asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will take steps to improve the availability of Government publications from the Government Bookshop in Birmingham, where delays of up to one month have been experienced.

Provided stocks are available in HMSO Birmingham bookshop, the average time for clearing mail orders is currently about six days. If the hon. Member has experienced particular difficulty and would care to let me have details I will make further enquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to what causes he attributes the exceptionally above-average shift in rate burden from domestic to other hereditaments resulting from the new valuation in certain districts, and particularly the shift of over 10 per cent. in Londonderry; and what corrective measures he proposes to take.

The primary purpose of general revaluation is to take account of the changes in the value of property which occur from place to place and thus enable the rate burden to be redistributed as fairly as possible on the basis of the most up-to-date information. Any shift in the rate burden which may occur between one class of property and another is the result of a professional assessment of so many different factors that it is not possible to particularise. The drawing up of the valuation list is a statutory duty of the Commissioner of Valuation. Any review of that list is ultimately a matter for the Lands Tribunal of Northern Ireland and the superior courts, acting upon the application of occupiers who consider that their properties have been incorrectly valued.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) civilians and (b) Service men, convicted of criminal offences in Northern Ireland, have been transferred to prisons in Scotland in each of the last four years.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the RUC as a part of their duties at public meetings and demonstrations take a record of speeches and statements made which appear to the officers present to be such as would render the speaker liable to prosecution.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the interest charged on loans from Government sources to harbour commissioners and harbour authorities in Northern Ireland; whether the same terms are given to all such harbour authorities and commissioners; whether any harbour has a loan from a private source; if so, at what rate of interest; and what is the amount of such a loan;(2) what are the total loans from Government sources to each harbour authority and harbour commission in Northern Ireland; whether the repayments are up to date in each case; what is the return on capital invested at each such harbour; what is the number employed at each such harbour; and what is the capital invested for each job.

It has not proved possible in the short time available since the Questions were tabled to compile the detailed information sought by the hon. Member. Full replies will be sent as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the estimated cost of the works postponed and the curtailments listed in his reply to the hon. Member for Londonderry in Londonderry, Limavady and Coleraine.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cause of delay in paying compensation for bomb damage to the property of McCune & Sons Limited, Builders, Arbour Street, Belfast, 14, incurred in 1972; and when a settlement will be offered.Mr. Concannon,

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many acres of agricultural land are lost annually in Wales to other users; and if he will specify with statistics the principal uses for which such land has been used and required.

The following are estimates of the average annual transfer of land out of agricultural use in Wales by principal uses:

	Thousand Acres
Urban, industrial and recreational development, including mineral workings	3·8
Forestry Commission and private woodlands	6·1
Land not previously recorded and other adjustments	4·3
Total	14·1

The estimates are based on the acreages returned by farmers in the agricultural census in June each year between 1968–69 and 1972–73. They have been adjusted to discount changes in the coverage of the census. The difference in the total is due to the rounding of the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the average annual subsidy to council house tenants and of the average annual value of tax relief to mortgagors in Wales.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied with progress in the private sector house building in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The private sector completed 8,900 houses in Wales in 1975 compared with 8,137 in 1974. This is an increase of 9·3 per cent. and indicates a renewal of confidence in the private housing market.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure exists in the Army to protect Army bandsmen from being used by the director of music for recording sessions at reduced fees and the finished product being leased to record companies for substantial royalties; and to whom such royalties would accrue.

Recordings by military bands are treated as private fee-earning engagements. Band funds are a part of regimental funds, and these accounts are kept by an officer—other than the Director of Music/Bandmaster—nominated by the commanding officer. The recording fee and income resulting from the sale of recordings accrue to a band fund in accordance with a contract agreed between the regiment and the recording company. Such income is credited to the band fund and profits are distributed on a percentage basis to the musicians who performed in accordance with rules laid down in Army regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what advantages accrue to the director of music in an Army band who includes one of his own compositions in the repertoire to be recorded by the band for a recording company; what advantages are gained by the bandsmen; and what advantages are gained by the band or regimental funds.

The allocation of payments to composers in respect of rights payable under the law of copyright is a private matter between the composer and the Performing Right Society.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report each occasion in 1974 and 1975 when Army bands undertook recording sessions; what were (a) the musician's fees paid to the band, (b) the director of music's fees for conducting, (c) the director of music's percentage of fees paid to the band, and (d) what percentage of the fees payable to the band was deposited into band or regimental funds.

It would take a disproportionate amount of effort to list the large number of occasions in which Army bands have undertaken recording sessions over two years. Fees for these engagements are distributed in accordance with the scale laid down in Army regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on whose authority Army bands are allowed to perform for record companies; on how many occasions they have recorded for record com- panies in which directors' of music have either a direct or family interest; and how is such an interest registered.

Army bands are permitted to undertake this type of engagement when not required for duty engagements on the authority of their commanding officer. Army regulations governing involvement with business interests whilst still serving apply to directors of music. I am not aware of any occasion on which an Army band has recorded for a record company in which the director of music has either a direct or family interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total establishment for directors of music in all Commands of the Army; how many are in post; what are their ranks; and what are their present pay levels.

There are 31 directors of music in the Regular Army, in the ranks of one lieutenant-colonel, nine majors and 21 captains. Directors of music of the rank of captain and major on appointment are paid an annual salary of £4,775. This salary increases by approximately £80 annually for each year of service up to six years. Thereafter this salary increases by £80 approximately every two years until the total of 16 years' service in the rank is achieved when the maximum salary is £5,661 per annum. A director of music of the rank of lieutenant-colonel is paid on appointment an annual salary of £6,742. This salary increases by approximately £79 every two years until a total of eight years' service in the rank, or 25 years' overall service, is achieved, when the maximum salary is £7,457.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations took place between his Department and the GEC-Marconi-Elliott Company concerning the decision to subcontract work on the multi-rôle combat aircraft to the Sellenia Company of Italy; and if he is satisfied with that decision.

There are well-established procedures for consultation between the partner countries and with the main contractor for the selection of contractors and subcontractors for all MRCA equipments, and I am satisfied that the decision was properly arrived at as part of the general work-sharing arrangements between the partner countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the integrity and safety of the weapons control system of the multi-rôle combat aircraft have been altered by upgrading or downgrading; when such changes took place; what were the costs involved; who authorised the changes; and for what reasons they took place.

The integrity and safety requirements of the weapons control system for the MRCA have not been altered.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the Official Report the United Kingdom contractors who in 1971 tendered for the weapons system programme for the multi-rôle combat aircraft in order of tender price; which contractor was successful; and how much subsidy was given to that contractor between 1971 and 1974.

It is not the practice to reveal details of tender prices for Government contracts, but, in alphabetical order, tenders were received from BAC Ltd., Computing Devices Co. Ltd., Marconi Elliott Avionics Systems Ltd. and the Plessey Co. Ltd. I am not aware of any subsidy that the successful tenderer, Marconi-Elliott Avionics Systems Ltd., may have received between 1971 and 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the GEC-Marconi Elliott Company needed public funds to develop the weapons control system of the multi-rôle combat aircraft; who authorised the payment; and how the expenditure was monitored.

Development of a weapon control system is an element of the MRCA weapon system development programme which is being jointly funded by Britain, Germany and Italy. Work has been monitored and paid for in accordance with the conditions of the contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current state of progress on the multi-role combat aircraft.

Progress on the project continues to be very encouraging. Six prototypes have now flown and the flight test programme is going well. Project definition studies of an interceptor version of the MRCA for the RAF have been completed and evaluated, and a stringent review undertaken of our air defence requirement and of the possible alternative ways of meeting it. These studies have confirmed that procurement of an air defence variant of the MRCA continues to offer the best solution to our needs and the Government have accordingly decided to authorise its full development.Production arrangements, on the basis of a total British requirement for 385 aircraft, are expected to be agreed with our partners by the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence who is responsible for the naming of Her Majesty's ships; and how many of Her Majesty's ships have held the name of HMS "Gosport".

The names of Her Majesty's ships are formally approved by Her Majesty the Queen on the advice of the Admiralty Board. Three ships have held the name HMS "Gosport".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current annual cost of the British Army in Germany; and what proportion is in foreign exchange.

The estimated cost of the British Army of the Rhine in 1976–77 is £700 million of which about half will be in foreign exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions, if any, still exist on the sale of ships to Spain and on the acceptance by British shipyards of orders for frigates or other types of warship from the Spanish Government.

All requests to purchase arms and military equipment are considered on their merits, taking into account the relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what has been the effect on planned defence expenditure at 1975 survey prices, for each of the years 1975–76 to 1983–84, of the cuts

£ million
		1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80
1. Expenditure planned in 1974 (rounded)†	…	4,510*	4,920	5,040	5,160	5,340	5,460
2. Defence review savings	…	—	372	338	435	617	766
3. Defence review levels‡	…	—	4,548	4,702	4,725	4,723	4,694
4. Reductions announced in April 1975 and February 1976	…	—	—	136	177	193	164
5. Defence budget levels in Cmnd. 6393	…	—	—	4,566	4,548	4,530	4,530
* £3,667 million at 1974 survey prices.
† Annual average for the years 1979–80 to 1983–84—some £5,550 million.
‡ Annual average for the years 1979–80 to 1983–84—some £4,725 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made any estimates of the change in the share of profits in national income desired or required by the three growth cases of the Public Expenditure White Paper.

The profits projections in the economic assessment underlying table 1.1 of Cmnd. 6393 are among the most uncertain elements of the projections, since in a formal sense profits are determined as a residual. No useful purpose would be served by publishing estimates which are subject to such a wide margin of error, in either direction.

asked the Chancellor Of the Exchequer whether, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) in columns 82–3 of the Official Report for 23rd February, it is possible, using the Treasury's forecasting model, to carry out projections for the growth and use of resources, assuming GDP growth rates other than those in Table 1.1 of Command Paper No. 6393.

I regret that projections assuming GDP growth rates other than those in Table 1.1 cannot be announced (1) in March 1975, (2) in April 1975 and (3) in February 1976;(2) what was the planned expenditure on defence over the period 1974–75 to 1983–84, at 1975 survey prices (1) in March 1974, (2) after the cuts announced in March 1975, (3) after the cuts announced in April 1975, and (4) after the cuts announced in February 1976.

The information at 1975 survey prices is:provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect, after tax, on the cost of living the removal of consumer food subsidies will have for a married couple, the husband being the sole income earner, on average industrial earnings, with one, two and three children, respectively, under the age of 12 years.

It has not been decided how fast food subsidies will be phased out, but if they were abolished immediately the effect would be to increase the general index of retail prices by about one per cent. Separate price indices for different family types are not available. However, National Food Survey household consumption estimates suggest that consumer food subsidies reduce the cost of living for the average family with one child by 57p per week, for the two-child family by 70p per week and for the three-child family by 83p per week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the revenue of extending capital allowances for tax purposes to hotels as defined by the Tourism Act 1969.

An estimate of the current level of expenditure on hotels as defined by the Development of Tourism Act 1969 is not available, but I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Christ-church and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 3rd February.—[Vol. 904, c. 533].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated level of corporation tax paid by companies in Wales for the year 1974–75; and what provision is made in this estimate for companies trading in Wales which are subsidiaries of other companies outside Wales who pay all their corporation tax through offices outside Wales.

Corporation tax collected in Wales in 1974–75 amounted to £22·6 million. This figure relates to

Cmnd. 4234		1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74
Total public expenditure:
£ million in cost terms at 1969–70 prices including the relative price effect	…	20,057	20,754	21,420	22,170	22,950
1969–70 = 100	…	100·0	103·5	106·8	110·5	114·4
Expenditure on main programmes:
£ million in cost terms at 1969–70 prices including the relative price effect	…	18,057	18,679	19,220	19,820	20,450
1969–70 = 100	…	100·0	103·4	106·4	109·8	113·3
Cmnd. 5519		1973–74	1974–75	1975–76	1976–77	1977–78
Total public expenditure:
£ million in cost terms at 1973–74 prices including the relative price effect	…	32,348	32,804	33,280	33,800	34,727
1973–74=100	…	100·0	101·4	102·9	104·5	107·4
Expenditure on main programmes:
£ million in cost terms at 1973–74 prices including the relative price effect	…	29,798	30,154	30,530	30,950	31,777
1973–74=100	…	100·0	101·2	102·5	103·9	106·6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will allocate the identifiable public expenditure in Command Paper No. 6293 per head by programme for England, Scotland and Wales, for the years 1970–71 to 1979–80.

I regret that expenditure figures are not available in this form. I would, however, draw the hon. Member's attention to my reply to the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 10th December and to Tables 3.1 and 3.3 of Command Paper No. 6393, which provide programme analyses over the full 10 years of actual and planned expenditure within the responsibility of

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the Supply Estimates for 1976–77.

I do not have firm dates yet, but they will all be published not later than Budget day, 6th April.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish estimates of (a) total public expenditure and (b) spending on main programmes as proposed in Command Paper No. 4234 and Command Paper No. 5519, in index number form, and, if possible, in £ million, cost terms.

The figures are in the table below:the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales, respectively. Those tables include most of the "identifiable" expenditure in these countries, apart from expenditure on social security and trade, industry and employment. Population statistics and projections will be found in various publications, including the Annual Abstract of Statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the exports of Scotch whisky by value and in quantity proof gallons for each year since 1946.

It is not possible in this connection to identify separately Scotch and Northern Irish whisky. The following table shows exports of whisky by volume and value for 1946–75.

	Quantity (Million proof gallons)	Value (£ million)
1946	…	5·9	10·9
1947	…	6·8	13·6
1948	…	7·9	16·2
1949	…	8·5	18·7
1950	…	9·7	26·3
1951	…	10·6	29·6
1952	…	11·5	33·0
1953	…	13·2	37·8
1954	…	13·7	39·0
1955	…	15·4	43·7
1956	…	16·4	47·8
1957	…	17·9	52·1
1958	…	19·3	56·0
1959	…	21·7	61·8
1960	…	23·1	65·6
1961	…	26·8	74·4
1962	…	30·1	80·9
1963	…	31·8	84·8
1964	…	35·0	92·3
1965	…	39·7	107·6
1966	…	41·6	120·4
1967	…	43·1	122·4
1968	…	59·2	176·6
1969	…	52·4	167·5
1970	…	62·0	194·1
1971	…	70·3	226·9
1972	…	68·8	227·9
1973	…	78·4	260·0
1974	…	87·6	326·4
1975	…	90·3	366·6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the direct effect on the retail price index of the expenditure changes set out in Command Paper No. 6393.Mr. Joel Barnett,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing, on each occasion since 1945 when there was a change in the incidence of duty, the duty charged per degree of alcoholic strength for (1) Scotch whisky, and (2) beer.

The following table gives the information requested:

	Approximate excise duty chargeable per degree proof per gallon
Date	Whisky	Beer
	p	p
1st January 1945	…	7·9	4·2
13th November 1947	…	9·5	4·8
7th April 1948	…	10·5	5·4
7th April 1949	…	10·5	4·9
19th April 1950	…	10·5	4·5
8th April 1959	…	10·5	3·5
26th July 1961*	…	11·6	3·9
15th April 1964.	…	12·9	4·4
7th April 1965	…	14·6	4·9
21st July 1966†	…	16·1	5·4
20th March 1968	…	17·1	5·4
23rd November 1968‡	…	18·9	5·9
1st April 1973§	…	15·4	3·9
27th March 1974	…	17·0	5·1
16th April 1975	…	22·1	7·4
* Regulator surcharge: incorporated into duty on 19th April 1962.
†Regulator surcharge: incorporated into duty on 12th April 1967.
‡Regulator surcharge: incorporated into duty on 16th April 1969.
§ Revenue duties abated to offset imposition of VAT on revenue duty goods.

Beer duty is assessed not on alcoholic strength but on the original gravity of the worts. The average gravity fluctuated from time to time during the period in question but for the purpose of this comparison a constant average gravity of 1037·5° producing an alcoholic strength of 6·4° has been assumed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was spent in each of 1974 and 1975 showing the industrial potential of Scotland to Government-sponsored foreign visitors; and how many such visitors there were in each year.

The numbers of foreign visitors whose visits to Scotland were sponsored by the Government were: 1974, 196; 1975, 240.It is impracticable to provide an apportionment of expenditure on showing these visitors industrial potential as most participated in more general tours. A large proportion, however, were shown aspects of industrial development or potential as part of their programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Scottish Development Agency share of the resources allocated

				£m. at 1975 Survey prices
		1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75
Scottish Development Agency	…	—	—	—	—	—
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	…	—	4·6	3·3	3·4	2·6
Selective assistance to industry	…	—	—	—	—	—
				£m. at 1975 Survey prices
		1975–76	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80
Scottish Development Agency	…	8·2	32·0	41·5	46·0	52·0
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	…	0·1	50·0	10·0	10·0	—
Selective assistance to industry	…	8·0	8·4	8·0	7·6	7·0
Estimates for selective assistance are net of receipts; gross expenditure is expected to rise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland of those Scottish school leavers in 1974 and at the latest available date who were subsequently released by their employers for part-time study, how many were males and how many females.

It is estimated that in session 1974–75 there were 11,000 male and 2,900 female students on day and block release courses of further education who had previously left Scottish schools in 1974. More recent information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) civilians and (b) Service men, convicted of criminal offences in either England or Scotland, have been transferred from prisons in Scotland to prisons in Northern Ireland in each of the last four years.

There were no such transfers in 1972 and 1973. One prisoner was transferred on a permanent basis in 1974 and four in 1975. All had been convicted in Scotland and were civilians at the time of conviction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of agricultural land is lost annually in Scotland to other uses; and if he will

The information is as follows:specify with statistics the principal uses for which such land has been used and required.

The annual net loss of agricultural land in Scotland to other uses over the period June 1970 to June 1975 was 62,724 acres, made up as follows:

	Acres
Roads, housing and industrial development	3,014
Recreation	748
Mineral workings	653
Hydro-electric and water boards	103
Service departments	20
Forestry	59,486
Other (net gain)	1,300

Net land loss statistics are published annually in "Agricultural Statistics Scotland".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what representations he received from the Inner London Education Authority opposing his decision to advise the Authority to close Avery Hill Teachers Training College Annexe; and if he is satisfied that sufficient facilities are available in East London for training full-time mature students;(2) on what date he advised the Inner London Education Authority to close Avery Hill Teachers Training College Annexe; and if he will publish his reasons for so doing.

My right hon. Friend has given no such advice to the ILEA.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will

			University*(including external London degrees)	Open University†	FE establishments:†Degrees awarded by the Council for National Academic Awards	All graduates
1965	…	…	30,100	—	l,251‡	31,351
1966	…	…	34,623	—	617‡	35,240
1967	…	…	39,285	—	585‡	39,870
1968	…	…	45,389	—	1,152‡	46,541
1969	…	…	47,812	—	1,906	49,718
1970	…	…	50,721	—	2,910	53,631
1971	…	…	52,442	—	3,962	56,404
1972	…	…	53,626	903	5,105	59,634
1973	…	…	54,387	3,688	6,069	64,144
1974	…	…	55,359	5,180	7,370	67,909
* Academic year ending in the year shown. Excludes Open University.
†Calendar year.
‡Includes Diploma in Technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has concerning the numbers of United Kingdom students and trainees in other countries, their distribution and the nature and level of courses and the subjects studied.

Details in respect of 1971 were given in the UNESCO Statistical Yearbook for 1973. Reliable

					Primary*†	Secondary*	Primary and secondary*
At January—
1956	…	…	…	…	30·5	20·7	26·6
1957	…	…	…	…	30·3	20·7	26·3
1958	…	…	…	…	30·1	20·7	26·1
1959	…	…	…	…	29·4	21·0	25·6
1960	…	…	…	…	29·0	20·7	25·1
1961	…	…	…	…	28·6	20·4	24·6
1962	…	…	…	…	28·5	19·7	24·1
1963	…	…	…	…	28·7	19·2	24·0
1964	…	…	…	…	28·7	19·2	23·9
1965	…	…	…	…	28·3	18·7	23·5
1966	…	…	…	…	28·0	18·4	23·2
1967	…	…	…	…	27·9	18·2	23·1
1968	…	…	…	…	27·9	18·1	23·1
1969	…	…	…	…	27·7	17·9	22·9
1970	…	…	…	…	27·4	17·8	22·7
1971	…	…	…	…	26·9	17·9	22·6
1972	…	…	…	…	26·1	17·6	22·0
1973	…	…	…	…	25·5	17·1	21·4
1974	…	…	…	…	24·9	17·5	21·1
1975	…	…	…	…	24·2	17·2	20·6
* All teachers in the years 1956–70; qualified teachers only from 1971.
† Excluding nursery schools.

The numbers of students graduating with first degrees in 1964–65 to 1973–74, the latest year for which figures are available were:information for subsequent years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the pupil-teacher ratio in State schools for the last 20 years.

The pupil-teacher ratios in maintained primary and secondary schools in England and Wales for the years 1956 to 1975, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what level of loan sanction was made available to Stockport Metropolitan Borough for nursery school building during 1975–76; how much has been spent; whether the borough has indicated to him a decision not to spend any of the money; and, if so, whether he was able to reallocate the funds involved.

The allocation to Stockport for nursery education building starts in 1975–76 was £57,500. The Department has not yet been notified of any tenders accepted by the authority for nursery education projects in that period, nor of any decision to relinquish all or part of the allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of unemployment this autumn among teachers who will qualify in 1976 having taken special courses for the education of severely handicapped.

Because of the several uncertainties, including the rate of wastage from the profession, it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the number of teachers in any category who may be unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent investigation he has conducted into the Bylands School, near Basingstoke, in view of the incident affecting a pupil, Wayne Bentley, of Walsall, who has now been withdrawn.

This independent school has been visited by Her Majesty's Inspectors regularly over the last few years and will be visited again on 10th March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations have been made to him regarding the conflict between the provisions of the Road Traffic Act relating to statutory meal breaks for drivers of heavy goods vehicles carrying petroleum products and other hazardous loads, and the requirement that at night such vehicles should be parked in lorry parks, bearing in mind that the Petroleum Act requires that drivers should be in close proximity to their vehicles; and what proposals he has for resolving this contradiction;(2) whether, in view of the contradictions in the law regarding the parking of heavy goods vehicles, and in particular tankers carrying hazardous loads and the problems these create for drivers seeking to comply with the provisions for statutory meal breaks, he will have early consultations with the employers and trade unions concerned so as to end the present uncertainty among lorry drivers who if they comply with one law are obliged to break another.

No formal representations have been made, but one enquiry has been received at official level about the interpretation of similar EEC requirements. The operation of the existing law is being reviewed and I will ask the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to ensure that this particular matter is not overlooked, taking into account the views of the employers' associations and the trade unions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the qualifications and current appointments of the members of his working party on the Centres of Excellence.

Members of my Working Party on Centres of Sporting Excellence have been invited to serve because of their personal experience in the relevant fields of coaching, education, local government, top level sports competition and administration. Their credentials are:

Mr. J. Biddell, Head of Physical Education Department, Borough Road College of Education.

Mrs. P. A. Bowen-West, Principal, Bedford College of Education.

Mr. E. H. Burden, Secretary, National Council of Schools Sport.

Mr. J. F. Cadman, National Coach, The Hockey Association. Member of the British Association of National Coaches.

Mr. L. G. Glasgow, Director, Sports Council of Northern Ireland.

Mrs. A. Jones, MBE, Tennis player. Former Wimbledon Champion.

Mr. J. K. Hutchinson, Chief Executive, Scottish Sports Council.

Professor J. E. Kane, Principal, Loughborough College of Education (Loughborough University).

Mr. P. Lawson, General Secretary, Central Council for Physical Recreation.

Mr. P. M. MacGregor, Director of

Recreation, City of Coventry.

Mr. T. McNab, A national coach, British Amateur Athletic Board. Member of the British Association of National Coaches.

Mr. J. S. Medhurst, Director of Physical Education, Lancaster University.

Mr. H. G. Oakes, Director, Sports Council for Wales.

Mr. A. Pascoe, MBE, Assistant Head of Physical Education Department Borough Road College of Education. Commonwealth and European champion at 400 metres hurdles.

Mr. W. J. Slater, Director of Physical Education, Birmingham University. Former England Football Captain.

Mr. V. Thomas, Head of Department of Physical Education, Liverpool Polytechnic.

Mr. W. Winterbottom, CBE, Director, Sports Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to afford the same security of tenure to council house tenants as is afforded to tenants of private dwellings.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Cunningham) on 18th February 1976.—[Vol. 905, 707–8.]

aked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce legislation to make mandatory the responsibility of local housing authorities to accommodate homeless people.

The Government hope to be able to introduce early next Session legislation to place a statutory responsibility for accommodation for the homeless on housing authorities, and to clarify the related responsibilities of social services authorities. Introduction at that time depends, however, on decisions which have yet to be made about the content of the legislative programme for the Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up a committee to investigate the manner in which local authorities and public utility authorities respond to claims by the public for compensation arising out of actions or neglect by the authorities.

No. I am not aware of any particular problems that would justify this step, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, following his announcement of the preferred route for the Berwick-upon-Tweed bypass, he has taken steps to remove all restrictions on development previously imposed to protect such improvement lines for the A1 as will be rendered unnecessary by the bypass.

The problems of traffic and conservation in the centre of Berwick are now under active consideration and this review should be completed shortly. It would be premature at this moment to remove the existing restrictions on development.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now able to estimate the extent of the reduction in expenditure on road construction in the areas of Tyne and Wear, and Northumberland, in the light of Command Paper No. 6393.

Within the national total available for roads and local transport, the future level of expenditure in any individual area will depend, among other things, on the transport policies and programmes yet to be submitted by the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects construction work to commence on a motorway between Kirkhamgate and Dishforth, if approved, in the light of the recently announced cuts in Government spending.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given the hon. Member for Pudsey (Mr. Shaw) on 27th February 1976. The earliest date on which work could start on this scheme would be about 1980.—[Vol. 906, c. 366–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what

£ million
	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76
Fuel	54	96	110
	(40)	(67)	(80)
Other commodities, e.g. furniture, furnishings, equipment, building materials etc.	62	79	98
	(11)	(17)	(30)
Operational Services, e.g. maintenance and repairs, transport, storage etc.	8	13	14
Design, planning, advisory etc. services	8	16	26
	132	204	248

The differences in value between years are mainly due to price changes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present staffing establishment of the Supplies Division of the Property Services Agency; what is the total annual

	1st April 1973	1st April 1974	1st April 1975	1st February 1976
Non-industrial	2,110	2,000	2,080	2,070
Industrial	2,260	2,080	2,140	2,140
The operating costs are:

£ million
		1973–74	1974–75	1975–76(forecast)
Salaries	…	4·3	6·0	7·9
Industrial wages (including hired labour)	…	4·0	6·5	7·3
Items used in workshops etc.	…	3·4	4·9	5·9
Overheads*	…	8·0	8·0	9·4
Notional depreciation, insurance and interest	…	1·2	3·0	3·6
		20·9	28·4	34·1
* Includes accommodation at current value, superannuation, stationery, telephones, etc.

Supplies Division includes all these costs in the prices it charges Government Departments and other public bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the management structure of the proposed Property Services Agency Supplies; and what degree of freedom its chief executive will have in making purchasing decisions.

The value of services provided by PSA Supplies Division in recent years is as follows. The figures in brackets are the values included for supplies ordered directly by other public sector bodies from PSA contracts.cost to public funds of this division, including provision for salaries and administrative overheads; and what were the equivalent figures for each year since the division was established.

The Supplies Division staff numbers currently and for recent years are:

The proposed PSA Supplies will be headed by a Controller accountable to the Chief Executive of the Property Services Agency, who is responsible to the Secretary of State for the Environment and who will be the Accounting Officer for the Trading Fund. The Controller will be free to supply the range of goods and services required to meet the needs of Government within the limits of demands by public sector clients who pay for them. The Controller will be required to comply with Government procurement policies and practice, in the same way as other Government Departments, to achieve financial objectives laid down, and generally secure efficient and economic performance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the organisations or individuals outside the Civil Service whom he consulted prior to making the Property Services Agency Supplies Trading Fund Order 1976.

No such consultation was necessary or called for under the Government Trading Funds Act 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the Supplies Division of the Property Services Agency have direct commercial experience in bulk purchasing on behalf of companies or other organisations outside the public service prior to joining the PSA; what proportion they represent of the total staff of the division, excluding secretarial or clerical grades; and what proposals he has for increasing the number with such experience if the division is set up as a separate trading fund.

The purchasing staff are civil servants normally without outside experience but familiar with Government procurement and contractual policies and practice to which they are required to adhere. Generally about 40 per cent. of the non-industrial staff of Supplies Division possess professional or technical qualifications relevant to the services provided and have had commercial or industrial experience in their field.No change in method of recruitment is envisaged.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much agricultural land his Department has utilised for highway purposes every year over the last 10-year period; and what was the cost per mile of motorway and trunk road construction.(2) what amount of land is utilised per mile for motorway and trunk road con- struction; what percentage of this land is utilised for purely highway purposes; and what proportion is taken up in verges traffic splays, roundabouts and for other uses.

The land taken in each case varies considerably according to the type of road and the nature of the terrain through which it passes. A typical rural dual three-lane motorway takes about 20 acres per mile, of which about 13 are occupied by the actual carriageways, including hard shoulders; and an all-purpose trunk road about nine acres of which carriageways occupy about six acres. On this basis, over the last 10 years, approximately 19,500 acres of land in rural areas, not all of it agricultural land, have been taken for motorway and trunk road building.Average costs of motorways, available only from 1969 onwards are:

Year	Average costs (£m)* Per Mile
1969	…	…	…	1·0971
1970	…	…	…	1·3382
1971	…	…	…	1·1981
1972	…	…	…	0·9917
1973	…	…	…	1·0043
1974	…	…	…	1·9893
1975	…	…	…	2·2972

It is not possible to produce a meaningful figure for the many different types of non-motorway construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the reasons for his refusal to allow the erection of road signs at the entry to Cornwall in both English and Cornish.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the legislative or policy reasons which will require, according to the table on page 108 of Command Paper No. 6393, an increase in Government office space of 3·4 million sq. ft. in 1979 compared with 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the main reasons for the estimated expansion of 7 million sq. ft. in Government offices and other buildings between 1975 and 1979, as set out in "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" (Command Paper No. 6393).

The increases reflect the growth in the non-industrial Civil Service forecast at the time the White Paper was prepared. The increases are mainly in the staff needed to collect taxes and to administer social security benefits. The effect on the area of the office estate of the proposed reductions in the size of the Civil Service cannot be assessed until decisions have been taken on where the savings will occur.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the announced public expenditure cuts in the road programme will affect the time table for the construction of the M25 orbital motorway.

I have nothing to add to my answer of 26th February 1976 to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle).—[Vol. 906, c. 308–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on the question of taking the Stern block of flats into public ownership.

It did not prove possible following the Department's offer last year to reach agreement with the liquidator and the many mortgages on an acceptable price on which the transaction could go forward for a co-operative housing association scheme of ownership and management. It is still possible that some of the properties might be brought into social ownership. If they are offered to local authorities at the right price I will consider each case on its merits. For the rest I will examine the problems of other tenants and the good maintenance of the properties in the rented sector in the light of the Report of the Working Party on Alternative Forms of Social Ownership and Tenure which I appointed in November 1975 and the review of the Rent Acts which we are setting in train.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he authorised the publication in the Daily Express on 2nd March of information requested by the hon. Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch in his Written Question for answer on the same day relating to Army bands; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.No such publication was authorised, but my Department will, of course, normally answer a factual question from any source.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish particulars of fuel subsidies given to glasshouse growers in other countries of the European Community together with comparative fuel prices in such countries and the United Kingdom, respectively.

The only subsidy on fuel for heating glasshouses of which I am aware is being paid by the Dutch Government on oil. It is equivalent to about 2½p a gallon and is due to end on 30th June this year. The prices paid for fuel oil by growers will vary according to individual circumstances, but our estimates of the general level of prices after refund of excise duty are as follows:

	Heavy fuel oil	Gas/Diesel oil
	(equivalent pence per gallon)
	…	…	p.	p.
United Kingdom	…	…	19	26
Netherlands	…	…	16	26

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the percentage rise or fall in the average incomes of glasshouse growers in 1975 compared with 1974; and what was the rise in the cost of living between those years.

I regret that information on average incomes of glasshouse growers is not available. The General Index of Retail Prices showed an increase of 24 per cent. between 1974 and 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration has been given to the European Assembly working document 506/75 concerning a proposal for a regulation establishing a system of aid for associations of beekeepers; what consultations have taken place with United Kingdom beekeepers; what benefits would derive from the implementation of the proposals and at what cost; and if he will make a statement.

This proposal is being examined by officials. Consultations with representatives of United Kingdom beekeepers are expected to take place shortly. It is not yet possible fully to assess the implication of the proposal. The Commission estimates the total cost of the proposed measures to be 9 million units of account over three years, half of which will be borne from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and half from member States.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that the current approximate throughput of the Birmingham horticultural market is 500,000 tons per annum involving 65 wholesale distributors, he has any alternative plans for dealing with the distribution of this horticultural produce in that area if it continues to be impossible for the wholesale distributors to meet the cost of space in the new market.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on 2nd February to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker).—[Vol. 904, c. 440–1.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many acres of agricultural land is lost annually in England to other uses; and if he will specify with statistics the principal uses for which such land has been used and required.

The following are estimates of the average annual net transfer of land out of agriculture in England by principal uses:

	Thousand Acres
Urban, industrial and recreational development, including mineral workings	36·8
Defence and other Government Departments	0·4*
Forestry Commission and private woodlands	6·3
Land not previously recorded and other adjustments	22·3
Total	65·0
* Transfer to agriculture

The estimates are based on acreage returned by farmers in the agricultural census at June each year between 1968–69 and 1972–73. They have been adjusted to discount changes in the coverage of the census.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many eggs were imported into the United Kingdom over the 12-month period ended 8th February 1976 from each of the EEC countries; and how much subsidy was paid by the United Kingdom on those imports.

The latest 12-month period for which official figures are available is that ended 31st January 1976. During this period United Kingdom imports of eggs from EEC countries were as follows:

	February 1975 to January 1976
	Shell Eggs boxes (a)	Hatching Eggsboxes (b)
Belgium and Luxembourg	26,240	—
Denmark	30,106	4,285
France	545,944	16
West Germany	3,213	—
Ireland	782	2,538
Italy	1,467	600
Netherlands	112,859	41
Total	720,611	7,480
(a) For human consumption, each box containing 360 eggs.
(b) Boxes calculated on the basis of 360 eggs to a box.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the effect of the importation of eggs from the EEC countries on the home-produced egg market; and if he will make a statement.

Developments in the egg market are influenced by many factors—for example, the level of home production and demand as well as the level of imports. During January we exported more eggs than we imported. It is not possible to isolate the effects of any one of these factors on prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the current terms for the importation of eggs from the EEC countries; and what arrangements exist for the continued importation of eggs from these countries.

Eggs for human consumption can be imported freely into the United Kingdom from EEC countries subject only to compliance with the Eggs (Marketing Standards) Regulations 1973. Eggs, like all other foodstuffs, both home-produced and imported, are also subject to the general provisions of the Food and Drugs Act 1955 and subordinate legislation thereunder. Hatching eggs are subject to the Poultry and Hatching Eggs Importation Order 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many prosecutions have been brought over the latest 12 month period for offences under Sections 9, 12 and 14 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 relating to employers' failure to take or offer into designated employement their statutory quota of disabled persons.

The required information is as follows:Section 9, Three.Section 12, None.Section 14, None.There is no quota for designated employment. Under this scheme only registered disabled people may be employed in the designated employments of car park and passenger electric lift attendants, unless the employer has obtained a permit for the engagement of a person not regisatered as disabled.

asked the Secretry of State for Employoment what is the latest estimate of the number of firms employing more than 20 persons who are failing to satisfy their quota requirements for the employment of disabled persons.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the information about the quota scheme contained in my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 27th November last.—[Vol. 901, c. 226.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further measures he is considering to ensure that employers comply with their statutory requirement to employ a minimum quota of disabled persons.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by my hon. Friend on 10th December.—[Vol. 902, c. 459–68.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his practice to collect information as to the number of employees employed by public sector corporations and nationalised industries, the Civil Service and local government belonging to TUC affiliated trade unions.

I consider that the collection of such information is neither practicable nor justifiable at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many applications have been received from the Bolton area for temporary employment subsidies; how many have been granted; and how many jobs are involved.

In the Bolton area nine applications covering 1,178 workers have been received. Of these eight applications covering 1,110 workers have been approved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of workers employed in the motor car industry and in the

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT AT JUNE 1974 ANALYSED BY REGION
					Motor vehicle manufacturing (Minimum List Heading 381 of the Standard Industrial Classification)	Textiles (Order XIII of the Standard Industrial Classification)
South-East	…	…	…	…	141·4	22·9
East Anglia	…	…	…	…	8·7	2·9
South-West	…	…	…	…	14·9	13·1
West Midlands	…	…	…	…	169·9	27·5
East Midlands	…	…	…	…	120	114·2
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	…	…	18·9	119·5
North-West	…	…	…	…	76·9	133·4
North	…	…	…	…	8·4	26·2
Wales	…	…	…	…	22·3	16·7
Scotland	…	…	…	…	21·4	69·4
Great Britain	…	…	…	…	494·7	545·9
Northern Ireland	…	…	…	…	1·9	39·4
United Kingdom	…	…	…	…	496·6	585·3

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN: MONTHLY ESTIMATES*
								Motor vehicle manufacturing	Textiles
1974	…	…	…	June	…	…	…	494·7	545·9
				July	…	…	…	494·0	545·9
				August	…	…	…	494·0	548·6
				September	…	…	…	494·1	544·6
				October	…	…	…	494·2	539·9
				November	…	…	…	494·3	536·2
				December	…	…	…	495·7	530·3
1975	…	…	…	January	…	…	…	491·7	521·8
				February	…	…	…	485·1	516·4
				March	…	…	…	477·7	510·5
				April	…	…	…	474·2	508·6
				May	…	…	…	464·6	506·8
				June	…	…	…	456·7	503·8
				July	…	…	…	449·5	502·4
				August	…	…	…	448·0	501·9
				September	…	…	…	447·3	497·5
				October	…	…	…	443·5	495·2
				November	…	…	…	441·2	494·9
				December	…	…	…	442·8	493·0
* The estimates from July 1974 are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ensure that

Employment estimates for the industries specified are available monthly for Great Britain but only for each mid-year for regions. The following tables provide a regional analysis for June 1974, the latest date for which this information is available, and monthly total figures for Great Britain from June 1974 onwards.fuel supplies to the sick and disabled will not be cut off because of their inability to pay their bills.

The problems of the sick and disabled are of much concern, and I am sure that the electricity and gas industries will continue to deal with them sympathetically and sensitively whenever they are made aware of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board concerning the request of the CEGB that action be taken to increase the price of gas; and if he will make a statement.

I am of course aware of the views of the Chairman of the CEGB about gas prices which were mentioned at the meeting on 20th February between the coal and electricity industries. Discussions on energy policy will necessarily touch on many matters. Counter-inflation policy is of course relevant here.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how the Government propose to implement the proposals contained in the Government response to the Select Committee Report on Nationalised Industries, Command Paper No. 6408, that there should be an obligation in respect of training for offshore activities mentioned in pargraph 16 of the paper.

My right hon. Friend has not reached a decision on this matter. Any obligation on training in respect of new licences would be announced, with other licensing arrangements, when applications are invited.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when it is proposed that the BNOC and BGC should work out proposals and make recommendations to him on how their offshore operations might best be harmonised; and by what date the Corporations are likely to report.

It is too early to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will consider the desirability and the feasibility of merging the BNOC into the British Gas Corporation, following the analogy of the transfer of National Coal Board (Exploration) Ltd. to the BNOC pursuant to Section 13 of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-Lines Act 1975.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates to be the market value of the former National Coal Board interests in the North Sea and what compensation or payment in lieu was or has been agreed to be paid to the NCB following the transfer of the NCB's wholly-owned subsidiary to the BNOC.

The purchase of the shares in NCB (Exploration) Ltd. by BNOC at their face value of £50,000 was an intra public sector transfer carried out under statute; the market value of the National Coal Board's former interests did not, therefore, arise. No compensation was paid, although BNOC has repaid, subject to final settlement, the loans NCB (Exploration) Ltd. had received from the NCB.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a full list of the assets of the NCB which have been transferred to the BNOC.