asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a further statement on the dispersal of Civil Service jobs to the Glasgow area in the light of the decision to abandon the proposal to transfer 2,000 defence jobs at Woolwich to Scotland.

I have been asked to reply.As already announced, the initial plan is for the St. Enoch's Station site, Glasgow to house 4,500 Ministry of Defence posts. Further consideration is being given to the composition and location of the balance of Ministry of Defence posts for dispersal to Scotland.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service which Departments are to be dispersed to Merseyside; when this is likely to be accomplished; how many jobs have to be dispersed in each case; and how many of these will be filled from local recruitment.

For details of Civil Service departments and numbers of posts to be dispersed to Merseyside, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. McGuire) on 8th March—[Vol. 907, col.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether prisoners are allowed to have in their possession literature published by the organisation Radical Alternatives to Prison.

Yes, in limited amounts; unless it is unsolicited or prejudicial to good order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people born in Scotland are currently resident in England and registered as electors there;(2) how many people born in Wales are currently resident in England and registered as electors there;(3) how many people born outside Scotland to parents, one or both of whom were of Scots birth, are currently resident in England and registered as electors there;(4) how many people born outside Wales to parents, one or both of whom were of Welsh birth, are currently resident in England and registered as electors there;(5) how many people born in England are currently resident in Wales and registered as electors there;(6) how many people born in Scotland are currently resident in Wales and registered as electors there;(7) how many people born outside England to parents, one or both of whom were of English birth, are currently resident in Wales and registered as electors there;

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in 1974 and 1975 people were imprisoned without having been legally represented (a) before conviction and (b) before sentence.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will define the limits of political speeches by public servants responsible to him.

Civil servants are bound by the Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code, which, for certain grades, restricts the right to make public comment on matters of national political controversy. There is a well-established convention that other senior public servants observe a proper discretion in these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a list of those bodies, other than committees, to which he appoints members other than civil servants; and what is the number of members serving on each body.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases are currently being treated by the service of artificial insemination by donors started in Edinburgh on 1st January 1976; and what steps he intends to take to publicise the existence of such a service.

This is a pilot scheme under which nine couples are at present receiving treatment. The Lothian Health Board is able to provide information on the subject to any general practitioners who seek advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make arrangements to enable all political parties in Scotland to hold discussions with Civil Service representatives in the Scottish Office about the optimum relationship between the Scottish Office and the Scottish Assembly, when that Assembly is established.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people, currently resident in England and Wales, respectively, are likely to take up residence in Scotland during the period 1976 to 1985.

There are so many uncertainties about population movement, especially in the future, that it is not possible to make any useful estimate of the kind sought.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many people born in England are currently resident in Scotland and registered as electors there;(2) how many people born in Wales are currently resident in Scotland and registered as electors there;(3) how many people born outside England to parents, one or both of whom were of English birth, are currently resident in Scotland and registered as electors there;(4) how many people born outside Wales to parents, one or both of whom were of Welsh birth, are currently resident in Scotland and registered as electors there.

I regret that the information is not available. At the census of 1971 there were resident at the place of enumeration in Scotland 250,395 persons of all ages who were born in England and 10,780 who were born in Wales; but it is not known how many of these were registered as electors.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking about relations with Chile in the light of the Sheila Cassidy case; and if he will make a statement.

The Government took firm action, including the withdrawal of Her Majesty's Ambassador, in protest against the ill-treatment of Dr. Cassidy and made clear that they regarded the Chilean Government's response as unsatisfactory and unconvincing. We brought Dr. Cassidy's evidence to the attention of the appropriate United Nations body. The Government unequivocally condemn the Junta's disrespect for human rights and will continue to seek ways of making their views effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now initiate moves in conjunction with the French Government to fill the vacancy in the office of President of the Condominium Joint Court of the New Hebrides.

No. Satisfactory arrangements were concluded by Exchange of Notes dated 24th November and 5th December 1939 for the British and French judges to share the presidency of the Joint Court.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on his policy towards paragraph 28 of the Food Additives and Contaminates Committee Report of 1974, recommending that BHA or BHT, or any mixture of them, should be permitted into potato powder, flakes and granules at up to 25 mg/kg;(2) if the presence of BHA or BHT antioxidants is a factor restricting the import of dehydrated potato to supplement the supply of unprocessed potatoes.

My right hon. Friends, the Minister, and the Secretary of State for Social Services, are considering the recommendations made by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee in the light of representations received on its report and we hope to announce our intentions in the near future. We are not aware that imports of dehydrated potato are being inhibited by the present prohibition on the presence of BHA or BHT in them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the retail price of a pint of milk for the years 1960 to 1976.

The maximum retail prices of a pint of ordinary pasteurised milk in the United Kingdom between 1960 and 1976 are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will cause to be printed on dog licences a warning as to the potential hazards of the disease toxicara canis.

The case for a warning of this kind will be considered in the light of the forthcoming report of the inter-departmental working party on dogs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give a list of his tenanted farms in respect of which no exemption is intended from the new clauses of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

The information requested is as follows:

• Estates (showing the number of tenanted farms)
• Andover (Hants), 14 farms.
• Frodsham (Cheshire), 34 farms.
• Laxton (Notts), 21 farms.
• Peacehaven (Sussex), 5 farms.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will invite school leavers to participate in the decision making process of the action committees of the job creation programme.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he will take to alleviate the problem of redundant job creation programme employees at the conclusion of their period of JCP work.

The Manpower Services Commission will do everything possible through its own services and with the help of the Careers Service to assist employees under the job creation programme to find appropriate training or employment after the project on which they are employed has ended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the rates of pay for a 21-year-old employed under the community industry scheme and the job creation programme; and whether there is a different rate for the same job under the two schemes.

The two programmes have defferent objectives and pay on a different basis.No 21-year-olds are employed under the community industry scheme.I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that employees under the job creation programme typically receive the local authority rate for the job. For unskilled manual workers aged 18 or above, this is £36·80 per week.Before the local authority rates were increased in November 1975 the rate for the job under the community industry scheme was about 95 per cent. of the local authority rate for 16–17-year olds, 80 per cent. of the rate for 18-year-olds and 90 per cent. of the rate for those aged 19 and above, the actual rates being £18·80 for 16-year-olds, £20·95 for 17-year-olds, £24·30 for 18-year-olds and £27·35 for 19-year-olds. These rates are shortly to be reviewed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many projects have been recommended for approval by the Merseyside Action Committee under the job creation programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that up to 12th March 107 projects had been approved in Merseyside.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the applications submitted to the Merseyside Action Committee of the job creation programme were sponsored by (a) local authorities' public bodies, (b) voluntary bodies and (c) individuals.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that up to 15th March 206 applications had been submitted to the Merseyside area office, of which 123 were from local authorities or other public bodies; 77 were from voluntary organisations; and six were from private firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what conditions are imposed upon applicants submitting proposals of work for the job creation programme.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the guidelines for the programme are as follows.Projects should provide suitable work for those the project is intended to help; be work which would not otherwise be

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will set out in the Official Report the names and positions of those making up the action committees of the job creation programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when each job creation action committee was established; and what was the date upon which each committee approved its first project.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as follows:

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many jobs have been created since the announcement of the jobs creation programme to date; and how many of these jobs have started.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, up to 12th March, 1,156 projects had been approved, providing 13,995 jobs. Of these, 591 projects, involving 8,124 jobs, had started.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list every project that has been submitted to the Merseyside Action Committee since the inception of the job creation programme, detailing the sponsor, number of jobs involved and the decision reached for each project.

I am arranging for the information to be collected and will reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances relatives of members of Her Majesty's Armed Services are granted free travel facilities on compassionate grounds; and how many such cases there were in each of the last five years.

The wife of a Service officer or Service man stationed overseas may be allowed free travel to the United Kingdom if her child, or her parent or legal guardian, is very seriously ill in the United Kingdom, or dies. Free travel may be granted to not more than two relatives of a Service officer or Service man who is very seriously ill or dies in the United Kingdom or abroad. These arrangements are subject to certain qualifying conditions and detailed regulations. Comprehensive statistics of cases of compassionate travel are not maintained and could not be provided without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, having regard to the scale of distribution laid down for pay- ment to Army bands for recording sessions, if he is satisfied that in the case of the Horse of the Year LP, recorded by the Band of Her Majesty's Life Guards, whether the amount distributed to (a) the 35 bandsmen was approximately £1,100 or £31·42 each, (b) the band and regimental fund approximately £157 and (c) the Director of Music (i) fee for conducting approximately £75 and (ii) percentage of musician's fees approximately £315, being a total fee of £390, was in accordance with the scale laid down.

The fees charged by the Band of Her Majesty's Life Guards for the Horse of the Year LP were composed under Musician Union rates, and after the deduction of expenses were distributed strictly in accordance with the scale laid down.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place a further shipbuilding order with Vosper Thornycroft in Southampton.

An order has been placed today with Vosper Thornycroft for the construction of the Royal Navy's eighth Type 42 destroyer.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the consumption of natural gas in the United Kingdom during each of the last five years; and what is the projected consumption during each of the next five years;(2) what proportion of overall energy consumption in the United Kingdom was provided by nuclear power during each of the last five years; and what is the projected proportion during each of the next five years.

The consumption of gas and the consumption of nuclear electricity on a primary fuel input basis are given in Table 1 of the Department of Energy's publication "Energy Trends", a copy of which is available from the Library of the House. The Department of Energy's evidence to the Select Committee on Science and Technology (Energy Resources Sub Committee) published in a House of Commons paper (155-viii), which is also available from the House of Commons Library, gave forecasts of both gas and electricity consumption in the United Kingdom in 1980. Nuclear electricity's share of overall primary energy consumption is shown to rise from 3½ per cent. in 1975 to about 6½ per cent. in 1980. Forecasts of the consumption of gas and nuclear electricity in each of the next five years are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what were the proved and probable natural gas reserves of the United Kingdom during each of the last five years.

Figures for 1972, 1973, and 1974 have already been given in the annual reports to Parliament, commonly referred to as the Department of Energy "Brown Books". The figure for 1975 will be similarly reported.For the earlier years figures are given in the Department of Energy Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics 1975, but these are not comparable as they also include "possible" reserves.For convenience the remaining reserves are given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is now being conducted into retinitis pigmentosa; and if he will list in the Official Report the projects now at work on research into eyesight.

The Medical Research Council's Clinical and Population Cytogenetics Unit in Edinburgh and Human Biochemical Genetics Unit in London have recently begun a study of some aspects of the genetics of the rare condition of retinitis pigmentosa. Other work in such fields as neurochemistry, visual physiology and cell biology may in the long term be relevant. The numerous research projects into eyesight are listed on pages 593–602 of the 1974–75 edition of "Scientific Research in British Universities and Colleges, Volume II, Biological Sciences", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is yet in a position to publish the report of the inquiry into Fircroft College, Birmingham.

I regret that I am unable to add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Mr. Litterick) on 18th December—[Vol. 902, c. 768].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of paying 9 per cent. interest on moneys to be repaid by the Inland Revenue in the period from 1st April 1974 to the most recent practicable date.

I regret that this informaton is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are employed in the Inland Revenue on management by objectives.

12.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show for the latest year for which figures are available: (a) the total cost of tax refunds to recipients of short-term social security benefits including supplementary benefit, and (b) the total notional loss to the Exchequer incurred through non-taxation of these benefits.

In answer to the first part of his queston I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 3rd February—[Vol. 904, c. 531].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who, apart from the 70 organisations he referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Croydon, Central, on Wednesday 3rd March, received the other 195 copies of the confidental final revise of Command Paper No. 6393, Public Expenditure to 1979–80.

Further to my reply to the hon. Member on 3rd March, Confidential Final Revise copies of Command Paper No. 6393, Public Expenditure to 1979–80, were distributed to Press and broadcasting organisations as follows:

103 copies to the organisations listed in my reply to the hon. Member on 3rd March;

81 copies to Lobby correspondents and to accredited overseas correspondents in the Press Gallery;

80 copies to journalists attending the Chancellor of the Exchequer's embargoed Press conference.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show for a single person, for a married couple, and for a married couple with one, two, three and four children, the value of tax refunds during sickness or unemployment and the number of weeks during which these refunds will continue, assuming that eligibility to benefit commences in week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 of the tax year, and that normal earnings in each set of family circumstances were £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55, £60, £65, £70 and £75.

I regret that this information cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in respect of discussions regarding the financial circumstances of persons with fuel debts under the agreement between the Supplementary Benefits Commission and the fuel boards on fuel debts and disconnection, she is satisfied that the staff of the fuel boards will be bound by the same rules of confidentiality as the Commission's staff.

The financial circumstances of beneficiaries with fuel debts will not be the subject of discussion between Supplementary Benefits Commission officials and the fuel boards. The agreement will enable the Commission to make payments direct to the fuel boards, by means of regular deductions from supplementary benefit, sufficient to cover the cost of current fuel consumption plus a sum—usually 50p a week—off the outstanding fuel bill. It will operate where supplementary benefit is in payment without the need to divulge individual financial circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long hospital waiting lists are in England at the present time, and how this compares with 1964; and what plans she has for reducing the period of delay before operations.

The number of patients on hospital in-patient waiting fists in all specialities in England was 471,403 on 31st December 1964 and 519,522 on 30th September 1975—the latest date for which national figures are available.Industrial disputes in the National Health Service over the last few years have added to the problem.My Department recently issued guidance to health authorities aimed at improving the management of waiting lists by recommending all areas to introduce good practice found helpful in some areas in reducing waiting times. The problem is, however, complex and my right hon. Friend has asked health authorities to examine the situation and report later this year. Where health authorities find that additional financial resources would be needed to reduce excessively long waiting times it may be difficult for them to make early improvements. However, the Government earmarked £5 million in 1975–76, and a similar sum in 1976–77, for small capital schemes intended to help authorities with this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will clarify the position of students who were in full-time employment prior to entering universities and colleges in regard to their right to claim unemployment benefits during vacations.

Any student can make a claim to unemployment benefit during vacations, and can receive benefit if he satisfies the contribution conditions and other relevant requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people, currently resident in Scotland and Wales, respectively, are likely to take up residence in England during the period 1976 to 1985;(2) how many people, currently resident in England and Scotland, respectively, are likely to take up residence in Wales during the period 1976 to 1985.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people drawing unemployment benefit at 31st December 1975 were better off financially when unemployed than when they were working; and what were the correspond-

There are so many uncertainties about population movement, especially in the future, that it is not possible to make any useful estimate of the kind sought.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her latest estimate of the cost of providing retirement pensions for men at the age of 60 years.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Cleveland and Whitby (Mr. Brittan) on 12th February.—[Vol. 905, c. 331–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people were denied benefit for up to six weeks in each of the years 1970 to 1975 (a) for leaving their jobs voluntarily (b) for refusing to take a suitable job when one was offered and (c) for refusing to undergo recommended training;(2) how many people had their unemployment benefit withheld in each of the years 1970 to 1975 for deliberately choosing to live on benefit rather than seeking work;(3) how many people lost unemployment benefit altogether in each of the years 1970 to 1975 on the grounds that they were not genuinely available for employment.

The information is not available in precisely the form requested by the hon. Member, but relevant information is given in the following table:ing numbers at the end of the preceding five years.

information is not available on which to base the comparisons for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increases in the national insurance contributions, employers' and employees', separately, will be required to allow for increases in all national insurance benefits from the National Insurance Fund, of 22½ per cent. in November 1976, giving the increases resulting from demographic changes separately; what the increase in the cost of the 18 per cent. Exchequer contribution to the National Insurance Fund will be; and what would be the additional cost to the Consolidated Fund of similar increases in non-contributory benefits.

The contributions needed for any given increase in benefit rates this year will depend in particular on the assumptions about future earnings movements and the appropriate increase in the earnings threshold and ceiling for contribution liability. These and other factors will be considered in the Government's review of contributions for 1977–78 later this year when a report by the Government Actuary will be made available to the House. The cost, on an annual basis of a 22½ per cent. increase in non-contributory benefits, would be about £300 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the next up-rating of national insurance benefits will be based on increases in earnings or prices.

Under the provisions of the Social Security Act 1975 short-term benefits must go up at least in line with prices, and pensions and other long-term benefits in line with earnings or prices, whichever gives the more advantageous result for beneficiaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what appointments have now been made to the development team for the mentally handicapped; and whether she will make a statement.

Dr. G. B. Simon, MB, ChB, FRC Psych, who is at present consultant psychiatrist at Lea and Lea Castle Hospitals near Kidderminster, has been appointed as director of the team. Dr. Simon is a member of the National Development Group for the Mentally Handicapped and also Director of the Institute of Mental Subnormality.Since the development team will be concerned with all services for mentally handicapped people whether provided by the National Health Service or by personal saocial service departments of local authorities, it is right that the management structure of the team should include an appropriately wide spread of professional interest.I therefore intend to appoint, to assist Dr. Simon, three associate directors. They will be Mr. T. H. Margetts, formerly Senior Nursing Officer, Church Hill House Hospital; Mr. Dudley Love, at present Director of Education, Solihull; and Miss E. M. Phillips, seconded from the Bristol office of the Social Work Service of my Department.I consulted widely on my proposal to establish a development team for mental handicap and on my intention that a main activity of the team would be to provide advice to NHS and local authorities on the future planning of services, operating in close contact with joint consultative committees. As a result, I have decided that the team should visit authorities only by their invitation and should always provide a written report, including any recommendations for service development, to the authority. The development team is a novel agency and I have, therefore, thought it right to agree to review its operation after 12 months' full activity. The team's method of operation will also be discussed with interested bodies after one or two exercises have been completed.Some review of long-stay children in mental handicap hospitals is necessary and we are considering the best way of covering this, to avoid overlap between the Hospital Advisory Service and the development team.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the policy changes the Government have in mind with regard to the issuing of pilotage certificates.

To restrict pilotage certificates to masters and chief officers, while enabling pilotage authorities to issue them to officers who demonstrate their familiarity with the port by examination. While a certificate holder would have to be fluent in the English language, there would be no automatic restriction to British subjects. Ships carrying officers with such certificates would meet a proportion of pilotage dues.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade, in view of the fact that in money terms Spain is now the United Kingdom's second largest supplier of footwear and that Spain's tariffs on British footwear range from 16 per cent. to 25 per cent., whether he will give an assurance that the present United Kingdom tariff concession will be withdrawn unless the Spanish Government reduce the rates against British footwear.

Pending the conclusion of a new trade agreement between the EEC and Spain the United Kingdom tariff on imports of most types of Spanish footwear has been kept at pre-Accession rates, which are in general slightly lower than third country rates. I can assure my hon. Friend that we are not prepared to continue indefinitely this or other tariff concessions without reciprocal concessions from Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will now make a statement on the latest situation concerning Concorde services to the United States of America.

In a joint statement issued in New York today British Airways and Air France announced that they intended to inaugurate commercial flights to Dulles Airport, Washington, on Monday 24th May. In the Government's view, this will secure the earliest possible introduction of commercial services to the USA in a manner consistent with Mr. Coleman's decision.The airlines also announced that they were seeking a declaratory judgment in the federal courts on their legal right to operate into New York, which has not been accepted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Their views on this matter are in accord with those of the British and French Governments, who recognise that, where there are differing interpretations of law, as in this case, it is in the interest of all parties that the issues should be speedily determined. The action the airlines have brought is for precisely this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will now make a statement following her discussions with the petrol companies.

I have now discussed with five of the major oil companies, and with the Motor Agents' Association, the possibility of arranging through voluntary co-operation that the net cash price of petrol is displayed at petrol stations in a way that is clearly visible to motorists on the road. I have been impressed by the willingness to help of those with whom I have spoken, and I believe there is now good reason to hope that the Director General of Fair Trading will achieve our aim of negotiating a voluntary code of practice in this matter. Meanwhile, I would recommend motorists to buy petrol only at stations where the price is clearly displayed.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she has yet received the first of the monthly reports requested from the Price Commission on distributors' margins in the potato trade; and if she will make a statement.

I have received the first of the Commission's reports and have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library. The report, which compares producer, wholesale and retail price levels, finds that they indicate little overall change in distributors' margins since last October in cash terms and a significant fall in percentage terms. This is welcome confirmation that the rise in potato prices is not being inflated by excessive margins in distribution. The shortfall in last year's harvest makes high prices inevitable, but consumer resistance is important in moderating them. I look forward to receiving further reports from the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many consumer advice centres are now open; how many more are planned; and how many staff are required to run these, at the latest date for which figures are available.

According to the latest information available to me, there are at present 75 consumer advice centres in operation with a total staff of about 250; 53 more with an estimated total staff of about 180 are planned. Of the total, 49 projects will be receiving grant under the consumer advice grant scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many civil servants were engaged at 1st January 1974, 1st January 1975 and 1st January 1976 in the Price Commission in the following activities: (a) checking prenotified price increases, (b) checking reported profit margins, (c) checking whether firms have achieved total sales on the home market which render them liable to report or prenotify and (d) checking whether firms not categorised are complying with the Price Code.

The numbers of staff engaged on the four activities mentioned were 376, 500 and 532 at the dates referred to. It is not possible to apportion their time between each activity.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many prosecutions there were in 1974 and 1975 for non-compliance with the Price Code.

None, since noncompliance with the Price Code is not a criminal offence. The Counter-Inflation Act confers certain powers on the Price Commission to ensure that the provisions of the code are implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what consideration she has given to raising the figures for total sales according to which firms are categorised under the Price Code in line with the increase in inflation since the code was introduced on 1st November 1973.

My right hon. Friend is considering this.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many firms in the various trading sectors came into each of the different categories established under the Price Code at its inception in November 1973, and subsequently in November 1974 and November 1975.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what was the cost in 1975 of operating the Price Code (a) to the Price Commission and (b) to prenotifying and reporting firms.

Separate figures for the Price Commission's costs of operating the Price Code are not available, but a total of £3·694 million has been provided for all the Commission's work in 1975–76. I have no information about the cost to firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many price increases were pre-notified to the Price Commission; and how many profit margins were reported in Categories I and II in 1974 and 1975 in each of the trading sectors.

Figures for calendar years are not available and could not be extracted without disproportionate expense. The figures for each year to the end of November are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future of direct rule in Northern Ireland in view of the collapse of the Convention.

I have nothing to add to my statement of 5th March.—[Vol. 906, c. 1715.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the average amount of security required by courts from those bound over to keep the peace during the present troubles; and in how many cases bail bonds have been forfeited.

The information requested could not be provided without disproportionate cost to public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what repre- sentations he has received from political organisations for the introduction of identity cards; and whether he will make a statement.

I have received representations for the introduction of identity cards in Northern Ireland from a number of organisations and individuals but, in view of the many practical problems involved, my security advisers do not consider that the introduction of such a scheme would be justified at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what use is currently being made of Hillsborough Castle.

Apartments in Hillsborough Castle are kept available for use by members of the Royal Family; investitures continue to be held there; and it is used for certain official meetings and conferences, and occasionally for the overnight accommodation of Ministers or distinguished official visitors. In addition, the house is permitted to be used from time to time for gatherings of welfare, charitable, cultural and similar organisations, and for visits of an educational nature.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will ensure that letters appointing high sheriffs are typed or written in a manner and on paper appropriate to a Royal communication; and whether he will follow the procedure obtaining in other parts of the United Kingdom.

I am looking into this matter, and a reply will be sent to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of persons employed by the Housing Executive in administration; what is the number employed directly by it for repairs, &c., carried out on its property; and what were the totals employed by the former housing authorities and the Northern Ireland Housing Trust in these respective aspects of housing.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the appointments to public bodies in Northern Ireland which are made by elected public representatives of the people in Northern Ireland; which of these he must approve; and what are the emoluments and allowances, &c., paid for each appointment;(2) if he will list the appointments to public bodies which are now within his gift, the appointments of which he must

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on the design of the Madams Bank Bridge, Londonderry; what actual works in relation to the bridge have been carried out to date; and at what cost.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present rate of monetary compensatory amounts payments on cattle and pigs in the Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland trade; and what is the difference in the value of the Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom green pounds.

From Monday 15th March 1976 monetary compensatory amount payments have been reintroduced on United Kingdom/Irish Republic trade in cattle and pigs. The rates which apply on cross-border trade are:

Expenditure on design costs at 27th February 1976 was £443,864. The only works carried out to date are two bore-hole contracts which are part of the site investigation. The cost of the first contract was £21,568; the accepted tender for the second contract was £78,000, of which £42,770 had been paid at 27th February 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been claimed by the Housing Executive from the Ministry of Defence in each of the last four years in respect of damage caused by the Army to Housing Executive property in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Craggan Estate in Londonderry.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the reduction in numbers of the work force employed on the railways in the period from 1955 to date.

346,412 in all. Some 26,600 of this total comprise staff who were transferred to the National Freight Corporation on 31st December 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a general direction to British Railways to collect and publish the necessary statistics to assess the performance and viability of individual railway lines.

No. In my view the Railways Board should be required to collect only the statistics which it considers are needed for the management of its business. However, separate calculations are made whenever the withdrawal of a particular passenger service is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated cost to public funds, including all grants, of British Rail's railway operations in each of the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

The net cash flow from central Government and local government to the British Railways Board was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total grant on British Rail's unremunerative passenger services in respect of what level of loss on such services as defined in the Transport Act 1968 for each of the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Grants to unremunerative passenger services under Section 39 of the Transport Act 1968 to cover the total operating deficits of these lines, as shown in the Board's published accounts, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated profit or loss before grant on British Rail's freight services for each of the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.

Under the current accounting conventions the loss in 1975 is expected to be £70 million. Estimates of profit or loss for earlier years cannot be made since costs were not allocated to the various sectors of the railway business on a comparable basis before the Railways Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what support he proposes for railway services for the year 1976–77.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Table 2.6 in the White Paper on Public Expenditure to 1979–80 (Cmnd. 6393).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a consultative document on transport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his proposed consultative document on rail and road policy will be published.

Next month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take account in his review of transport policy of the need to achieve better co-ordination between road and rail services.

The review has paid particular attention to the need for greater integration and co-ordination of transport, both at national and local level.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish a White Paper on transport.

I intend to issue a statement later this year when reactions to the consultative document on transport policy have been evaluated. I have not yet decided what form this statement will take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy towards the building of houses for sale by local councils' housing committees.

I hope that, in addition to fulfilling their primary duty to build for rent, councils will build for owner-occupation where they can help meet the demand for lower-cost houses for sale. They should consider, too, building for long lease to housing co-operatives and for shared equity schemes under the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now decided how to reimburse those local authorities which have been faced with additional and unforeseen expenditure as a result of the use of high alumina cement in the construction of public buildings.

We are considering whether part of total Exchequer grant to local authorities should be used to meet part of the cost in any particular area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in the light of the report of the Crown Estate Commissioners' estimate that from gross receivable rentals of £8 million per annum a loss of £1 million per annum was attributed to planning delays, if he will now seek to estimate the total loss similarly incurred throughout the United Kingdom; and what steps he has in mind to deal with the situation.