asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether it is the intention of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to sell off its stock of country cottages.

It was announced in the House last year that the Northern Ireland Housing Executive had been authorised to sell rural cottages in all areas of the Province. As a result, cottages are being sold both to sitting tenants who wish to purchase and, where the cottages are vacant, on the open market by public auction.—[Vol. 892, c. 640–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when his officials last held talks with the Provisional Sinn Fein; and what future meetings have been arranged.

As I have frequently said in the House, my officials will talk with any lawful organisation in Northern Ireland, although no negotiations have taken place, or will take place. I am not prepared to give details of meetings with individual organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many times from 1st January 1976 until 1st March 1976 he officially met the hon. Member for Belfast North; and how many times at his own request;(2) how many times from 1st January 1976 till 1st March 1976 he officially met the hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt); and how many times at his own request;(3) how many times from 1st January 1975 until 31st December 1975 he officially met the hon. Member for Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt); and how many times at his request;(4) how many times between 1st January 1975 and 31st December 1975 he officially met the hon. Member for North Belfast; and how many times at his own request.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Armagh (Mr. McCusker) on 19th February. Of course I also see and speak to the hon. Members for Belfast, North (Mr. Carson) and Belfast, West (Mr. Fitt) within the precincts of this House.—[Vol. 905, c. 800–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people who were former residents of Northern Ireland are now receiving a reduced pension because they no longer reside in the United Kingdom.

2,243.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, in view of the Government's policy to conserve energy, what steps he intends taking to permit cavity wall installation in Northern Ireland on the same basis as, and in parity, with the rest of the United Kingdom.

Steps have already been taken to relax the enforcement of the Building Regulations so as to permit cavity wall insulation whenever it is safe to do so, and an amendment of the Regulations is being considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the measures he is proposing to take to prevent the dumping of subsidised foreign fish.

A wide variety of factors could be responsible for the current state of the fish market and indeed in the early months of the year the firsthand prices of the main fish species almost always fall.On imports, my right hon. Friend has been in touch with M. Lardinois, who has promised the European Parliament that he will make early proposals for improving the reference price system. We are following this up.The Norwegian Government have recognised the unstable elements in the market and has raised price levels under its minimum export price arrangements by 8 per cent. to 10 per cent. This change will constitute a contribution towards market stability and we interpret this gesture as a helpful one which will be welcome to the United Kingdom industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the future of the cane sugar refining industry in light of his recent talks with representatives of management and employees in the industry.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 4th March.—[Vol. 906, c. 770.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many countries are banning the export of sheep from the United Kingdom on account of the prevalence of sheep scab.

None, though special arrangements have been worked out for sheep exports to the Benelux countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current incidence of sheep scab and the success of measures hitherto undertaken to combat it.

Since 1st July 1975 there have been 146 outbreaks of sheep scab, of which 55 have occurred since 1st January. Only eight have occurred so far in March. Although our measures are now beginning to bite, their full impact will not be felt until the autumn when compulsory dipping will be required throughout the whole of Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether all workers at Kent Country Nurseries Limited at Challock, Ashford, Kent are covered by the Agricultural Wage Board Orders.

This was not the case when my wages inspector last visited the premises in September 1975. At that time some workers were employed solely in the mail order part of the business or in the shop, and others were employed partly in horticulture and partly on mail order or shop work. Only a few were full-time on work clearly within the scope of the Agricultural Wages Board Orders.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates, respectively, the regulations proposed in EEC Document R/451/76 and 452/76 acquired the force of law in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the legal position of the two EEC documents R/451 /76 and R/452/76 relating to skimmed milk; and whether they have been adopted as regulations.

The regulation proposed in document R/ 452/76 on the compulsory purchase of skimmed milk powder for use in animal feed was agreed by the Council of Ministers, subject to certain amendments, on 6th March 1976, and was formally adopted on 15th March 1976.The arrangements set out in the regulations do not however come into operation until 1st April 1976 except for certain provisions relating to imports which come into operation on 19th March.The Council of Ministers agreed on 6th March that the regulation proposed in document R/451/76 on aids for the private storage of vegetable proteins should be adopted, subject to certain amendments and subject to the opinion of the European Parliament. As this has not yet been given the regulation has not yet been formally adopted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the 533 proposals submitted for development plans received in 1975 under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme were submitted from Lancashire; and how many applications from Lancaster were not approved.

Twenty-two proposals for development plans were received from applicants in Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester during 1975. All these were approved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the £960,401 payment under the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme since 1st January 1974 adequately represents the anticipated take-up; and, if not, what he proposes to do to increase the rate of applications.

Uptake of the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme has not been as high as originally expected. But as I told my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk on 11th March, subject to the approval of the House we propose to make the Scheme simpler and more attractive and to put substantial advisory effort behind it.—[Vol. 907, c. 290–1].

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals have so far had to be destroyed because of swine vesicular disease.

204,514 pigs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Scottish District Council of the National League of the Blind and Disabled of Great Britain and Ireland concerning the effects on services for the blind elderely and disabled of the proposals contained in Command Paper No. 6393 Public Expenditure to 1979–80; and what reply he has sent.

No representations as such have been made to me, but along with other hon. Members I received a copy of a Press statement released by the Scottish District Council of the League about the effects of the White Paper proposals. From inquiries I understand that the cuts in services to the blind referred to in the Press stataement were, in fact, simply options being considered by a particular regional council, none of which was adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the death rate from legal abortions in Scotland for each years from 1970 to the latest available date.

The death rates resulting from deaths classified to legal abortion in Scotland for each year from 1970 to 1975 are given in the following table. It is known that legal abortion was associated with a few deaths which were classified to other causes; these deaths are not included in the calculation of the rates.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce a Staffwatch System similar to that run by the Department of the Environment; and what other measures he has taken to prevent the unnecessary proliferation of local and national government officials.

A Joint Staff Watch System has now been set up, and the first returns of staff numbers will be collected in respect of the quarter ending 31st March. I have stressed in recent circulars to local authorities and on other occasions, the importance the Government attach to restricting the number employed in local government.Measures being taken in respect of central Government staff in my Departments were announced in the reply given to the hon. and learned Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn) on 12th November 1975.—[Vol. 899, cols.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of land held by Scottish local authorities specifically for housing and excluding already existing estates and land acquired for slum clearance purposes.

This information is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the future of the Mayor and the Charter Trustees in Andover, Hampshire; and what is his policy in this matter.

I have received representations expressing concern that if Test Valley District Council's petition for a charter conferring borough status is granted, Andover will lose its mayor and charter trustees. Borough charters are granted by the Queen on the advice of the Privy Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish a definitive map covering footpaths in North Bedfordshire.

Decisions on outstanding appeals have now been notified to the surveying authority, Bedfordshire County Council, which can, therefore, proceed to

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is available concerning the occasions when examiners have entered

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of the total value of all the assets belonging to British Rail.

The Board's accounts for 1974 contain the last balance sheet to be published before its capital liabilities were reduced in accordance with Section 1 of the Railways Act 1974. A reconstructed balance sheet and further information as to the position at 31st December 1975 will appear in the Board's accounts for 1975 now being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of freight in ton /miles is currently carried by road, rail and water transport, respectively, in Great Britain, Holland, West Germany and France.

Following are the figures for 1973, the latest year for which the information is available. Coastal shipping for France and West Germany has been excluded as comparable ton mileage data is not readily available, but it is estimated that the contributions to total ton mileage are no more than 2 per cent. and 1 per cent., respectively, in these countries. Inland water transport in Great Britain accounts for less than 0 ·58 of the total shown in column 4.premises where vehicles are sold, supplied or offered for sale or supplied in accordance with Section 61 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 so as to carry out inspection and testing of used vehicles for the purposes of ascertaining whether such vehicles are roadworthy as required by Section 60 of the Act, and concerning the outcome of such inspections; and if he will publish it.

No examinations have been carried out by examiners from this Department under these provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the proportion of the public sector housing stock which is suitable for single-person households.

In England and Wales it is estimated that 15 per cent. of the total stock of dwellings owned by local authorities and new towns have one bedroom. This includes dwellings specifically designed for occupation by the elderly which may not be suitable for general use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the proportion of the public sector housing stock which is specially designed to accommodate disabled persons.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 4th February 1976.—[Vol. 904. c. 656.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals for changing the status of the British Waterways Board.

The consultation document on the review of the water industry, published today, puts forward for discussion the proposal that the British Waterways Board should be merged with the new National Water Authority, which would then become the basis of a national inland navigation authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he made it clear to garages carrying out MOT tests that the advice about methods for checking rust has no force in law.

It is a condition of the appointment of authorised examiners that they test the specified items in the prescribed manner; failure to do so would lead to a withdrawal of their authorisation. The MOT test is concerned with rust that affects a vehicle's steering or brakes; in such a case examiners are required to follow my right hon. Friend's advice on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether it is his policy that the maintenance and testing standards applied to public service vehicles should correspond broadly to those applied to heavy goods vehicles.

A wider range of maintenance and testing requirements is applied to public service vehicles because they carry passengers; but where there is a common requirement the standards for both classes of vehicle are broadly the same.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research has been carried out by his Department on the incidence of rust affecting vehicles of varying ages and into the methods of detecting rust.

The Department's research on rust has been directed towards its reduction and prevention, rather than towards its detection or the measurement of its incidence. The Transport and Road Research Laboratory has examined possible methods of improving the corrosion resistance of vehicles; and the effects of salt used in winter maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the effect on bus fares of the reduction in annual passenger transport subsidies from £134·7 million in 1975–76 to £60 million by 1978–79, as suggested in the Public Expenditure White Paper of February 1976.

If the possibility of offsetting cost savings and increases in fares arising from other changes in costs and revenue is left out of account, an average increase in fares in real terms of around 15 per cent. over the period might result from the reduction in subsidies suggested in the Public Expenditure White Paper. But the movement of fares in particular places will depend on such factors as local changes in patronage and unit costs as well as on any changes in the distribution of subsidy between local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria have been applied to establish the rateable value of leisure caravans in the United Kingdom.

The rateable values of leisure caravans are assessed in accordance with the provisions relating to the rateable value of hereditaments in general, as interpreted by the courts in relation to caravans.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what restrictions there are on rate rebates being implemented where the property occupied is part of a co-ownership housing association scheme.

There are no restrictions on eligibility for rate rebates for occupiers of property in co-ownership housing schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list in the Official Report the number of compulsory purchase orders for back-to-back houses which have been confirmed by his Department for the North-East Region of England in the past 12 months.

This information is not readily available, as no separate record is kept of orders which include back-to-back houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total valuations of rateable value in each of the London rating authorities; and what is the breakdown between domestic property and non-domestic property on the latest convenient date.

The rateable values of London authorities on 1st April 1975 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation which will provide for increased penalties for the ratepayers who fail to pay their rate demands within a stipulated period.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost at the latest available date of all judicial proceedings concerned with the late payment of rates.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation which will enable local authorities to grant discounts to ratepayers who pay their rate demand within a stipulated period.

Such legislation already exists in Sections 51 and 54 of the General Rate Act 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made towards finding a headquarters office for the Property Services Agency on Teesside.

With the help and cooperation of the local authorities a number of possible sites have been considered. Further studies are now being put in hand. Meantime we are seeking the views of the Departmental Staff Side.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the computerised housing system contract awarded by his Department to Logica Limited.

It is not the general practice to publish prices quoted in competitive tendering for research projects, because of commercial confidentiality and the fact that the price is not the only consideration in assessing value for money in such contracts. I shall be writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will use his statutory powers to revoke the planning permission given to Watts Blake & Bearne in view of the national importance of the Shaugh Moor area.

The matter is one for the Devon County Council, which has it under consideration, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to remove the decision from that authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will ensure that, when he appoints a successor to Sir Richard Marsh as Chairman of British Rail, the appointee should have a knowledge of the railway industry and be a long-standing member of the Labour Party sympathetic to the social content of public ownership.

I shall take account of all relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the amounts of council house subsidies at 1975 Survey Prices for each year 1970 to 1976, inclusive; and what is his estimate for the years 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79 and 1979–80.

The estimated total cost of all subsidies, excluding rent rebates and allowances to public housing in England are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the consultation document on the review of the water industry will be published.

The consultative document initiating a full review of the water industry is being published today. Copies of the document are available in the Vote Office, and the Department will be sending copies to the water authorities, to local authorities and their associations, and a wide range of other interested bodies. Copies of the document will also be available on demand from my Department for other organisations or individuals who would like to consider and comment on the issues involved. I am anxious to encourage wide public debate on the proposals, and the consultation period will therefore extend until the end of July. The Government's final decisions will, I hope, be announced in the autumn.The consultation document focuses on two major issues—the general structure of the industry, and the charging policies it should follow. On the former, we propose a strengthening of the National Water Council in the form of the establishment of a National Water Authority, with increased powers and functions relating to the planning and execution of a national strategy for water. The broad structure of the industry, and in particular the independent status of the regional water authorities, would however remain largely unaltered. As part of the strengthening of the centre, the document also suggests the possible merger of the British Waterways Board with the proposed National Water Authority in order to form the nucleus of a National Navigation Authority. Detailed and separate consultations on this matter will begin immediately.On charging policy, the Government propose to introduce a measure of equalisation of charges for domestic supply, on the basis of a scheme which will pool the cost to the water authorities of financing debt incurred up to 31st March 1976 and redistribute it on the basis of a common cost per unit of supply. The broad effect will be to reduce the range of average household bills in England and Wales. Legislation will be required, and the Government will make every endeavour to bring this forward at an early date.The document also announces the Government's decision, forshadowed in the Labour Party statement of policy of January 1973, to bring the water companies into public ownership as soon as practicable.I believe that the discussion of these proposals over the next few months will be valuable and provide a firm and constructive basis for the future development of the water industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consulta- tions have taken place between his Department and the London borough of Islington regarding the faulty construction of the new Pollards Close Estate, Holloway Road, London, N.7; and if he will make a statement as to what additional costs will be involved in rectifying these faults.

There have been no such consultations.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will consider, by Order in Council, removing the exclusion of matters in respect of personnel imposed by paragraph 10c of Schedule D of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act which debars the Commissioner from investigating any action in respect of personnel matters.

The purpose of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration is to provide additional machinery for the investigation of complaints by members of the public in regard to maladministration. It would not be consistent with this purpose to extend his jurisdiction to the relations between the State and its employees, where there are already well-established grievance procedures. Such a step would place Crown servants in a more favourable position than other employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportions of contract and sub-contract work for the multi-role combat aircraft will be carried out in Scotland and England, respectively.

Sub-contract work on the MRCA is spread over a very large number of firms. Information about its value, particularly at the lower levels, is not readily available and would take disproportionate effort to obtain.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many meetings he has had with the Chairman of the NEB, at which third parties were present.

The Chairman of the NEB and I have both been present at internal Government meetings and at one meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in the Official Report details of all work performed on the recently installed photocopying equipment on the interview floor of the House of Commons for the period 8th March to 15th March.

Because normal deliveries were not available, the photocopying machines on the Interview Floor were used during the period in question to provide alternative copies of essential Parliamentary Papers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nursery school places will be available in England and Wales by the end of March 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the price of school meals on the same date in each year since 1945; and what is the total cost per week of school meals for two children in each year as a percentage of the average earnings at the time.

The following table shows for each year from 1950 the daily charge for school meals and the percentage which the weekly charge for two children represents of average earnings. A uniform charge for meals was not introduced until 1950; figures for earlier years are not therefore available.

I regret that this information is not available. At January 1975, the most recent date for which figures are available, there were 28,777 full-time-equivalent nursery education places in occupation in maintained nursery schools in England and a further 59,925 full-time-equivalent nursery education places in occupation in nursery classes in maintained primary schools. Nursery education in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many additional nursery school places will be provided in 1976–77; and at what capital cost.

Local education authorities are not required to inform my Department of the projects they intend to carry out within the limits of their nursery education building allocations, and the costs of different kinds of provision vary. No figure is thus available of the number of additional places which will be provided from projects to be started in the 1976–77 building year. As my hon. Friend is aware, capital allocations announced last August to local education authorities in England for nursery education building starts in 1976–77 totalled £8·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many local education authorities refused to accept their nursery school allocation in 1975–76; which these were; and how much each refused;(2) which local education authorities received an additional allocation for nursery education because of this refusal by others; and how much each received.

The 36 local education authorities in England which have relinquished all or part of their nursery education building allocations for 1975–76 and the amounts involved are as listed in the reply give to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 25th November 1975 with the addition of the following:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements have been made for the allocation of books and manuscripts accepted under the Finance Acts in lieu of capital transfer tax or estate duty.

When the Government have accepted a book or manuscript in lieu of capital transfer tax or estate duty, it will be for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Science, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, as appropriate, to decide to which public collection the object so accepted should be allocated. To help him reach a decision, the appropriate Minister will normally seek the advice of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts in regard to all manuscripts. Advice on printed books will be sought from a small panel of experts which has been set up specifically for this purpose. I am glad to announce that Mr. Howard Nixon, Librarian of Westminster Abbey Library, has agreed to act as chairman of the panel. The other members are Professor A. D. S. Fowler, Regius Professor of English at Edinburgh University, Mr. G. Thompson, Librarian of the Guildhall Library, City of London, and Professor Glanmor Williams, Professor of History at the University College of Swansea.Account will be taken of any wishes expressed by a testator or executors in deciding allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the proportion of finance made available in Scotland by the European Community Social Fund since 1973 which has been clawed back by the United Kingdom Treasury.

Nearly all the money allocated from the European Social Fund relating to activities in Scotland has been in respect of operations financed by the United Kingdom Government. Receipts from the fund in respect of such operations are, therefore, retained by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed statement showing how rises of 16 per cent. in milk, £5 a live cwt in beef, 18 per cent. in live sheep prices, 23 per cent. to 33 per cent. in wool, 8 per cent. in sugar beet, 43 per cent. in potatoes and 2½p a lb. on butter will raise the cost of living index figure.

It is estimated that the overall effect of the recently announced increases in agricultural support prices will add about one-half of 1 per cent. to the "all items" index of retail prices by the end of the year. The retail effects of increases in the support prices for individual items will in general depend on the many market factors affecting the particular commodities involved. I have, therefore, no details to add to those given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 15th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 443–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now appoint a ninth member to the Health and Safety Commission who has experience of industrial hazards and the need for ensuring greater protection of the public where these exist.

I believe that the Commission's work to date shows that it is fully mindful of the need to take account of the interests of the public who may be affected by work activities. Never- theless, although it has been decided to defer for the time being the appointment of a ninth member to the Commission, I will certainly bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of redundancies in Acton for each of the last five years.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the numbers of people affected by redundancies recorded as due to occur in each of the last five years in the area covered by the Acton office of the Employment Service Agency are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for an exhibition in the Upper Waiting Hall on the Equality of Women from 22nd March.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 22nd March to Friday 2nd April.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement regarding the number of school leavers currently unemployed in the Greater London area; and what plans the Government has to provide them with suitable employment.

The February figure of 1,576 remains unacceptably high, although there has been a considerable fall since August last year. The special measures already taken by the Government should help these young people to find suitable employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the latest figures for unemployment and notified job vacancies in London compared with the equivalent figures for each of the last 10 years, together with the best estimates he has of the total number of jobs in London at the same dates.

The first table below shows the numbers registered as unemployed and notified unfilled vacancies in greater London. The vacancy figures relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and are not a measure of total vacancies. Because of possible duplication, the two series should not be added together.The second table gives the estimated numbers of employees in employment in greater London at June each year from 1966 until 1974, the latest date for which the information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest figures available for the proportion which wages and salaries form of total production costs in all British manufacturing industries; and if he will provide, where possible, comparisons of those figures with other member countries of the EEC.

I have been asked to reply.I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether his intention to require separate registration of unemployed students during vacations will in any way restrict the eligibility of such students for supplementary benefits.