathkelvin District Council	…	…	…	5	52	864	40,228
Inverclyde District Council	…	…	…	1	8	128	5,310
Clydebank District Council	…	…	…	1	2	48	2,292

Employment Transfer Scheme (Mr W Edwards)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will review the decision of his Department not to make payment of allowances under the employment transfer scheme to Mr. W. Edwards of Selkirk, though he was clearly entitled to such allowances, merely on the technical ground that his application was received late.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission, which is responsible for dealing with applications for payment of allowances under the Employment Transfer Scheme, that it does not intend to review its decision in this case.

School Leavers (Wales)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers were unemployed in Wales in December 1975.

In December 1975 there were 3,094 school leavers unemployed in Wales.

Income Policy

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those bodies and persons he has consulted about Government plans to control incomes once the present £6 scheme lapses; and if he has any plans for wider consultation.

Pay is but one aspect of the wider policy against inflation on which the Government continue to work closely with the TUC and with the CBI and to take account of any other representations received.

Crabtree Electrical Works, Walsall

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many visits the Factories Inspectorate has made to the Crabtree Electrical Works in Walsall during the last 12 months.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate district staff paid eight visits in 1975 to the factory of J. & A. Crabtree & Co. Ltd., Lincoln Works, Beacon Street, Walsall. In addition the West Midlands Division Electrical Inspector visited twice. The district staff also paid three visits to the firm's factory in Brownhills, Staffs, and one visit to the firm's small new factory in King Street, Walsall.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will institute an immediate inquiry into the death of David Allan at the Crabtree Electrical Works, Walsall, and publish the findings.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that both the District Inspector and the Divisional Electrical Inspector are already investigating this fatality, and I consider that this investigation and the inquest to be held by the coroner's court is appropriate to this case, but inspectors are of course considering carefully what further action may need to be taken.

Factory Inspectorate

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will strengthen the Factories Inspectorate in the West Midland's in order to reduce industrial accidents.

The Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that arrangements are already in hand for strengthening the Factories Inspectorate throughout Great Britain. 84 new inspectors have been offered posts in the latest recruitment and further competitions for the recruitment of both specialist inspectors and general inspectors are being held, and there will be further increases in cadre for all types of inspectors for the next few years.

Retirement Age

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by what number he estimates it would be possible to reduce unemployment, if retirement age for men were reduced to 64 years.

I regret that the reply could not be prepared in the time available.

Volume 903: debated on Monday 19 January 1976

Written Answers To Questions

Chancellor Of The Duchy Of Lancaster

Prices And Consumer Protection

Departmental Staff

Fireworks

Potatoes

Duty-Free Shops

Food Subsidies

Legislation

House Of Commons

Car Park

Broadcasting Of Proceedings

Ale

Members' Secretaries And Research Assistants

Inflation (Central Statis- Tical Office Advertisements)

Privy Council Office

Environment

M4 (Slough Interchange)

Drivers (Provisional Licences)

Noise Pollution

Compulsory Purchase Order (Islington)

Driver And Vehicle Licensing Centre

Tax Offices (Staffs)

Land Compensation Claimants (Birmingham)

Road Signs

Norman Shaw North Building

Community Land Schemes

Rate Refunds

Caravans

Railway (Leeds, Harrogate, York)

Caravan Sites

Palace Of Westminster

Home Department

Charitable Status

Mr James C Wreden

Police (Equipment Purchasing Policy)

Chilean Military Personnel

Workers' Revolutionary Party (Derby)

Fire Service (Thanet)

Holloway Prison (Largactil And Paraldehyde)

Women's Prisons (Male Officers)

Immigrants

Central Intelligence Agency

Scotland

Local Government (Electoral Boundaries)

Roads (Housing Estates)

Rates

School Leaving

Scottish Development Agency

Duchy Of Lancaster

Industry

Engineering

Chrysler United Kingdom Limited

Northern Region

Merseyside

Government Aid

Scotland

Zip Fasteners

Sub-Post Offices

Departmental Staff

Jaguar Cars

Aircraft

Standard Telephones And Cables Ltd

Industrial Reorganisation Corporation

Post Office (Review Committee)

Energy

Departmental Staff

Gas And Electricity Bills

District Heating

North Sea Oil

Fuel Prices

Prime Minister's Staff

Special Advisers

Shops Acts

Civil Service

Unemployment

English Usage

Manning And Efficiency