asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the difference in £ sterling between heating oil in Holland and in Great Britain.

Prices paid by growers for heating oil vary according to individual circumstances. We estimate the general level of heavy fuel oil prices to be 19p per gallon in Great Britain and 17p per gallon in Holland. For gas/ diesel oil, the prices are 26p per gallon in Great Britain and 27p per gallon in Holland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now consider reintroducing an operational fishing subsidy for a limited period.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, Central (Mr. McNamara) on 13th February.—[Vol. 905, c. 457.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage the export of poultry meat from the United Kingdom to other European Economic Community countries.

Production and consumption of poultry meat within the United Kingdom are more or less in balance. There is, however, a small but valuable export trade and I am sure that our poultry industry is alert to the possibilities which exist for developing their overseas markets.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his Department's estimate of the increased cost to local authorities in implementing EEC Directives 71/118 and 75/431 which require the inspection, under veterinary supervision, of all poultry meat for sale for human consumption.

As is already the case with red meat, we propose that local authorities' costs for meat inspection at poultry slaughterhouses will be recovered by appropriate charges on the trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the stock of nursery trees was in March 1974 and at the present time.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of milk produce goes into intervention in Great Britain, and in the EEC as a whole.

Only butter and skimmed milk powder are bought in by the intervention agencies, except in Italy where the intervention commodity is cheese. Intervention purchases of this produce vary according to the state of the market, but in 1975 about 3½ per cent. of the EEC's production of milk fat is estimated to have gone into intervention stores and 10¼ per cent. of its production of other milk solids. In the United Kingdom no milk fat went into intervention stores but about 1⅓ per cent. of our production of other milk solids is estimated to have done so. Separate figures for Great Britain are not available. To these figures should be added a small amount of Italian cheese.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the effect will be on the production of milk powder of the recent EEC award to milk producers in the Community.

The level of milk powder production will depend partly on the level of milk production and partly on the relative attractiveness of alternative outlets for milk. Milk production will be affected not only by the recent price increases but by weather conditions and economic conditions generally.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the proposed expansion in beet production in the next four years.

The White Paper "Food from our own Resources "—Cmnd. 6020, April 1975—projected an expansion in the production of sugar beet to 1·3 million tonnes per annum by the early 1980s.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the forecasts are by his Department of the percentage increase or decrease in the production of food in the horticulture industry.

Forecasts of output published in the White Paper "Annual Review of Agriculture 1976" show that the value of food produced by the horticulture industry is expected to be 9 per cent. higher in 1975–76 than in the previous crop year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, at the last meeting of the European Council of Agricultural Ministers, he raised the subject of the future of the United Kingdom horticultural industry; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration was given to horticulture in the recent Annual Price Review.

The main factors affecting horticulture were considered during the United Kingdom Annual Review; and in the recent common agricultural policy price negotiations Community withdrawal prices for 1976–77 were increased by 4 per cent. for apples and pears and by 8 per cent. for other fruits and vegetables covered by withdrawal arrangements. In addition a Community grubbing-up scheme is to be introduced for certain varieties of apples and pears.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has discussed equalisation of energy costs in the horticultural industry with the United Kingdom's EEC partners.

No. There are guidelines on fuel aids which were set by the EEC Commission after discussions between member States.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he remains satisfied with the level of tree planting in the United Kingdom.

Planting by the Forestry Commission continues within the aim of 55,000 acres of new planting and restocking annually. Private sector planting has declined of late, but future levels and trends cannot be assessed authoritatively for the reasons given in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley (Mr. Hardy) on 10th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 228.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates the cost is per sample of determining the difference between bread wheat and non-bread wheat.

The cost per sample of determining the difference between bread-making and non breadmaking wheat depends on the purpose for which one wants to distinguish them and consequently the method used for determination.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the level of capital expenditure was in agriculture in 1975; and how this compares with 1974.

As set out in the Annual Review White Paper, a further increase in new investment is estimated to have occurred in 1975. Total gross capital formation in landlord and tenant-type physical assets together is provisionally estimated to be £1,010 million in 1975 compared with £957 million in 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage increase in production is required over the next four years if the aims of the White Paper "Food from our own Resources" are to be fulfilled.

It was made clear in "Food from our own Resources" that the projections in the White Paper were not a fixed set of production targets. The White Paper did however envisage an expansion in the agricultural industry's net product averaging about 2½ per cent. per year into the early 1980s. That remains the Government's objective although inevitably, as in 1975–76, there can be substantial variation from year to year in the industry's net product due to weather and other factors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the extra cost of feedstuffs will be, per ton, to poultry producers under the skimmed milk powder incorporation scheme.

Since the scheme does not require any specific rate of inclusion of skimmed milk powder in particular types of feeding stuffs, it is not possible to estimate the extent to which poultry producers' costs may be affected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the cost to the European Agricultural Fund for disposing of surplus skimmed milk powder in 1976; and what proportion of this sum will be met by British taxpayers.

The European Communities' budget for 1976 estimates the total cost to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund of storing and disposing of intervention stocks of skimmed milk powder at £195·7 million. The United Kingdom contributes to the Communities' budget as a whole and not to its individual parts. The United Kingdom contribution in 1976 is 16·3 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to make existing stocks of skimmed milk available at a reduced price to those people who because of their medical condition are unable to use milk in a liquid form.

My right hon. Friend and I are of course always prepared to consider whether new outlets can be found, but a scheme such as that proposed by my hon. Friend would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to consider in the first instance.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government will take to improve the productivity of grass land in the United Kingdom.

As my right hon. Friend said in his statement on 8th March—[Vol. 907, c. 32.]—we propose, subject to the approval of the House, to increase certain rates of capital grant to encourage the better use and conservation of grass. The Agricultural Development and Advisory Service also has an advisory campaign in progress.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures the Government have taken to strengthen its position for the renegotiation of the Common Fisheries Policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the latest progress in renegotiating the EEC Fisheries Policy.

Commission proposals were discussed at the Council of Foreign Ministers on 1st March. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs welcomed these proposals as a contribution to progress but made it clear that in their present form they do not fully meet the needs of the United Kingdom. The Council of Foreign Ministers is expected to return to this matter at its next meeting on 5th and 6th April.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of fish that could be caught each year, without depleting stocks, within a zone from the shore to 100 miles offshore.

No estimate has been made, because management must be related to the whole stock, and stocks are not confined to boundaries of that type.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number and total tonnage of fishing vessels laid up in 1973 and 1975.

Vessels may be temporarily withdrawn from service for a variety of reasons. Consequently, my Department's statistics refer only to permanent alienation from fishing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been undertaken by, or on behalf of, his Department into the nutritional value of eggs produced by the battery, deep litter and free range systems.

My Department has conducted a comprehensive study of the nutritional value of battery, deep litter and free range eggs produced in the United Kingdom. The conclusions of this study were that slight differences in egg composition arising from different management systems are of little nutritional significance in the context of a good mixed diet.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what calculations he employed in determining the new guaranteed price for potatoes.

All relevant factors were taken into account and the new guaranteed price is 43 per cent. higher than that for the 1975 crop. This substantial increase should give producers continued confidence in potato growing.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates will be the additional cost to the Exchequer from the revised beef deficiency scheme.

The total Exchequer cost of beef premiums in 1975–76, after crediting the EEC contribution, is estimated at £40 million. At this stage in the new marketing year, it is too early to give a precise forecast of the cost in 1976–77, but taking into account the likely market situation, the Exchequer cost may be of the order of £22 million—£30 million. Community funds will be contributing 25 per cent. of the cost of the premiums from 1st September 1976 onwards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further initiatives he intends to take to change the EEC agricultural policy.

My right hon. Friend has made clear his continuing determination to ensure that the common agricultural policy provides effective support for efficient producers without imposing undue costs on consumers and taxpayers and in his statement of 8th March he indicated some of the main areas where he will be looking for further improvements in the operation of the CAP.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms in England and Wales, previously not let, are offered to let each year.

I regret that my Department does not collect this information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with representatives of the NFU over the recent EEC price determinations and his own awards for commodities for which there is no EEC régime; and with what results.

I and my officials kept in close and continuing contact with representatives of the Farmers' Unions throughout the course of the 1976 Annual Review and 1976–77 common agricultural policy price negotiations. I announced on 8th March the results of the review and the CAP negotiations. The council of the NFU has stated that the changes in support prices should provide a firmer prospect for recovery of both farm output and income in the year ahead.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will specify the estimated effects of rises in farm prices for each product as a result of the 1976 EEC and United Kingdom farm price reviews on the consumer prices of related food products by (a) pence per 1 lb./pint and (b) as a percentage of the total cost of average household food expenditure.

Precise figures are not available. For sugar, bread, pork, lamb, fruit and vegetables, the settlement is unlikely to result in any early increase in retail prices. The main effects are likely to be on butter and cheese, for each of which the settlement may lead to an increase of about 2½p per pound over the year. For liquid milk it is not expected that it will be necessary to increase the retail price before the end of the year. For beef the premiums are being continued so that prices will be lower, when supplies are plentiful, than under a system of intervention only. The overall effect of the settlement may be to add about 1¼ per cent. on average to food prices by the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the £122 million increase in machinery costs is attributable to the falling pound.

The figure of £122 million for machinery costs in Table 26 of the White Paper "Annual Review of Agriculture 1976" (Cmnd. 6392) refers to the change in operating costs for agricultural machinery since the 1975 Annual Review.It is not possible to isolate the proportion of the £122 million attributable to the falling pound because of the multiplicity of elements involved in valuing the cost change. These include service charges, a range of price indices and market prices drawn from official sources, surveys and other estimates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has decided not to press for the re-valuation of the green pound; and what effect this will have on the agriculture industry.

I believe that the measures which I announced on 8th March provide producers in this country with an adequate level of support. I did not consider, therefore, that a devaluation of the green pound was called for, in view of the effect of such an adjustment on food prices. I shall continue, however, to keep the green pound under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received the report of the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture on agricultural exports; when he will publish it; and if he will make a statement.

I have received the report of the Advisory Council for Agriculture and Horticulture on agricultural exports. It will be printed as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many employees of the United Kingdom cane refining industry will lose their jobs if the industry's capacity to refine cane raws is reduced to 1·3 million tonnes, in accordance with estimates of its potential, following the United Kingdom's entry into the EEC.

Various ways of tackling surplus capacity in the cane refineries are currently being discussed with the two refining companies, their employees' trade union representatives and also the British Sugar Corporation. These alternatives have differing implications for employment and no decisions on them have yet been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the special arrangements that have been worked out for sheep exports to the Benelux countries.

Apart from the routine veterinary certification required by the Benelux authorities, the following extra precautions have recently been taken by them in respect of exports from Great Britain:

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the leaders of industry and the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to have talks with the TUC and the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC and the CBI.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the TUC.

I refer my hon. Friends and the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 16th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Chatham.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Immingham.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Cathcart.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to the Republic of South Africa.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Pretoria.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall. South (Mr. George) on 18th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with Mr. Gromyko.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement following his meetings with Mr. Gromyko.

I had a useful meeting with the Soviet Foreign Minister during his visit to London as the Guest of Her Majesty's Government from 22nd to 25th March, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary had three full and constructive sessions of talks with him on both bilateral and international issues.The objectives governing Her Majesty's Government's approach to the visit were to consolidate the substantial improvement in Anglo-Soviet relations which the summit meeting in Moscow in February last year inaugurated; and to establish the regular practice of high-level political contact which we see as essential to the development of understanding between the two countries.In the discussion of bilateral matters, a good basis was established for building further on the progress which has been made during the last 12 months in fulfilling the agreements and understandings which I reached with the Soviet leaders in Moscow just over a year ago. Contacts and exchanges of all kinds have increased substantially and will continue to grow. The development of Anglo-Soviet trade is central to our improving relationship. For this reason, my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and I were glad to receive Mr. Gromyko's firm and unequivocal assurance that the whole of the £950 million credit provided for under the agreement which was signed as a result of our visit to Moscow is to be taken up by the Soviet authorities in the near future. This means that very substantial orders indeed are expected to be placed shortly with British industry.Our talks with Mr. Gromyko naturally covered a wide range of international issues, including the situation in Southern Africa, the problems of the Middle East, current issues in the field of disarmament, and the Vienna negotiations on force reductions. Both we and, for the Soviet Government, Mr. Gromyko, reaffirmed the determination of both countries to put all the provisions of the CSCE Final Act into full effect. We naturally did not reach agreement on all points. But at the end of three days of substantial exchanges of view, both sides had a fuller and better understanding of each other's thinking. Such understanding is essential if misconception and miscalculation are to be avoided.A joint communiqué was agreed and a copy is being placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether he plans to make any further changes in his Government.

I have no plans to do so during the present Administration.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to meet the Taoiseach.

As the House knows, I had a full discussion with the Taoiseach on 5th March. It is expected that I or my successor will meet him at the European Council meeting in Luxembourg next week.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Leeds on 5th March on public expenditure and economic policy represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Mr. Muldoon is visiting London from 11th to 15th April. Either I or my successor will meet him.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will list his official engagements for 25th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his engagements for 25th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 25th March.

I chaired a meeting of the Cabinet this morning and will be holding a number of meetings with my ministerial colleagues and others during the day. This evening I shall be giving a reception at 10 Downing Street for the members of the CPA Parliamentary Seminar.

asked the Prime Minister if he will meet the Governor of the Bank of England.

The Governor was my guest on Tuesday at the dinner which I held at 10 Downing Street in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen. I have no immediate plans for a further meeting, but my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer maintains close contacts with him.

asked the Prime Minister when he next expects to meet the Prime Minister of Luxembourg.

As the House knows, I had talks with M. Thorn on 26th February. I or my successor will be meeting him at the meeting of the European Council in Luxembourg next week.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the public speech he made to the Liverpool Press Club on 5th March 1976 relating to individual privacy and the behaviour of the media in these matters.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Ward) on 23rd March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list individual appointments other than civil servants and members of the Government for which he is responsible; and what is the annual cost of any salaries, fees and/or allowances paid to such appointees.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) on 4th March.

asked the Prime Minister if he will list in the Official Report his official speeches, or answers to Parliamentary Questions, in the year 1975 in which he made specific reference to the obligations of the United Kingdom as a continuing member of the EEC.

No. The obligations were clearly set out in the relevant treaties and other documents, which were freely available to anyone who wished to read them. All the questions that were raised on the subject of those obligations were answered by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the legal authority for police to interrogate children of 7 years of age in police stations; and what are the views on this procedure even where the parents' consent has been obtained.

The questioning of persons, of whatever age, at police stations does not rest in general on any specific statutory authority, but arises from the performance by the police of their functions in particular in connection with the prevention and detection of crime. Chief officers of police are well aware of the guidance on the interrogation of children and young persons—whether suspected of crime or not—contained in the administrative directions appended to the Judges' Rules, which provides, inter alia, that as far as practicable children should be interviewed in the presence of a parent or guardian. There are circumstances where such interviews can most appropriately be carried out in a police station.So far as interviews of children under the juvenile liaison scheme are concerned, I regard the manner in which they are conducted as more important than their location.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to publish the White Paper on the Children and Young Persons Act.

The Government's response to the Expenditure Committee's Report on the working of the Children and Young Persons Act is in an advanced state of preparation. It is hoped to publish the Government's observations in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Lancashire on the specific circumstances in which 7-year-olds have been interrogated in police cells;

Juvenile liaison schemes have operated successfully in various parts of the country in the last 20 years and provide one means by which police officers can help both children and their parents. I share my hon. Friend's disquiet at the accounts of circumstances in Lancashire to which he has drawn attention; it would be regrettable if mistakes or shortcomings in one force discredited the general value of such schemes. I have therefore arranged for one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary to make a full report to me on the operation of the scheme in Lancashire. When I have received and studied this report, I shall consider whether there is a need for me to issue general guidance on the subject to other police forces.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the licensing system for television signal relay services to private houses by contractors, any obligation is placed on contractors to provide a service to all premises requesting it within the area of their system.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to meet the Chairman and officers of the National Council for Civil Liberties to discuss their proposals for changing the law in respect of the age of consent.

No. As I explained in the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for North Fylde (Mr. Clegg) on 30th January—[Vol. 904, c. 397]—the Policy Committee on Sexual Offences is considering this subject: among much material available to them, on all sides of the question, is a memorandum by the council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons absconding from bail in each of the past five years have (a) not yet been re-arrested, and (b) have been re-arrested;(2) how many persons remanded on bail have failed to answer to their bail at the appointed time in each of the past five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been prosecuted for keeping dangerous animals; and under what statute they were prosecuted.

The only statutory offences of keeping dangerous animals apply to dogs. In addition, at common law, if the circumstances in which an animal is kept constitute a threat to the safety of the public an offence of public nuisance may be committed. In 1973, the latest year for which figures are available, there were no proceedings at common law. The information in relation to statutory provisions is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of immigrants from Pakistan granted permanent settlement in the United Kingdom in 1973 and 1974; and what is his estimate for 1975;(2) how many dependants of immigrants from Pakistan have been granted permanent settlement in the United Kingdom in 1973 and 1974; and what is his estimate for 1975.

The number of citizens of Pakistan accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom on arrival and on removal of the time limit attached to their stay was:

1973–3,638 (including 3,336 dependants); 1974–4,401 (including 3,611 dependants); 1975 (estimated)—7,700 (including 6,300 dependants).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out in the Official Report the forms required by his Department or organisations for which he is responsible to be completed by firms with less than 200 employees or turnover of less than £500,000 per annum, the frequency with which such forms are required, the number of questions asked and the use to which the information so obtained is put; and what steps he is taking to reduce such form filling.

I regret that the information requested could not be provided without disproportionate effort. Requests within the Home Office for new forms or for reprints of existing forms are kept under continuous review, having regard to their necessity, simplicity and clarity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many community service orders were made in 1975; and in how many cases the response by the individual concerned was unsatisfactory.

2,710 persons were made subject to community service orders between 1st January and 30th November 1975, the most recent period for which information is available from probation and after-care areas. During the same period 138 persons were dealt with by the courts under Section 16 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 for breach of requirements of a community service order, and in respect of 126 persons orders were revoked under Section 17 of the Act as a result of a custodial sentence for another offence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will instruct the immigration authorities to ensure that before a national of any of the countries of the European Economic Community is permitted to enter Great Britain for the purpose of seeking work they must be satisfied that he has sufficient financial resources to ensure that he can support himself without recourse to supplementary benefit for a period of at least four weeks.

No, since in accordance with our treaty obligations, EEC nationals may move freely between member States to seek employment. But such persons may be required to leave if they fail to find employment within a minimum period of three months or at any time if, having failed to find employment, they fall a charge on public funds. In addition, immigration officers may refuse entry to EEC nationals who have no intention of working in the United Kingdom and are likely to become a charge on public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if urban aid sponsorship will be available to allow on going quality of life projects to continue after 31st March.

An adventure playground / neighbourhood centre in Sunderland, which was part of the Experiment in the Development of Leisure Activities, is to be grant-aided under the urban programme from 1st April 1976. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is giving approval to grant-aid under the urban programme to enlarge the travelling library service initiated by the Experiment in Clwyd. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is considering the arrangements for the end of the Experiment in the Dumbarton District of Strathclyde, which still has some months to run.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list 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.

My right hon. Friend has the responsibility of giving final approval to the appointments of the Chairman and four members of the Review Board for Government Contracts, the Chairman and three members of the Advisory Panel (Section 482 Income and Corporations Taxes Act) and seven members of the Property Advisory Panel. These appointments are all part-time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for a married man with two children, the income tax threshold—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much he expects the average man aged between 60 and 64 years who is in employment to pay in taxation during the year 1976;(2) how much he expects that the average man aged between 20 and 30 years and supporting a wife and two children will pay in taxation during the year 1976.

The tax paid on average income from employment in 1976 will depend on the level of income for the year and on any changes in the tax rates and allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what level of real taxable income, calculated in constant pounds at Budget Day 1975 value, the standard rate and each higher rate of income tax would begin to apply on the basis of the index of retail prices figure published last week.

The treatment of income for tax purposes varies both between and within the countries mentioned, so that it may be difficult to compare like with like. The following table has been prepared on the basis that all income arises from the husband's employment:

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he is refusing to certify a policy document as a qualifying policy under Schedule 2, paragraph 1(1)(b)(i) to the Finance Act 1975, when the policy is issued to a United Kingdom resident by a life assurance company established outside the United Kingdom; and upon what statutory authority.

Paragraph 1, Schedule 2, Finance Act 1975, does not impose an obligation on the Board of Inland Revenue to issue a certificate in respect of a proposed standard form of qualifying policy; it provides an appeal procedure which may be used where the Board refuses to certify a particular policy. The Revenue considers it inappropriate to issue a certificate in respect of a proposed standard form of policy where the circumstances are such that it will have little practical effect, in that the Revenue would in any event wish to see the individual policies isued in accordance with the proposed standard form before allowing any tax reliefs claimed; policies issued on or after 1st April 1976 to United Kingdom residents by life offices established outside the United Kingdom which do not carry on business through a branch in the United Kingdom come into this category.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for cuts in Government expenditure in the year 1976–77.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Blaby (Mr. Lawson) on 4th March.—[Vol. 906, c. 1527.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will allow those for whom it is a condition of employment to belong to a trade union to offset their union dues against tax, as would be the case in respect of solicitors' and directors' payments and fees.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the list currently used by his Information Division of persons and organisations to whom Command Papers are sent.

Copies of the Confidential Final Revise of Command Papers for which my Department is responsible are normally distributed to Press and broadcasting organisations according to a selection made by the Information Division of my Department. The current list is below. The persons concerned are normally city editors or equivalents. Additions to the list are made on particular occasions if the nature of the publication warrants it

• The Times
• Financial Times
• The Guardian
• Daily Telegraph
• Daily Mail
• Daily Express
• Daily Mirror
• Sun
• Evening News
• Evening Standard
• Observer
• The Sunday Times
• Sunday Telegraph
• Sunday Express
• Sunday People
• News of the World
• Exchange Telegraph
• Press Association
• Reuters
• Universal News Services
• BBC
• ITN
• Independent Radio News
• Birmingham Daily Post
• Bristol Evening Post
• Glasgow Herald
• Liverpool Daily Post
• Manchester Evening News
• Northcliffe Newspapers
• Scotsman
• Thomson Newspapers
• Westminster Press
• Yorkshire Post
• City Press
• Economist
• Investors Chronical
• The Spectator
• New Society
• New Statesman
• Universal News Services

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many apppointments the Government have made to the Board of the British Petroleum Company; who were appointed; and how long is their period of appointment.

The present Government directors are Lord Greenhill of Harrow—appointed 8th November 1973—and Mr. Tom Jackson—appointed 12th March 1975. They hold office for three years.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial guidelines the Government provides for the financial guidance of British Petroleum; and whether he has any plans to change these.

None, apart from the statutory requirements of the Companies Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the proportion of shares held by the Government in the British Petroleum Company.

The Government own 48·2 per cent. of the ordinary shares of the company, and the Bank of England bought a further 20·15 per cent. of the shares in January 1975.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the total amount of borrowed foreign currency invested in British firms in the eight other member countries of the EEC for the years 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively;(2) what was the total amount of borrowing, for which permission was required, by British firms to invest in the other countries of the EEC for the years 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.

The net amount of foreign currency borrowed by United Kingdom resident companies, with permission under the Exchange Control Act 1947, from United Kingdom banks and from overseas sources to finance direct investment in EEC subsidiaries, branches and associates was £319 million in 1973 and an estimated £262 million and £108 million in 1974 and 1975, respectively.Information for 1973 has been published in Table 40 of "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1964–1974"—the "Pink Book"—a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount was transferred to the European Economic Community in respect of the 1975 Budget; and what amount was received from the European Economic Community during March 1976.

The United Kingdom contributed £342 million to the Community budget during 1975. This sum is not exactly the same as the United Kingdom contribution to the 1975 budget because the Financial Regulation of 25th April 1973 (Official Journal V16L116) provides that unspent appropriations inscribed in one year's budget may be carried forward to the following year. The United Kingdom share of contributions to the 1975 budget was 13·57 per cent.Estimates of receipts from the Community budget as a whole during March 1976 are not readily available, but it is expected that refunds in respect of the costs of collecting the Community's "own resources" will amount to £2·6 million, and that the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce will receive about £17 million from the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total value of imports from, and the total value of exports to, the other eight EEC member countries each year since 1971; and what has, therefore, been the net balance of payments effect of British-EEC trade for each of these years both in money terms and as a percentage of Great Britain's reserves.

The net balance of payments effect of British-EEC trade involves a large number of influences which cannot be quantified, so that its relationship with the official reserves cannot be given. The figures for visible trade given below have been published on page 747 of the 12th March 1976 issue of Trade and Industry, a copy of which has been placed in the Library:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate in current prices of the United Kingdom's gross contribution to the European Economic Community budget, of the United Kingdom's receipts in 1975, and of the United Kingdom's net contribution; and on what dates during 1976 these payments will be made.

The United Kingdom contributed £342 million to the Community budget during 1975; receipts in the same period totalled £396 million; receipts therefore exceeded contributions by £54 million. Payments to the Community budget are made monthly, on the basis of the United Kingdom's share of the cost of financing Community expenditure during the following month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the figures for the last 12 months for the rate of inflation of the European Economic Community countries; and how this compares with the United Kingdom over the same period.

Between January 1975 and January 1976—the latest dates available for comparison—the percentage increase in retail prices of consumer goods and services for each of the member countries of the European Economic Community was as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the purchasing value of the £ sterling has fallen since 1971; and, from information available from international sources, how this reduction compares with the figures for the member countries of the EEC.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the pound to be 100p in 1971, its value in January 1976—the latest date available for the purposes of international comparisons—is estimated to be 54p, reflecting a rise in retail prices of consumer goods and services of 85 per cent. Corresponding percentage rises for other members of the European Community are:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the real value of £100 at each year since 1920 in terms of comparable purchasing power since 1920.

No information is available for the years 1939–1945 inclusive. For each of the remaining years, the table shows the sum of money which, in 1920, had internal purchasing power equal to that of £100 in the year in question:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was collected through value added tax since its inception.

£6,892·5 million by the end of January 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current excise duty paid as pence per gallon for types of fuel oil in the European Economic Community countries, including the United Kingdom.

The rate charged on oil classified in the United Kingdom as fuel oil is 1p per gallon. The rates on similar oils in other EEC countries are as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost at 1973–74 levels of exempting trading receipts of charity from tax, provided that those receipts were applied for the purpose of the charity.

I regret that the information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now arrange to increase the value of meal vouchers which may be issued to employees free of income tax from 15p to 50p each working day; and if he will extend the ambit of the scheme so as to enable self-employed persons to purchase such vouchers.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect he expects the present trends of interest rates to have on his plans for steady growth of the economy, in industrial investment and money supply; and if he will make a statement.

Interest rate policy has to take account of a range of objectives in cluding the factors mentioned by my hon. Friend. For example, there are considerations such as the relationship to international interest rate levels. The recent reductions in United Kingdom rates have clearly been a move in the right direction for the growth of industrial investment and economic recovery. These reductions have been consistent with financing the public sector borrowing requirement without excessive growth of the money supply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now review urgently the annuity provisions in the current Civil List.

No. The 1976–77 Estimates will include provision for payment of £500,000 to the Royal Trustees under the terms of the Civil List Act 1975. My right hon. Friend and his fellow Trustees have not yet decided how this sum will be distributed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are employed by the Forestry Commission in Wales.

1,480 at 1st January 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the grounds for making an interest-free loan to Penrad Limited.

The loan was made to Penrad Group Ltd. for use on behalf of Penrad Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary, for the purpose of maintaining the company in production and thereby preserving the jobs it provides. The loan carried an initial interest-free period of two years to assist the company's efforts to attain a state of profitability. Interest becomes payable after two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many employees there are in Penrad Limited; what is the total amount of taxpayers' funds invested in or granted to this company; and whether any further amounts are contemplated.

I understand that the company at present employs 250 persons. The total amount of taxpayers' funds granted to Penrad Group Ltd. for the use of Penrad Ltd. comprises a secured loan of £300,000. A subscription of £100,000 for cumulative redeemable preference shares from Government funds has been offered to Penrad Group Ltd. but not yet taken up.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the ratio of shareholders' funds to Government support in Penrad Limited.

The latest published accounts for Penrad Group Ltd., in which Penrad Ltd. is consolidated, show shareholders' net funds at 31st December 1975 standing at £249,682 and Government loan at £300,000 giving a ratio of 0·882: 1.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the ratio of shareholders' funds to total borrowings, including taxpayers' funds, in Penrad Limited.

The latest published accounts for Penrad Group Ltd., in which Penrad Ltd. is consolidated, show shareholders' net funds at 31st December 1975 standing at £249,682 and total borrowings at £1,061,309, giving a ratio of 0·235:1.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether the chairman of Penrad Limited forecasts a profit for the current year.