asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the financial position of the National Freight Corporation.

The serious economic recession and the effect of inflation on rail costs—to which I referred in a statement on 24th July dealing with British Rail's finances—have adversely affected the National Freight Corporation and its two rail-linked companies, National Carriers Ltd. and Freightliners Ltd. in particular. Despite various measures the Corporation took to improve its trading position during 1975 it expects to record a loss of some £30 million for that year. It is clear that in the short run it would be unable to meet its financial obligations without Government support. I have, therefore, agreed as a temporary measure to provide up to £8 million in grants during the early months of 1976, in the light of the fact that an urgent review is being undertaken into the ways in which the Corporation can eliminate its deficit, which is not covered by any statutory authority. A supplementary estimate will be presented to the House for approval as soon as possible. Sums made available meanwhile will be issued from the Contingencies Fund.I shall make a further statement about the financial arrangements for the National Freight Corporation when these studies are completed. I shall also be making a further statement about the British Rail freight deficit in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to ensure that roadworthiness tests for vehicles should include tests for moisture in the brake fluid.

While I have as yet no evidence of a level of accident risk which would justify the inclusion of a moisture test in the statutory roadworthiness tests for the braking systems of motor vehicles, I am aware of the possibility that danger may arise from water absorption in brake fluid. I have, therefore, authorised a special study of this problem. If evidence of a real accident risk emerges, I shall, of course, take the appropriate action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will establish machinery whereby in future records are made available to ascertain what percentage of accidents are caused wholly or partially due to the defective condition of brakes.

Procedures for obtaining national data on road accidents rely on reporting by police officers. At the scene of an accident the prime duties of the police are to deal with the injured, prevent further accidents and restore traffic flow; there are, therefore, practical constraints on the amount of information that can be collected in these circumstances.Reliable information on the factors contributing to accidents must be established from detailed investigations by experts. Such inquiries can, with the resources available, cover only a very small proportion of accidents. The transport and Road Research Laboratory has undertaken studies of this kind in the area around the Laboratory. The results are published in the TRRL Report LR 434.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will require garages which service brakes to install roller brake testing equipment.

MOT test stations, except those in remote rural areas, will be required to install roller brake testers by 1979. New legislation would be needed to require all garages to install this equipment, but I believe that satisfactory standards of servicing can be, and are, achieved without its use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will commission research as to the manner in which a garage with no roller brake testing equipment can properly assess whether each individual brake is working effectively.

No. Whilst it is true that roller brake testers provide an accurate measurement of the braking effort at each wheel and therefore facilitate high standards of brake servicing, satisfactory standards are being achieved by experienced mechanics using a road test. The mandatory use of the roller brake tester in the MOT test is to enable examiners to assess accurately the extent to which braking performance meets the requirements of that test.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that school minibuses owned by parent-teacher associations have been withdrawn from service in some areas because of uncertainty as to whether it is legal for them to be driven without a PSV licence; and whether he will take steps to clarify the situation including, if necessary, the introduction of new legislation.

I am aware of the uncertainty. I understand that much of this has arisen because of inaccurate advice issued in a county circular. This wrongly attributed to the traffic commissioners for one of the traffic areas the view that, even where no payment is made by passengers towards transport costs, payments for such things as admission charges and the cost of meals during an outing would bring such a journey within the scope of PSV licensing.I am informed that the traffic commissioners concerned do not, in fact, hold this view. They consider that where there was demonstrably no payment for carriage in a vehicle, then the making of a payment in respect of other matters would not involve operation for hire or reward. This is in line with advice received in the Department over the years.However, some of the methods used to finance the running of school minibuses would clearly be considered illegal unless the vehicle were properly licensed, and operated, as a public service vehicle. The most obvious one is the charging of fares to pupils or their parents. Other less direct methods could be regarded as at least legally suspect. The traffic area offices and the Department will be prepared to give guidance in particular cases, bearing in mind the rôle of the courts in interpretation of the law.A second cause of confusion is the widely held belief that an EEC regulation requires a minibus driver to hold a PSV driver's licence. This is not so. Such a licence is required only when a vehicle is operated for hire or reward under the Road Traffic Act 1960.

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

The cost in 1975–76 of salaries, wages and Foreign Service allowances of United Kingdom-based staff employed overseas is estimated at about £4 million, with a further £25 million for the salaries and wages of locally engaged staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many public inquiries into road proposals there have been under the Highways Act 1959 to 1971 since 1st January 1960; in how many cases the inspector recommended rejection, acceptance or variation of the proposals; and in how many inquiries of each of these categories the Secretary of State accepted the inspector's recommendation;(2) if he will list the public inquiries into road schemes where the inspector recommended rejection of the scheme or where the Secretary of State rejected the scheme.

I regret that this information is not available and that it would require a disproportionate amount of work to obtain it. I shall write to the hon. Member with what information we have available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has for participation in the archaeological dig on the site of the ancient Scots Parliament in Perth.

I have nothing further to add to the answer given to the hon. Member today by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what statistics are available as to the percentage of adults holding full driving licences by age brackets.

None. But the age distribution of applicants for full licences at the time of issue of the licences is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the procedure for a local authority which wishes to appeal or complain on a decision or report of the local commissioner.

The Local Government Act 1974 makes no provision for any appeal against the report of a local commissioner. If a local authority is dissatisfied with the way in which a complaint has been handled, it should raise the matter with the commissioner himself.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of motorway in the United Kingdom still have not got crash barriers erected on the central reservation; and when it is hoped to complete this work.

Of the 1,172 miles of motorway in England, 116 miles have no central barrier. Of these, 83 miles will be equipped in a programme commencing as soon as possible; the remaining 33 miles of less busy motoway will be kept under review. Motorways in other parts of the United Kingdom are the responsibilities of the respective Secretaries of State.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many unlet houses there were in the new towns of England and Wales on 30th September 1975.

At 30th September 1975 development corporations in England and Wales and the Commission for the New Towns had a total of 363 dwellings vacant and available for letting. This represents about a quarter of 1 per cent. of their total rented housing stock.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current state of progress on the Ipswich bypass; and whether he will make a statement.

Aerial and soil surveys are now being carried out. This will enable detailed design work and the preparation of draft proposals under the Highways Acts to proceed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to pay to local authorities a grant for expenditure on buildings resulting from failure of high alumina cement.

There is nothing I can yet add to my answer to my hon. Friend's Question on 18th December.—[Vol. 902, c. 746.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the cost of damage caused by storms over the New Year period;

I have no comprehensive information about the total cost of repairing the damage to property, public and private, caused by the recent storms. Three local authorities have written about grants towards repair work, but I am not in a position to add to the statement that my right hon. Friend issued on 7th January, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment at what date he now expects that the Salisbury end of the M3 will be open to traffic.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Price) on 12th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 15.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will inquire into the sinking of the Liverpool floating stage.

I understand that the Mersey Dock and Harbour Company has already commissioned an inquiry by an independent firm of consulting engineers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances he will give local authorities a block allocation of funds for the municipalisation of houses outside the categories for which general consent for acquisition has been given under Circular 64/75; and whether he will issue a circular outlining these circumstances.

There is at present no provision for giving local authorities block allocations of funds for municipalisation. However, there is no objection to authorities grouping together in one application proposals for the acquisition of a number of similar properties outside the general consent categories. Paragraph 22 of the circular gives examples of cases which would receive sympathetic consideration by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much the number of civil servants and other categories of public sector officials, including industrial civil servants, in his Department increased between 1970–71, 1973–74 and 1974–75.

Between 1st April 1970 and 1st April 1974 the number of Home Office civil servants, non-industrial and industrial, and other public sector officials—seconded police, fire service and probation officers—increased by 4,016 of which 3,129 were in the Prison Service. There was a further increase of 2,079—including 348 staff transferred from the former Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications—of which 1,026 were in the Prison Service between 1st April 1974 and 1st April 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend paragraph (1) on page 3 of the document, "Guidance on Personal Security Measures", recently issued to Members in the light of provisions of the Highway Code.

The document was issued by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, and revision would be a matter for him. I do not myself see any need to amend the document as my hon. Friend proposes. This informal general guidance should obviously be applied sensibly in particular situations, with due regard to road safety as well as to considerations of personal security.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that citizens of the Welsh colony of Patagonia are afforded the same rights of citizenship in the United Kingdom as are extended to those who are citizens of English colonies.

No distinction is drawn in our citizenship law according to whether people born overseas are of English or Welsh descent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been detained in Wales under the Prevention of Terrorism special powers; and in how many cases have charges been brought forward in connection with alleged terrorist activities.

Fifty-one persons have been detained in Wales under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974, none of whom has been charged with a criminal offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what Act the four men held after the Balcombe Street seige were initially arrested.

The Criminal Law Act 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department from when to when the 18-month period of double counting of embarkation statistics, referred to by him in his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Dagenham (Mr. Parker) on 14th January—[Official Report, column 168]—actually occurred.

From 1st January 1973 until 31st July 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that a report of the Joint Committee for the Welfare of Immigrants indicates that in the London catering trade 84 per cent. of immigrant workers were over-stayers or illegal immigrants; and whether his Department will carry out an investigation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy)—[Vol. 903, c. 379.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the country of origin of all workers resident in the United Kingdom who do not hold a British passport.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the policy of his Department to allow quota vouchers for settlement in Great Britain to male United Kingdom citizens and their families but to deny them to female United Kingdom citizens and their families; and, if so, what are the reasons.

Special vouchers have always been available only to United Kingdom passport holders who are heads of households. Widows and single women qualify on this basis, as do wives who have had to take on the responsibilities of the household because their husbands suffer from some long-term medical incapacity. In 1974 about 21 per cent. of the voucher-holders arriving in the United Kingdom were women.The voucher scheme was introduced to permit the controlled admission of United Kingdom passport holders who were obliged to leave their countries of residence and had nowhere else to go. Wives with United Kingdom passports who are married to citizens of other countries are in general at liberty to settle or remain in those countries with their husbands.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each member State of the EEC for the latest date for which figures are available the following information: (a) the total number of foreign workers resident, and (b) the number of resident foreign workers who are citizens of member States of the EEC.

I am examining what figures are available and will write to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department:

This information is not centrally available and to obtain it would involve disproportionate effort and expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many traffic wardens are employed currently in the Greater London area; and what were the average numbers employed in each of the last five years.

Figures are available only for the Metropolitan Police District, which includes some areas in the Home Counties, and for the City of London, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the salary bill for traffic wardens employed in the Greater London area was for the last three financial years; and what he estimates it will be in the current year.

Figures are available only for the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has made any estimate of the administrative costs incurred in the support of traffic wardens in the Greater London area; and how much this represents per warden.

The administrative costs of the warden service, which include the provision of uniforms and equipment, transport, supervision and accommodation, and incidental costs, are met as part of normal police expenditure. The best estimate we can make is that in the current financial year these costs will amount to about £900,000 or about £470 per annum for each warden on strength on 31st December 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cameras are installed in prison cells without the knowledge of their occupants; in which prisons they are installed; and what is the purpose of such installation.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the circumstances in which Mr. Jeffery Burt has been called before a police disciplinary tribunal on 3rd February 1976 to answer a charge of illegally handing over a dinghy, he having been acquitted by a jury on 17th September 1975 on a charge of the theft of the dinghy; and what action he proposes to take.

I have received representations about this case only from my hon. Friend. It would not be right for me to take any action for the reasons explained to my hon. Friend by my noble Friend the Minister of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the decision to cease to provide food and cooking facilities to those United Kingdom citizens who are at present refugees in Anzio Camp in the eastern sovereign base area in Cyprus.

Anzio Camp at present houses some 420 displaced persons of British or dual British-Cypriot nationality, many of whom are in employment. Since 1974 Service rations have been issued free to all the occupants irrespective of their private circumstances. However, it has now been decided, in agreement with the Cyprus Government, that from 1st February free rations will be supplied only to those who are in genuine need, and on the same scale as in the Republic of Cyprus camps. As the centralised cooking facilities at Anzio Camp are unsuitable for individual use, families are being asked to make their own arrangements, as in other camps, by supplying their own stoves. Many have already done so. For the future I am satisfied that conditions and facilities will be at least as good as the provision made for displaced persons elsewhere in Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest estimates of the unit production cost of the multi-rôle combat aircraft in the IDS and ADV versions, respectively.

The latest estimated unit production cost of the IDS version is £5·29 million at the economic conditions and exchange rates applicable to the 1976–77 Estimates. The results of the project definition phase of the ADV version, which include estimated costs, are currently being assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details

asked the Secretary of State of Education and Science 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.

Numbers of non-industrial civil servants fell by 216, but those of officials seconded from the public sector rose from three to four. Industrial 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 period 1970–71 to 1974–75 staff were recruited to enable the following 17 additional public relations and information officer posts to be filled:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish figures showing the ratio of educational expenditure as between expenditure on children under 11 years of age, against expenditure on students over 18 years of age, for each of the following years: 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975.

The information is as follows:civil servants are not employed in my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Steiner schools there are presently in the United Kingdom.

The register of independent schools in England includes six which are members of the Steiner Schools Fellowship and another 14 which are members of the Federation of Rudolf Steiner Schools for Maladjusted Children. I understand that there are no such schools in Wales. Information about schools in Scotland and Northern Ireland may be obtained from the corresponding Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children aged five in the Thanet area who should be starting school in the coming term will not now be able to do so as a result of recent cuts in public expenditure.

I understand from the Kent Education Authority that all children in the Thanet area who will have reached the statutory school age of 5 years by the beginning of the term will then be admitted to school. I understand also that the Authority's policy with regard to the admission of "rising-fives" remains unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the uncertainties surrounding secondary education in Ormskirk and the fact that pupils are preparing for selection examination in February, he will now announce his decision on the reorganisation of secondary education.

My right hon. Friend has now approved Lancashire's proposals for secondary reorganisation in Ormskirk, and I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what new advice he has given to local education authorities since 1st January 1976 regarding the admission to school of under-fives.

A joint circular dated 31st December 1975—DES No. 15/75—gave details of the rate support grant settlement for 1976–77 together with advice to authorities about the implications of the settlement for their services. This included an account of national priorities in the field of education offered to guide authorities in reach- ing their decisions on the policies appropriate to their own situation. In giving such guidance the circular acknowledged the concern of local authority representatives that it should not prevent local authorities from exercising their own responsibility for deciding on priorities for expenditure in their own areas and selecting the best means for keeping expenditure within the required national total. The following paragraph referred to under-fives:

"Local education authorites should be able to admit children of 3 and 4 years of age, normally for part-day attendance, up to the limit of the capacity of their purpose-built or adapted nursery schools, or designated nursery classes at primary schools. Children in these age-groups apart from the rising fives should not in general be admitted to ordinary classes in infant schools. Rising-fives—that is, children who, if admitted, would be in school for a term before they were legally required to receive full-time education—may at an authority's discretion be admitted to what would otherwise be vacant places in ordinary first-year infant classes provided the call on resources is only marginal."

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether he requires to be satisfied that a local education authority has a shortage of places in its secondary schools before approving applications under Section 6 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953 for the take up of places by such an authority at independent fee-charging schools;(2) when he or his predecessors approved arrangements under which Cambridgeshire County Council takes places at the Perse School, Cambridge, and at Kimbolton School near St. Neots; and whether his approval will be required under Section 6 of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953 before the county council can continue to take places at those schools when they become part of the independent sector.

In 1959 the then Minister of Education gave general approval to the making by local education authorities of arrangements under Section 6(1) of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1953 for the provision of primary and secondary education for pupils at a school not maintained by them or another local education authority. In consequence, authorities are not now required to seek the approval of the Secretary of State before taking places in direct grant or independent schools. Clause 5 of the Education Bill now before Parliament enables the Secretary of State to revoke previous approval of such arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many people were employed in education services both locally and nationally for each of the last five years, giving the breakdown of their activity.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take following the publication of the consultative document on school transport.

Any such action will depend upon the outcome of the present consultations with the local authority associations and other interested organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what improvements he proposes in the facilities for disabled people who wish to under-

I have been asked to reply.This Department compiles information about the numbers of employees in employment in educational services as a whole, that is, Minimum List Heading 872 of the Standard Industrial Classification. The following table provides a regional analysis, derived from the annual censuses of employment, for each June from 1971 to 1974 and provisional figures for June 1975, from the new quarterly employment series, for Great Britain as a whole. The figures for 1974 have been analysed according to the revised standard regions and hence figures for many regions are not comparable with those for earlier years.take further education courses; and when they will be implemented.

I have been asked to reply.It is for the education authorities to decide how much of their resources should in the present situation of financial stringency be devoted to this purpose. A number of the recommendations of the McCann Committee are relevant. These have been brought to the attention of the authorities, which, I am confident, will implement them as quickly as limitations of resources permit. Further education facilities for young disabled people also fall within the remit of the Warnock Committee, and a survey of the field in Scotland is being carried out for the Committee by Her Majesty's Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will invite comments on the White Paper, "Our Changing Democracy, Devolution to Scotland and Wales" from Cyndeithas yr laith Gymraeg.

The White Paper Cmnd. 6348 makes it clear that the Government are very willing to receive representations about their proposals from anyone who wishes to express views.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that young Scots who wish to seek temporary employment abroad do not have to travel to Bow Street Magistrates' Court in London, but can complete the necessary formalities in Scotland.

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the fact that the licence required before a boy or girl under the age of 18 can go abroad in order to perform for profit can at present be granted only by a magistrate at Bow Street Court. I have consulted my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, who has the primary responsibility, and steps are being taken to enable these licences to be granted in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Scottish Development Agency regarding the level of unemployment in Scotland.

I am naturally very concerned about the present level of unemployment in Scotland. The Agency will have a major rôle in helping to tackle the problem, and the Chairman and I are in continuing touch over the development by the Agency of suitable strategies and procedures for the exercise of its functions in this regard.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans for assisting construction of township roads in the Western Isles.

Schemes put forward by the Islands Council within the framework of its approved transport policies and programme will be eligible for the grants which are available for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest situation in the fishing industry.

Since the autumn of 1975 the market has shown definite signs of improvement. Prices for all the main species were substantially above those for the earlier part of the year and the 1974 average. There is no reason to expect that this recovery in the market situation will not continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had concerning the future ordering programme for power station work with a view to improving the Scottish economy.

The Scottish electricity boards' capital investment proposals are reviewed annually in consultation with them. The Boards also submit their specific plans for new generating stations to me for approval. Last September, I approved the start of construction of a new nuclear power station at Torness, which is expected to meet the needs of the Boards for new generating capacity until the mid-1980s. It will be for the Boards to submit proposals for further new stations as the need arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had regarding the building of more coal-fired power stations in Scotland.

I have had no recent formal representations to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to ease rural deprivation in Scotland.

Much is already being done by the Government, local authorities and their agencies to identify and tackle the various aspects of rural deprivation in Scotland. If the hon. and learned Gentleman has any particular matter in mind, I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be in a position to announce a decision on the Kessock Bridge.

Not for some time. As the hon. Member will appreciate, there are formidable problems in finding ways to reduce the cost of the bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that in almost every field of hospital speciality service Fife, and especially the West Fife area, is more badly provided for than most other parts of Scotland, if he will take account of these factors in deciding future allocations of expenditure on the health service.

If account is taken of the size of the population and the services in other areas used at present by Fife patients, the provision of hospital beds in Fife is not significantly different from other parts of Scotland except in the specialities of geriatrics and geriatric psychiatry. Planning of major new building to make good these deficiencies, and to provide new accommodation for acute services in West Fife, is already in hand. A working party is being set up shortly to consider the future method of allocating revenue funds to health authorities in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the proposed plans for the construction of the bypass road to Helensburgh from the A82 at Leven Bridge, Renton, have been cancelled; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for decision by Strathclyde Regional Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the working of legal aid in Scotland.

I am always willing to consider constructive suggestions to improve the present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an estimate of the extent by which the demand for kidneys for transplantation exceeds the number of kidneys available.

It is estimated that between 100 and 150 people in Scotland each year could benefit from a kidney transplant but only 41 patients resident in Scotland are currently on the file of the National Organ Matching and Distribution Service as awaiting a suitable kidney for transplantation. In 1975, 49 kidney transplant operations were carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans his Department has for participation in the archaeological dig on the site of the ancient Scots Parliament in Perth.

This excavation is managed by a local committee, but the Government are providing the major part of the finances and of the tools and equipment required. In addition, an Inspector of Ancient Monuments has been nominated to the committee to assist with advice and guidance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will define the relationship between the Assembly, as proposed in Command Paper No. 6348, and the Oil Development Council for Scotland;(2) if he will define the relationship between the Assembly, as proposed in Command Paper No. 6348, and the Standing Conference on North Sea Oil.

I do not think it is necessary to reach a conclusion on these matters at this stage. They would be for discussion in due course with the Assembly and the bodies themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in future editions of Scottish health service costs, he will consider the publication of statistics relating to waiting lists in each speciality for each health board area.

This information will be contained in the next edition of Scottish Health Statistics, which will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations with Rhodesia.

The restoration of normal relations with Rhodesia must be contingent upon a satisfactory constitutional settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to authorise the return of the United Kingdom Ambassador to Chile.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, following his consultations with Her Majesty's Ambassador to Chile, he will make a statement about diplomatic representation in that country.

Her Majesty's Government have all aspects of our relations with Chile under review. These include the future duties of Her Majesty's Ambassador whom my right hon. Friend recalled on 30th December. He will remain in the United Kingdom until further notice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding progress in the Iceland fishing limits dispute, with particular reference to his meeting with Dr. Joseph Luns, Secretary General of NATO.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made to the House yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish a list of the members of the British committees and sub-committees of the specialist United Nations agencies, showing the number of times meetings are held during the year.

There are five British Committees of the United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO which meet two or three times a year. The following are currently members of the Committees:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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.

There are no staff recruited exclusively for public relations work in my Department or the agencies for which I am responsible. Diplomatic Service officers recruited into general classes are assigned to Press and information tasks as the need arises. Some locally-engaged staff are recruited overseas for specific information duties. The numbers engaged in information work in this period have declined in line with the overall reductions in Diplomatic Service manpower.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British Council schools there are abroad; and what is their total cost on an annual basis.

There is only one British Council school abroad; this is in Madrid. The estimated cost of the school in the financial year 1975–76 is £276,000 and its revenue £305,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are employed at the British Council School, Madrid; how many receive tax free salaries; how many pupils attend the school; and what is the forecast cost of new buildings planned and the total cost of the school on an annual basis.

There are 31 full-time and 30 part-time teachers at the British Council School, Madrid. The salaries of 16 teachers recruited in the United Kingdom are not subject to United Kingdom income tax, provided the teachers are out of the United Kingdom for 365 days. They do not pay Spanish income tax. 45 teachers appointed locally are subject to Spanish tax laws. There are 750 pupils in the school.The forecast cost of the new building which is under consideration is: building, £600,000, site, £525,456.The estimated cost of the present school in the financial year 1975–76 is £276,000 and its revenue £305,000. If the school moves to the new building, the estimated annual cost is £413,000 with annual revenue of £430,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Ministerial visit to Brunei on 4th January 1976.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State visited Brunei from 4th to 9th January 1976 to resume discussions with the Sultan on the implementation of the defence review decision to withdraw the British Gurkha battalion, and to begin a review of the 1959 Agreement with Brunei as amended in 1971, formally requested by Her Majesty's Government on 27th November 1974. Talks will be resumed in London in the spring at a date to be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated cost of the proposed changeover to EEC passport.

The proposal is not for an EEC passport, but for a national passport issued in a uniform style by each State. It is not expected to involve any additional cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the stock level of unissued United Kingdom passports.

810,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated annual rate of issue of United Kingdom passports, both renewals and new issues.

1,442,000 replacement and first issue passports are currently issued annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if it is proposed to issue common applications forms within the EEC on the introduction of the EEC passport.

As the passports will continue to be national ones each State will use its own application forms.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated number of United Kingdom passports currently issued.

Of the passports granted in the last 10 years, 11 million are estimated still to be valid.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will takes steps to eliminate the need for persons only of certain occupational and social classes to countersign passport application forms.

The problem of establishing a passport applicant's identity was reviewed last year. The conclusion remains that there was no practical alternative to the present countersignatory system.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which country the EEC passport for United Kingdom citizens will be printed.

Each country will print its own passports which will be national passports in the uniform EEC style.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list the remaining British colonies with their respective populations; and what plans, if any, he has for any change in their constitutional relations with Her Majesty's Government and with Parliament.

The remaining Dependent Territories—populations in brackets—are: Belize (120,000); Bermuda (53,000); British Antarctic Territory (no permanent population); British Indian Ocean Territory (no permanent population); British Virgin Islands (10,500); Cayman Islands (13,000); Falkland Islands and Dependencies (1,857); Gibraltar (29,927); Gilbert Islands (54,000); Hong Kong (4,345,200); Montserrat (12,302); New Hebrides (Anglo-French Condominium) (92,000); Pitcairn Islands Group (61); St. Helena and Dependencies (5,000); Seychelles (56,000); Solomon Islands (184,000); Turks and Caicos Islands (5,680) and Tuvalu (6,000).It has been the policy of successive British Governments since the end of the Second World War to promote self-government and independence in the Dependent Territories, in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants and the provisions of the United Nations Charter. Proposals for constitutional advance are under discussion in a number of these territories.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the landing of Argentinian military engineers in the Falkland Islands.

The Argentine engineers arrived at Port Stanley on 16th January to extend the Argentine temporary airstrip. The extension is being made with the concurrence of Her Majesty's Government and the Falkland Islands Government. The engineers will leave when their task is finished. The temporary airstrip will be removed when the permanent airfield under construction is operational.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the categories and nature of documents of the EEC listed in the House of Commons demand forms which are published for sale by HMSO as described in his Written reply of 14th January.

The HMSO catalogues referred to in my reply of 14th January are available to hon. Members in the Library. The lists of EEC documents in the catalogues include Bulletins and Official Journals of the European Communities and their supplements and annexes, statistical publications and a wide range of reports, studies and other documents of general interest such as Community Treaties. The Working Documents of the European Parliament are also available through HMSO on annual subscription.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when the ferry service between Liverpool and Birkenhead will be resumed.

The service has been suspended since 12th January because of an industrial dispute. I understand that the service cannot in any case be resumed for the time being because of gale damage to the landing stage in Liverpool on Monday night.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what effect on employment in the textile industry he expects the measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December 1975 to have.

I regret that it is not possible to quantify the likely benefits to employment in the textile industry of the measures announced on 17th December 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what courses are available for training disablement resettlement officers.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that disablement resettlement officers of the Employment Service Agency are primarily employment advisers for disabled people and are trained as such. Employment adviser training, in interviewing skills and employment and occupational knowledge, is given on an in-service course lasting either four and a half weeks for an officer who has recently been employed in the employment service, or 25 weeks for an officer coming completely fresh to the service. Disablement resettlement officers are selected from among trained employment advisers, and on appointment are given an in-service specialist resettlement course lasting, in all, nine weeks. This comprises a three- and a two-week period at the National DRO Training Centre, Leeds, separated by a a two-week period of structured on-the-job training at a jobcentre, and an attachment to an employment rehabilitation centre. This is following by two weeks of attachments to hospitals and a local authority social services department. External training courses such as the Open University course "The handicapped person in the community" are available, and disablement resettlement officers are encouraged to undertake these at Agency expense. These arrangements are common to all disablement resettlement officers throughout Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many language teachers are employed at the Industrial Language Unit at Oldham; how many include courses teaching immigrants to swear; and what is the cost of such instruction to public funds.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many women are currently registered as unemployed in the city of Dundee and the Tayside Region; and how these figures compare with the total for Scotland as a whole.

Following is the information at 8th January 1976:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was

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

Separate figures for full-time workers are not available for Dundee and Tayside Region, but in Scotland, as a whole, about two-thirds of all female employees in employment were full-time workers in June 1974. In Dundee and Broughty Ferry and in Tayside Region at June 1974 there were, respectively, about 39,100 and 66,600 female employees in employment in all industries and services excluding private domestic service. These figures represent 4·6 and 7·8 per cent, respectively, of the comparable figure for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye Employment Exchanges on 16th January 1976; and how many of these were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age and school leavers respectively.

The following table shows the unemployed by age groups on 8th January 1976:

Two officials of my Department are employed outside the United Kingdom at an annual cost of £22,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many households in Great Britain are now without (a) gas or (b) electricity because of non-payment of bills; and how many of these have been so far (i) over one month, (ii) over six months and (iii) over one year.

These figures are not readily available and I have asked the Chairmen of the British Gas Corporation and the Electricity Council to write to my hon. Friend. Electricity matters in Scotland are, of course, a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate the nature and extent of the investigations currently being undertaken by his Department into the potential for the development of oil and petrochemical industries in Scotland.

My Department, the Department of Industry and the Scottish Office are working closely together to establish the scope for new developments based on North Sea oil and gas.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with co-ordination between the Department of Employment and the Department of Industry in their research into the management and effectiveness of the footwear industry; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

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

Two extra information officers have been recruited during this period. The salary scale is £3,900–£4,700. In the case of three other, more senior, posts, officers in the Information Group have taken over work previously dis- charged by Administration Group Officers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the EEC budget is absorbed by the common agricultural policy.

In the three years 1974 to 1976 the proportion of the European Communities' budget appropriations allocated for CAP expenditure averages 73 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what standards he will apply to define bread making and soft quality wheats.

As part of the CAP price proposals for 1976–77 the EEC Commission has made proposals to fix the intervention price for wheat at a feed-grain level, and to establish a reference price for wheat of breadmaking quality. Detailed proposals for the implementation of these arrangements are awaited, and until discussion has taken place I cannot say what standards will be applied in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to bring the law governing the importing of live cattle from Eire into Great Britain into line with the present restrictions that operate between Eire and Northern Ireland, especially having regard to the brucellosis position in Eire, and the Northern Ireland legislation brought into operation on 15th November 1975 (Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland) 1975 No. 298; and when he expects to have the position equalised between the different parts of the United Kingdom.

I assume the hon. Member has tuberculosis rather than brucellosis in mind, in view of his reference to the legislation of 15th November.We are in touch with the Government of the Irish Republic concerning the proposed introduction of certain additional requirements concerning tuberculosis for certain categories of cattle exported from the Irish Republic to Great Britain. Some differences in the requirements for cattle entering Northern Ireland from the Republic and those entering Great Britain may still remain when these discussions are concluded. I cannot predict how long any such differences might remain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the cattle slaughtered in Great Britain in (a) 1974 and (b) 1975 were infected with tuberculosis; and what was the percentage noted in cattle slaughtered whose origin was (a) Eire and (b) the United Kingdom.

Slaughterhouse returns indicate that cattle confirmed post mortem as being infected with tuberculosis represented 0·0038 per cent. of total slaughterings in Great Britain in 1974. The comparable figure for the first nine months of 1975 is 0·0028 per cent. Reliable information about the country of origin is not available in respect of all cattle slaughtered in Great Britain. On the assumption, however, that the numbers slaughtered in a year reflect imports in