asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what use is now to be made of the Parliament Buildings at Stormont.

The greater part of the accommodation in Parliament Buildings has always been used by Government Departments, which will continue to occupy their existing accommodation. Some of the rooms now made available will be used to relieve accommodation problems in Government Departments. The Assembly Chamber and the former Senate Chamber will be unused.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what preparations have been made for the celebration of Her Majesty's Silver Jubilee.

As the Prime Minister indicated in his reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 18th December last—[Vol. 902, c. 687–90.]—Her Majesty's programme in the summer of 1977 will include a visit to Northern Ireland on 10th and 11th August. Appropriate arrangements for the visit will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement following the discovery of Soviet made antitank rockets, explosives and small arms on the Republic of Ireland border last week.

On 2nd March 1976, as a result of a planned search northeast of Omagh, Co. Tyrone, the security forces found a quantity of assorted weapons, ammunition and explosive material, including seven RPG7 anti-tank projectiles of East European manufacture.

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide for all ADAS centres and sub-centres for the past four years figures showing the number of advisory visits made per year per staff member, the number of advisory specimens, plant samples and investigational samples per year per staff member, and the number of lectures, discussion groups and growers' meetings attended per year per staff member; and if he will publish this information annually in a review form so that the workload on each centre and sub-centre can be compared.

ADAS, which includes seven component services, has some 165 centres and sub-centres throughout England and Wales at regional, divisional and area level which undertake investigational and advisory work in the ways mentioned in the Question.The details as sought, covering the whole of this diverse organisation are not readily available and the costs of obtain- ing them would be disproportionate. Workloads in ADAS are kept under continuous review, as they are for the whole of my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to strengthen the precautions against rabies by the training of suitable breeds of dogs to seek out hidden and sedated animals being brough into the country.

The detection of illegally imported animals, in common with smuggling offences generally, is primarily a matter for Her Majesty's Customs, which has already considered the suggestion of using sniffer dogs in our campaign to keep out rabies. I understand that the main reason why it was not adopted was that if the detector dog encountered an imported animal both would have to be quarantined.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he discussed with Dr. Munyua Waiyaki, and Mr. Mwai Kibaki, the Foreign Minister and Finance Minister, respectively, of Kenya, the question of Kenyan Asians admitted into Great Britain; whether Kenya will meet the costs; and whether he will make a statement on his discussions with these Ministers.

Our talks with the Kenyan Ministers were useful and friendly. The wide range of topics we covered did not include the question of emigration from Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many residents of Rhodesia there are at the present time holding British passports which would permit them to enter the United Kingdom for permanent settlement.

It is estimated that approximately 80,000 residents in Rhodesia are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies and, as such, entitled to enter Britain and settle here permanently. There may be almost as many again who, although not United Kingdom citizens, could claim the right of abode by reason of patriality.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the value of British property in Mozambique which is directly held by British controlled companies registered in Mozambique and indirectly through British shareholdings in South African companies operating in that territory.

Precise figures are not available. The book value of British investment in Mozambique was estimated in 1973 to be about £23 million. This does not include investment in banking, oil, shipping, insurance, etc. We have no information about indirect share-holdings of British investors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British passport holders of Asian descent are resident in Rhodesia; how many British passport holders born in the United Kingdom are resident in Rhodesia; and what contingency plans have been arranged for the reception of both groups in the United Kingdom.

We have no information on how many of the estimated 10,000 people of Asian descent in Rhodesia hold British passports. An estimated 80,000 British subjects, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies, who hold or are entitled to British passports, are resident in Rhodesia. If any such contingency were to arise, the arrangements for the admission to or reception in this country of Rhodesian residents would be primarily a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a preview of the annual crime rate was given to the Press at a dinner on 2nd March by the Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis prior to these figures being submitted to Parliament; and whether he will see that such information is first submitted to Parliament.

The figures to which my hon. Friend refers relate to crime in the Metropolitan Police District. It is for the Commissioner to decide when such figures should be made public; there is no requirement for them to be submitted to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when deposits for candidates standing at parliamentary elections were last increased;(2) by how much the value of candidates' deposits at parliamentary elections has declined since the last increase;(3) if he will seek to increase the deposits that parliamentary candidates must make at elections.

There has been no increase in the amount of the deposit since 1918, since when its value has declined to the equivalent of about £23 at the prices then prevailing. This would seem a suitable matter for consideration by a reconvened Speaker's Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the reasons why it took him until 5th March 1976 to reply to the communication sent to him on 24th January 1976, raising matters mentioned by the Chairman of the Police Federation on 21st January; and as this is a further example of delay in dealing with correspondence, what action he proposes to take to answer correspondence in periods of less than six to 12 weeks.

My hon. Friend asked for a detailed reply to a number of points made by the Chairman of the Police Federation in the course of a wide-ranging speech. Those points dealing with complaints against the police fell to be considered by officers of my Department who were also at the relevant time responsible for providing briefing material on the proceedings of the Police Bill. I regret however that a suitable reply took so long to prepare.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to publish the Law Commission's report on offences of entering and remaining on property which he received in January.

The report will be published very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much his Department pays the Post Office for the advice given on television and radio reception; and how many applications for help are made under the present scheme;(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that publicity is given to the advice of television and radio reception which his Department provides through the Post Office.

Advice given by the Post Office is only concerned with interference to reception caused by other radio services or by electrical equipment. In the financial year 1974–75, the Post Office was paid £1,711,716 for this work in respect of 51,368 complaints. No special steps have been thought necessary to give publicity to this service, which is available on application at local post offices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, for the avoidance of doubt, he will make a statement on the unrestricted right of British citizens who wish to enter or re-enter the United Kingdom with proof of identity, but without a passport;(2) if, for the avoidance of doubt, he will make a statement on the unrestricted right of British citizens who wish to leave the country without a passport.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt) on 11th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 602–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Rhodesian régime is recruiting for its army in Scotland; what action he proposes to take; and whether he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I am aware that Rhodesian recruitment literature has been sent to persons in Scotland, and in other parts of the United Kingdom, from abroad.I have instructed that inquiries be made. If evidence is obtained that offences against our law may have been committed, I shall certainly bring it to the notice of the appropriate authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is prepared to take to make available to the Sea Cadet Corps nautical and other equipment useful in the training of sea cadets, which become surplus to naval requirements.

Surplus equipment suitable for Sea Cadet Corps training is already offered free to the Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence where it is proposed that the work now carried out at the REME workshop at Killingworth, Tyne and Wear, should in future be carried out; and whether, having regard to the high unemployment on Tyneside, he will reconsider his decision to close the Killingworth workshop.

No final decision has been taken to close the 31 Command Workshop REME detachment at Killingworth. This is one of a number of proposals made for the restructuring of the Army's logistic support facilities in the United Kingdom on which consultations are proceeding with the Departmental Staff and Trade Union Sides.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many VP 22s have been given; and with what results.

I regret that records of this information are not maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the M23, Popham to Chilworth, and M27, Chilworth to Hedge End, are likely to be started; and when they are likely to be finished.

Subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and availability of funds it is hoped to start construction of the Popham to Compton length of M3 in autumn 1977 for completion in 1980. A firm date for upgrading to motorway standards of the Compton to Bassett, near Chilworth, section has not yet been fixed.It is hoped to start work on the Chilworth to Hedge End section of M27 in spring 1978 for completion in the spring of 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total grant made to railways and to public road passenger transport in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Following is the information:

	£million at outturn prices
	1973	1974	1975‡
Railways	180	390	510
Public road passenger transport*	60	85	75 †
* Financial years.
† Excluding rate support grant and transport supplementary grant.
‡ Estimated.

Apart from new bus grant and bus fuel grant, Exchequer assistance towards local authority expenditure on transport services is now largely given through rate support grant and transport supplementary grant. Local authorities determine their own priorities within these block grants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total capital spending by local authorities in England and Wales on sport and recreation during each of the past 10 years for which figures are available.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Reading, North (Mr. Durant) on 30th January 1976.—[Vol. 904, c. 368.]—Comparable figures for years before 1970 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many multiple-use sports centres have been provided by local authorities in England and Wales during each of the last five years for which figures are available.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave on 5th February 1976—[Vol. 904, c. 684]—and 3rd March 1976—[Vol. 906, c. 604]—in reply to similar Questions by the hon. Members for Sutton and Cheam) Mr. Macfarlane) and Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley). The corresponding figure for 1972 is 19 and for 1971 is 13.These figures relate to England. Information about the provision of sports facilities in Wales is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount spent by local authorities and harbour authorities over the latest 12-month period for which figures are available on dealing with oil pollution on beaches.

English local authorities reported a gross expenditure in the financial year 1973–74 of about £58,000 on clearing oil from inshore waters and from beaches. After payment of claims from tanker owners and grant from my Department the net cost was about £27,000 Local authorities spent a further £30,000—£15,000 net—on purchasing equipment in readiness for dealing with pollution.Figures are not available for expenditure by harbour authorities and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the estimated cost per vehicle on the road of the Swansea Vehicle and Driver Licensing Centre, both at the present time and when the Centre becomes fully operational;(2) when it is estimated that the Swansea Vehicle and Driver Licensing Centre will be fully operational.

The cost in 1975–76 of issuing vehicle excise licences and of handling associated registration transactions, etc., is estimated to average about £2·2 per vehicle. By 1978–79, when the centralised system will be fully operational, the cost, on a comparable price basis, is expected to be about £1·7 per vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce his decision on the proposals to extend the A1(M) through Hatfield.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce a preferred route shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the remarks of the noble and learned Lords in the case of Regina v. Curran (1976 WLR 87) and, in particular of Lord Salmon, that the Road Traffic Act 1972 produced such exceptionally gross results that he hoped that Section 9 and the references to it in the schedule would be radically redrafted so as to remove the anomalies which they now contained, he will seek to initiate legislation providing that a person who is acquitted of being in charge of, or driving, or attempting to drive a vehicle under Section 5(2) of this Act cannot be convicted of failing without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of blood or urine for a laboratory test under Section 9(3) of the Act.

Yes, when an opportunity occurs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any official instruction is given to driving test examiners requiring them to aim for a given percentage rate of passes.

No. The only consideration which enters into examiners' decisions is the standard of the candidates' driving.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of people who passed the driving test did so at the first attempt in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and in the last year for which such information is available what was the percentage in each county area.

Routine statistics relating to first attempts at the driving test are not kept. The following information is available from two-day surveys:

Month in which survey taken			Percentage pass rate of candidates taking first test
May 1973	…	…	42
October 1973	…	…	40
May 1974	…	…	43
October 1974	…	…	41
April 1975	…	…	42
October 1975	…	…	41

There is no geographical breakdown of these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of people taking the driving test were passed in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and in the last year for which such information is available, what was the percentage in such county areas.

Information is not available in the form requested. The percentage of successful driving tests in each

Traffic Area				1971	1972	1973	1974	1975
Northern	…	…	…	47·8	47·7	46·7	47·5	47·7
Yorkshire	…	…	…	44·2	45·0	43·6	42·5	43·5
North-Western	…	…	…	45·9	45·8	46·0	46·4	46·4
West Midland	…	…	…	45·5	46·3	45·3	45·3	450
East Midland	…	…	…	46·2	46·2	46·1	44·9	44·4
Eastern	…	…	…	45·7	45·9	45·7	44·9	44·9
South Wales	…	…	…	46·9	47·4	45·9	46·0	46·3
Western	…	…	…	50·3	50·3	47·2	46·3	46·6
South-Eastern	…	…	…	46·1	45·1	44·5	43·9	44·3
Scottish, North	…	…	…	53·1	53·8	54·0	49·1	48·4
Scottish, South	…	…	…	49·7	491	49·6	47·7	47·1
Metropolitan	…	…	…	46·6	46·7	45·5	45·8	45·0
Great Britain	…	…	…	46·7	46·8	46·0	45·6	45·4

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what opportunities exist for the public to criticise or cross-examine his Department's road traffic forecasts; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I already deal with a considerable volume of correspondence about the forecasts which, as I told the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross) on 18th February—[Vol. 905, c. 710]—will also be among the subjects covered in our forthcoming consultative paper on trapsport policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the forthcoming consultative document on a national transport policy will include reference to the bicycle.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take action to deal with situations where properties qualify for insulation grants under the Noise Insulation Regulations 1975, but landlords are unable or unwilling to contribute towards the total cost.

The grant payable for eligible properties under the Noise Insulation Regulations covers the full reasonable cost of carrying out the work, and the traffic area during the last five years was as follows:question of any contribution, whether by landlord or tenant, should not, therefore, arise. There is, in any case, always the option of having the work carried out directly by the appropriate highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which bodies he is consulting on the Transport Policy Document; and when he expects the document to be published.

The consultation document on transport policy will be published next month. During the consultation period we shall seek the views of a wide range of interested organisations and individuals, particularly the unions and management in the industries concerned, local authorities and consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what dates and by what stages the upper limit for loans under the option mortgage guarantee scheme have been raised to take account of inflation; and if he proposes a further rise in the near future.

The maximum house valuation for the option mortgage guarantee scheme has twice been raised since the scheme was introduced in 1968—from the initial £5,000 to £7,500 in 1971 and then to the present ceiling of £12,000 last year. I have no plans at present for increasing the limit further; but I will continue to keep the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities which have consulted his Department with a view to allowing a grand prix motor race to take place on the public highway; and what advice he has given.

The only such proposal was that of the Birmingham City Council contained in the recent West Midland County Council Bill. The Government's view on that proposal was indicated by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State, the Member for Widnes (Mr. Oakes), in the Second Reading debate 11th February 1976.—[Vol. 905, c. 541.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the position regarding the Tadcaster bypass; and if he will make a statement.

Tenders for this bypass were received on 9th March and are currently being evaluated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make known his decision on the route of the M25 between Egham and Maple Cross.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Dodsworth) on Wednesday 10th March 1976.—[Vol. 907, c. 226.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects work on the stretch of the M25 immediately south of Egham to be completed; and when he expects work on the M25 between Egham and Maple Cross to start.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Tonbridge and Mailing (Mr. Stanley) on 9th February 1976.—[Vol. 905, c. 97–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what percentage there has been a drop in housing orders in (a) the public and (b) the private sectors over the past six months.

There has been no drop in housing orders in the six months period ending December 1975 compared with the first six months of 1975. On the contrary, new housing orders in July to December 1975 in the public sector were provisionally estimated to be 5 per cent. higher and in the private sector 9 per cent. higher than in the previous six months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the Official Report the replies to parliamentary Questions on housing subsidies given by him to the hon. Member for Hornsey in a letter dated 25th February 1976.

The texts of the letter of 25th February and that of 15th March are given below.Department of the Environment2 Marsham StreetLondon SW1P 3EB01-212 7601Minister for Housing and Construction25 February 1976Dear Hugh,I am sorry not to have written to you earlier about your Parliamentary Questions asking:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what points relating to the London rate equalisation scheme for 1976–77 his Department made suggestions or proposals, by whatever means, to the London Boroughs Association before the Association conveyed its views to him.

Many points and options were discussed, by the Department and the London Boroughs' Association. These discussions extended over the period May 1975 to January 1976 commencing with a ministerial meeting and continuing with a series of official level meetings and many exchanges of letters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in what form the London Boroughs Association your Parliamentary Question in which you asked what was the average tax relief (including option mortgage subsidy) in England and Wales and in Great Britain per mortgagor: and per owner-occupier for 1973–74 and 1974–75 and what is the estimated subsidy in both cases for 1975–76.The relevant figures are:—conveyed to him views as to the London rate equalisation scheme for 1976–77, whether by letter, memorandum or other means; and what reasons were stated in the recommendation for (1) the making of any scheme, (2) the making of a scheme whereby all Inner London authorities paid and all Outer London authorities received, (3) the doubling of the Inner London surcharge and (4) the reduction in the special allocation to four Outer London authorities.

The proposals by the London Boroughs Association were conveyed by letter. The letter set out detailed proposals for the scale of the equalisation pool and the basis of its distribution between the outer boroughs. The recommendations in the letter were concerned with changes compared to the 1975–76 scheme. I provided my hon. Friend last week with a copy of the Association's letter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Layfield Report to be published.

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Dr. Marshall) on 12th March—[Vol. 907, c. 345]—I have now received the report. However, it is still too early to tell how long printing and publication will take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made with the review of housing finance; and when he expects to be in a position to announce his conclusions.

The review of housing finance is making satisfactory progress, and I expect to publish its conclusions in the late spring or early summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give details of the survey into the capacity of the brick industry which he referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 3rd December 1975; by whom this survey is being carried out; and when he expects it to be completed.

The survey was carried out by the Business Statistics Office on behalf of this Department. Preliminary results are expected to be published on Tuesday 16th March. More detailed results will be published in "Housing and Construction Statistics" as soon as they have been fully analysed.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the Central Electricity Generating Board on its power station closure programme.

The Central Electricity Generating Board's power station closure programme announced on 16th October 1975 was agreed by management and unions at national level. I have emphasised to the Chairman of the Board my concern that closures should continue to be dealt with sympathetically and decisions reached which meet our widest national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what is the average output of coal per manshift overall in the mining industry for the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively,(2) how many employees were recruited into the coal mining industry for the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively;(3) what was the total wastage of manpower in the coal mining industry for the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively;

This information was given in the February issue of "Energy Trends" published by my Department. Copies are available in the Library of the House, and I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the savings that will result from the improvement of thermal efficiency consistent with the technology available in coal equivalent.

I understand from the CEGB that at current demand levels it is estimated that an increase of 0·1 per cent. in the thermal efficiency of fossil-fired plant results in a saving of 0·3 million tons of coal equivalent per annum or £5 million per annum. In 1974–75 the Board's conventional power stations achieved a record thermal efficiency of 30·6 per cent. compared with 29·78 per cent. in 1973–74. This improvement brought about a reduction in fuel consumption of 2·25 million tons of coal equivalent and represented a saving of £28 million in the Board's fuel bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what improvements have been made in overall thermal efficiency of coal-fired power stations.

I understand from the CEGB that the improvements in the thermal efficiency of their plant are due to technological advances and economies of scale. The average thermal efficiency of fossil-fired plant of 60 MW capacity or similar—i.e., plant installed and being installed at the time of nationalisation—is currently of the order of 21·7 per cent. The thermal efficiencies of plant of a larger size, installed since 1947 are currently:

Unit size	Thermal efficiency
MW	per cent.
100–120	25·84
120–500	30·88
500–660	33·67

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the amount of coal needed to meet present demand, assuming thermal efficiency at the 1933 level.

The CEGB advises us that if the electricity produced by the CEGB's conventional plant in 1974–75 had been generated at the 1933 thermal efficiency

					Proportion of total sales (per cent.)
				Total sales (GWh)	Iron and Steel Industry	Other industries	Domestic
1970	…	…	…	197,751	61	34·2	39·0
1971	…	…	…	203,433	5·3	34·1	393·7
1972	…	…	…	210,417	51	32·8	41·3
1973	…	…	…	225,267	5·2	33·4	40·5
1974	…	…	…	218,335	5·2	32·5	42·4
1975*	…	…	…	218,432	5·1	32·5	40·9
*Provisional figures, including an estimate for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what are the present stocks of oil held in Great Britain and the estimated days' supply;(2) what are the present stocks of oil held in Great Britain for inland consumption and the estimated days' supply.

It is not possible accurately to distinguish in advance between deliveries for inland consumption and those for other purposes. Complete details of oil stocks held other than by oil companies are not available. Stocks of oil held by oil companies in the United Kingdom are published in "Energy Trends", available in the Library of the House. Separate figures for Great Britain are not readily available. The latest provisional figures, relating to end-February, which will be published in the March issue, are 21 million metric tonnes with an estimated endurance of 91 days. value of 17·5 per cent. the amount of fuel required would have been about 160 million tons of coal equivalent instead of an actual burn of 91·3 million tons of coal equivalent.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total amount of sales of electricity by the public supply system for the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively; and what proportion has been used by the iron and steel industry, other industries and in the domestic sector over the same period.

Sales of electricity by the public supply system are published in Table 14 of Energy Trends available in the Library of the House. The following table shows total sales for the years 1970–75 and the proportions of these sales to the sectors concerned:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what are the present stocks of oil held at power stations in the United Kingdom and the estimated days supply;(2) what are the present stocks of fuel oil held at main oil-burning power stations in Great Britain and the estimated days' supply.

Information on total oil stocks held at public supply power stations in the United Kingdom is not readily available. For Great Britain, the stocks of fuel oil held at main oil burning station, i.e. the bulk of the oil stocks held, are published in Table 17 of the Department of Energy's publication "Energy Trends", copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The latest figure, which will be published in the March issue of "Energy Trends", relates to the end of February when the stocks held were 0·96 million tons. Because of the Boards' integrated system and the flexibility this gives for switching generation between coal and oil stations, to give the number of days consumption of oil in stock would be misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total of crude oil imports in 1975; and how this compares with the imports in 1974.

Imports of crude oil, including process oils, in 1974 and 1975 were 111·5 and 87·3 million tons respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the financial value of the coal that is at present held in stocks.

The value of current total recorded coal stocks is estimated to be approximately £520 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps are being taken by EEC countries to import and thereby reduce the surplus stocked coal in Great Britain.

Because of the world economic situation coal stocks have for some time been at high levels in most European countries. But we exported just under 2 million tons to the EEC countries in 1975, a figure that compares well with exports in previous years. The National Coal Board is currently making every effort to secure new sales for the

Field			Type		Platform Contractors		Yard/Site		Installation
Brent D	…	…	Concrete	…	Ellefsen/Aker/Selmer	…	Stavanger	…	1976
Claymore	…	…	Steel	…	U.I.E	…	Cherbourg	…	1976
Dunlin	…	…	Concrete	…	ANDOC	…	Rotterdam	…	1977

The orders for the two concrete platforms were placed before the United Kingdom established adequate capacity to produce this type of platform. The steel platform was ordered in 1974 when United Kingdom capacity was stretched with orders already in hand. At the time that the steel platform was ordered two similar orders were placed in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many oil production platforms have so far been located in British North Sea oilfields.

Ten, as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the financial value of the coke that is at present held in stocks.

The value of current total recorded coke stocks—held by National Smokeless Fuels Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Coal Board, and by the British Steel Corporation—is estimated to be between £70 million and £80 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what price rise for coal is expected in March; and by how much such increase in price of coal would add to the Central Electricity Generating Board's fuel bill.

The National Coal Board has increased the price of industrial coal by about 15 per cent. This will add about £150 million to the Central Electricity Generating Board's annual fuel bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many North Sea oil production platforms are currently on order from foreign sources.

Three, as follows:

Field	Type	Installation date
Argyll	Converted Drilling Rig.	March 1975
Auk	Steel	July 1974
Beryl	Concrete	July 1975
Brent B	Concrete	August 1975
Forties FA	Steel	July 1974
Forties FB	Steel	June 1975
Forties. FC	Steel	August 1974
Forties FD	Steel	June 1975
Montrose	Steel	August 1975
Piper	Steel	June 1975

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many oil production platforms are under construction or on order at each of the following platform production sites: Lock Kishorn, Ardyne Point, Portavadie, Hunterston, Nigg Bay, Ardersier, Methil and Graythorpe;(2) how many oil production platforms are now under construction in the United

Field		Type		Platform Contractors		YardlSite		Installation
Brent A	…	Steel	…	RDL	…	Methil	…	1976
Brent C	…	Concrete.	…	McAlpine/Seatank	…	Ardyne Point	…	1977
Cormorant	…	Concrete	…	McAlpine/Seatank	…	Ardyne Point	…	1977
Heather	…	Steel	…	McDermott	…	Ardersier	…	1977
Ninian (Central)	…	Concrete	…	Howard/Doris	…	Loch Kishorn	…	1977
Ninian (Southern)	…	Steel	…	Highland Fabricators	…	Nigg Bay	…	1977
Thistle	…	. Steel	…	Laing Offshore	…	Graythorpe	…	1976

No orders have yet been received by the platform contractors at Portavadie or Hunterston.The platforms already installed and under construction will meet the current developments by the operators but I am in discussion with them about future orders.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will take action to prevent the importation of foreign-built oil production platforms into British North Sea oilfields.

The Government have no power to prevent the oil companies from importing foreign-made oil production platforms and it would be contrary to our international obligations to introduce legislation to this effect. However, as a result of steps taken by the Government the United Kingdom now has the capacity to build all the steel and concrete non-buoyant oil production platforms likely to be ordered in the future by the oil companies for the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea and we would naturally hope that all these orders will be placed with British yards. The Government have recently concluded a memorandum of understanding and code of practice with the oil companies which provide for full and fair opportunity for British companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much has so far been paid in the form of grants and loans in respect of their North Sea operations to each of the oil companies now operating in the North Sea.

Nearly £900,000 has so far been paid in all to offshore operators under the scheme which provides interest relief grants on the provisions of United Kingdom goods and Kingdom; and if he is satisfied that the current construction programme meets the oil development requirements of the United Kingdom.

Seven oil production platforms are currently under construction in the United Kingdom, as follows:services for fixed installations on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. Individual figures for each operator are commercially confidential.In addition regional development grants under the Industry Act 1972 have been made to oil companies by the Department of Industry but it is not possible to determine the extent to which any of these may have assisted the oil companies' North Sea operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) when he expects the next planning agreement to be concluded with a company engaged in North Sea oil operations;(2) how many planning agreements have been entered into by oil companies operating in the North Sea.

There are no immediate plans to enter into planning agreements covering North Sea oil operations. Under the terms of licences my right hon. Friend has powers of control over all important aspects of operations, including field development and production.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he is taking to limit coal imports.

We are discussing future coal imports with the coal and electricity industries in the context of the joint consultations my right hon. Friend established between them. The CEGB recently decided not to take up options to import 1½ million tons of coal in 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent coal burn is being increased.

As stated in my Department's issue of "Energy Trends" for February, coal consumption by the electricity industry was 11 per cent. higher in 1975 than in the previous year. At the meeting with the coal and electricity industries on 20th February proposals for increasing coal-burn further were made and these are being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many power stations are being converted from (a) gas to coal, (b) oil to coal, and (c) how many oil-fired power stations are to be dual-firing.

No power stations are yet being converted from gas to coal or from oil to coal. I understand from the CEGB that work to make two 500 MW units of the dual-fired power station at Kings-north capable of burning coal will be put in hand this year and is expected to be completed by the winter of 1977–78. None of the oil-fired power stations under construction for the CEGB was designed for dual-firing. We are examining the conversion possibilities with the CEGB and the NCB following the meeting between the coal and electricity industries on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made towards the construction of new coal-fired power stations.

The timing of future orders is still uncertain but, as I told my hon. Friend on 1st December—[Official Report, Vol. 901, c. 424]—the claims of coal will be given the fullest consideration when the time comes to order a new station.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has any pro- posals to continue the miners' redundancy earnings-related scheme which would otherwise conclude in May 1976.

My right hon. Friend hopes to lay the necessary extension order shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce proposals to set up in the near future a Scottish statistical office where all returns relating to economic activity in Scotland, at present sent to the Business Statistical Office, could be kept.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what work is presently being done to show statistically what foreign and English direct investment by manufacturing industries is being carried out in Scotland.

The Summary Volume of the 1971 Census of Production, to be published about the middle of the year, will contain information on capital expenditure in Scotland and in other parts of the United Kingdom by enterprises registered outside the United Kingdom. Similar information will become available for alternate subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the "Census of Production" output figures for Clydeside and other Scottish conurbations for 1963 to the latest date for which figures are available.

The net output of all manufacturing industries in the central Clydeside conurbation increased from £388 million in 1963 to £514 million in 1968, an increase of 32 per cent. This compared with an increase over the same period in Scotland of 42 per cent., and in the United Kingdom of 41 per cent. Central Clydeside is the only urban area in Scotland defined as a conurbation.Full censuses of production were carried out in 1963 and 1968; but output figures for conurbations have become progressively less reliable with the concentration of industry into large units, and there are no plans to produce such statistics from the more limited annual censuses of production conducted since 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the value at 1975 survey prices of total public expenditure in Scotland planned in the White Paper Public Expenditure to 1977–78 (Command Paper No. 5519) for 1976–77 and 1977–78, respectively, for each of the following sectors: trunk road construction, trunk road maintenance, local authority road construction, local authority road maintenance, local authority public transport investment, and local authority passenger transport subsidies.

The details of the December 1973 White Paper figures updated to 1975 survey prices are:

£m.
	1976–77	1977–78
Motorways and trunk roads
New construction and improvement	57·5	57·5
Maintenance	8·3	8·8
Local Transport
Local authority road construction	66·5	70·1
Local authority road maintenance	48·5	52·9
Local authority public transport investment	61	7·7
Local authority public transport subsidies	2·0	2·0

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland approximately how many dwellings or properties are currently owned by local authorities or new town authorities in Scotland, having been purchased from the private sector and still awaiting rehabilitation; and what information is in the possession of central Government on the numbers owned by each authority.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crimes and offences, respectively, were made known to the police in 1975; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years.

The provisional numbers of crimes and offences made known to the police in 1975 are 232,482 and 344,354 respectively. No exactly comparable figures are available for the previous 10 years owing to a change in recording practices. The recorded numbers of crimes and offences made known to the police for the period are set out in the table below.

			Crimes	Offences
1965	…	…	140,141	224,260
1966	…	…	147,749	241,511
1967	…	…	153,213	249,217
1968	…	…	152,242	244,151
1969	…	…	155,970	254,128
1970	…	…	167,223	263,813
1971	…	…	180,723	286,304
1972	…	…	178,384	302,843
1973	…	…	168,015	337,684
1974	…	…	192,233	346,558

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on criminal statistics.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 9th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Cook).—[Vol. 907, c. 214.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were convicted of murder, culpable homicide and attempted murder, respectively, in 1975; and by what percentage these figures exceed or are less than the comparable figures 10, 15 and 20 years previously, respectively.

The figures for persons convicted or crime in 1975 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many school meals were served to primary and secondary schoolchildren, respectively, at the most recent date for which figures, are available; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous 10 years;(2) what percentage of primary and secondary children, respectively, took school meals at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years;(3) how many primary and secondary schoolchildren, respectively, were provided

EDUCATION AUTHORITY GRANT-AIDED SCHOOLS
Totals in thousands
		1965	1966	1967	1968	1969	1970
Pupils taking meals	…	334·7	331·5	388·9	379·5	404·5	376·3
Percentage taking meals	…	41·7	44·4	47·1	48·6	47·2	44·1
Pupils receiving free meals	…	65·0	57·4	65·1	65·0	139·7	96·0

Totals in thousands
		1971	1972	1973		1974	1975
Pupils taking meals	…	362·9	363·0	394·1		430·8	468·6
Percentage taking meals	…	41·2	41·8	43·9		46·1	50·0
Pupils receiving free meals	…	97·5	143·8	137·3		130·4	122·0

Comprehensive information as to the division between primary and secondary pupils is not available. It is estimated that in 1975 the proportion of primary to secondary pupils taking meals was about 5:2, and the relative percentages were 54 of primary pupils present, and 40 of secondary pupils present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what consultations he has had with his EEC counterparts concerning the European Court of Justice decision that export credits fall within the competence of the EEC Commission.

The matter is being considered by officials. I shall consult the other members of the Community as the need and occasion arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what steps he is taking to encourage a unified system of export credit within the EEC; and if he will make a statement.

The harmonisation of export credit facilities has been the subject of continuing discussion within the Community. Since accession, the United Kingdom has played a constructive part in those discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a with free school meals at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous 10 years.

The information available is as follows:statement about the import of electric motors from Eastern Europe.

Imports of electric motors from Eastern Europe fell in 1975 by 20·6 per cent. compared with 1974. This represents 1·38 per cent. of total United Kingdom imports, in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the total value in pounds sterling of United Kingdom direct exports of machine tools to the other member States of the EEC in 1975, and the total value of imports of the same category from those countries in the same period.

Exports were £32 million fob and imports £61 million cif.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will take steps to require companies to state in their annual reports the number of registered disabled employed.

I am considering this possibility in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. Employers are, of course, already required to keep a record of the numbers of disabled persons employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the reasons for Her Majesty's Government's acceptance of the recommendations of the Steering Committee on Pilotage.

The Government's policy statement on marine pilotage of 11th December last explains the grounds for our acceptance of the main recommendations of the Steering Committee on Pilotage which were unanimous. Briefly, it is believed that the proposals provide a sensible and practical basis for advances in the organisation and safety of pilotage in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he is planning to introduce any further legislation in the present Session to amend company law.