asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what changes he proposes to make in the management structures of those Civil Service Departments for which he has responsibility and which operate in Scotland in order to facilitate the day-to-day operation of the Scottish Assembly, and its interaction with such Civil Service Departments, when that Assembly is established;(2) if he will make arrangements to enable all political parties in Scotland to hold discussions with those Civil Service Departments for which he has responsibility and which operate in Scotland concerning the optimum relationship between those Departments and the Scottish Assembly, when that Assembly is established.

The organisation of Government Departments operating in Scotland will be adapted as neces-

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now consider granting a gratuity to First World War holders of the Military Medal, who currently are entitled to no gratuity at all, equal in amount to that available to Second World War holders of that decoration for gallantry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what would be the sary in the light of whatever constitutional and functional arrangements are established under the legislation of devolution, and it would be premature to settle arrangements at this stage. United Kingdom Government Departments will continue to be responsible to their Ministers and through them to Parliament, although there will need to be a great deal of contact between these Government Departments and the Scottish administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what the total number of graduates from British universities was in 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970 and 1975, respectively.

The following table relates to the degrees awarded by universities in Great Britain up to 1974, the latest year for which information is available:estimated cost of providing a gratuity for each surviving first World War holder of the Military Medal equivalent in amount to that granted to each Second World War holder of that decoration for gallantry.

I have no record of how many First World War holders of the Military Medal are still living. About 116,000 Military Medals were awarded during the First World War and the cost of paying the £20 to any survivors and to the estates of those who have died, as was done in the case of those holders of the Military Medal awarded during the Second World War, would be in excess of £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why no information as to contribution orders was set out in the Legal Aid Tables of the Criminal Statistics for England and Wales 1974, Command Paper No. 6168; and whether such information will be available in future criminal statistics as it has been in the past;(2) why no information as to the number of defendants appearing unrepresented in the Crown Court was set out in the Legal Aid Tables of the Criminal Statistics for England and Wales 1974, Command Paper No. 6168, as in the past; and whether such information will be available in future criminal statistics.

The change, in 1974, in the content and presentation of legal aid information given in the Criminal Statistics Command Paper was made in response to various requests for

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for legal aid were made in each of the Inner London magistrates' courts in the years 1973, 1974 and 1976; and in each case how many were granted, distinguishing between summary proceedings, committal proceedings and legal aid given for the purpose of proceedings in the Crown Court.

The information for 1973 and 1974 is set out below with separate figures for summary proceedings, committal proceedings and trial on indictment. The total number of applications granted includes also legal aid granted for other proceedings before magistrates' courts, for appeals to the Crown Court and for cases committed to the Crown Court for sentence or to be dealt with. Information for 1975 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give a breakdown of the figures given in Table XII of the Criminal Statistics for England and Wales 1974, Command Paper No. 6168, distinguishing between summary proceedings and committal proceedings.

As the breakdown of this table is very extensive I am sending it to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will take steps before the next General Election to decrease the proportion of Scottish Members of Parliament in the House of Commons approximately to the same scale as is applied to English Members of Parliament;(2) if he will take steps before the next General Election to increase the proportion of Northern Ireland Members of Parliament, in the House of Commons approximately to the same scale as is applied to English Members of Parliament.

We have no proposals for changing the present allocation of seats to the different parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants were sent to prison in each of the last five years for nonpayment of prosecution costs by (a) the Crown Court and (b) magistrates' courts.

Provisional figures indicate that in 1975 one defendant was sent to prison for non-payment of prosecution costs by a magistrates' court and none by the Crown Court. I regret that information for previous years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings have been held by officials from his Department with local authorities unwilling or reluctant to engage in home defence planning during the course of the years 1975 and 1976 to date; and if he will identify the local authorities concerned.

Almost all local authorities co-operate fully and readily in home defence planning. I do not think that it would serve any useful purpose for me to identify the few exceptions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the effect, if any, on the policy of his Department in respect of home defence planning, as a result of cuts in the expenditure programme for the years 1978–79.

Civil Defence is bearing its full share of the cuts in public expenditure in 1978–79 and subsequent years. The main effect is in Civil Service manpower and further reductions in Home Office stockpiles of equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which local authorities have refused to participate in seminars dealing with local home defence policy under the auspices of his Department.

Attendance at seminars is by invitation and nomination. No local authority has refused to participate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contribution is made by his Department towards the cost incurred by a local authority in connection with attendance at seminars dealing with his Department's policy.

Allowances reimbursed by a local authority for expenditure incurred by officials nominated by them to attend studies at the Home Defence College qualify for 75 per cent. Civil Defence grant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many seminars dealing with local home defence policy have been held under the auspices of his Department in each of the last five years; what has been the expenditure incurred in respect of each such seminar; and how many people from each local authority attended such seminars.

There were 12 studies and courses for local and other public authorities after the inauguration of the Home Defence College in September 1973, 35 in 1974 and 52 in 1975. I regret that the remaining information could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money has been expended in the Greater London area on Civil Defence in each of the last five years.

I regret that information is not separately available for the Greater London area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the obligations on the signatories to the International Convention for the Suppression of Traffic and Circulation of Obscene Publications signed by the United Kingdom in 1947.

Under the International Convention for the Suppression of the Circulation of, and Traffic in, Obscene Publications, which was signed in 1923 and published after ratification as Command Paper No. 2575, the parties agree that the publication, import and export of obscene articles shall be a punishable offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be in a position to make proposals for the reform of the law governing squatting.

The Government will be considering this matter in the light of the Law Commission's report on conspiracy and criminal law reform, which includes recommendations on offences of entering and remaining on property. The report will be published very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions have been brought under the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act since they came into force.

Complaints alleging unlawful discrimination are a matter for civil proceedings in an industrial tribunal or in a county or sheriff court, and not for prosecution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give maximum help with visas for political refugees from Chile; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom is playing a full part in helping such refugees in accordance with the policy I announced on 9th July 1975.—[Vol. 895, c. 173–4.] To date 2,223 applications to come here have been granted and 1,422 of the refugees are known to have arrived.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the names and qualifications of the committee recently set up to advise on the age of consent and other laws affecting sexual behaviour.

The names and professional background of members of the Policy Advisory Committee on Sexual Offences are given below:

The Right Honourable Lord Edmund-Davies (Chairman)—a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary; Chairman of the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

The Reverend Dr. Anthony Bird—Principal of Queen's College Birmingham; medical practitioner with experience in general practice; recognised lecturer of University of Birmingham.

Mrs. Pauline Crabbe, OBE, JP—Secretary of the London Brook Advisory Centres since 1971.

Mrs. Shirley Lowe (Dineen)—Deputy Editor, Over 21 magazine; previously Woman's Editor, Sunday Mirror, feature writer Daily Express.

Professor Trevor Gibbens, MBE—holds a chair in Forensic Psychiatry at the London University Institute of Psychiatry; a member of the Advisory Group on the Law of Rape which has recently reported.

Mr. John Hazan, QC, JP—Barrister-at-Law; Recorder of the Crown Court; member of the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

Ms. Mary Mcintosh—Lecturer in Sociology at Essex University.

The Right Honourable Lord Justice James—a Lord Justice of Appeal, member of the Criminal Law Revision Committee. Previously member of the Parole Board; Chairman of the Committee on the Distribution of Criminal Business between the Crown Court and Magistrates' Courts; Member of Council of Birmingham University.

Sir Kenneth Jones, CBE—Legal Adviser to the Home Office; member of the Criminal Law Revision Committee.

Mrs. Charlotte Lodge—Principal Social Worker, Leeds Social Service Department.

Miss Jessie Moss—Superintendent, Metropolitan Police.

Baroness Serota, JP—Minister of State (Health) 1969–70. Chairman of the Commission for Local Administration and member of the Advisory Council on the Penal System; formerly President, now Vice-President, National Council for Single Parent Families.

Professor J. C. Smith—Professor of Law in the University of Nottingham; co-opted member of the Criminal Law Revision Committee for current references.

Mrs. Dorothy Stone—Magistrate and Barrister-at-Law. Formerly for many years Legal Advisor to the National Council of Women.

Mrs. Sue Winfield—Senior Probation Officer, Co. Durham.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent report by the Metropolitan Police regarding the high crime rate among juveniles in the Greater London area.

I share the widespread concern at the continuing problem of the large number of criminal offences committed by juveniles, in London and elsewhere, and the substantial proportion of juveniles among those arrested or prosecuted for certain offences. There is no simple solution. Both the preventive and detective rôles of the police are vital, and I continue to give close attention to the strength and efficiency of the police, and to give full support to them and other agencies who are working together to discourage juvenile crime and to help young people in trouble. I also stress, as others have done, the need for parents to maintain a responsible and concerned approach towards the activities of their children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry into the reasons why Noel Jenkinson, at present in Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight, serving a life sentence, was beaten unconscious in the security wing on 5th November 1975 and has lost 15 lbs. in weight since being placed in solitary confinement; and if he will make a statement.

On 5th November 1975, in the special security wing in Parkhurst Prison, Noel Jenkinson was found with facial injuries comprising bruising of the right eye and nose and a split lower lip. There was no evidence to suggest that he had been rendered unconscious. He was admitted to the prison hospital and given treatment for his injuries. The Governor's inquiries at the time failed to establish how the injuries were sustained: no staff witnessed anything and Mr. Jenkinson himself said that he did not know what happened. In these circumstances I do not consider that further inquiry would be productive. On discharge from the prison hospital on 7th November, Mr. Jenkinson was removed from association with other prisoners and placed in the segregation unit under Prison Rule 43. He has since lost 15 lbs. in weight but he is in good health. His situation is being kept under review.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will list the courses for which Rhodesian African students are admitted into the United Kingdom to study at British universities; and on what basis these courses are selected.

Rhodesian Africans who qualify as students for entry to the United Kingdom may pursue a very wide range of the courses available at British universities. But the principal criterion governing awards under my Ministry's programmes is that the course should have a clear developmental purpose. In the context of the many and varied future manpower requirements of Rhodesia, this would exclude only very few disciplines—e.g., theology, music, and the visual arts.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will pay an official visit to the Research Station at Littlehampton to study the progress being made in the development of low-cost hydroponic techniques for cultivation which could be applicable to conditions in under-developed countries.

I have no plans to visit this institute at present. But I would assure my right hon. Friend that my Department is fully aware of the hydroponic techniques being developed at the Glasshouse Crops Research Station at Littlehampton and is thus in a position to recommend these to developing countries in situations where it may be pos sible to apply them.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will set up an inquiry into the application of low-cost hydroponic cultivation to the problems of arid and under-developed countries.

No. I believe that sufficient information about the application of these techniques is already available.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what expenditure he anticipates from the aid programme in the forthcoming year on the development of hydroponic cultivation in arid under-developed countries.

None at present, but if the Government of a developing country asks for assistance in this field the request will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he proposes to make in the management structure of the Scottish Office in order to facilitate the day-to-day operation of the Scottish Assembly, and its interaction with the Scottish Office, when that assembly is established.

My Department is presently considering possible organisation structures for the office of the Secretary of State after devolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will consider postponing the 1978 rating revaluation in Scotland to allow the introduction of legislation based on the Report of the Layfield Committee.

I must first have an opportunity to consider the Layfield Report, which I have just received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the total sum paid in 1975 to medical laboratory technicians in the Highland Health Board Area for carrying out out of hours emergency laboratory investigations, excluding the cost of the technicians' normal salaries;(2) what was the total sum paid in 1975 to medical laboratory technicians in Scotland for carrying out out of hours emergency laboratory investigations, excluding the cost of the technicians' normal salaries;(3) what was the average sum per head paid to medical laboratory technicians undertaking emergency out of hours duties in the Highland area, exclusive of their normal salaries;(4) what was the average sum per head paid to all medical laboratory technicians in Scotland undertaking out of hours duties, exclusive of their normal salaries.

The information requested is not kept centrally, but I have, however, made enquiries of the Highland Health Board. In 1975, this Board paid £14,612 to 46 medical laboratory technicians for emergency duties outside normal hours, an average of £317 per technician. The emergency duties comprise being on-call at home, standing-by at hospital or laboratory, and the emergency laboratory work itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will participate in meetings of the Council of Ministers called to discuss the EEC draft directive on harmonisation of summer time, in view of Scotland's distinctive interests in the proposals.

In these discussions the Government will have full regard to Scottish interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services is she will now take steps to put Collis Browne's compound into the category of availability on prescription only in view of the view of the Pharmaceutical Society that any medicine about which there is misuse should not be promoted by the offer of bonus terms or additional discounts and the fact that special discounts are now being offered for this addictive drug.

Under proposals for the implementation of Part III of the Medicines Act 1968 the sale or supply by retail of J. Collis Browne's Compound, as at present formulated, will be subject to prescription only control with effect from 1st September1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration she is giving to the production of a "Home Guide to Minor Illnesses".

Education of the public concerning the prevention and treatment of minor illnesses is one of the responsibilities of the Health Education Council. The Council has recently published a booklet "Treating Yourself—a guide to self-medication which gives advice about prevention and treatment of minor illnesses and when to consult a doctor. The Council is preparing a further publication on this subject and has started studies into the whole subject of self care, including treatment of minor illnesses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates she has made of the cost of computer-monitoring child health via the National Standard Register Recall System for Child Health Purposes (a) during the experimental stage and (b) applying it to all children.

Information about costs is not yet available. There is currently in use a variety of systems inherited from the local health authorities that existed before the National Health Service was reorganised in 1974, and consideration is being given to the introduction of a standard system. This is being taken in stages, and trials of two parts of the

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement as to the reason why the neurosurgical unit at the Whittington Hospital, London, N19, was closed down and transferred to the Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead, NW3.

The unit has been temporarily transferred to the Royal Free Hospital because of equipment failure at the Whittington. The Regional Health Authority is reviewing the distribution of neurosurgical services in the region, as part of its strategic regional plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will now make a further statement on her decision system—a child register and immunisation—are being conducted by 10 authorities to establish the costs involved, but have not yet been concluded. The part of the system concerned with pre-school health—under 5 years—is only at a draft outline stage while the school health part—5–16 years—has yet to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the weekly pay, including the average sum for overtime, of junior hospital doctors on 1st January for each of the last five years.

The average weekly earnings of each grade of junior hospital medical and dental staff, taking account both of the minimum and maximum annual salary rates and earnings from extra duty allowances based on the average for full time staff on 1st January each year since 1972 is as follows:regarding the proposed closure of Grovelands Hospital, Southgate, London, N12.

Informal consultations are continuing. My right hon. Friend is not required to make any decision unless the community health councils and health authorities cannot reach agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what the current state of the various non-urgent waiting lists is at St. Peter's Hospital, Chertsey, and at Woking Victoria Hospital, Woking; and what the equivalent figures were two years ago.

Separate records of urgent and non-urgent waiting lists were not kept two years ago. Set out below is a table showing the total number of patients on waiting lists in September 1973 compared with September 1975, the

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will list the cumulative mean size of grant to families of handicapped children by the Family Fund in each month since April 1972; and if she will also list the rate of increase in size of grant each month and the number of first payments to families;(2) how many families received grants from the Family Fund in December 1975 and December 1976, respectively; and what was the average size of each payment;(3) what was the average amount of first payments to families by the Family Fund in each of the last six months.

I am collecting the information requested by my hon. Friend and will publish it in the Official Report as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing how the dairy industries of the individual countries of the EEC have contributed to the current volume of stocks of butter.

Stocks of butter held by EEC intervention agencies at 11th March 1976 were as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing how the dairy industries of the individual countries of the EEC have contributed to the current volume of stocks of skimmed milk powder.

Stocks of skimmed milk powder held by EEC intervention agencies at 11th March 1976 were as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from Commissioner Lardinois on the subject of lowering the tariff on wine, from France and Italy, and from Greece, if Greece accedes to the EEC.

None. The protective duty in the United Kingdom tariff against imports of wine from other member States is being progressively reduced in accordance with the Act of Accession and will be eliminated on 1st July 1977. Any transitional arrangements in regard to the possible accession of Greece to the EEC have still to be worked out. The Community has not yet agreed arrangements for the harmonisation of excise duties, but on 5th December 1975 the Commission issued under Article 155 of the Rome Treaty a recommendation to member States concerning the taxation of wine (OJ no L2, 7.1.76, page 13 (1976, vol. 19)).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when hill farmers on Bodmin Moor can expect to receive compensatory payments for their hill cows and sheep under the terms of the EEC directive covering hill and less favoured areas; and when it is hoped to pay the additional supplementary allowance as announced in the House on 8th March 1976.

Payments of hill livestock compensatory allowances to farmers on Bodmin Moor have been delayed by the need to investigate the large number of queries arising from an examination of the claims, and in many cases by the need to allocate notionally the commons between farmers claiming to have grazing rights on them. It is hoped to complete the payments by the middle of April. The increase in the compensatory allowance in respect of hill cattle will be paid as soon as parliamentary approval has been obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to reduce the serious unemployment in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement.

I will reply to my hon. Friend's Question as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will issue a warning to home handymen concerning the danger of inhaling asbestos dust while working with asbestos products and the need to seal them to prevent fibres flaking off and contaminating the home.

asked to reply.A voluntary scheme for labelling asbestos products with suitable warnings and for publicising precautions to be taken in their use has been developed by the Asbestosis Research Council and the Asbestos Information Committee in consultation with my Department and the Health and Safety Executive. Details will be announced shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to conclude his consideration of the possibility of declaring alternative Bank holidays covering Christmas Day 1976 and New Year's Day 1977, which fall on Saturdays; and whether he will bear in mind the need for urgency in the light of problems caused for employers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware of the inconvenience being caused to dairy manufacturers by the failure to announce the date of the New Year Bank Holiday in 1977; what has caused this delay; and when he will announce its date.

I am well aware of the widespread interest in this matter and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the progress of his proposal to replace regional sports councils by regional councils for sport and recreation.

I hope soon to be able to announce the names of the new chairmen and details of the new councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research programmes have been initiated in the field of recreation by his Department during the past year.

During the past year the Department commissioned the first stage of a considerable research project on recreation, to investigate how the provision of leisure facilities fits the needs of the community. In addition, the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, jointly with the Sports Council, has commissioned a review of existing research and current practice relating to access to recreational facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fact that only four out of 68 applications to building societies for house mortgages made by Salford Metropolitan District have been granted by the societies and that other local authorities are receiving a similar response, he will instruct the societies to make 10 per cent. of their £5 million a year advances available to local authorities for house mortgage purposes.

No. My right hon. Friend has no power to give such instructions. Discussions are in progress between the Building Societies Association and the local authority associations about how the arrangements in the £100 million scheme can be improved. So far as Salford is concerned, I understand that the majority of the applications are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report on the workings of the Caravan Sites Act 1968 which he has requested from Mr. Jon Cripps, Chairman of the Countryside Commission for England and Wales.

I have asked Mr. Cripps to let me have an interim report before the Summer Recess and he hopes to complete his study by the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the predicted traffic levels at the southern end of the A5(D), he intends to proceed with the construction of a grade-separated interchange at the junction with the H10.

Yes. The predicted volumes of crossing and turning traffic at the peak hours in 1995 make a two-level junction necessary. The A5(D) is already elevated to cross the Grand Union Canal and B488 Simpson Road. It is not possible to lower it to ground level before reaching grid road H10 and it would cause too much disruption of traffic to build a bridge under the A5(D) once it was open. It is, therefore, sensible to provide the bridge and junction during the construction of the road.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which sections of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 have been implemented; and if he will make a statement regarding his future intentions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has taken Steps to bring into force in their entirety Parts I, II and IV of the Control of Pollution Act 1974.

The following provisions are in force in England and Wales; Sections 17, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27(1)(a) 27(2), 29, 30, 43, 44, 49, 50, 563–87, 89–107, 108(3), 109; Schedules 1 and 2 and certain amendments and repeals under Schedules 3 and 4.Regulations under Part IV are in preparation and appointed day orders will be laid shortly in respect of Sections 43 and 44.It is hoped to bring the following provisions into force in the near future: Sections 3–11 and associated provisions relating to the licensing of waste disposal sites; Sections 22 and 23 relating to street cleaning.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will list in the Official Report for the periods ending November 1975 and February 1976, respectively, the stocks of the main products of the British Steel Corporation held at its plants in England, Wales and Scotland; and how much of these stocks fall in the counter-cyclical category for which his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has made finance available to a limit of £70 million.

The counter-cyclical steel stockpile amounted to some 150,000 product tonnes at end-February 1976. For commercial reasons it would not be appropriate to provide the information requested about BSC's ordinary working stock or more detailed information about counter-cyclical stock. Aggregate figures for steel stocks held by United Kingdom producers are published monthly by the Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau and by the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will designate Thanet as an industrial development area; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for his decision.

The designation of Thanet as an assisted area would not be justified. Although rates of unemployment are high they arise from a combination of seasonal factors, which are normal for an area dependent on tourism, and of the recession. The measures introduced by the Government to alleviate unemployment caused by the recession have not been confined to the assisted areas but instead are available throughout Great Britain, and Thanet, therefore, is eligible to benefit from them.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will make a statement on the position of Govan Shipbuilders and, in particular, of the prospects of the firm obtaining further contracts.

The company's prospects of obtaining further contracts depend on negotiations with shipowners which are a matter of commercial confidentiality.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish details of all existing foreign loans to the nationalised industries and local authorities together with the additional cost to the Exchequer through the exchange cover scheme occasioned by the fall in the international value of the £ sterling.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will apportion to each nationalised industry and local authority the cost of the exchange cover scheme;(2) what is the cost to public funds of the Exchange Cover Scheme.

; I assume that the hon. Member refers to outstanding overseas loans raised by nationalised industries and local authorities for domestic purposes, including those loans which carry an exchange cover guarantee.A list of outstanding loans until the end of September 1975 was placed in the Library of the House of Commons on 14th October 1975. I will now arrange for a further list, covering the period from the beginning of October 1975 to the end of February 1976, to be deposited there.All these loans are raised on the best possible terms, but any decision whether to publish details of a loan is for the parties to the loan agreement.The sterling costs and benefits to the Exchange Equalisation Account of the exchange cover scheme depends upon the exchange rate between sterling and the various currencies borrowed at the beginning and at maturity of individual loans and the movement in sterling and overseas interest rates throughout the period of the loans. During the life of the loans the EEA benefits as the result of higher interest rates paid by the public sector borrowers. The cost to the EEA of the scheme consists of the increased sterling liability of the foreign currency borrowing, which at the exchange rates on 16th March totalled £4 billion, compared with £3 billion when the individual loans were negotiated. The assessment of any eventual net cost to the Exchange Equalisation Account can be completed only when a loan undertaken through this arrangement has been repaid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the growth in the population of each of the member States of the OECD between 1920 and 1976.

I regret that the information is not available without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources. During the period concerned there have been boundary changes in many of the OECD countries, and population statistics for these countries are not readily available on a comparable basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any further objects have recently been accepted in lieu of estate duty.

Yes, a gold and enamel City of London Freedom Box, dated 1794, by John Morisset, a City of London gold-hilted and enamelled presentation sword, 1796–7, also by John Morisset, both presented to Admiral Sir John Jervis, later Earl St. Vincent, and one of the private printings of "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" by T. E. Lawrence, amended in his own hand, have been accepted. The total cost borne by the National Land Fund after allowing for exemption from estate duty and capital gains tax is £44,776. The Minister specially responsible for the arts will announce the destinaion of these objects in due course. Before doing so, he will take advice on the two objects by John Morisset from the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, and advice on "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom" will be taken from the advisory panel, whose setting up was announced by my hon. Friend yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what plans she has to set up an office of Fair Trading in Scotland.

The Director General of Fair Trading performs his functions under the Fair Trading Act 1973 and the Consumer Credit Act 1974 throughout the United Kingdom. The arrangements for Scotland are a matter for him, and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she is prepared to include the Preston/Leyland/Chorley area in the accident surveillance system which is designed to monitor home accidents through accident and emergency departments around the country.

The basis on which hospitals will be selected to produce a nationally representative sample is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will initiate discussions with Governments of countries in which Slater Walker Securities Limited have branches to assess the relationship between those branches and the ones in Great Britain;(2) if he has been informed of the results of the investigation into the financial position of Slater Walker Securities Limited by independent accountants; and if he proposes to seek publication of the results of the investigation;

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