asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of immigrants illegally working in the United Kingdom; and in view of the poor conditions of their employment as revealed in the Report of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, what steps he intends to take to deal with this problem.

As I said in answering Questions on 15th January—[Vol. 903, c. 573–5.]—no report on this matter has yet been sent to us, or to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment, by the Joint Council. I am not in a position to estimate the number of people who contravene employment restrictions placed upon them when they entered the country, but I explained, also on 15th January, the checks which we make.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his best estimate is of the number of people from the New Commonwealth, including Pakistan, at present ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, but not yet accepted for settlement, who none the less possess immunity from deportation.

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the police moved gipsies or other travellers from authorised sites or stopping places during the year 1975.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from local authorities about the need to change the law governing the transfer of hackney carriage licences; and if he will make a statement.

We have received representations from many local authorities that the law relating to the control of taxis in areas outside London needs to be reviewed. Although none of these has been specifically directed to the circumstances in which a taxi vehicle licence may be transferred, we are giving thought to that question as part of our current review of the legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an investigation into the fees paid to barristers and solicitors in criminal cases; and if he will ensure that such an investigation is conducted by persons who are neither barristers nor solicitors.

I have this matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will confirm that the resumed public inquiry into the proposed Airedale Trunk Road will be held in the former Council Chamber at Shipley Town Hall and that closed circuit television coverage will be provided in Shipley Church School;(2) if he is satisfied that the resumed public inquiry into the proposed Airedale Trunk Road will satisfy the criteria applying to a public inquiry; and if he is satisfied that all objectors will have an opportunity to state their case.

I have been consulted by the inspector at this inquiry. I am advised that, as was explained by counsel at the inquiry, the various legal requirements have been complied with and this is a valid inquiry. If, however, those who take a contrary view wish to have the matter decided by the courts there is a procedure which they can follow under the Highways Act 1959 for questioning in the High Court the order, if and when made, on the grounds that the requirements of the law have not been complied with and that they have, in consequence, been substantially prejudiced.I hope, therefore, that we shall not see disruptive tactics when the inquiry into the Airedale proposals is reopened by the inspector in Shipley Church School on 3rd February. I am satisfied that all the statutory requirements in connection with this inquiry have been met and I am determined that it should now be allowed to serve its proper purpose of enabling interested people to put their views on record before a decision is made.I shall be advising the inspector that, in the event of disruption so as to prevent the proper conduct of the inquiry, he should transfer the main inquiry to a separate room, with the representatives of the Department and interested public authorities and, at the discretion of the inspector, other representative bodies in attendance, along with the Press. Facilities would be provided for other objectors and the general public in another room to which the transferred inquiry proceedings would be relayed for aural reception but they would be allowed to appear before the inspector and state their case only at a time appointed by him. Every objector would be given an opportunity to present his case at the appropriate time.I am advised that such a procedure would be lawful. I greatly regret having to contemplate restricting the right of entry to local inquiries to which members of the public have become accustomed. But this arrangement would operate only if, and for as long as, the inspector considered it the only reasonable way in which he could hear and record the representations made to him. I feel sure that this will be generally recognised and understood as a necessary measure for the protection of the public at large against the action of vociferous minorities who, on the pretence of arguing the interest of the citizen, prevent others from having their views heard.A great deal of the criticism put to me of the arrangements for inquiry into trunk road proposals is stated on the basis that the Department is unwilling to explain in detail, and in an intelligible form, the relationship between the particular road scheme and the Government's national transport policy. Any member of the public who states an interest is supplied with a great deal of information on these matters. It is current practice that, before a trunk road inquiry opens, all objectors are provided with a statement explaining the general background of national transport policy and the case for the trunk road network; and a further statement explains the purpose which the new road is intended to serve within the framework of the national road system, the proposed route and its effect on the environment.What critics appear to be suggesting is that the Secretary of State's witnesses should be required to justify successively at each local inquiry his view on such broad national questions as the relative priority given to roads, rail and inland waterways; the assumptions made by the Government about the future availability and price of fuel; and the growth of car ownership. A local inquiry is not the proper forum for debating national issues of this sort. If such issues are raised there, the Department's witnesses are prepared to explain the background of national policy, and to discuss its application to the particular scheme, but not to enter into debate about the national policy itself. The specific proposals subject to inquiry are fully explained and, within the constraints of national policy, the objectors are given every opportunity to question the need for the road.In the light of the difficulties which have arisen and the criticisms which have been made I have been keeping the procedures and arrangements for these inquiries under review to see what can be done to improve the presentation and intelligibility of the information which is provided to objectors and to make the arrangements generally more acceptable to all concerned. In particular, I am considering whether it would be helpful to have formal rules of procedure for highways inquiries, although the principles underlying the formal rules which have been made for other inquiries are observed at all highways inquiries. I am pleased to say that the Council on Tribunals has assured me of its willingness to join with us in re-examining the adequacy of our procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will request the inspector into the resumed public inquiry into the proposed Airedale Trunk Road to hold evening sessions, so that objectors who are in full-time employment will have access to the inquiry without loss of earnings.

I am sure that the inspector will do his best to arrange a programme which is convenient to everybody concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many accidents have been caused to children under 10 years of age standing before the front passenger seat of a motor car in the past five years; and whether he will seek to make the practice illegal.

I regret that the information requested is not available. If Parliament grants power to make seat belt wearing compulsory I shall seek to ensure that children ride in the back seats of cars unless protected by a harness.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department keeps a black-list of building contractors who are precluded from undertaking local authority work because they pay wages in excess of negotiated rates; and whether he will publish it.

There is no such list. My right hon. Friend's circular No. 123/75 dated 16th December 1975 referred to firms barred from Government contracts for breach of the pay limit and said that, in general, no new tenders should be invited from such firms by local authorities. If it becomes necessary to notify local authorities of the names of any firms which have breached the pay limit this will be done by circular.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many people have been killed and how many seriously injured in accidents to heavy freight and passenger vehicles in the last 12-month period for which statistics are available in which the principal cause has been brake failure;(2) how many accidents to heavy freight and passenger vehicles have been principally caused by brake failure in the last 12-month period for which statistics are available; and what proportion this constitutes of all such accidents.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the uncertainty to householders, business people and farmers, when he will announce the route of the new Okehampton bypass.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce the preferred route shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the public inquiry into the Denton bypass (M67) was held; how many days it lasted; when he received the inspector's report; when he expects to announce a decision on the report; and whether he is satisfied with the time it has taken the inspector to make his report.

The public inquiry into objections to the draft side roads and compulosry purchase orders sat for 15 days between 29th July and 21st August 1975. The inspector has just submitted his report and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will announce his decision as soon as the report has been thoroughly considered. This inquiry raised some complex issues and I do not think the inspector took an unreasonable time to complete his report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment for how long the offices at Fleet Bank House have remained empty while his Department has paid rent; how many Ministry staff are employed there; why it was decided to take this accommodation and what is the approximate total paid annually for rented Defence Ministry accommodation in addition to offices owned by the Ministry.

Rent has been payable at Fleet Bank House for 11 months during which time occupational services have been carried out. When these are complete 800 Ministry of Defence staff will occupy the premises. The Property Services Agency leased the building to meet a demand for additional office space in London and it has been allocated to the MOD Procurement Executive to enable rationalisation of its currently scattered accommodation, with some consequential reallocations for other Departments. The rent payable for other leased MOD Headquarters buildings is approximately £2·3 million per year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the main Post Office building in Birmingham was designated as a listed building; when the designation was removed; and what were the reasons for removal.

This building was listed on 25th September 1972. It was not delisted but application for permission to demolish was made on 17th October 1972. This was notified to the then Secretary of State but was left to the city council to decide. I understand that it gave permission on 25th January 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his policy towards the development of out of town shopping centres.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Development Control Policy Note 13, issued in February 1972, which contains my Department's advice on the development of out of town shopping facilities. The subject is being reexamined as part of the wider review of policy on location of new commercial development which my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 30th July 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many houses and what proportion of total houses built have been built in each of the past five years below the Parker Morris standard;(2) if he will estimate the loss of revenue to public funds of the tax relief on interest on mortgages on houses which do not measure up to the Parker Morris Standard in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Virtually all public sector housing built over the past five years has conformed to Parker Morris standards. Occupancy rates in the private housing sector are, in the main, within the occupier's discretion so that those standards are inappropriate to it; and the estimates requested are, therefore, not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the tonnage of traffic lost by the closure of private siding connections on British Rail in 1975;(2) how many sidings closed on British Railways during 1975 (

These are matters for the Railways Board, to which it would be appropriate for my hon. Friend to address his inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated amount of traffic likely to result from the three grant-aided private siding connections during 1976 and from the 11 further sidings currently being considered for grant aid.

The amount of traffic transferred in 1976 will depend upon the date the facilities are completed. The three schemes approved for grant will involve about 1·1 million tons annually when they are in service. It is too early to estimate the traffic involved in the schemes under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that local authorities contribute to cross-boundary public bus services where such services already provide subsidised services by one local authority.

No. It is for the county councils, in discharge of their public transport responsibilities, and the operators concerned to negotiate suitable arrangements to meet the local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost to public funds of the Property Services Agency, the Demolition Industry Conciliation Board, and of the Demolition and Dismantling Industry Register; who appoints members of the governing bodies of that agency, that board and that register and what is the total annual cost of the salaries of these members; and what is the total number of employees of the agency, the board and the register on the latest available date and on the same date in each of the last four years.

The net cost to public funds of the services provided by the Property Services Agency is expected to be about £750 million in 1975–76 including about £100 million for salaries and other administration expenses. The Agency is an integral part of the Department of the Environment and is staffed by civil servants. There is an advisory board comprised mainly of senior staff appointed to the Board by the Agency's chief executive. They do not receive any extra remuneration by virtue of their membership of the board. In addition, two part-time members are appointed by the chief executive with the agreement of the Secretary of State at an annual salary of £1,000 each. The number of industrial and non-industrial staff in PSA at 1st January 1976 and in the previous four years is as follows:

1st October 1972	47,070
(first date on which figures available after PSA was set up)
1st January 1973	47,215
1st January 1974	44,766
1st January 1975	43,457
1st January 1976	44,672

The Demolition Industry Conciliation Board and the Demolition and Dismantling Industry Register are bodies set up by the demolition industry. There is no contribution to these bodies from public funds and the hon. Member should approach them direct for the information he is seeking.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is considering any route for the Maple Cross-Egham section of the M25, other than those already published affecting the Heronsgate, Millend and Maple Cross areas of Hertfordshire.

Yes. One of the routes put to the Department in the course of public consultation joins the Maple Cross-Hunton Bridge section of the M25 just south of Shepherd's Lane and runs generally southwards between Heronsgate and Mill End, crossing the A412 near Longlane Farm between Maple Cross and Mill End, before proceeding generally southwards between the A412 and the Grand Union Canal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the line of the M40 extension.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Mid-Oxon (Mr. Hurd) on 4th December 1975.—[Vol. 901, c. 711.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the current level of unemployment; and what is his estimate of the effect of Great Britain's membership of the EEC on recent measures.

No. We have never disguised the fact that there are far too many unemployed workers in this country. The apportionment of money to schemes to create or preserve jobs was not affected by our membership of the EEC. As soon as this money was allocated application was made to the Social Fund for assistance with the cost of measures which fell within its scope and some £4 million has already been allocated for 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the increase in the number of persons unemployed since he took office in March 1974.

The figures for January announced today show an increase in Great Britain of 782,000 compared with March 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now announce further steps to reduce unemployment.

It would be premature to bring in further measures until we have assessed the impact of the measures already announced including those announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December. We are keeping the unemployment situation under close and constant review and will not hesitate to modify existing measures or introduce new ones if the need and opportunity arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of working days lost by strikes in the last six months.

The provisional estimate of working days lost through industrial stoppages in the period July to December 1975 is 2,053,000. This is a smaller figure than in the last half of any year since 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage figure of unemployed young persons in Wales; and how this compares with the comparable figure for England.

Percentage rates of unemployment cannot be calculated separately for young people. However, in December 1975 young people aged under 20, excluding adult students, represented 17·4 per cent. of the total unemployed in Wales. The corresponding figure for England was 15·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the unemployment situation on Merseyside.

The level of unemployment on Merseyside is currently about twice the national average. The Government regard this as totally unacceptable. Although the recent measures to alleviate unemployment have been of some benefit to the area the Government accept that there is still a very long way to go towards solving the long-term employment problems of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for a meeting with the Leader of the GLC regarding the present unemployment position in London; and if he will make a statement.

A team from the Greater London Council led by Sir Reginald Goodwin discussed London's unemployment problems when they met my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry on 17th October. An official from my Department attended this meeting and we have been fully informed of the GLC's views. I am always prepared to meet the Leader of the GLC to discuss unemployment problems in London.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment at which employment exchanges in the Greater London area there are more than 1,000 registered unemployed; and what was the corresponding figure last year.

Following is the information available:

EMPLOYMENT OFFICE AREAS IN GREATER LONDON WHERE THE UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURE AT JANUARY 1976 EXCEEDED 1,000 AND THE CORRESPONDING FIGURE FOR EACH OFFICE AT FEBRUARY 1975*
	January	February
	1976	1975
Acton	1,124	428
Barking	1,571	745
Beckenham and Penge	1,197	549
Bermondsey	1,058	429
Bexley	1,101	469
Borough	2,416	1,550
Brentford and Chiswick	1,036	455
Brixton	7,562	4,182
Bromley	1,843	842
Camberwell	3,756	1,939
Camden Town	3,692	1,793
Canning Town	2,281	1,316
Clapham Junction	3,677	1,928
Croydon	4,961	2,132
Dagenham	2,214	1,076
Deptford and Greenwich	2,613	1,395
Ealing	2,641	1,028
East Ham	1,770	753
Enfield	1,416	669
Finchley	1,177	711
Fulham	3,695	1,955
Hackney	4,939	2,316
Hammersmith	6,032	3,094
Harrow	2,437	1,340
Hendon	1,422	658
Holloway	5,121	2,423
Hornchurch	1,049	611
Hotel and Catering Trades	1,955	186
Hounslow	1,706	571
Ilford	2,968	1,339
Kings Cross	2,495	1,248
Kingston-on-Thames	1,960	853
Lewisham	3,740	2,331
Leyton and Walthamstow	3,991	2,321
Mill Hill	1,003	528
Orpington	1,648	739
Poplar	2,408	1,394
Richmond	1,580	972
Romford	2,264	1,107
Shoreditch	1,469	740
Southall	1,717	566
St. Marylebone	4,874	2,357
Stepney	2,708	1,557
Stratford	2,371	960
Sutton	2,087	1,061
Tooting	4,480	2,287
Tottenham	2,940	1,357
Uxbridge	1,270	567
Wembley	2,106	600
Westminster†	4,663	3,685
Willesden	3,196	1,306
Wimbledon	2,266	1,024
Wood Green	3,164	1,441
Woolwich	3,534	1,662
* Because of industrial action at local offices of the Employment Service Agency figures for January 1975 were not collected.
† Including considerable numbers on the professional and executive register.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to maintain Government help for unemployed school leavers after February; and if he will make a statement.

Most of the battery of measures taken by the Government over the last few months will continue after February. The effectiveness of these measures and the need for further action are continually under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which groups of workers, other than dock workers will enjoy exclusive rights within specified geographic zones under legislation proposed by his Department.

I have not proposed that any group of workers, including dock workers, should have exclusive rights within specified geographic zones, and I do not envisage making such a proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many representations he has had on the Dock Work Regulation Bill; how many of these were from trade unions; and if he will make a statement.

Since the publication of the Dock Work Regulation Bill in December we have received representations from 34 organisations and individuals, including six from trade unions or trade union branches. In addition Members of Parliament have brought constituency cases to our attention. All representations are being carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the British Ports Association with regard to the Dock Work Regulation Bill.

We have received detailed written representations on the text of the Bill and these have been amplified in discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many ministerial broadcasts he has made since taking office on matters within his responsibility.

One. I made a ministerial broadcast on equal pay on 29th December 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the operation of the Temporary Employment Subsidy Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. As one of the measures the Government have taken to alleviate high unemployment I am satisfied that the Temporary Employment Subsidy scheme is making a significant contribution by encouraging the deferment of marginal redundancies and so far sustaining more than 12,000 jobs. On 17th December the scheme was extended by a reduction of the qualifying redundancy figure from 50 or more to 25 or more workers affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will bring forward proposals to ensure fair employment terms for workers in the port transport industy.

We believe that the Dock Work Regulation Bill contains the measures that are needed to tackle the long-standing problems arising from employment in the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of persons currently undergoing retraining; and what was the number of persons being retrained one, three and five years earlier.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as follows:

	Number of people under going retraining under the Training Opportunities Scheme (formerly Vocational Training Scheme).
Date
1970 (November)	…	…	9,227
1972 (November)	…	…	18,270
1974 (November)	…	…	29,292
1975 (November)	…	…	41,816

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions are given to employment office branch managers regarding first- and second-class postage of letters offering employment.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that employment office managers have written instructions to use the first-class service when posting any letters offering opportunities for employment and training.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the present unemployment situation in the Hull travel-to-work area.

The level of unemployment in the Hull travel-to-work area is substantially above that for the Yorkshire and Humberside Region and for the country as a whole. Hull already has substantial advantages as an intermediate area. Although any major reduction in the level of unemployment in the Hull area is likely to depend on an upturn in the economy generally the area is expected to benefit to some extent from the recent measures designed to ameliorate the worst effects of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he plans to announce phase 2 of the Government's pay policy before 1st June 1976, in view of the fact that this date is frequently important in wage negotiations.

As already stated, the Government will continue to work closely with the Trades Union Congress, the Confederation of British Industry and with the British people as a whole on a continuing programme to control domestic inflation and prevent its resurgence. It is too early to be specific about what form this will take or when particular announcements will be made. But I am sure that the TUC and CBI as well as the Government will have the needs of negotiators well in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been lost in the caravan industry since the imposition of the 25 per cent. rate of VAT.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is not available in the form requested. However, the number of redundancies recorded as due to take effect in the caravan industry between 1st May 1975 and 31st December 1975 is 826.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage reduction in employment has occurred in the boat building industry since the imposition of the 25 per cent, rate of VAT.

I regret that the information is not available from the statistics maintained by my Department which are compiled for the shipbuilding and marine engineering industries as a whole but not separately for boat building.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of working days lost each year through lifting strains and back injuries.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he accepts that 180 lb. is the maximum weight to be lifted by an agricultural worker in the light of current medical knowledge.

I understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that medical opinion differs as to the appropriateness of maximum weight limits. The problem is complicated by such factors as the nature of the loads involved and the widely varying weight lifting capacity of individuals. The Employment Medical Advisory Service is to assess the existing physiological evidence as part of its contribution to the Health and Safety Exeutive's general consideration of manual lifting and carrying.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will request the Health and Safety Commission to undertake research into strains imposed by lifting under the current limits imposed by various regulations.

I understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that a study of manual weight lifting and carrying in relation to back strain will be considered together with the Health and Safety Executive's other research priorities for inclusion in its research programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions have taken place with the Health and Safety Commission with a view to bringing about a reduction in the number of back injuries.

I understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the matter of manual lifting and carrying is being considered by the Health and Safety Executive with a view to reducing fatigue and back strain occasioned by poor lifting techniques and excessive loads.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the staff of the Health and Safety Executive are assisting in any initial work to enable the Health and Safety Commission to consider the possibility of issuing advisory material or recommending a code of practice or regulations on manual lifting: what are the qualifications of the

				Prosecutions	Improvement Notices	Prohibition Notices
Cambridge	…	…	…	18	49	9
Ipswich	…	…	…	9	13	16
Islington	…	…	…	4	29	13
Luton	…	…	…	5	18	10
North London	…	…	…	13	34	5
North West London	…	…	…	1	21	12
Norwich	…	…	…	20	28	5
Brent	…	…	…	5	32	2
Watford	…	…	…	10	43	3
Westminster	…	…	…	1	4	—
Ashford	…	…	…	4	35	10
Bethnal Green	…	…	…	5	33	11
Brighton	…	…	…	12	19	11
East London	…	…	…	29	34	27
North East London	…	…	…	8	18	35
Rochester	…	…	…	7	37	9
South Essex	…	…	…	10	64	12
Southwark	…	…	…	3	8	4
West Ham	…	…	…	24	25	13
Woolwich	…	…	…	7	27	33
Croydon	…	…	…	15	33	9
Ealing	…	…	…	17	72	18
Horsham	…	…	…	11	9	8
Kingston	…	…	…	13	45	16
Reading	…	…	…	11	66	22
South London	…	…	…	6	17	8
West London	…	…	…	4	51	3
Bridgend	…	…	…	12	32	16

I understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that Health and Safety Executive staff with medical and mechanical engineering qualifications have begun preparatory work with a view to advising the Commission on the problem of manual lifting and handling, and that contact has been established with a university department of engineering production. The staff concerned have other pressing duties and so far have been able to devote only a small part of their time to this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many improvement and prohibition notices have been issued and how many persons have been prosecuted in each of the districts of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate during 1975 and 1974.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the number of improvement and prohibition notices issued and the number of persons prosecuted in each of the districts of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate during 1975 was as follows: