asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution in 1974, 1975 and 1976 his Department made both in man hours and money towards the BBC External Services; and what is the total hours of broadcasting time allotted to overseas countries in 1974, 1975 and 1976.

Grants-in-aid are agreed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in consultation with the Treasury. They have agreed net totals for grants-in-aid for:

1973–74—£15,988,500; and 1974–75—£19,691,000.

For 1975–76 they are seeking provision for a net estimated total of £24,776,000, and for 1976–77 for provision in the 1976–77 Supply Estimates for a net estimated total of £26,679,000.The hours of broadcasting time are prescribed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. No Home Office staff make any direct contribution towards the operation of the BBC External Services, though certain minimal overheads are incurred in sponsoring their requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the interests of national security, he will set up an inquiry into the involvement of the South African Security Agency, BOSS, in the burglary and theft of confidential documents from Moses Garoets, Administrative Secretary of the South West Africa People's Organisation, on 16th January 1976, at the Imperial Hotel, London and the earlier theft from James Macmanus, in addition to the nine breakings in of which details have previously been supplied by the honourable Member for Manchester, Blackley.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24th February to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley.—[Vol. 906, c. 117–18.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vagrants charged with the offence of vagrancy were found to be mentally ill.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the salary structure for magisterial officers.

The salary scales and other conditions of service of the staffs of magistrates' courts are negotiated by the Joint Negotiating Committee for Justices' Clerks' Assistants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that the terms offered to legally qualified staff in magistrates' courts are attracting sufficient numbers to enable the courts to operate to a satisfactory standard.

The salary scales and other conditions of service of justices' clerks and the staff of magistrates' courts, whether legally qualified or not, are negotiated by the Joint Negotiating Committees for Justices' Clerks and for Justices' Clerks' Assistants. Responsibility for the appointment of justices' clerks and their staffs rests primarily with the magistrates' courts committees concerned. We are not aware of any general difficulties over appointments, although we know that problems can arise locally from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the numbers of New Commonwealth citizens who have been accepted for settlement as (a) parents and (b) grandparents of immigrants already in the United Kingdom in the latest available 12-month period.

Parents and grandparents accepted for settlement on arrival are not separately recorded. Provisional figures show that during the period January-December 1975, 272 citizens of new Commonwealth countries were accepted for settlement by removal of time limit as parents, and nine as grandparents, of persons settled in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates would be the effect on the numbers of children of New Commonwealth immigrants coming in if the age of entitlement were lowered to 12, 11 or 10 years, respectively.

No such estimates have been made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, in the latest available 12-month period, is the number of New Commonwealth men admitted or accepted for settlement as (a) husbands and (b) fiancés of women already settled in the United Kingdom.

Provisional figures show that during the period January-December 1975, 1,351 citizens of new Commonwealth countries were admitted for settlement as the husbands of women settled in the United Kingdom, and 3,083 were accepted for settlement by reason of marriage to women settled here, after being given limited leave to enter as fiancés or for some other purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Denis Warren was moved from Lincoln Prison; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Warren was moved from Lincoln Prison in his own interests and in those of the staff at the prison.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the current negotiations with Rhodesia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 24th February 1976.—[Vol. 906, cc. 189–90.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in the light of the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government for the safety of British subjects overseas, he is satisfied that contingency plans designed to ensure the safety of British subjects in Rhodesia are adequate and up to date.

As I told the House on 24th February, the best hope of ensuring the safety of people of all races in Rhodesia must lie in a peaceful settlement of the underlying political problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Chinese Republic over altering the constitution or administrative structure of Hong Kong.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government acknowledge responsibility for the safety of British subjects overseas.

Wherever practicable Her Majesty's Government provide consular assistance to British subjects overseas who are in need of it. This may entail reminding other governments of their responsibility for the safety of British subjects within their jurisdiction.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when an agreement covering the proposed expansion of the facility at Diego Garcia will be published.

An Exchange of Notes constituting a new Diego Garcia Agreement which formalises Her Majesty's Government's previously announced agreement to United States plans for the expansion was signed yesterday and has been laid before Parliament today. Two supplementary documents, one covering service arrangements and the other giving more details of the expansion, have been placed in the Library. The Agreement defines the scope and purpose of the expanded facility and provides for consultation and joint decision on its use.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects are stranded in Nigeria; and what steps he is taking to enable them to return to the United Kingdom.

Following the recent abortive coup in Nigeria and the closing of the airports a number of British subjects were stranded. Now that the airports have reopened the situation is returning to normal.

asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to make a ministerial broadcast.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Mr. Stanley) on 25th November.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a ministerial broadcast on the state of the nation.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister, what evidence he has to support his statement (Official Report, 10th February, column 239) that the organisers of British mercenaries' activities in Angola are crooks; and if he intends to submit this evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Prime Minister what evidence he has for his statement that those who organised the recruitment of mercenaries are smalltime crooks; and if he will refer this evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to prosecution.

My statement was that those organising the recruitment of mercenaries were

" members of a small group of small-time crooks with records".

Of five persons known to have comprised this group, four have criminal records for offences of dishonesty or violence or both. I am informed by my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General that the Director of Public Prosecutions is fully aware of this. It was and is highly desirable that the public should be so aware.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Wheathampstead.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to West Gloucestershire.

asked the Prime Minister if he now has any plans to visit Sri Lanka.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit Lancashire.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister when he last visited Newcastle.

I was in Newcastle at the end of last year, but my last official visit to the City was on 21st February last year, when I opened new buildings at the Newcastle Polytechnic.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to visit Bonn.

I have no immediate plans to do so but, as the hon. Member will have seen, Herr Schmidt and I agreed during our recent talks at Chequers that we should meet regularly on a twice-yearly basis.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he last met the TUC and CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC and CBI.

I refer the hon. Members and my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 17th February.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to take the chair at the NEDC.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. Crawford) on 17th February.

asked the Prime Minister whether the interview in The Guardian newspaper on 12th February 1976 by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on economic policy represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister whether the statements by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his interview in The Guardian newspaper on 12th February 1976, on economic policy, represent the policy of the Government.

asked the Prime Minister if The Guardian newspaper interview with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on economic policy which was published on 12th February 1976, represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister in the interview in The Guardian on 12th February 1976 with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on economic policy, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Melton.

asked the Prime Minister what are his public engagements for Thursday 26th February.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 26th February.

I chaired a meeting of the Cabinet this morning and will be holding a number of meetings with my ministerial colleagues and others during the day.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will recommend the establishment of a Royal Commission to consider and report upon the liberty of the individual citizen.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Institute of Petroleum on 11th February, on North Sea oil licences, represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Cabinet Minister with special responsibility for the regions.

No. The House may assume that I do not intend to make any changes in the present distribution of functions between Ministers, to appoint any new Ministers or to dismiss any existing Ministers unless and until I make a statement to the contrary.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the Retail Consortium.

I have no plans at present for such a meeting but my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and the Secretary of State for Trade keep in close touch with the Retail Consortium.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee about technology and government on 11th February 1976.

I did so on 11th February.

asked the Prime Minister how many Parliamentary Private Secretaries he has had since 1964; how many of them subsequently became Ministers, or Peers of the Realm, or both.

The perspicacity of my choice and the quality of my Parliamentary Private Secretaries have been fully demonstrated by their subsequent careers. Of my nine Parliamentary Private Secretaries since 1964, one held ministerial office before his appointment and subsequently became a Peer of the Realm and six have had ministerial office, five being members of the present Administration, including two members of the Cabinet.

asked the Prime Minister why senior retired civil servants are now permitted to take on employment which conflicts with their previous employment.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement that I made in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 3rd July 1975 about the rules governing the acceptance of business appointments by civil servants.

asked the Prime Minister how many Royal Commissions were at work or about to start work—including those announced but not yet appointed—in February 1960, February 1964, February 1974 and February 1976, respectively, indicating separately the number of permanent and temporary commissions.

For the information up to the end of January, I refer the hon. Member both to the reply which I gave him on 27th January and to the reply which I gave to the right hon. and learned Member for Epsom and Ewell (Sir P. Rawlinson) on 29th January. On 12th February I announced the establishment of a Royal Commission on the Legal Profession.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is saitsfied that there is improvement in the numbers and quality of British farm livestock.

There has been some fall in livestock numbers in 1975. However, the pig breeding herd is increasing and there are signs of an end to the decline in cattle numbers. Livestock quality is more difficult to measure, but milk yields have recently shown a substantial improvement and in general I believe that the quality of our livestock is improving satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of the beef deficiency scheme in 1975.

In 1975 we operated beef premiums in conjunction with intervention, not a deficiency payments scheme. The cost of the premiums was £109 million, of which £57 million came from Community funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number of beef cattle for slaughter and the number this time last year.

The sample census returns indicate that the number of cattle over two years old intended for slaughter was 522,000 in December 1975 compared with 539,000 in December 1974.The estimated number of steers and heifers slaughtered in the United Kingdom in the five weeks ending 31st January

			1974			1975
			Forestry Workers		Contractors	Forestry Workers		Contractors
			Full-time	Part-time	etc.	Full-time	Part-time	etc.
England	…	…	2,300	74	1,009	2,263	89	985
Scotland	…	…	2,384	28	807	2,398	32	673
Wales	…	…	1,192	22	518	1,163	23	501
Totals	…	…	5,876	124	2,334	5,824	144	2,159

"Contractors and others" covers contractors working for the Forestry Commission and workers employed by or on contract work for timber merchants.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of butter have been imported from New Zealand in 1975.

117,924 tons of New Zealand butter were imported into the United Kingdom during 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Ministry has received favouring the prohibition of the sale of New York dressed poultry.

Many organisations have yet to submit their views on our proposals for regulations to implement the EEC health requirements for poultry sales. However, at various times in the past four organisations have indicated that 1976 totalled 328,000 compared with 380,000 for the same period in 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many forestry workers there were in 1974 and 1975.

On 30th September 1974 the Forestry Commission had 6,000 forestry workers in Great Britain. The figure for 30th September 1975 was 5,968. Figures for contractors and others working in Forestry Commission woodlands were 2,334 in 1974 and 2,159 in 1975. I shall arrange for a breakdown of these figures to be placed in the Official Report. There are no reliable figures available for the private sector.The table for inclusion in

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made for the cost of growing an acre of potatoes.

Production costs vary considerably according to location, type of soil, farming techniques and many other factors and it is not the practice of my Department to publish estimates of potato production costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the farm price review contains a proportionate reduction in income to farmers to offset the profits made on potatoes which have occurred in the past few months.

The Government take all relevant considerations into account in reaching their decisions on 1976–77 agricultural support.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will report on his consultations with other EEC Ministers on potato prices.

The current potato shortage in Northern Europe, and particularly in the United Kingdom, has led both the EEC and national governments to take steps to try to alleviate the situation. Consultations with other EEC Ministers have recently resulted in agreement on a United Kingdom initiative to suspend the common customs tariff until 28th March and a decision, effective from 19th February, to impose a tax on exports of potatoes—other than certified seed potatoes—to third countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect he expects high seed potato prices will have on the planting of potatoes and on the prices of new crop potatoes.

Although the average price of seed potatoes is very high at present many growers will have contracted for seed earlier in the season when prices were substantially lower, and it has to be remembered that, despite a reduction in yield, the 1975 crop has provided a high average return to growers. It is too early to make any estimates about the 1976 crop.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to discuss with other EEC Ministers the problem of the glasshouse sector of the horticulture industry.

Tomatoes—our most important edible glasshouse crop—are included in the Commission's proposals for CAP prices for 1976–77 which Ministers will be discussing again next week. No general discussion of the glasshouse industry is at present proposed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of renegotiation of the common fisheries policy.

My right hon. Friend called for a reappraisal of the common fisheries policy last April. The Commission has now produced two documents setting out the way in which they believe the policy should be adapted to meet changing circumstances. These papers will provide the basis for further discussion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made following the publication of the consultative document on the abolition of tied cottages.

My right hon. Friends have had the benefit of a wide ranging and helpful response to the questions discussed in the consultative document.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the present structure of grant aid to private forestry.

It is too early to form a considered judgment on this because we have less than 18 months' experience of the new scheme; but the response to date has been encouraging.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he is giving to the nationalisation of agricultural land.

I have no proposals for the nationalisation of agricultural land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the fishing industry on Humberside.

The reappraisal of the common fisheries policy and other negotiations in progress or shortly to take place will be of major importance to the future of the fishing industry on Humberside and elsewhere. As I said in the debate last week—[Vol. 905, c. 1525.]—our objective will be to maintain the essential interests of all sections of our industry and to safeguard our ability to continue to produce that essential part of our food supply which we gain from the sea.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give a list of those bodies, other than committees, to which he appoints members, other than civil servants; and what is the number of members serving on each body.

I appoint the members of 17 bodies other than committees as follows:

	Number of members, other than civil servants
Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture	12
*Agricultural Training Board	27
Agricultural Wages Board	21
Apple and Pear Development Council	21
†Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation	14
Covent Garden Market Authority	7
†Eggs Authority	13
Farm Safety Steering Group	12
‡Fisheries Research and Development Board	6
†Home Grown Cereals Authority	23
†Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce	1
*Meat and Livestock Commission	10
†National Seeds Development Organisation Ltd.	8
Regional Panels	113
Sugar Board	5
†UK Seeds Executive	5
†White Fish Authority	7
*Jointly with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.
†Jointly with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
‡Jointly with the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to make sure that all farmers in the United Kingdom are receiving an equal chance to claim grants for capital projects from the Agricultural Fund of the European Economic Community.

Capital projects on farms generally fall within the scope of the Community's farm modernisation directive and are not eligible for aid under the individual capital projects scheme. I am satisfied that adequate steps have been taken to publicise the arrangements under which applications may be made to the EEC Agricultural Fund for grants for individual capital projects.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advantages have accrued to livestock producers from the green pound; and if he will make a statement.

To the extent that the green pound has been above the market rate for sterling, livestock producers have paid lower feeding stuffs prices. The common support prices for their products have also been lower in sterling terms.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider increasing the compensation ceiling for brucellosis reactors subject to compulsory slaughter to the full market valuation of these cows.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucestershire, West (Mr. Watkinson) on 23rd February—[Vol. 906, c. 3–4]—the limit has now been raised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what proposals he has to extend the brucellosis incentive scheme; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 10th February to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr)—[Vol. 905, c. 165].

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with the trade unions and the companies concerned regarding the future of the cane sugar industry in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is in frequent touch with both sides of the cane sugar refining industry, and met a delegation of refinery employees on Tuesday 24th February. No decisions will be taken on the reorganisation of the industry until there has been a full opportunity for all concerned to state their views and for these to be taken into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of the transfer of farm safety improvements to the Department of Employment, what reuction has been made in staffing within his Department.

The transfer of statutory responsibility for farm safety to the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive has not yet taken place. The staffing implications are under discussion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how

		Stocks as percentage (estimated from Cereal Stocks Survey) of total production
		1974	1975
Wheat	…	59	53
Barley	…	50	50
Oats	…	59	59
Total	…	54	51

The lower tonnage on farms in 1975 was generally in line with the lower production in that year compared with the record harvest in 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what prospects there are for the supply of New York dressed turkeys next Christmas; and if he will make a statement.

It is too early in the year to estimate such supplies, which will depend on the commercial judgment of rearers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many letters he has received in 1975 and 1976 on the effect on agriculture of existing capital taxation. many lawyers in his Department's headquarters are support staff;(2) how many lawyers employed by his Department deal with Forestry Commission affairs.

My legal adviser and solicitor acts for the Forestry Commission and for the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce as well as for the Ministry. He is supported by 42 other lawyers, including three who are employed part time; all are located at headquarters. Twenty-five lawyers do some work for the Forestry Commission along with their other responsibilities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how unused grain stocks at the latest date compare with the equivalent time in 1974.

Total stocks of grain—unused but including sold stocks—on farms in England and Wales at end December were as follows:

Estimated tonnage of stocks applying survey percentages to the latest official estimates of production ('000 tonnes)
1974	1975	Difference
3,510	2,250	_1,260
3,580	3,220	_360
400	320	_80
7,490	5,790	_700

Forty in 1975 and five so far this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many farms and smallholdings exist on his estate at Sutton Bridge; and how many of them has has visited;(2) how many farms and smallholdings exist on his estate in Holbeach; and how many of them he has visited.

My right hon. Friend has not yet visited his estates at Sutton Bridge and Holbeach, on which there are 146 and 78 holdings, respectively. I hope to be able to visit the estates in late spring or early summer.Unlike Ministry estates elsewhere, there is a resident staff in charge of the estates who keep my right hon. Friend and me in touch with estate matters there.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his tenants on his estate at Sutton Bridge are over the age of 65 years;

Twenty-two, including six tenants of part-time holdings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his tenants on his estate at Holbeach are over the age of 65 years.

Five occupiers of part-time holdings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms and smallholdings have become vacant in the last 10 years on his estate at Sutton Bridge; in how many cases the son of the tenant applied for a new lease; and in how many cases the son was successful in his application.

Sixty-two holdings at Sutton Bridge became vacant in the last 10 years. Four sons of the previous tenants applied for tenancies, three of whom were successful in their applications.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms and smallholdings have become vacant in the last 10 years on his estate at Holbeach; in how many cases the son of the tenant applied for the new lease; and in how many cases the son was successful in his application.

Twenty-nine holdings on my right hon. Friend's estate at Holbeach became vacant in the past 10 years. No sons of the previous tenants applied for the vacant holdings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he was notified of the death of Mr. Hubbard, a tenant of his estate at Holbeach; whether Mr. Hubbard's son has applied for the tenancy and the date when he first heard that he wished to carry on the tenancy; and whether he has decided to allow the son to be his tenant.

Mr. C. W. Hubbard, a tenant on my right hon. Friend's estate at Sutton Bridge, died on 7th June 1975, and my estate manager learned of his death two days later. At a meeting on 7th August with the estate manager and my divisional surveyor, Mr. Hubbard's sons were advised to apply for the tenancy which falls vacant on 29th September 1976. In the meantime, the holding is being farmed by Mr. A. J. Hubbard, and the other sons as personal representatives of the deceased. Following the advertisement of the vacancy in accordance with the requirements of the Smallholdings (Selection of Tenants) Regulations 1970, Mr. A. J. Hubbard formally applied for the tenancy on 13th January 1976.The Tenants Selection Committee for the estate met on 24th February to consider all the applications for the tenancy, and decided that Mr. A. J. Hubbard should be allowed to take over the tenancy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the procedure available to his tenants in Sutton Bridge and Holbeach who wish to make representations to him.

Yes. There is a full-time resident estate manager who is in frequent contact with the tenants and is readily available to discuss any problems with them. Because of the good relations that exist, no tenant has asked to make representations to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will call a meeting of his tenants in Sutton Bridge and Holbeach to hear their views on the proposals contained in the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill relating to the inheritance of tenancies.

My right hon. Friend will naturally consider any views which his tenants wish to put to him direct or through the estate manager or to me when I visit the estate in late spring or early summer.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of agricultural holdings held on tenancy in England in 1946, 1956, 1966 and the latest year for which figures are available.

I regret that information is not readily available before 1960 or between 1961 and 1969. The information for 1960, 1970 and 1974 is as follows:

AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS RENTED WHOLLY OR IN PART
1960	1970	1974
151,000	107,900	98,400

The figures for the three years are not strictly comparable because of alterations made in the coverage of the agricultural census.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any proposals for giving encouragement to agricultural marketing cooperatives.

Grants totalling about £4 million have been made to co-operatives since the Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation Scheme 1971 was introduced. Of these grants more than two-thirds have gone to horticulture. My right hon. Friend proposes to make certain administrative changes to give additional encouragement in the agriculture sector. He has accepted a recommendation from the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation that grants should be paid on certain items of fixed equipment in marketing buildings which have hitherto been administratively excluded. In particular, these changes will benefit potato grading, bulk grain storage, and livestock collecting centres. The additional cost will be met by reducing the rate of grants in horticulture to 30 per cent. as recommended by the Central Council and at the same time bringing grants for cooperative on-farm activities into line with those available to individual farmers and growers.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he now expects to complete the first agreement with an oil company for Government participation in the North Sea.

The Government and the British National Oil Corporation have today concluded agreements with Continental Oil Company and Gulf Oil Corporation which secure majority State participation in those companies' interests in oil fields in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. These are the first participation agreements to be signed. The terms of the agreements secure for BNOC and the nation the participation objectives set out in the July 1974 White Paper (Cmnd 5696) as elaborated by the Government from time to time. They leave the companies financially neither better nor worse off. The negotiations have been conducted throughout on a voluntary basis and I should like to express my appreciation of the constructive spirit in which the companies have sought to accommodate the Government's objectives.Conoco's and Gulf's interests in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf include a stake in the commercial fields Thistle, Dunlin and the United Kingdom part of Statfjord. In these commercial fields, as in their other North Sea oil interests, each company has an equal stake with the other and with National Coal Board (Exploration) Limited—now a subsidiary of BNOC. These existing arrangements give BNOC full access to information and an effective voice in control. The new agreements with the companies build on this position. BNOC's title in the licences is raised to 51 per cent. by assignment of the appropriate proportion of each company's interests, but subject to the retention by the companies of their existing obligations and beneficial interests. For example, BNOC will not provide any additional contribution to costs beyond that arising from its existing one-third interest through National Coal Board (Exploration): the companies will continue to be responsible for capital and operating costs arising from the assigned interest and for the provision of royalty. Similarly, each company retains the beneficial interest in one-third of the oil produced; but the Corporation obtains rights to extra oil under an option agreement extending throughout the life of the fields. This will permit the Corporation to build up a right to purchase oil from the companies at market price, to supplement existing rights to oil under the licences. It will ensure control for the nation over 51 per cent. of the oil produced by the group from each field three years after the year in which commercial production begins, rising to 57 per cent. after five years.

asked the Lord President of the Council what has been the total cost of publicity incurred by his Department in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975; and what is the estimate for 1976, broken down into relevant headings.

No expenditure was incurred for publicity by the Privy Council Office in the years 1973–74 and 1974–75. In 1975–76 £43,000 was spent on the printing and distributing of the popular version of the White Paper on Devolution (Cmmnd) 6348) and £31,600 on associated advertising.Because of my responsibilties for the co-ordination of Government information I am replying also in respect of the following expenditure during 1975–76:

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will publish the letters and observations of the official bodies which have submitted their views on the White Paper on Devolution.

It is for the bodies in question to decide what publicity should be given to their views. Some organisations have already publicised their comments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future use, manning levels and annual cost for RAF Fairford.

There is a continuing requirement for RAF Fairford as a relief landing ground for the RAF stations at Brize Norton and Lyneham. Fairford will also continue to be used as a reserve airfield to accommodate aircraft displaced from other airfields whilst runway repairs take place. These tasks require a permanent staff of about 40 Service and civilian personnel at Fairford. It is estimated that the annual cost is approximately £700,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the saving in manning costs involved in concentrating the Army's vehicle depots on Hilton and Marchington.

Approximately £900,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the capital cost (a) of improving Hilton and Marchington facilities to provide the Army's only central vehicle depot, including the costs of closing Ludgershall and Ash-church and (b) of expanding Ashchurch for the same purposes.

Current broad estimates indicate that the creation of the proposed Hilton-Marchington Vehicle Depot complex would entail capital costs of the order of £2 million. The capital costs of closing Ludgershall and Ashchurch are likely to be minor. The cost of redundancy payments cannot be reliably estimated at this stage since any rundown would be achieved over a period. Against these costs have to be set considerable savings in planned works services at all existing vehicle depots, manning cost reductions and receipts from site disposals. Detailed estimates for the expansion of Ashchurch are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what percentage of gross national product is spent on defence and armaments by each nation of NATO and by each nation of the Warsaw Pact, respectively;(2) what is the

A precise comparison of NATO and Warsaw Pact expenditure is complicated by the different economic and pricing systems of the two alliances, the covert nature of Warsaw Pact policy, and the lack of realistic exchange rates for the Pact countries. The NATO figures for 1975, and the available figures for the Warsaw Pact are:

	Defence expenditure per capita in U.S. $	Defence expenditure as a percentage of GNP
NATO
Belgium	204	3·3
Canada	135	2·4
Denmark	183	2·9
France	255	4·6
Germany	273	4·1
		(5 with Berlin Aid)
Greece	163	6·9
Italy	84	2·8
Luxembourg	63	1·0
Netherlands	220	3·9
Norway	228	3·6
Portugal	120	7·5
Turkey (1974 figure)	28	4·1
		(1974 figure)
United Kingdom	214	5·7
United States of America	416	6·7
Warsaw Pact
Bulgaria	190	3·0
Czechoslovakia	190	5·0
East Germany	200	6·0
Hungary	120	30
Poland	130	4·0
Romania	100	2·0
U.S.S.R.*	420	Over 10
* The estimate of defence expenditure by U.S.S.R. is currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the relative strengths of the existing guided missile surface vessels of the Warsaw Pact and of NATO.

An up-to-date assessment will be published shortly in this year's Defence White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated reserve army strength of NATO and of the Warsaw Pact, respectively.

Our estimates are that the Army Reserves available to the Warsaw Pact are about 50 per cent. higher than those available to NATO, it is misleading to compare the number of reservists available to the two sides without also taking into account factors such as geography, mobilisation arrangements, training and availability of equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many members of Her Majesty's forces sentenced to terms of imprisonment for criminal offences committed in Northern Ireland have subsequently been transferred to prisons in other parts of the United Kingdom to serve or complete their sentences, in each complete year since 1968;(2) how many members of Her Majesty's forces have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment for criminal offences committed in Northern Ireland during each year since 1968.

Mason The figures for servicemen sentenced are as follows:

1968	Nil
1969	Nil
1970	3
1971	3
1972	7
1973	4
1974	9
1975	6
Total	32

With the exception of two servicemen sentenced in 1970 and three in 1971, all were transferred after sentencing to prisons outside Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of Her Majesty's forces have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment for criminal offences committed in the United Kingdom, excluding Ulster, during each year since 1968.

This information could be provided only with disproportionate effort and cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total grants paid to the English Sports Council over the past five years; and if he will express these amounts per head of population.

Annual grants-in-aid to the Sports Council since it was established by Royal Charter in 1972 have been made as follows:

	£ million
1972–73	3·62
1973–74	5·00
1974–75	6·575
1975–76	8·175

An application for supplementary provision for 1975–76 is under consideration.The Sports Council's responsibilities are not confined to England and it undertakes considerable expenditure relating to Great Britain as a whole. It would therefore be misleading to express the figures in per capita terms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many crashes involving vehicles crossing the central reservation have occurred in the last two years on the A2 between the western end of the M2 and Swanscombe; how many fatalities resulted and how many serious injuries; and if he will now give priority to the erection of crash barriers on this section of road.

In the last two years there have been seven crossover accidents, of which one involved two fatalities and another caused one serious injury. It is not the policy to erect crash barriers on all-purpose roads other than in exceptional circumstances. The accident rate on this length of road does not justify such provision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make arrangements before proceeding with plans for a new M25 between Seven-oaks and Swanley, for a public inquiry to be held.

The public are at present being consulted on three possible routes for this road. This is a non-statutory process which will result in a preferred route being announced. Some time after this, statutory proposals for a route will be published and the decision on whether or not to hold a public inquiry will depend upon the objections received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost for building the new M25 between Swanley and Sevenoaks.

The estimated cost of constructing the alternative routes which are currently the subject of public consultation ranges from £14¾ million to £18¼ million depending on the route chosen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a full statement on the reasons which led to the decision to build the new M25 between Sevenoaks and Swanley.

These are set out in the public consultation document, a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member on 3rd February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if, in the light of the White Paper on Government expenditure, he will confirm that the likely starting date of the Al3 to A12 section of the M25 remains autumn 1976s;(2) if, in the light of the White Paper on Government expenditure, he will estimate the likely starting date for construction of the A12 to A10 section of the M25.

The Government continue to attach the highest priority to the completion of the M25 outer orbital route around London. Subject to the continuing availability of funds and the completion of statutory procedures it is planned to start work as follows:

A12 to A13	Early in 1977
A10 to M11	Financial year 1978–79.
M11 to A12	Financial year 1978–79.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list

					Needs allowance as percentage of average gross weekly earnings*
					Married couple	Married couple plus one child	Married couple plus two children	Married couple plus four children
October 1972	…	…	…	…	38	45	52	66
April 1973	…	…	…	…	45	51	58	72
October 1973	…	…	…	…	47	54	61	75
October 1974	…	…	…	…	45	51	58	71
April 1975	…	…	…	…	45	52	59	73
November 1975	…	…	…	…	44	51	58	72

					Needs allowance as percentage of average net weekly earnings†
					Married couple	Married couple plus one child	Married couple plus two children	Married couple plus four children
October 1972	…	…	…	…	50	57	65	79
April 1973	…	…	…	…	59	60	73	86
October 1973	…	…	…	…	64	70	78	92
October 1974	…	…	…	…	63	70	77	89
April 1975	…	…	…	…	64	71	79	94
November 1975	…	…	…	…	64	71	80	95
*The average earnings of all full-time men aged 21 and over in all industries in Great Britain.
†Average earnings net of income tax and National Insurance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the extra burden on the rates if local authorities take up the additional provision for public sector house improvement work announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12th February.

Much of this work will qualify for Exchequer subsidy. The determination of rents and any other contributions is a matter for local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates to be the total refund to domestic ratepayers under the proposals of the Water Charges Bill.

I understand from estimates provided by the water authorities that about one third of the total amount to be refunded would be to domestic properties. The figure would in the Official Report the needs allowances for rent rebates and allowances for a childless couple, and for a one, two and four child family as a percentage of (a) gross and (b) net average industrial earnings for each year since 1972.

The information, which is given for the months in which the needs allowances changed, is as follows:therefore be some £20 million, but would be reduced by approximately £6 million to take account of special rating relief paid in 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the percentage increases in each water authority's general services charge in 1976–7 as a result of the proposals in the Water Charges Bill.

I understand that the water authorities' estimates of the percentage increases in general services charges as a result of refunds are as follows:

				per cent.
North-West	…	…	…	14
Northumbrian	…	…	…	26
Severn-Trent	…	…	…	28
Yorkshire	…	…	…	15·4
Anglian	…	…	…	31
Thames	…	…	…	20
Southern	…	…	…	0
Wessex	…	…	…	28
South-West	…	…	…	32·4
WNWDA	…	…	…	21·5

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the proportion of water authority expenditure in 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77, respectively, which relates to services other than sewerage services to hereditaments connected to the public sewers.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Wednesday, 25th February 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, from the sources available to him, he will list the countries or States which have introduced regulations for the compulsory wearing of car seat belts.