asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the United Kingdom's total fish catch is taken from inside the disputed 200-miles limit around Iceland; and what proportion of the United Kingdom's cod catch is attributable to this area.

Over the period 1970–74, the latest period for which information is available, 16 per cent. of the United Kingdom's total fish catch was taken from inside the disputed 200 mile limit around Iceland. and 38 per cent. of the United Kingdom's cod.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the working population of the EEC is employed in agriculture; and what percentage of the EEC GNP is supplied by this sector of the work force.

I regret that the information is not readily available in the precise form requested. Figures published by the EEC Commission in its 1975 report "The Agricultural Situation in the Community" indicate that in 1973 9·2 per cent. of the working population in the EEC was employed in the agricultural sector which contributed 5·4 per cent. to the total EEC gross domestic product at factor cost. By definition the agricultural sector includes forestry and fishing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef and beef products were imported last year.

Statistics relating to the import of beef and veal into the United Kingdom for the whole of 1975 are not yet available. However, between January and November 1975 the United Kingdom imported from all sources 174,169 tons of fresh, chilled and frozen beef and veal. In the same period 48,238 tons of beef products were imported into the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what grants are made to the Forestry Commission.

At present the only grant made is the grant in aid voted annually by Parliament through the Supply and Supplementary Estimates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has sought concerning the status of the Milk Marketing Board in the light of the European Court judgment on the case involving M. Charmasson in respect of marketing arrangements for bananas in France.

I am advised that the status of the Milk Marketing Board is unaffected by this judgment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the weight of the home produced main crop of potatoes in 1975, 1974 and 1973.

The estimated tonnages of main crop potatoes produced in the United Kingdom in each of the last three crop years is as follows:

	tons
1975	4,117,000
1974	6,232,000
1973	6,281,000

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the tonnage of the potato harvest in 1975–1974 and 1973.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack) on 15th January.—[Vol. 903; c. 212.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has to show that the hoarding of potatoes is leading to high prices for the consumer.

None. The high prices are mainly brought about by the shortfall in production due to the hot, dry summer which adversely affected the United Kingdom crop last year. It is the usual practice for some farmers to store potatoes through to the spring. This is necessary in order to supply the market towards the end of the season. I hope to see supplies coming forward regularly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the overall production of potatoes in this country in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974 and the estimate for 1975.

Details of United Kingdom potato production in the years 1971 to 1975 were provided in the reply given to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack)—[Vol. 903, c. 212]—on 15th January. The comparable figure for 1970 is 7,364,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information was collected during 1975 to establish the level of brucellosis infection in cattle in Dartmoor National Park.

					Number of accredited dairy herds	Percentage of all dairy herds	Total number of cattle in accredited herds	Percentage of all cattle in county
					(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)
Cornwall	…	…	…	…	1,383	42%	78,535	34%
Devon	…	…	…	…	3,997	80%	234,544	60%

Note:Columns (1) and (2) refer to dairy herds only.Columns (3) and (4) refer to all herds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to which parishes in east Cornwall the compulsory brucellosis eradication programme, intended to commence on the 1st November 1979, will apply.

A firm decision on the precise area to be covered from 1st November 1979 will be announced later, but our present thoughts are that it will be to the east of a line roughly from Wadebridge, through Bodmin and Lost-withiel, to Fowey.

A free blood test for brucellosis was offered in August 1975 to owners of all herds not already participating in the voluntary schemes. 171 herd owners accepted this offer and 150 herds had been tested by the end of 1975. Our assessment of the level of brucellosis infection in the Dartmoor National Park is based on the results of these tests and our knowledge of the 560 herds in the voluntary schemes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that sufficient veterinary manpower is available in Devon to make progress in the campaign to eradicate brucellosis there.

Yes, on the basis of the programme that I announced on 19th January in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy). —[Vol. 903, c. 338–40.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for the counties of Cornwall and Devon, separately, how many dairy herds are accredited free of brucellosis; what percentage this represents of the total number of dairy herds; and what is the estimated number of brucellosis free cattle in these counties, and the percentages these figures represent of all livestock.

The information as at 31st December 1975 is as follows;

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling prohibits member countries from importing whales, or their products, taken in contravention of the Convention, or by non-signatories; and, if not, if Her Majesty's Government will undertake to propose an appropriate amendment at the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission.

The provisions of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling do not extend to prohibitions on trade. In view of the very small percentage of the total catch which is taken in contravention of, or outside, the provisions of the Convention my right hon. Friend does not propose to seek any amendment to it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many signatory States to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, claim jurisdiction over their nationals for acts done outside their territorial boundaries; and which States are obliged by Article IX, 1 of the Convention to punish their nationals who take whales in contravention of the Convention.

Under the provisions of article IX of the International Convention for the regulation of whaling all Contracting States are required to punish infringements of the Convention, for which specific penalties are prescribed in the Article, by persons or vessels under their jurisdiction and report these to the Commission. The enforcement of national legislation, the details of which are not available, is aided by the presence of national inspectors as well as international observers accredited to the Commission who visit whaling ships and stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he takes to ensure that Service personnel are kept fully informed about conditions in the Warsaw Pact countries.

Information about conditions in the Warsaw Pact countries is available to Service personnel through Service education channels. Specific instruction about the Warsaw Pact, and particularly those aspects relevant to defence, is included in training courses where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are made available to Service personnel in West Germany, and their dependants, to see for themselves the state of the East German border installations and the Berlin Wall; and whether he is satisfied that adequate use is made of these.

For obvious reasons of safety, close observation of the East German border is restricted to military units, but in West Berlin opportunities exist for official tours of the Berlin Wall for Service personnel and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving members of Her Majesty's Forces, by rank and service, (a) took part in, (b) arranged, or (c) both, training courses at defence establishments of foreign Powers, listed by country, in 1974 and 1975; and how many are due to in 1976 by the same classification.

In 1974 about 350 serving members of Her Majesty's Forces took part in training courses at defence establishments in some 15 foreign countries. The numbers in 1975 were slightly greater. The position in 1976 is expected to be broadly similar. The more detailed information requested is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers are charged for their attendance at Service training courses at United Kingdom defence establishments; and, if so, what was the total sum received from which countries for the training of which personnel by rank and service in 1974 and 1975.

The greater part of the training given to serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers attending Service training courses at United Kingdom defence establishments is financed by the overseas Governments concerned although help is given in some cases under the United Kingdom Military Training Assistance Scheme. Overall we seek to recover at least the extra costs involved. Receipts for training amounted to about £5·5 million in the financial year 1973–74 and about £7·5 million in the financial year 1974–75. It is not the practice to disclose details of individual financial arrangements between Her Majesty's Government and overseas countries. The number training was about 6,500 in 1974 and about 7,500 in 1975. Information about such personnel by rank and service could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now revise the practice of not disclosing the details of training courses at United Kingdom defence establishments arranged for serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers in the interests of more open government.

My policy is to disclose information except where this would be inconsistent with the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why it is not practice to give details of training courses attended by serving members of the armed forces of foreign Powers at United Kingdom defence establishments.

It is not the practice to disclose details where this would be inconsistent with the public interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of civilian employees employed at the Clyde Submarine Base.

The number of civilian staff employed by the Ministry of Defence at the Clyde Submarine Base on 1st January 1975 was 3,161.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has any long-term plans for merging military bands including the band of the Royal Marines.

There are no plans for merging military bands.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what long-term plans he has for the depot of the Royal Marines and the Royal Marines School of Music at Deal.

There is currently a general study of Royal Marines shore deployment. No conclusions have yet been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that planning procedures were duly carried out in the case of the development near Wild Prints, Queen Park, Billericay, the home of Mrs. Gavin in the light of the evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Basildon; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the property of Mrs. Gloor, and not Mrs. Gavin, as printed on the Order Paper. In the cases relevant to Mrs. Gloor's property, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the procedures for which he is responsible have been, and are being, duly carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will consider instituting some form of management agreement which will enable local authorities to make use of vacant housing property without becoming involved in capital expenditure.

Yes. This is one of the ways of making better use of the stock to which we have asked Sir Dennis Pilcher and Mr. Derek Wood, as members of the working group on new forms of social ownership and tenure to give special consideration. Meanwhile, I hope that more local authorities will initiate leasing and management schemes for this purpose, within their existing powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance or advice he has issued concerning the nature of development, if any, which would be considered for an area which is designated both a national nature reserve and an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Advice on planning considerations which apply to national nature reserves is set out in DOE Circulars 138/73 (Welsh Office 259/73), and 161/74 (Welsh Office 268/74). Advice relating to areas of outstanding natural beauty is contained in MHLG Development Control Policy Note No. 4 issued in 1969, and DOE Circulars 12/72 (WO 36/72) and 122/73 (WO 172/73). These items of advice need to be read in conjunction with each other. I am sending the right hon. Member copies of the documents to which reference has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Chairman of the British Railways Board about the future level of investment in the railways; and whether he will make a statement.

The Chairman has repeatedly affirmed that railway investment will need to be substantially increased if the strategies approved in the last railway policy review are to be adhered to. These strategies are now under consideration in the context of the current transport policy review, on which I shall be initiating formal consultations within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the 50 m.p.h. limit imposed at the time of the oil crisis applying on major roads is to be made permanent.

The 60 and 50 m.p.h. limits introduced in December 1974 and renewed last year will be reviewed before the present order runs out at the end of November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now provide alternative methods for crossing the A40 at Perryn Road, Acton, since the pedestrian bridge has been hit twice in recent months.

No. Urgent action is being taken to reinstate the footbridge, and meanwhile the police are providing a school crossing patrol.

asked the Lord President of the Council what he estimates would be the cost of providing suitable facilities within one of the bars of the House of Commons for selling real ale.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that the information requested is not available, but provision of adequate storage and service points would require extensive reconstruction including structural building alterations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how many the RUC, the RUC Reserves and the UDR are below strength both at the latest date for which figures are available and for one year earlier.

Following is the information:

Mr. Darlington, who had a Political Fellowship from the Joseph Rowntree Social Service Trust, assisted me since I was first appointed in 1972 as my party's Front Bench Opposition spokesman on Northern Ireland and accompanied me on my visits to Northern Ireland during that period. This provided valuable continuity when, on assuming office, I appointed him my special adviser in March 1974. He resigned to stand as a candidate at the General Election in October 1974 and was thereafter reappointed. He works from the Northern Ireland Office in London or Belfast, as appropriate. It has not been the practice of this or previous administrations to publish the salaries of Special Advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to make regulations under Article 6 of SI 2178/1975.

I hope to be in a position to lay regulations before the House shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors, including GPs, were working in the health service in 1963, and how many administrative and clerical staff; and how many there were in 1975.

The Scottish Home and Health Department's Health and Welfare Services Report for 1963 shows that there were then 3,378 hospital doctors, 2,863 doctors in general practice and 5,670 administrative and clerical staff working in the health service in Scotland. At 30th September 1974, the latest date for which firm staffing figures can be stated, there were 4,710 hospital doctors and 2,959 doctors in general practice. Also at that date there were about 430 doctors in community medicine including those who transferred from the local authorities to the health service at the time of the National Health Service reorganisation in 1974.The number of administrative and clerical staff in 1974 was 11,473. Meaningful comparison of the administrative and clerical staffing levels is, however, difficult since the 1963 figures do not include transferred local health authority staff nor the staff of certain allied bodies who are now employed by the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what represent- tations he has received from teachers' organisations regarding the need for consultation with local authorities over economies facing their educational budgets prior to the making of policy decisions.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidelines have been issued to local authorities regarding the ratios of field workers to administrative workers in social work departments.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total revenue per year which will be lost to the National Health Service as a result of the decision to phase out pay beds in National Health Service hospitals; and how much of that total sum is estimated to be from patients who are not normally resident in the United Kingdom.

I made clear during the debate on pay beds on 5th May 1975—[Vol. 891, c. 1100]—that the appropriate funds will be made available so that the revenue allocations of health authorities are not affected as a consequence of phasing out pay beds from NHS hospitals. It is not possible to give a precise estimate since the loss of revenue in any particular year will depend on the extent of demand from private patients, the rate at which pay beds are phased out and the extent to which the facilities thus released are made available to ordinary NHS patients.The income from in-patients for private accommodation and treatment in NHS hospitals in England in 1974–75 is provisionally put at £15 million as shown in the reply my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Cordle) on 20th January—[Vol. 903, c.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list net United Kingdom reserves of gold and currency for each of the years 1960 to 1975, inclusive.

Recent information about the level of the United Kingdom reserves is detailed in the quarterly balance of payments article in the Central Statistical Office's publication "Economic Trends". The information is published quarterly in arrears and the latest figures are end of the third quarter 1975.

£ million
(End of period)
	…	Gold	IMF Special Drawing Rights	Convertible Currencies	Reserve position at the IMF	Total
1960	…	1,000	—	154	—	1,154
1961	…	810	—	375	—	1,185
1962	…	922	—	80	—	1,002
1963	…	887	—	62	—	949
1964	…	763	—	64	—	827
1965	…	809	—	264	—	1,073
1966	…	693	—	414	—	1,107
1967	…	538	—	585	—	1,123
1968	…	614	—	395	—	1,009
1969	…	613	—	440	—	1,053
1970	…	562	111	505	—	1,178
1971	…	323	246	1,957	—	2,526
1972	…	307	252	1,559	49*	2,167
1973	…	306	250	1,632	49	2,237
1974	…	306	287	1,666	86	2,345
1975	(Third Quarter)	306	290	1,308	120	2,024
Convertible currencies are valued at parity or middle rates equivalent to £1= $2·80 until end-September 1967; £1 = $2·40 from end-December 1967 to end-September 1971; at £1= $2·60571 from end-December 1971 to end-December 1972 and at £1= $2·89524 thereafter.
* From July 1972 the official reserves were redefined to include the reserve position at the IMF.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review the provision and use of automatic assistance to his officials in view of recent errors in official statistics.

Automatic assistance in the shape of adding and calculating machinery is freely available to those officials who have a need for it. The provision of this assistance is constantly under review to meet changing requirements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for the export of capital to members of the Common Market have been vetoed under the provisions of the Exchange Control Act since 1st January 1973; in how many cases has export been sanctioned; in how many cases has it been refused; if he will issue a list of the projects for which exports have been so sanctioned; and if he will make a statement explaining the considerations governing the scrutiny of applications for export to the Common Market including to what extent these differ from the consideration governing the export of capital elsewhere.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated average annual cost to the State of each unemployed man, taking into account unemployment benefit, supplementary allowances and other means-tested benefits, together with income tax rebates and loss of revenue from income tax and national insurance contributions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Hayhoe).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing a breakdown of all nationalised industry borrowing powers, giving the existing statutory limit, the increase permissible by order, the estimated amount outstanding at 31st December 1975 and the relevant statutes;(2) if he will publish in the

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th January 1976;

TABLE 1
NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES: BORROWING POWERS
£ million
Nationalised Industry		Existing Statutory limit	Increase permissible by Order	Estimated amount outstanding at 31st December 1975	Relevant Statute
National Coal Board	…	700	—	693	Coal Industry Act 1973
Electricity Council and Boards		6,500	—	5,304	Electricity Act 1972
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	…	1,200	—	1,023	Electricity Act 1972
South of Scotland Electricity Board	…
British Gas Corporation	…	2,500	200	2,299	Gas Act 1972
British Steel Corporation	…	2,000	—	1,206	Iron & Steel Act 1975
Post Office	…	4,800	—	3,983	Post Office (Borrowing) Act 1972
British Airways Board	…	560	140	388	Civil Aviation Act 1971
British Airports Authority	…	125	—	62	Airports Authority Act 1975
British Railways Board	…	600	300	342	Railways Act 1974
British Transport Docks Board		160	—	124	Transport Act 1968
British Waterways Board	…	12	—	11	Transport Act 1968
National Freight Corporation		200	100	166	Transport Act 1968
National Bus Company	…	130	—	122	Transport Act 1968
Scottish Transport Group	…	50	—	24	Transport Act 1968

TABLE 2
NATIONALISED INDUSTRIES: ANALYSIS OF AMOUNTS OUTSTANDING AGAINST
STATUTORY FINANCING LIMITS AT 31ST DECEMBER 1975
£ million
		Gross Government advances	Repayments	Net Government advances	Borrowing by Stock Issues	Temporary (and Other Domestic) Borrowing	Borrowing Abroad	Public Dividend Capital	Total
National Coal Board	…	457	64	393	—	144	156	—	693
Electricity Council and Boards		6,101	2,459	3,642	620	274	768	—	5,304
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	…	400	177	223	69	3	95	—	390
South of Scotland Electricity Board	…	763	273	490	—	12	131	—	633
British Gas Corporation	…	2,476	833	1,643	214	101	341	—	2,299
British Steel Corporation	…	788	295	493	—	171	181	361	1,206
Post Office	…	3,637	190	3,447	—	75	461	—	3,983
British Airways Board	…	188	129	59	—	—	123	206	388
British Airports Authority	…	64	2	62	—	—	—	—	62
British Railways Board	…	322	9	313	—	29	—	—	342
British Transport Docks Board	…	124	—	124	—	—	—	—	124
British Waterways Board	…	10	—	10	—	1	—	—	11
National Freight Corporation	…	154	—	154	—	12	—	—	166
National Bus Company	…	132	10	122	—	—	—	—	122
Scottish Transport Group	…	20	—	20	—	4	—	—	24

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has made a decision on the merging of electricity and gas showrooms.

I have now received the views of the British Gas Corporation and the Electricity Council and my right hon. Vol. 903, c. 441–2], gave the following information:Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection has received the joint views of the National Gas Consumer Council and the Electricity Consultative Councils. These views are being considered together with the views of the Scottish electricity boards and consultative councils, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has received, and those of the representatives of the workers in the two industries, whom I also consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing (1) the acreage of derelict land reclaimed in Wales in each calendar year since 1969 and (2) the acreage of derelict land covered by reclamation schemes in Wales approved in each year since 1969.

This information is not available in the form requested. The acreage of derelict land approved for grant in each year was as follows:

	acres
1969	802
1970	748
1971	1,052
1972	1,024
1973	1,566
1974	683
1975	1,185

Approval is not issued until work is about to commence. It can be assumed that most schemes will have been completed by the end of the year following the year in which approval was given.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of resolution 3324E of the United Nations General Assembly on 16th December 1974, he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's invitation to Bantustan leaders to visit the United Kingdom.

Her Majesty's Government's invitation to Homeland leaders to visit the United Kingdom falls within the well-established policy of giving a wide cross section of people from countries overseas the opportunity to see modern Britain and British institutions at first hand. The invitation does not run counter to United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3324(E), which the United Kingdom voted against.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what criteria are observed when deciding to which countries and programmes reduction of BBC External Services are to be applied.

When the grant-in-aid is reduced my Department is particularly concerned that the consequential savings should detract as little as possible from the impact of the External Services abroad. Where enough economies cannot be found by shortening programmes the choice of service to be abolished is made after considering cost and audibility and also broader questions of priorities and alternatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom will now join the other 21 countries which have ratified the World Heritage Convention; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government are actively considering whether to ratify the UNESCO Convention concerning the protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks he is having with Norway upon future extension of fishing limits to 200 miles; and if he will make a statement.

Norway is, like us, working for general acceptance of 200 mile fisheries limits at UNLOSC, and has begun a round of consultations with other States about the implications of a Norwegian 200 mile zone. Following my informal talks last October with Mr. Evensen, the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, it was agreed that the two countries should keep in touch on fisheries matters. This is at present being done through diplomatic channels.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations were made by the Government to the Chilean Government and international organisations in respect of the alleged torture of Dr. Cassidy.

Before Dr. Cassidy's release Her Majesty's Government made numerous representations to the Chilean authorities for her release. On 30th December my right hon. Friend protested to the Chilean Government about the torture of Dr. Cassidy and he has since informed them that he regards their reply as unsatisfactory. On 19th January Dr. Cassidy gave her own evidence to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the light of the change of Head of State in Spain, he will renew his representations to the Spanish Government in respect of the execution of Spanish citizens convicted of murder of a policeman.

No. No cases which would call for such representations have arisen since last autumn. The present Spanish Government are aware of the representations made at that time in connection with the trials and sentencing of such persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he can now make a statement on his negotiations with Cuba for a tyre factory to be installed by British engineering firms.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade referred to the tyre factory project in discussions with the Cuban Government during his visit to Cuba last November and then expressed his firm hope that the British based bid would be successful. My Department is in touch with the British industry concerned but it would not be helpful for me to comment on commercial negotiations which it is conducting with the Cubans.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what estimate he has made of the decline of intra-community trade between countries of the EEC in comparison with the export demand gener- ated by these countries as a whole; and if he will make a statement on these movements in relation to each other.

The proportion of intracommunity trade in the total value of exports has fallen from 52½ per cent. in 1973 to 50½ per cent. in 1974. In the first half of 1975 the seasonally unadjusted share was 49 per cent. Community estimates suggest the volume of EEC exports to the rest of the world fell by only about ½ per cent. between the first halves of 1974 and 1975 whereas exports in intra-trade fell by about 13 per cent. These figures reflect the particular course of the present depression in world trade and the growth of demand for manufactured exports in OPEC markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will produce figures showing the United Kingdom share of world trade, quarterly, since January 1974.

The United Kingdom per cent. share of exports of manufactures (SITC sections 5–8) by value by the 12 main manufacturing countries seasonally adjusted is as follows:

1974
Q1	8·7
Q2	8·9
Q3	8·8
Q4	8·7

1975
Q1	9·7 (p)
Q2	9·2 (p)
Q3	8·9 (p)
(p) provisional

Source: OECD Statistics of Foreign Trade

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many subsonic flights to destinations on the Gulf area take less time and cost less than supersonic flights via Bahrain.

The Concorde service to Bahrain, which is selling well, is not designed to compete with all subsonic services to Gulf destinations but is the first leg of the service to Australia. Bahrain does not yet have suitable connections to all points in the Gulf.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many officials of his Department travelled on the inaugural Concorde flight.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to his Question of 27th January.—[Vol. 904, c. 189.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement on the activities of the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, of which the United Kingdom is a member.

Copies of the twelfth annual report of the Eurocontrol organisation, summarising its activities during 1974, have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of United Kingdom requirements of phosphate rock was imported from the Office Chérifien des Phosphates in 1974 and 1975; what were the average prices ruling in early 1973 and 1976; and what is the trend and the average P.O. content of the ores.

I have been asked to reply.In 1974, 75 per cent. of United Kingdom imports of phosphate rock were imported from Office Chérifien des Phosphates (Morocco); in the 11 months ended November 1975 the figure was 74 per cent. The average price of Moroccan phosphate rock has moved from $20 per tonne delivered in early 1973 to about $68 per tonne delivered currently. The trend in the quality of imported rock is slowly downwards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, of the phosphate rock imported into the United Kingdom in 1974 and 1975, what percentage of the total was earmarked for (a) fertilisers (b) detergents and (c) other specified uses.

I have been asked to reply.It is estimated that between 75 and 80 per cent. of phosphate rock imported into the United Kingdom is used for fertiliser manufacture. Figures for other industries are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether there are phosphate rock deposits in any of the EEC countries; and what proportion of world trade in phosphate rock is covered by the EEC States.

I have been asked to reply.Both France and West Germany have small deposits of phosphate rock; combined output in 1974 totalled 0·1 per cent. of total world production. In 1974, EEC countries accounted for 34 per cent. of world imports in volume terms. There were no exports from EEC countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade in what parts of the Commonwealth there are significant quantities of phosphate rock available.

I have been asked to reply.Substantial deposits of phosphate rock exist in Australia. That country plans by mid-1976 to produce some 1 million tonnes of rock from the new mines now operating in Queensland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade of the total quantity of fertilisers used in the United Kingdom at the latest convenient date, what is the percentage employing phosphate rock, ammonia and other materials, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.Figures showing the percentage of phosphate rock, ammonia and other materials used in fertiliser manufacture, are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the tonnage of phosphoric acid produced in the United Kingdom, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Italy in 1974 and 1975.

I have been asked to reply.Statistics for the years in question are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give the dates when his Department authorised assistance for the building of the Mullard television tube factory in County Durham and the Sony television set factory in South Wales, giving in each case when production started, the estimated output per year and the actual output per year, the estimated and the actual number of male and female workers employed, and the total amount of Government grants received for building, machinery and labour.

The Department first offered assistance under the Local Employment Acts in respect of the Mullard project in February 1971; and selective assistance under the Industry Act 1972 in respect of the Sony project in February 1974. In addition, each company qualified for further aid such as investment and regional development grants. The amount of assistance in each case is confidential as between my Department and these companies.As to the other information sought, I suggest my hon. Friend might approach the companies direct.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give a general direction under Section 11 of the Post Office Act 1969 to the Post Office that the Property Services Agency is to be consulted and its services made use of when undertaking property development, unless the Property Services Agency indicates a lack of resources for any particular development.

No. The Post Office is acting within its powers under the Post Office Act and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will call for a report from the Post Office under Sec- tion 11(9) of the Post Office Act 1969 on all matters relating to the proposed commercial property development at Victoria Square, Hill Street, Birmingham.

No. I have no reason to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the statutory criteria for the granting of SDA status; how many of these are satisfied by the Ormskirk area; and how many are not.

The criteria are those prescribed in Section 1 of the Local Employment Act 1972, as amended, and Section 1(4) of the Industry Act 1972. I am not satisfied that any of these criteria are met for that part of the Ormskirk travel-to-work area which is not already included in the Merseyside Special Development Area.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what negotiations his Department had with the French Government concerning the inaugural scheduled flights of Corncorde.

It was agreed at the Anglo-French ministerial meeting on Concore on 25th March 1975 that British Airways and Air France would inaugurate their commercial services with Concorde on the same date. Scheduled services were begun by the two airlines simultaneously on 21st January 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the total cost to local authorities in England and Wales of providing consumer advice services; and what proportion of this cost is represented by (a) staff salaries, (b) pre-shopping advice and (c) payments to the Consumers' Association.

The estimated cost of consumer advice services to local authorities in 1975–76 is £1·9 million. The more detailed information sought is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will describe

Country			Calculation of unemployment rate	Main differences from United Kingdom unemployment statistics
United Kingdom			All unemployed persons aged 16 and over and capable of and available for work who are registered at an employment office or careers office are included in the number of unemployed. The rate is calculated by expressing the number unemployed as a percentage of the total number of employees, employed and unemployed.
Belgium		…	The number of unemployed insured under the compulsory social security scheme and registered at employment offices at the end of the month is expressed as a percentage of the number of insured workers in June of the corresponding year.	1. Only insured workers are include in the count.
				2. Excluded are those seeking their first job, re-entrants to the labour force, public servants, domestic workers and apprentices.
Denmark		…	The number of persons insured in trade union unemployment schemes and registered at employment offices expressed as a percentage of the total number of insured trade union members.	1. Only about half the total number of employees are covered by trade union schemes, for example, farm workers are excluded.
				2. Those temporarily laid off are included.
France	…	…	France does not publish rates of unemployment. The rate published by the EEC represents the published number registered as unemployed at an employment office expressed as a percentage of the total number of employees, employed and unemployed.	Persons over the age of 60 who receive an officially guaranteed minimum unemployment benefit are excluded.

The unemployment rates quoted in my hon. Friend's answer to the hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mr. Hayhoe) were those published by the European Economic Community.National rates may not in general be comparable because of differences in (1) the classes of people included in the unemployment statistics, (2) the extent and conditions of national insurance schemes which affect the incentive to register and (3) the method of calculating the rate.Details of the methods used in calculating percentage rates of unemployment, including the United Kingdom, and the main factors affecting comparability with United Kingdom rates are given below, so far as they are known from international sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is his current year on industrial training and estimate of the amount to be spent in the retraining in England;(2) what is his estimate of the amount to be spent in the current year on industrial training and retraining in Scotland.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that he expected expenditure by the Training Services Agency in the financial year ending 31st March 1976 for Great Britain as a whole is £189·5 million. It is not possible under the present accounting arrangements to apportion this amount between England and Scotland respectively. In addition to this figure there is also the very considerable expenditure on training activities carried out by industry itself from its own resources. It is not possible to calculate such expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what help Kirk-lees Council will receive from the Government's job creation plan;

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 10 applications have so far been received from Kirklees Metropolitan Council and that these will shortly be considered by the newly formed Job Creation Programme Action Committee for Yorkshire and Humberside.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what efforts are being made to retrain wollen textile workers who have been made redundant.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that redundant workers may apply for a course of training under the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) which is open to both employed and unemployed people. The TSA endeavours to obtain advance information about redundancies so that advice on training can be given to those affected. In some cases, by special arrangement with employers, TOPS courses may be offered to workers who have been declared redundant but before they have been discharged.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to be able to give a precise date for bringing into force Section 3 of the Employment Protection Act dealing with trade dispute unemployment benefit disqualification.

The matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimates he has made of the average weekly wage of a juvenile machinist in the knitwear and hosiery trade in Great Britain; and what is the equivalent in Hong Kong.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26th January 1976; Vol. 904, c. 87], gave the further reply:It is regretted that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many teachers are currently unemployed in Wales.

pursuant to his reply, [Official Report, 19th December 1975; Vol. 902, c. 880], gave the following information:The December 1975 figure is now available. On 11th December 283 unemployed people in Wales were registered for employment as teachers. The figure includes teachers in establishments for further and higher education but excludes university academic staff. Information about the numbers of teachers unemployed is available from the occupational analysis of the unemployed which is compiled quarterly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the direct grant schools that have opted for independent status; and whether additional time will be provided for schools to do so.

Direct grant grammar schools were required to opt for entry to the maintained sector by the end of 1975 if they wished to remain eligible for grant in respect of their intake of pupils next September. Those who did not do so will get no extension of grant, but it remains open to them to seek entry to the maintained sector on the basis provided in Section 13(2) of the Education Act 1944. If they do not do so they will have either to become independent, when grant ceases to be payable in respect of pupils already admitted, or to close. Lists of those which had opted for entry to the maintained sector, and of those which had not, were given in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for the Isle of Ely (Mr. Freud) on 26th January.—[Vol. 904, c. 52–55].

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the total expenditure on primary and secondary education in the current financial year and in the year ending 5th April 1977.

Recurrent institutional expenditure by local authorities on primary and secondary schools in 1975–76 and 1976–77 is expected to amount to £2,916 million and £2,973 million respectively at November 1975 prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales on the arts in each year since 1970.

I informed the hon. Member for Ripon (Dr. Hampson) on 25th March last—[Vol. 899, c. 128]—that this information is not available. A special survey mounted by the Arts Council of Great Britain in respect of 1972–73 and prior to reorganisation concluded that local authority expenditure, in England only, totalled approximately between £14·7 million and £15·5 million. I am unaware of any parallel survey related to Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average length of sentence imposed by British courts in each of the following years 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975.

The available information, which is reproduced in the following table, relates to the estimated average effective sentence length imposed on offenders received into prison whether sentenced in the Crown Court or a magistrates' court. "Effective sentence" means the gross length of sentence to be served when a prisoner is received under sentence, before account is taken of various factors that may shorten actual time served. Consecutive sentences, including those that follow the breach of a previous court order—such as a suspended sentence order—are aggregated. Information on this basis is not available for 1960, nor, yet, for 1975.

Average effective sentence length (weeks)
1961	36
1965	30
1970	47
1974	55

My hon. Friend will, no doubt, understand the severe limitations in the concept of "average length of sentence" and, more particularly, in any attempt to make comparisons of these figures over time, because of the many other variables.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the statement of the Minister of State on 19th December 1975, Official Report, Vol. 902, No. 23, that he wishes to encourage minority groups to set up organisations to help their own people in disputes with the Home Office, he would be prepared to consider using the powers under Section 23 of the Immigration Act 1971 to give grants to such organisations.

We have no such plans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state for each year since 1968 the number of immigrants into the United Kingdom from "old" Commonwealth countries, and the rest of the world other than New Commonwealth countries; and if he will state for the corresponding years the total number of people leaving the United Kingdom.

Statistics of admissions and embarkations of people subject to immigration control are contained in the following White Papers:

Commonwealth Immigrants Acts 1962 and 1968, Control of Immigration, Statistics	1968 Cmnd. 4029
Commonwealth Immigrants Acts 1962 and 1968, Control of Immigration, Statistics	1969 Cmnd. 4327
Commonwealth Immigrants Acts 1962 and 1968, Control of Immigration, Statistics	1970 Cmnd. 4620
Commonwealth Immigrants Acts 1962 and 1968, Control of Immigration, Statistics	1971 Cmnd. 4951
Commonwealth Immigrants Acts 1962 and 1968, Control of Immigration, Statistics	1972 Cmnd. 5285
Statistics of Foreigners entering and leaving the United Kingdom	1968 Cmnd. 4025
Statistics of Foreigners entering and leaving the United Kingdom	1969 Cmnd. 4342
Statistics of Foreigners entering and leaving the United Kingdom	1970 Cmnd. 4655
Statistics of Foreigners entering and leaving the United Kingdom	1971 Cmnd. 4960
Statistics of Foreigners entering and leaving the United Kingdom	1972 Cmnd. 5309
Immigration Statistics	1973 Cmnd. 5603*
Immigration Statistics	1974 Cmnd. 6064*
* There was double counting of cards relating to the embarkations of some Commonwealth citizens in 1973 and part of 1974. Estimated figures for 1974 were published in Cmnd. 6064. Estimated figures for 1973 will be given in the Immigration Statistics 1975 which are due to be published in May this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the total number of electors registered as absent voters, in respect of local council elections, in areas where parish or town councils also exist.

I regret that this information is not centrally available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his latest estimate of the cost of operating postal voting arrangements for United Kingdom parliamentary and local council elections, respectively, excluding the cost of processing absent voter applications; and what proportion of his estimates such postal costs form.

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