asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with the arrangements of the electricity and gas industries in disconnecting their respective supplies to homes; and if these arrangements are comparable in terms of time &c.

In both industries bills are not rendered until about two weeks after the quarterly meter reading. Bills which remain unpaid four weeks after issue are the subject of final demand notices. Some seven to 10 days later, accounts which are still unpaid are considered individually and suitable action taken to secure settlement, or in extreme cases disconnect the supply.The disconnection procedures operate no less than 35 days after rendering the account, during which period cases of genuine hardship may come to light or may be identified by the disconnection officers when they call. Such cases are referred to the social service organisations for examination with a view to enabling the supply to continue, during which time disconnection is withheld pending the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many disconnections of supply in (a) gas and (b) electricity took place as a result of fuel deficits in each year since 1970 in Great Britain; in how many cases had (1) the Department of Social Services local office and (2) the local authority social services department been consulted before disconnection; how many families with children and pensioners, respectively, were affected; and what was the average length of disconnection of supply.

Information in the detail requested is not available, but the following has been provided by British Gas and the Electricity Council and given in reply to previous questions. There is no evidence of any significant change in the level of disconnections since these figures were reported.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many scientific staff are likely to be transferred from Winfrith by the end of 1976 as a result of the closure of the Dragon project.

I am informed by the Atomic Energy Authority that about 40 staff, not all of them scientific staff, have been told they may be transferred to other AEA establishments as a result of the closure of Dragon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to bring additional research and development work to Winfrith to compensate for the loss incurred by the establishment due to the closure of the Dragon project.

I am informed by the Atomic Energy Authority that, although some redeployment of staff will be necessary as a result of the closure of Dragon, the Winfrith establishment has a major and continuing programme of work in support of the SGHWR and fast reactor systems and on safety and general reactor studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what anomalies would be created by assimilating the electricity industry mileage rates and the Civil Service mileage rates.

Car mileage allowances in the electricity supply industry take account of the fact that staff use their own vehicles in order to meet emergency and other operational requirements, often in circumstances and at time when other transport is not available. The mileage rates in the Civil Service reflect different circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what investment has been provided by oil companies between 1965 and 1975 to produce crude oil from the North Sea;(2) what estimates his Department has made for future investment in gas and oil exploration in the North Sea; and what proportion and amount of the investment will be borne by BNOC.

Precise figures are not available on the investment provided by oil companies between 1965 and 1975 to produce crude oil from the North Sea, but it is estimated that the total production development expenditure during this period has been about £2 billion.On the specific question of exploration investment, the Government will be giving an estimate of 1976 exploration drilling activity in this year's Brown Book. The level of activity and investment in later years, including investment by BNOC, will depend to a large extent on the volume of work to be carried out under future licences. As I have said previously, arrangements for the next round of licences will be announced when applications are invited.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will amend the redundant mineworkers payments scheme to facilitate the granting of concessionary coal to all ex-miners over the age of 55 years at the date of redundancy who are entitled to other benefit.

When the redundant mineworkers payments scheme was amended in 1973 concessionary coal at Government expense was introduced for mineworkers redundant at age 55, with a generous measure of retrospection of nearly four years. The Government have at present no plans to extend this concession.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the work of the Government's counter-inflation unit.

The Counter-Inflation Publicity Unit, set up in July 1975, launched the first phase of its publicity campaign on 20th August when the main features of the policy were explained in an advertisement in the national Press, followed by a house-to-house distribution of about 21½ million copies of a simplified version of the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd. 6151).The second phase lasted from the end of October to the beginning of December and consisted of advertisements in national newspapers and a wide range of provincial papers, together with certain specialist papers. In these advertisements leading industrials and trade union leaders gave their reasons for supporting the fight against inflation.The third phase has just begun. The selective price restraint scheme just announced by the Department of Prices and Consumer Protection will be publicised by the use of TV, national and trade Press advertising and the provision to firms of identifying material.Research has been undertaken in regard to various facts of the campaign.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of agricultural holdings held on tenancy in Yorkshire and Humberside and in Scotland, respectively, in 1946, 1956, 1966 and 1976

In Scotland there were 58,291 tenanted agricultural holdings in 1946; 49,075 in 1956; and 33,104 in 1966. Details for 1976 are not yet available.I regret that not all the required information is available for Yorkshire and Humberside. The nearest years during which the information is available for Yorkshire are 1960, when there were 18,700 tenanted agricultural holdings; and 1970, when there were 13,000. In 1974, following the reorganisation of local government boundaries there were 9,300 tenanted holdings in North, West and South Yorkshire and 2,600 in Humberside.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are any statistics on the number of relatives of tenant farmers who do not have the tenancy renewed on the death of the original tenants.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is the intention of the Government to include county council farms or smallholdings within the provisions of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Government's intention to introduce in the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill a scheme providing for family succession to agricultural tenancies which my right hon. Friend announced in Standing Committee in the House on 3rd February. We are considering the representations of the Association of County Councils that the proposed scheme should not apply to statutory smallholdings under their control.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the evidence of the current growth in the wild rabbit population in Great Britain; what advice is currently given by the advisory service concerning the control of rabbits; what work is being undertaken by the Agricultural Research Council on this topic; and if he will make a statement.

Judging by last year's departmental surveys there has been no significant change in the rabbit populations in England and Wales. Any fluctuations have been local and sporadic, and no consistent trends have been discerned. In exercising their statutory responsibility for rabbit control, occupiers can look to my Department for free advice on appropriate control measures which can include shooting, trapping and gassing of burrows. Research into new or improved control techniques is undertaken by the Ministry's Pest Infestation Control Laboratory and its triennial report will be available shortly. A copy of this will be placed in the Library of the House and I shall also send one to the hon. Member. The corresponding surveys in Scotland, and related advisory and scientific support measures, are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the number of tenant farmers is increasing or decreasing.

I regret that information as to the number of tenant farmers is not available. The number of agricultural holdings in England and Wales rented wholly or in part fell from 125,500 in 1970 to 113,800 in 1974. These figures are not strictly comparable because of a change in the coverage of the census.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance is presently being given to glasshouse growers in the EEC.

It would be impracticable to detail the assistance available to glasshouse growers in the EEC. However, all such assistance must be within limits approved by the Council of Ministers or the EEC Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will inquire into the reasons for the delay in issuing certificates of approval for agricultural tractor quiet safety cabs manufactured by Retford Sheet Metal Co. Ltd.; and whether he will make a statement.

My Department cannot issue certificates of approval under the Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulations 1974 without evidence from the manufacturer that the cabs satisfy British Standard Specification No. BS4063:1973. I am informed that the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, where the necessary tests are being undertaken, will this week be sending a report to the manufacturer in respect of the first of the two safety cab models which the company have so far submitted for test. The report on the second should be available by the end of the month.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will consider the possibility of making additional funds for rentals for space in the new Birmingham Market available under the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964.

Section 10 of the Agriculture and Horticulture Act 1964 provides for grant of a maximum of one-third of the eligible capital expenditure on providing a new wholesale horticultural market. The City of Birmingham District Council is already receiving the statutory maximum and my right hon. Friend cannot undertake to promote amending legislation. We did however further the Council's application for FEOGA grant which is now in course of payment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many individual farmers during the course of the past five years have been paid grants for the removal of hedges as well as grants for providing, replacing or improving shelter belts or shelter hedges; and if there are limitations on provision of both to the same farmer.

I regret that information about the number of farmers and horticultural growers who have received grants both for removing hedges and for providing, replacing or improving shelter belts or hedges is not readily available and could be obtained only at dispropor- tionate cost. Before 31st March 1972 both lowland and hill farmers could qualify for grants under the Farm Capital Grant Scheme for removing hedges or for providing, replacing or improving shelter belts or hedges. Since that date, however, with one exception, these grants have been available only to hill-land farmers. The exception concerns work relating to drainage schemes; where removal of a hedge is a necessary part of a drainage scheme grant is available for that purpose irrespective of the location of the farm. Grants are available to growers under the Horticulture Capital Grant Scheme, and were previously available under the Horticulture Improvement Scheme, for both the purposes mentioned. Under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme grants are similarly available to farmers or growers where the work forms part of an approved development plan.

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

193,251 tons of fresh, chilled and frozen beef and veal were imported into the United Kingdom from all sources in 1975. In the same period 53,661 tons of beef products were imported into the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the failure of the reference price system for fish, he will suggest that the EEC adopt alternative means of import regulations.

M. Lardinois told the European Assembly on 15th January that he would be proposing improvements to the EEC reference price system. We are in contact with the Commission at official level.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take action in the EEC to check imports of fish into the Common Market at prices below EEC withdrawal prices.

Community regulations already provide for prices of imports of the main species of fish, including all those vital to the United Kingdom industry, to be monitored at the main ports. The data are passed to the Commission, whose responsibility it is to decide upon the necessary measures if prices fall below the minimum prescribed with consequent market disturbance or threat of disturbance. The scheme was extended in May 1975 to certain frozen fish so as to give our fishermen protection against unduly low-priced imports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of basic slag were used by farmers in England in 1975; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous five years.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, whilst the fertiliser subsidy was operative information on the deliveries of subsidised basic slag—including potassic basic slag—was kept on a regular basis.Figures for England for the last five years of the subsidy are as follows:

Howells asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of lime were used by farmers in England in 1975; and what were the corresponding figures for the previous five years.

Farmers in England spread 2,797,000 tons of subsidised lime in 1975. Corresponding figures for the previous five years were:

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will now make a statement about petrol prices.

I am very disturbed at the way in which information about petrol prices is being displayed at many garages. At the worst much of it is confusing, and many signs are ambiguous I should like the petrol retail outlets to adopt a practice of displaying in a way clearly visible to the approaching motorist the price which he will pay when the petrol is in his tank.I have raised this question with the Director General of Fair Trading. He has now arranged for his office to have a meeting tomorrow with retailers' organisations and the major oil companies to examine the problem. This will give the industry a chance to put its own house in order. I hope that the deficiencies to which I have referred will be remedied as a result. If not I shall have to consider other possibilities including the use of legislation.I have also been considering with colleagues in the Departments of Energy and Industry other matters relating to petrol prices about which concern has been expressed. The first is the contention that there is discrimination against certain dealers who do not receive from their suppliers the price reductions available to others. In the discussions with officials of my Department, and the Departments of Energy and Industry, the oil companies said that they stepped in with price reductions where, as a result of reduced demand and intensive competition among local retailers, one of their outlets was in difficulties. They did not reduce the wholesale price where demand and throughput were holding up reasonably well. There is clearly a question of public interest here and spokesmen for retailers asked for an investigation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. They have now welcomed the reference which the Director General of Fair Trading announced on 2nd February.It has also been alleged that price competition is driving some petrol retailers out of business. Inquiries made by officials suggest the rate of closures in 1975 was broadly in line with the rate of previous years.Throughout the industry there is no dispute with the conclusion reached by the Price Commission in its report last year on motor fuel retailers' margins, which was that today's circumstances demand a smaller distributive network, concentrated into larger units. Subject to what I have said about the reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, my colleagues and I see in the present situation no justification for us to take steps to preserve petrol outlets which motorists show by their buying habits they do not want to use.Concern has been expressed about petrol stations in rural or outlying areas. The signs are, however, that petrol stations in outlying areas are not made vulnerable by being away from a main population centre. The Price Commission found that rural retailers achieved a higher net margin than suburban and city centre retailers, and that rural retailers had significantly lower operating costs.Another complaint is that substantial price reductions are localised and are not available to all motorists equally—for example, to some motorists in the South-East. Part of the reason for this is that certain types of petrol outlets, such as hypermarkets and chains of independent dealers with an established "cut-price" policy, are rarer in the South than elsewhere.If the oil companies had applied a general reduction in the wholesale price, the effect, given local differences in the effective pressure of demand and in the pressure of competition, would have been to establish a marginally lower price level from which price-cutting would have begun again. I note also that while price cutting typically and historically begins in the Midlands and the North, it then tends to ripple out. At least two of the major oil companies, as well as others, are now reducing wholesale prices at outlets in many parts of the country. There are, of course, unlikely to be the same reductions where either demand remains relatively strong, or local competition is less marked, and dealers prefer to sell at full price and margin.It has been suggested that the Government should establish a minimum price in order to protect retailers, or a maximum price to provide more uniformity among outlets, or both. In so far as any of these would dampen down price competition my colleagues and I consider that no further price regulation is required beyond the provisions of the Price Code. When I met the Motor Agents' Association and the Petrol Retailers' Association on 4th February it was clear that there was no agreement between their views about the need for further Government action. However, the body representing the larger number of retailers said that they would not welcome Government intervention to determine maximum or minimum prices.I have put in the Library copies of a summary of the report prepared by officials of the three Departments concerned following their discussions with oil companies and retailers.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1) if she is satisfied with the operation of the Consumer Credit Act so far as it relates to the registration of credit intermediaries; and if she will make a statement;(2) if she will reconsider the definition of a fit and proper person in relation to a credit intermediary under the Consumer Credit Act;(3) if she is satisfied that the granting of a credit intermediaries' licence under the Consumer Credit Act is sufficient protection to the consumer; and if she will make a statement.

The Consumer Credit Act provides not only for licensing of credit brokers and other ancillary businesses but also for the general regulation of their conduct. I have no reason to think, that when fully effective, it will not provide sufficient protection for the consumer. However, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for advising the Secretary of State about the working of the Act and the hon. Member may care to write to him about any particular point he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is her estimate of the number of credit intermediaries who will fail to obtain a licence under the Consumer Credit Act.

There is no reliable way of making such an estimate. However, the Director General of Fair Trading is responsible for licensing under the Act and the hon. Member may care to write to him on any particular point he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has in mind for any new advance factories in the Levenmouth area; and if he will make a statement.

The responsibility for providing advance factories in Scotland now rests with the Scottish Development Agency. I understand, however, that the Agency, which announced its first programme on 15th December, has no immediate plans for a factory at Leaven-mouth.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which members of the Government will attend the Law of the Sea Conference in New York in March to look after Scotland's fishing interests.

Day-to-day responsibility for maintaining our fishing and other interests at this conference will rest with the United Kingdom Delegation subject to ministerial instruction. Scottish fishing interests are represented on the delegation and ministerial visits to New York are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what studies has he undertaken in Scotland to gauge the effect and influence of Government actions on the market in Scottish commercial property ;(2) what discussions or representations he has had in Scotland with appropriate persons or organisations concerning the likely effects of the Government's land policy on commercial property development; if he will give any estimates; and what steps he intends to take to investigate this situation.

I am studying the possible Scottish implications of the recent report by Sir Denis Pilcher on commercial property development. My Department keeps in close touch with movements in the commercial property market in Scotland, as local authorities and developers assess the likely effects of the development land tax and begin to work within the framework of the Community Land Act. Meanwhile, it would be premature to make any estimates of likely developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that a large number of ewes have been killed by cars on the improved section of the A93 at Glenshee, he will instruct Tayside Regional Council to erect safety fencing on the two-mile section of that road south of the Devil's Elbow.

This is a matter for the Tayside Regional Council, as local highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to make provision for continued employment in the Dunoon area in the event of a cessation of activities at the oil production platform site at Ardyne.

I keep the future employment situation in all areas of Scotland under constant review. The yard in question is, however, in a good position to tender for the next round of platform orders expected this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of the staff employed by the then Fife County Council, the large and small burghs and the district councils of Fife for the year 1974–75; and how this compares with estimates of similar costs in respect of the Fife Region and the three district councils for the current year.

The information necessary to make this comparison is not available.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech concerning industrial relations made by the Secretary of State for Energy to the Coal Industry Society in London on 2nd February 1976 represents Government policy.

Yes. My right hon. Friend made it clear that the Government had not yet reached a final view on industrial democracy in the nationalised industries.

asked the Prime Minister how many libel writs he has issued since taking office as Prime Minister in March 1974 which affect the submission of his evidence to the Royal Commission on the Press; and how many of such writs are still outstanding.

There is no ministerial responsibility for these civil proceedings and I have nothing further to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 20th October.

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to make any changes in the composition of the Central Policy Review Staff.

The Central Policy Review Staff is staffed in the main by people on short-term secondments from both outside and inside the Service. Its composition is, therefore, changing regularly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many trained pilots were serving in the Army and the Royal Marines, respectively, in the years 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975.

The numbers of trained pilots on actual flying duties or on duties directly connected with flying were:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated number of men and tanks in a Soviet armoured division in the group of Soviet forces in Germany in each year since 1955.

Our estimates are:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated number of men and tanks in a Soviet motorised rifle/mechanised infantry division in the group of Soviet forces in Germany in each year since 1955.

Our estimates are:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated ratio of combat to support troops in (a) a Soviet armoured division, (b) a motorised rifle/mechanised infantry division in the group of Soviet forces in Germany in each year since 1955.

Though the Soviet administrative system to support divisions is different from the Western practice, in general current Russian divisions do not differ to any great extent from their Western counterparts in the ratio of combatant to support troops.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Soviet ground forces stationed in Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, indicating how many divisions are armoured, in each year since 1955.

Our estimates are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Soviet divisions are deployed in the western military districts of the USSR—European Russia—and, of these, how many are at full strength.

Our estimates are that about 30 Soviet divisions are deployed in the Western military districts of the USSR. Of these it is estimated that about 20 are at full strength.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of Soviet divisions stationed in Eastern Europe in each of the years since 1955.

Our estimates are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Soviet airborne divisions are at present either fully mobilised or capable of being mobilised rapidly and stationed west of the Urals.

Our estimate is seven.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average number of (i) armoured and (ii) motorised rifle/mechanised infantry divisions in the group of Soviet forces in Germany in each year since 1955.

Our estimates are as follows:1955–57

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the Service men to be made redundant under the Government's cuts in defence expenditure have already been sent notice of redudancy, or accepted an offer of early retirement; and, of these, how many will receive a pension which will not be compensated for inflation from the time of payment.

At 1st February 1976 a total of 1,522 United Kingdom-based Service personnel had been notified of redundancy. The overwhelming majority of these qualify for an immediate pension on leaving the Services although a precise figure is not readily available. All those notified of redundancy will, however, be under age 55 at the time of leaving, so that those who qualify for an immediate pension will not receive pension increases in recognition of inflation until reaching that age, unless they previously become incapacitated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the Official Report the cost of free school meals for each year since 1960 (a) in 1975 prices and (b) as a percentage of gross national product.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now provide the latest estimate of foreign students currently in the United Kingdom.

It is estimated that in 1974–75, the latest year for which figures are available, there were about 63,000 foreign and Commonwealth students in establishments of higher and further education in the United Kingdom, of whom about 31,000 were foreign.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will publish in the Official Report the cost of free school milk for each years since 1960 (a) in 1975 prices and (b) as a percentage of gross national product.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many men aged between 20 and 21 years in the Brighton Borough Council area were unemployed on 31st January 1976; and what were the figures in 1974, 1973 and 1972;(2) how many women aged between 18 and 21 years in the Brighton Borough Council area were unemployed on 31st January 1976; and what were the figures in 1974, 1973 and 1972;(3) how many girls aged between 16 and 17 years in the Brighton Borough Council area were unemployed on 31st January 1976; and what were the figures in 1974, 1973 and 1972;(4) how many boys aged between 16 and 17 years in the Brighton Borough Council area were unemployed on 31st January 1976; and what were the figures in 1974, 1973 and 1972;(5) how many men aged between 18 and 19 years in the Brighton Borough Council area were unemployed on 31st January 1976; and what were the figures in 1974, 1973 and 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and women over 21 years of age were unemployed in the Brighton Borough Council area on 31st January 1976; and what were the figures in 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, and 1969.

The numbers unemployed are normally analysed by age ranges in January and July each year. Information was not collected in January 1974, however, because of an energy crisis. The following table shows the numbers unemployed aged 20 and over in the Brighton employment office area in July 1974 and in January of each other year specified. The analysis does not identify those aged 21 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of employed in the area covered by the employment offices which corresponds closely to the constituency of East Grinstead for the years: 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75; and how many are now unemployed for more than 26 weeks.

The numbers unemployed are normally analysed by age ranges in January and July each year. Information was not collected in January 1974, however, because of an energy crisis. The following table shows the numbers unemployed in Brighton employment office area in July 1974 and in January of each other year specified:

The following table shows the numbers of employees in employment in the East Grinstead area at June in each year from 1966 to 1973, the latest date for which estimates of the total numbers employed in local areas are available. Separate employment estimates for Crowborough and Uckfield are not available throughout the period specified.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report figures showing the numbers employed in the textile industry for the last 10 years for which this information is available.

The following table shows estimates of the numbers of employees in employment in the textiles industries in Great Britain. The figures are on a comparable basis—that is, after the removal of discontinuities in the statistical series.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people at Steatite and Porcelain Products Limited Stourport-on-Severn, have lost their jobs as a result of the imposition of 25 per cent. VAT on television equipment and consumer durables.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that no redundancies have been notified to the Employment Service Agency as being due to occur at this company since the 25 per cent. rate of VAT on domestic electrical and consumer electronic appliances came into force on 1st May 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many people in the Kidderminster constituency have lost their jobs as a result of the imposition of 25 per cent. VAT on television equipment and consumer durables;(2) how many people in the United Kingdom have lost their jobs as a result of the imposition of 25 per cent. VAT on television equipment and consumer durables.

I regret that the information requested cannot be ascertained from the statistics maintained by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment and in view of the annual los of about 5,000 lives due to the failure of car drivers and pasengers to wear seat belts, as specified in his answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, West on 15th January, whether he will now bring forward legislation requiring seat belts to be worn by drivers and passengers in the front of vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

I reintroduced the Road Traffic (Seat Belts) Bill this afternoon. The figure of 5,000 for the loss of life relates to the last five years as a whole: the annual rate is now about 1,150.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what environmental impact the building of the A5(D) in Milton Keynes will have on the Roman settlement of Magiovinium.

The line of the A5 diversion avoids the scheduled area of the Roman settlement of Magiovinium. A magnetometer search and exploratory dig, followed by excavations where necessary, will, however, be carried out on land taken for the trunk road in the vicinity of the scheduled area, before construction starts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will print in the Official Report the volume of traffic expected to use the A5(D) immediately after completion and the volume expected at the end of each successive five year period up until the maximum anticipated volume is reached.

I shall write to my hot, Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that the design of the A5(D) in Milton Keynes is sufficiently flexible in order to permit widening and upgrading of the road only when traffic volumes demand it.

The new road is to be built with dual two-lane carriageways. No widening is likely to be necessary within the design period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many residential properties will suffer noise nuisance from traffic after the building of the A5(D) in Milton Keynes.

Four properties qualify for insulation under the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975. Earth mounds and acoustic fencing are to be erected at appropriate points along the new road to protect properties from noise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the high unemployment in the construction industry in the West Midlands, he will bring in a scheme similar to Operation Eyesore for that region to operate during the financial year 1976–77.

The Government introduced a series of measures in September 1975 to alleviate unemployment including a substantial boost to public sector construction. The further set of measures announced last Thursday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer included an additional £50 million for public sector house improvements. This will help unemployment in the construction industry in 1976–77 more effectively than the reintroduction of Operation Eyesore.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many fatal and how many non-fatal accidents, respectively, have resulted from the failure of power brakes and of power steering systems, respectively, during each of the last five years for which records are available.

This information is not available nationally, but I refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answers given to him on 21st January 1976 and 9th February 1976.—[Vol. 903, col. 456; Vol. 905, c. 91–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his present intentions regarding the introduction of legislation to give tenants of registered housing associations and local authorities the same security as private tenants.

It remains my intention to introduce legislation on this subject when more urgent matters have been dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement regarding the safety of private houses and flats containing high alumina cement to assist owners to obtain insurance of their property.

A special sub-committee of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee was set up in April 1975 to examine the safety implications for existing buildings of the use of high alumina cement concrete in their construction, and its report was published last August. The effect of its recommendations is that most dwellings may be considered safe and do not need professional appraisal. The report sets out criteria for establishing the structural safety of other buildings, including the few dwellings for which appraisal is recommended. I am not aware of any recent difficulties in obtaining insurance cover for dwellings containing high alumina cement concrete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the pictures put up in the passages and rooms of Norman Shaw North; and where they were purchased.

The purchase price was £1,482·48 including VAT for 58 prints; in addition, the cost of framing and incidental expenses was £500. The prints were obtained from a reputable British commercial source and I have written to the hon. and learned Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has issued any guidance to local authorities concerning the purchase of private residences for use as council houses.

Yes. In Circular 654/75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has been informed by local authorities of the number of privately owned houses which have been purchased by local authorities for use as council houses during the last year.

Local authorities are required to submit regular returns to the Department, but some authorities have not yet done so for 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fact that if a man provides his own home but has to spend more on it because he is ill, or because he needs after-care, he incurs greater expense than if he were fit; and in view of the limited choice of accommodation available to persons confined to wheelchairs which often involves them in substantial extra expense; he will amend the legislation at the earliest opportunity so as to provide for rate relief for alterations carried out to adapt existing accommodation to the needs of the handicapped.

Section 45 of the General Rate Act 1967 gives rate relief in respect of facilities for the disabled and I understand that it has been regarded as covering the kind of alterations indicated in the Question. I am aware of the recent decision by the House of Lords in a case involving that section, but my advisers have not yet had time to study the judgment and its implications. I am not therefore yet in a position to judge whether amending legislation ought to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the National Bus Company has informed him of any proposals to make service economies resulting from the level of bus revenue support for 1976–77; and which counties will be affected.

The National Bus Company's preliminary estimate is that, because some counties appear to have decided not to meet the full costs of maintaining services, service economies of about 25 million miles—about 31½2 per cent. of NBC's total annual mileage—could occur. The size and incidence of such economies depend upon the outcome of the discussions which NBC subsidiary companies are at present having with county councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons were employed by local authorities in England and Wales in each year from 1965 to 1975; and how many such persons were in each year involved in administration and clerical positions.

Numbers employed by local authorities, including police forces, in England and Wales each year from 1965 were:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what fora he proposes the national debate about traffic forecasting should take place.

Traffic forecasting will be one of the subjects covered in the consultative paper on transport policy which my right hon. Friend plans to publish shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken by his Department to reduce the number of fatal accidents to children caused by allowing them to occupy the front passenger seat of a motor car; and if he will make a statement.

As a result of comments received on the draft revised Highway Code, it is proposed to add a recommendation that young children be carried in the backs of cars, if possible into properly fitted child safety seats or harnesses which bear the British Standards Institution kitemark. This advice is already widely known and followed, but the Department will continue to seek effective ways of bringing it to parents' attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the widespread concern at the delay in the announcement of the proposed route of the Okehampton bypass in Devon, he can now reveal the route.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 20th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 389.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many organizations have so far commented on the experimental 1:25,000 derived digital maps; and how soon the Ordinance Survey expects to be able to publish a complete second series 1:25,000 map using one of these processes.

Comment on the experimental map was invited by 31st May 1976; four organizations have so far commented. The Ordnance Survey does not expect to be able to publish a complete 1:25,000 second series map sheet using digitally processed data for at least two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the alteration of endorsed driving licenses under the Road Traffic Act 1974.

Section 13(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1974 extended the currency of endorsement by one year so as to ensure that all relevant convictions should come to the notice of the courts when dealing with later offences. Some licence-holders have represented that this legislation changes court sentences retroactively, but in ordering endorsements the courts do not specify their duration; this is determined by the law currently governing the issue of licences when a new one is applied for. There has been no change in the periods over which endorsements count for totting-up purpose

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list his responsibilities with regard to commercial property development in Scotland.

Such responsibilities are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what publicity has been given to the new obligations on motorists and other drivers to use lights in dull or hazy daylight conditions.

Publicity was given to the regulations in the national Press in March 1976, when they were introduced, and again in November. A further advertising campaign is planned for next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when it is now intended to start construction of the grade-separated junction at Barton Turn.

About August this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when it is now intended to erect safety barriers on the central reservation of the A38 between Strethay and Clay Mills.

About August this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a decision has yet existing speed limit on the A129 road at Rayleigh, Essex, from 30 mph to 40 mph, to which objection has been made by local residents.

A decision has not yet been taken. Data in support of the county council's application for consent was received on 9th February. The application and objections are now under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the final report of the working party set up to consider the operation of the present system of allowances for local authority members; and when he expects to announce his conclusions on the future of the system.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State received the report on local authority members' allowances during the latter part of last year. With regard to a further statement, I am unable to add, at this stage, to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 27th November 1975.—[Vol. 901 c. 264.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the last regulations were made prescribing the information to be included in rent books; what pieces of legislation have been passed since that date affecting points covered in such regulations; whether the regulations require the provision of information which is now erroneous or deficient as a statement of current law; and, if so, if he will list the points to which such error or deficiency relates.

The Rent Books (Forms of Notice) Regulations made in 1972 (SI 1972/1827), as amended by the Rent Books (Forms of Notice) (Amendments) Regulations made in 1973 (SI 1973/1055) which are currently in force, do not take account of alterations in the law contained in the Rent Act 1974, the Housing Act 1974 and the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975. In this respect they are out of date and my right hon. Friend will shortly be laying before the

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the widespread desire for people to have a say in the introduction of fluoride into the water system, if he is now in a position to give further guidance to water authorities.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 6th February.—[Vol. 904, c. 765–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to announce the publication of the Stevens Report on mineral extraction and related matters.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prosecutions have been brought during each of the last five years for which records are available against owners and drivers of motor vehicles, respectively, arising out of the worn condition of tyres; how many and what percentage of such prosecutions have proved successful; and what penalties were applied.

I have been asked to reply.The available information for prosecutions in England and Wales for offences related to defective tyres is given in the following table. Separate information in respect of owners and drivers is not available.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make it his policy that future aid to Ethiopia be conditional upon the release or trial of 17 members of the Royal Family now held in prison.

The policy governing my Ministry's aid programme to Ethiopia, as to other countries, is kept under regular review. I am satisfied that it would not be in the best interests either of the imprisoned members of the Royal Family, or of Ethiopia itself, to make our future aid conditional upon the release or trial of those prisoners.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to reduce the minimum period for deeds of covenant in favour of charities from six years to three years; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for the current length of this period.

I have been asked to reply.To be accepted as effective for tax purposes, a covenant must be of sufficient duration to stamp the payments under it as a real transfer of income. For this purpose, the six-year requirement has operated since 1922 and I am not aware of any general demand for a change.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the decline in the birth rate and the survey and research work thereon.

I have been asked to reply.The birth rate in the United Kingdom has been declining since 1965 and the latest indications are that it is continuing to decline. My right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal announced the Government's views on population issues on 22nd July 1974 in response to the report of the Population Panel (Cmnd. 5258), and he intends that a stocktaking report on population questions should be completed next year. This report will be based on the latest demographic information and on specific research; particular attention will be paid to fertility, mortality and migration as major factors influencing the size and structure of our population.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will investigate with the Derbyshire Constabulary the circumstances resulting in the decision to withdraw police facilities from operating the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary accident flying squad;(2) if he is satisfied that adequate consultation took place before the announcement by the Derbyshire Constabulary to withdraw its support to the accident flying squad for the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary;(3) on whose instructions it has been decided to end the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary Accident Flying Squad using police drivers; and if it is his Department's policy to withdraw police facilities from such services.

The provision of these services is a matter for the Chief Constable. We understand from the Chief Constable that they have not been withdrawn, although the possibility of their withdrawal is being discussed with the area health authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the official establishment figure for all the police forces in England and Wales and their actual police strength at the last known date and the numbers recruited and resigned in 1975.

On 31st December 1975 the total establishment of all police forces in England and Wales was 116,007 and the actual strength was 105,743. In addition, 1,395 officers were on secondment to central services, regional crime squads and other special units. 10,398 police officers, including 54 who transferred from the British Airports' Authority Constabulary, were recruited during the year, and 5,314 officers left the service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to make regulations under the Lotteries Act 1975.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) on 11th December—[Vol. 902, c. 293–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to refer to the Equal Opportunities Commission the practice of both the Amateur Swimming Association and the Royal Life Saving Society of giving awards on the basis of tests in which women are allowed more time than men.

No. It is open to anyone who considers that he or she has been the subject of unlawful discrimination by either of these bodies to bring proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the incidence of drinking under age; and what steps he intends to take to reduce this.

No reliable estimate can be made. The legal prohibitions against serving young people under 18 in bars, and against their buying or consuming intoxicants there, are clearly set out in Section 169 of the Licensing Act 1964. Their enforcement is a matter for the police and the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of recent court decisions, he is satisfied with the working of the Obscene Publications Act; and whether he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Runcorn (Mr. Carlisle) and the hon. Member for Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson) on 12th February.—[Vol. 905, c. 590–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish, with or without any omissions he considers necessary, the report of Sir Claus Moser on the erroneous count of embarkations and the further report which he has requested Sir Claus to make.

I refer the right hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 12th February to Questions by the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) and the hon. and learned Member for Royal Tunbridge Wells (Mr. Mayhew), to which I cannot usefully add at present.—[Vol. 905, c. 594–96.]

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, in view of the high level of unemployment now prevailing in the West Midlands, he will, over the next two years, provide the same incentives to industry as are provided to other regions of high unemployment.

Measures to counter unemployment, such as the temporary employment subsidy, can benefit firms throughout the West Midlands. The West Midlands has also benefited from the Government's action over British Leyland, Alfred Herbert and Chrysler, and will benefit from schemes to bring forward investment projects which would otherwise be deferred, as well as from schemes to modernise industries such as machine tools, ferrous and non-ferrous foundries.

the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will take steps to alleviate unemployment in telecommunications in the North-West.

Regional incentives to industrial development are available throughout the North-West. In addition, the North-West stands to benefit from the various measures introduced by the Government to counter unemployment.