asked the Lord President of the Council if he will now move to appoint a sessional Select Committee on Procedure.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 29th March.—[Vol. 908, c. 331.]

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make provision for half-pint sealed cartons of milk to be available for purchase in the cafeterias by Members and staff.

I have been asked to reply.No. Milk is already available from chilled containers in each of the cafeterias.

asked the Secertary of State for Defence what are the estimated reductions in research expenditure for each of the next seven years if the measures in Command Paper No. 6432 are carried out.

A precise division of expenditure between research on the one hand and development on the other is not possible. It is estimated, however, that research expenditure, both intramurally and extramurally, will be reduced by about 10 per cent. from planned levels over the next two to three years, levelling off thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships are being constructed by Harland and Wolff Limited, Belfast, for the Royal Navy; and whether the yard is currently tendering for any Royal Navy work.

No Royal Navy ships are being built by the firm. It is currently being invited to tender for two Royal Fleet Auxiliary refits.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence at which Royal Naval Air Station the Royal Navy's Harrier squadrons will be based; and what will be the squadron numbers.

These matters are currently under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will discuss with other Defence Ministers in NATO the presence of armed Communist forces in Portugal; and if he will make a statement about the arrival of Cuban mercenaries in that country.

No. Press reports in Portugal about the presence of large and growing numbers of Cubans have been publicly denied by the Portuguese authorities. The question of the possession of arms by political factions is an internal matter for the Portuguese Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers live in prison quarters or in other accommodation provided by the service; and what proportion of those are subject to early retirement or are on a year-to-year contract.

I regret that detailed information about the number of officers housed in official accommodation is not readily available and could not be collected without disproportionate cost and effort; but there is in England and Wales official accommodation for some 10,600 officers, including nearly 10,000 married quarters.1,031 serving officers are at present over the age of 55 and subject to annual review, but, as I have explained, the number living in official quarters is not known. It is not possible to say how many officers will retire early.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many housing authorities outside the GLC provide automatic transfer accommodation for prison officers reaching retirement age, or leaving the service.

None, in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers had to find alternative accommodation on leaving the service in 1974 and 1975 and will have to do so in 1976; and what proportion of these were, and will be, rehoused by housing authorities.

In England and Wales, 617 and 667 prison officers left the service in 1974 and 1975, respectively, and we expect that about 600 will do so this year. I regret that detailed information about the occupation of official quarters is not readily available, and could not be collected without disproportionate cost and effort; but about 75 per cent. of all serving officers live in official quarters.I have no information about the number rehoused by local housing authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been received either by his Department or the Post Office about the non-delivery of postal votes; and what consideration has been given to the issue of delivery receipts for such votes by the Post Office.

Six letters relating to postal votes in the October 1974 General Election have been traced in our Department; three concerned postal delays rather than non-delivery. I am informed that Post Office headquarters received two complaints about non-delivery and three about delays in delivery. Recorded delivery has been considered in the past, but it could add to the delay and cause inconvenience to voters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to complete his instructions to local authorities on the counting of war service for police pension purposes.

Instructions relating to uprating war service for widows' pensions, which completed the instructions on counting war service, were sent to police authorities on 18th March. The necessary amending regulations will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to introducing legislation to extend the provisions of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 to all establishments which accommodate people for gain; and whether he has received representations on the subject.

Representations have been made by the Greater London Council about the need to extend the scope of the Fire Precautions (Hotels and Boarding Houses) Order 1972, to cover certain types of commercial hostel. Priorities for future designations under the Act are to be considered by a special sub-committee of the Central Fire Trigades Advisory Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department of the 188 persons detained as illegal immigrants in 1975, how many came originally on permits for holidays or short-term visits to relatives or friends.

None. The 188 were all persons who had had no leave to enter this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Chilean refugees have been admitted to the United Kingdom since September 1973; and whether Her Majesty's Government is still prepared to admit those who leave Chile for political reasons.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 19th March to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Allaun).—[Vol. 907. c. 649.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to publish the report of the Layfield Committee Inquiry into the Rating System before Friday 7th May 1976; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the Report of the Layfield Committee on Rating.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 26th March to the hon. Member for Melton (Mr. Latham).—[Vol. 908, c. 307–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his estimates of the number of homeless persons in each of the past five years.

The number of persons in temporary accommodation provided by social services authorities under section 21(1)(b) of the National Assistance Act 1948 on 31st March in the years 1970 to 1974 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the Official Report the estimated waiting time in weeks likely to be experienced by those seeking housing accommodation in each of the 33 new towns at present managed by development corporations.

The waiting time for housing accommodation in the new towns varies according to the priority which an applicant can command within the general tenancy allocation policy of the particular town and the type of accommodation required. In these circumstances averages are difficult to calculate, but in those towns with development corporations and serving London under the New and Expanded Towns Scheme, average waiting periods in March 1976 for applicants nominated under the scheme were:

Basildon, 26 weeks.

Bracknell, 2 to 4 weeks.

Corby, 8 to 40 weeks, depending on accommodation required.

Harlow, up to 12 weeks for key workers; otherwise 52 weeks.

Milton Keynes, 8 to 12 weeks.

Northampton, 4 to 8 weeks.

Peterborough, 1 to 2 weeks.

Stevenage, 8 to 12 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the North Norfolk District Council is considering delivering its local rate demands other than through the Post Office at a saving of between £800 and £900; and whether, in view of the need for economy and reduction in rates, he will issue a general circular to all local authorities to examine the possibility of adopting this method of saving for ratepayers.

No. It is for local authorities to decide how to run their own affairs in matters like this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation requiring local authorities and local authority purchasing agencies to seek tenders from and to give preference to British manufacturers where the goods to be purchased are available from such manufacturers.

Advice has already been given to local authorities in DOE Circular 106/75—Welsh Office Circular No. 184/75—of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy, and this is not a matter in which legislation would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to amend the law so as to prevent the granting of attendance allowances to local authority councillors for ceremonial occasions.

No. Local authorities decide for themselves which activities should be approved for the payment of allowances and they are well aware of the need to exercise this power responsibly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now give details of the response he has made to local authorities who have sought his help in connection with the provision of accommodation for battered wives.

The help that I offered was particularly where local authorities sought approval to acquire property. My Department's Circular 33/76 has now added a general approval to authorities to acquire properties for use as hostels to the one which existed already in respect of acquisition to relieve homelessness. I intend to make a full statement shortly on our next steps to help local authorities to meet the needs of battered wives and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will advise local authorities to compile a list of all landscape parks within their areas with a view to designating them as conservation areas.

Many desirable projects must be postponed at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the future of the National Parks.

I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the statement I made on 12th January in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett)—[Vol. 903, c. 9–10.]—I am sending the hon. Member a copy of Circular DOE 4/76, which contains the Government's conclusions on the Report of the National Park Policies Review Committee—the Sandford Report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many areas of outstanding natural beauty have now been designated; and if he will list them under county headings.

Thirty-three areas of outstanding natural beauty have now been designated. These are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many conservation areas have now been designated; and if he will list: (a) the number designated by each local authority and (b) those local authorities which have not yet designated any conservation areas.

I refer the hon. Member to the earlier answer to his Question—[Vol. 908, c. 342.]— I shall be writing to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many buildings have been demolished in designated conservation areas: and how many of these were listed buildings.

This information is not readily available and would be disproportionately costly to provide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many listed churches, or churches in conservation areas, have been demolished under the procedure established by the Pastoral Measure 1968 and the Redundant Churches and other Religious Buildings Act 1969.

I have been asked to reply.Of 537 churches declared redundant since 1st April 1969 when the Pastoral Measure came into operation, 171 have been appropriated to other uses, 85 have been transferred to the Redundant Churches Fund or the Department of the Environment for care and maintenance and 142 have been demolished. Of the 142, 23 were listed—16 in Grade C and 7 in Grade B or Grade II. The future of the remaining 139 churches has yet to be decided.In none of the 23 "listed" cases did the Advisory Board for Redundant Churches—the statutory body with a duty to advise the Commissioners as to the historic or architectural interest of redundant churches—recommend that the building should be transferred to the Redundant Churches Fund for care and maintenance.Of the 119 "unlisted" churches which have been demolished, five were in outstanding conservation areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any examinations have been carried out in accordance with Section 61 of the Road Traffic Act 1972, by examiners other than those from his Department; and if so, by whom, when, and with what outcome.

I have been asked to reply.Authorised police examiners may also test and inspect the condition of used vehicles at sale rooms, and so on, but I regret that information about the number and outcome of any such examinations is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the Government's policy with regard to applications to the European Social Development Fund designed to encourage understanding among young people in Common Market countries.

The encouragement of understanding among young people in Common Market countries is not within the scope of the European Social Fund, whose purpose is to assist and develop schemes of vacational training, rehabilitation and resettlement of workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what was the percentage of the working population who were unemployed in each of the employment areas and sub-areas covering the Northwich parliamentary constituency at the most recent count; and what were the comparable figures for the five previous years;(2) how many people were unemployed in each of the employment areas and sub-areas covered by the Northwich parliamentary constituency at the most recent count; and what were the comparable figures for the five previous years.

Following is the information for the employment office areas which are wholly or partly within the Northwich parliamentary constituency:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will consider introducing a special officer or section to help secure employment for the deaf as is the case with special placement officers for the blind.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the employment problems of all disabled people, including those who are deaf, are the concern of the Employment Service Agency's specialist disablement resettlement service. In considering any further specialism for one disability category it needs to be borne in mind that the number of clients needing help would be comparatively small, with the consequence that specialist officers would have to cover wide geographical areas. Since the strength of the nationwide resettlement service for disabled people lies in its close knowledge of local employment opportunities, it is felt that it would not be in the interests of disabled people of any disability category to introduce arrangements for further specialisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if a date for the publication of the new booklet, intended to replace the accident series, has been fixed; and if he will give an assurance that the booklet will be published before 1st July 1976.

The decision to cease publication of accidents was taken by my Department before the formation of the Health and Safety Commission. I understand that the Commission and Executive are considering whether there is a need for publications of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has consulted with the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission regarding the possible closure of the Industrial Health and Safety Centre, Horseferry Road, and its use for office accommodation by the Health and Safety Executive.

I have not had any previous discussion with the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission about the possible closure of the Industrial Health and Safety Centre, Horseferry Road, and its use for office accommodation by the Health and Safety Executive. I understand from the Chairman that the Executive is at present conducting a review of the functions of the Health and Safety Centre. There are at present no plans to close the Centre or to use it for office accommodation. In fact, the Executive is most anxious to ensure that the Centre plays the fullest part in disseminating information about health and safety at work, and it is for this reason that the present review is being conducted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultations have been instituted with the Health and Safety Commission to produce legislation further to control the lifting of heavy weights by workpeople in order to reduce the demands on the Health Service arising from back injuries.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the Health and Safety Executive has held informal discussions with representatives of a number of organisations having wide experience in the problems of the manual lifting of heavy weights. In addition, it is intended to include the subject in a review of the wider field of ergonomics which is to be undertaken by the Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total subsidy given to the National Coal Board, British Gas Corporation and electricity industry, respectively, in each of the past five years; and what are his estimates for the current year and 1977–78 of the respective figures and his policies in this respect.

The information requested is set out in the following tables in terms of payments in the financial years concerned. The year 1975–76 is expected to be the last for which compensation for price restraint will be paid. The Government's general policy is that the nationalised industries should operate without subsidies. We have, however, acknowledged an obligation to assist the coal industry with the burden of the past and to provide support for its operations in certain circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates will be the savings in gasoline consumption following the implementation of Clause 13 of the Energy Bill.

It is quite impossible to predict how the choice of cars will be influenced by the ready availability of truly comparable data about fuel consumption of different models and I cannot therefore make any estimate of the effect on gasoline consumption.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates will be the cost of administering the provisions contained in Clause 13 of the Energy Bill.

It is intended that tests of fuel consumption shall be made by the producers, so that the cost of administering the provisions will be confined to the cost of official time spent in witnessing the tests as appropriate, necessary documentation and enforcement and this will not be significant.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what he estimates would be the cost to: (a) the public and (b) industry and commerce in complying with the conditions of Clause 13 of the Energy Bill.

Producers of cars will be able to comply with the provisions by notifying my Department of the results of tests carried out themselves under the standard conditions prescribed under the Clause. The cost to the manufacturers of a test on a sample car of each model or within an agreed range of models will generally represent a tiny proportion of the cost of producing each car to which that test is relevant. The only other cost falling on the car industry and trade will be that of ensuring that the test information is published in sales promotion literature, in manuals and handbooks provided to first purchasers and at showrooms and similar places. The cost to the public will be negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the speech of Mr. Ray Willmot, Permanent Under-Secretary at the Department of Energy, to the American National Petroleum Refiners' Association at San Antonio was made with his authority.

Yes.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what efforts are being made to replace civil servants from Great Britain based in Northern Ireland with persons from Northern Ireland; and how many such replacements have taken place to date and at what grade levels.

None. The staffing policies for the Civil Service are the same throughout the United Kingdom. The great majority of civil servants are recruited and serve in their home areas, and this is as true of Northern Ireland as of the rest of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the computers purchased or hired for the public service in each year since 1964; and what is the use to which the equipment is devoted, its capital and/or annual cost, the utilisation factor, and the economy in manpower achieved through its installation.

A list of computers for administrative and scientific purposes installed in Departments is published in "Management Services in Government" annually in May and is updated quarterly. This publication is available in the House of Commons Library, and the information given includes the use for which the computer was acquired. There are, however, over 200 computers currently in use and a number of these acquired since 1964 have now been decommissioned. The information about the cost, the degree of utilisation and the economy in manpower achieved, could therefore only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. If the hon. Member has any particular installation in mind perhaps he will write to me about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the best estimate of the percentage of children in one-parent families.

The estimate of children in one-parent families in Great Britain in 1971 given in the Finer Committee's Report—1,080,000—was equivalent to 8 per cent. of all dependent children. No later estimate is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why family and social factors are not taken into account in deciding whether a disabled person with a child over 14 years of age shall have the continued use of a four-wheel car.

The vehicle scheme arrangements, to which my hon. Friend refers, were superseded on 1st January, 1976, by the mobility allowance scheme. The new scheme provides cash help for disabled people, including disabled mothers looking after young children equally for those who can drive and those who cannot. The old scheme had regard to family and social factors in enabling a disabled mother who could drive to be provided with a car instead of an invalid tricycle if she had sole charge of a young child. Any mother who was issued with a car before 1st January 1976 is able to keep it until the child is 14—as was the case under the old scheme—but in practice she is allowed to retain the use of the car thereafter until it wears out.My hon. Friend has written to me about the circumstances of an individual case and I shall be replying to her as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what financial allowances are made to assist with the capital cost of a vehicle to those in receipt only of social security benefit.

Disabled people who qualify for the mobility allowance can use it in this way. With this in mind, hire-purchase restrictions on cars were recently relaxed for mobility allowance beneficiaries. I am in touch with the Central Council for the Disabled, which is looking into other possibilities of helping disabled people who wish to use the mobility allowance toward the purchase of a vehicle.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she takes to ensure that every application for an invalid car is considered on its merits, bearing in mind that each person suffering disability is an exception to the rule of normal physical mobility.

Apart from the special war pensioner arrangements, invalid tricycles are now issued to new applicants only if they meet the statutory criteria for award of a mobility allowance and ask for a tricycle as an alternative benefit. To ensure that claims are considered impartially on their merits, decisions on whether the criteria are satisfied have been entrusted to independent authorities who take their decisions in the light of medical evdence. There are appeal rights which broadly follow those under the industrial injuries scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled people have taken advantage of the £100 car allowance.

In England at 31st December, 1975, there were 23,680 private car allowances in payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children and adults, respectively, in each region of the United Kingdom have appealed against an initial decision not to award them the attendance allowance, or to award it at only the lower rate, in the last year for which figures are available; and what percentage of those appeals in each regional was successful.

The information is not available in the form requested, but I shall be writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action the Attendance Allowance Board takes to ensure that the criteria for the allowance are interpreted uniformly throughout the United Kingdom.

The Attendance Allowance Board is an independent statutory body, but I understand that its practice is to check a proportion of its delegates' decisions before promulgation. In addition, the Board gives general guidance to its delegates who also attend Board meetings to discuss individual cases. Decisions by the Board's delegates on reassessments and on reviews are concentrated in two centres.The Attendance Allowance Board for Northern Ireland, set up under separate but similar legislation, is also an independent statutory body, but I understand that it has broadly similar arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement on the progress of the work of the multi-purpose Means Test Working Party.

The Steering Group on a Multi-Purpose Claim Form has sponsored a trial in Shropshire of a form covering a range of means-tested benefits. The trial started in August 1975 and will run for 12 months. Negotiations are in hand to start two further tests in other areas. I understand also that the Group's study of local authority practice in income assessments is at an advanced stage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the progress being achieved in securing the repayment of the Chilean debt to the United Kingdom.

Although we have formally approached the Chilean Government on a number of occasions about payment of the debts due to the United Kingdom in 1975, a sum of approximately £11 million is still outstanding.We shall continue to remind the Chilean Government as necessary that we expect these debts to be paid in full.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the size, acreage, of a farm for which total tax commitment in the form of capital gains tax, estate duty, or capital transfer tax would be the same under pre-1974 regulations and under post-1974 regulations, respectively.

The combined capital tax liability under the present tax regime would in most cases be less under the present capital tax system for farms of the following sizes:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss to the Exchequer if the tax ceiling on earned income was 50 per cent. of such income.

If earned income is treated as the lower slice of any taxed income, and assuming 1975–76 rates of tax on both earned and investment income, the loss of revenue at 1975–76 income levels would be of the order of £200 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many company registered cars and privately registered cars are receiving capital allowances including balancing allowances and charges; and what is the total annual value of these allowances for each of the tax years 1970–71 to 1974–75.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many directors and employees are in receipt of benefits in kind income in the form of a motor car wholly or partially provided by a company; and what is the total annual value of this taxable income for each of the tax years 1970–71 to 1974–75.

For the year 1973–74 it is estimated that about 226,000 employees and 186,000 directors were subject to tax, under the special provisions relating to the taxation of benefits, on a sum of about £43 million in respect of the benefits arising from their private use of cars supplied by their employers. I regret that sufficiently reliable information is not available to provide answers to the remainder of the Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take action to alter the situation in which total tax allowances for a married couple with one child not over 11 years of age are only £1,195 compared with £1,350 for two single people and no child since this penalises those who marry, and, in particular, wives who stay at home to look after their children.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the 1975 accounts of the Duchy of Cornwall have not yet been published, in accordance with the Act of 1838; and whether he will take steps to expedite publication.

The Accounts of the Duchy of Cornwall for the year ending 31st December 1975 will be laid before both Houses of Parliament as required by the Act of 1838 as soon as possible. Some time is needed after the end of the year for the preparation of the accounts for audit, their submission to, and examination by, the auditor and printing of the audited accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of persons admitted to the United Kingdom in each of the years 1969 to 1975 for training as medical students.

The number of overseas students admitted to medical schools in the United Kingdom from 1969 onwards was:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the same academic standards govern the admission to United Kingdom teaching hospitals of overseas medical students as those which apply to applicants who are resident citizens of the United Kingdom.

I understand that this is the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of his present policy regarding the payment of fuel subsidies to the fishing industry, he will discuss with the EEC authorities the full subsidy made available to the French fishing industry by the French Government.

The EEC sanction which member States were enabled to pay fuel subsidies if they wished came to an end on 31st December 1975. The French authorities have affirmed that in the meantime no such aid is being paid in France.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the percentage of income in the local authority housing revenue accounts attributable to:(a) rates,(b) rents and (c) central Government subsidies in each of the years since 1960.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has so far undertaken with Scottish organisations regarding proposals to implement the terms of the Common Market directive restricting marketing of New York dressed poultry as part of the law of Scotland; and if he will outline the timetable for issuing these proposals and for consultation in Scotland.

Consultations with producers, packing station operators, local authorities and the distribution trade have taken place on several occasions over the past year. Proposals for Regulations to implement the directive in Scotland were referred to representative organisations on 11th December 1975 and comments are now being received. After these have been studied and any necessary further consultations have taken place, Regulations will be laid before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average current cost of a newly constructed local authority three-bedroomed house; what would be the economic rent necessary to meet all debt charges, management costs, &c.; and what is the average unrebated rent charged by local authorities in Scotland for houses of this size.

The average cost of a new four-apartment local authority dwelling during 1975—excluding the cost of land, site works and fees—is estimated to have been £11,300, and a first-year rent to cover the loan charges and other expenses of such a house would be about £23 a week. The Scottish average unrebated rent for a four-apartment house at 28th November 1974, the latest available date, was £2·90 per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table for each year since 1967 showing average unrebated local authority houses: (a) as a percentage of average earnings and (b) as a percentage of average annual debt, maintenance and management charge.

The information is as follows:(

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies have been instituted in Scotland regarding starter homes; what steps he has taken to encourage the building of these houses: and if he is satisfied that such houses can meet a specific need in Scottish housing.

Studies and developments which have been undertaken in recent years comprise:

1965—Cumbernauld Development Corporation pilot project "Sectional Housing" (a form of extendible House).

1971—NBA report "The Extendible Home"

1972—Edinburgh Corporation development project for an extendible house.

1973—SDD internal report "Low Cost Shell House"

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether improvements to the Aberdeen-Ellan-Peterhead-Fraserburgh road qualify for special assistance as oil-related.

As this is a trunk road, expenditure on improvements is met wholly from central Government funds, and there is no additional local authority expenditure to qualify for special assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many accidents have occurred on the Aberdeen-Ellan-Peterhead-Fraserburgh road in each of the last five years; and if he will give figures divided into the following categories: fatal, serious and minor.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will announce guide-lines for selecting the reduced number of students entering Scottish teacher training colleges.

I have indicated to colleges of education that in selecting students for secondary training priority should be given to applicants in subjects where there is still a shortage of teachers, and that more rigorous selection procedures should be applied in subjects where the supply is good. Apart from this it will be for colleges themselves, as in the past, to select the most suitable applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he intends to issue a consultative document on priorities for health and personal social services in Scotland.

I intend shortly to publish guidelines for the development of the Health Service in Scotland until 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the hardship caused to people travelling long distances by public transport to visit friends and relatives in Stratheden Hospital, Fife; what representations he has received on the matter; and what action he intends to take.

I have not recently received any representations on difficulties experienced by visitors to Stratheden Hospital, but I am aware that it is not conveniently situated for some visitors. Day hospitals have been provided at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy, Bandrum, near Dunfermline and Weston, in Cupar, in order to bring services for the mentally ill nearer to the main centres of population in Fife. Planning is proceeding as quickly as possible to provide new psychiatric and psycho-geriatric inpatient and day hospital services in Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland under what statutory provisions in Scotland installations erected on oil and gas fields and pipelines in the North Sea (United Kingdom Section) outside the three-mile limit are rateable.

Section 9 of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956 and Sections 1 and 2 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975 deal with the placing of lands and heritages on the valuation roll. As regards the particular subjects referred to by the hon. Member, I refer to my reply to the hon. Member for Beeston (Mr. Lester) on 16th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 499.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to reply to the Question from the hon. Member for Bedford placed on the Order Paper of 11th March relating to the rating of North Sea installations.

A letter has been sent to the hon. Member today.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he is satisfied with the number, strength, armament and equipment of the Special Patrol Groups of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and whether he will make a statement.

These are matters for the Chief Constable and the Police Authority. The size of the Special Patrol Group is kept under review, and there are appropriate arrangements for the assessment of its operational needs for arms and equipment and for the provision of all necessary items.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what is the total of overseas aid that has been made available to date to Vietnam since it became a unified nation; and if he will make a statement.

I must inform my hon. Friend that North and South Vietnam have not yet been formally unified. However, the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) on 29th January—[Vol. 904, c. 248.]—provided a detailed statement on our aid to these two countries. I also explained the latest position in my re-plies to Questions on 22nd March—[Vol. 908, c. 33–4.] In addition, I have said in the latter part of my reply on 30th March—[Vol. 908, c. 468.]—to my hon. Friend the Member for Darlington (Mr. Fletcher) that we have informed the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam that we should be willing to consider sympathetically a request for technical assistance for English language teaching.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the percentage of gross national product produced by British agricultural workers, and how this compares with agricultural workers in member countries of the EEC.

I regret that information is not readily available in the precise form requested. However, Table 1 of the 1976 Annual Review White Paper (Cmnd. 6392) laid before the House earlier this month gives figures for United Kingdom agriculture's contribution to our gross domestic product. For information about other members of the EEC, I refer my hon. Friend to the table on page 3 of volume III of the European Commission's 1975 report on "The Agricultural Situation in the Community" which is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the prices paid to milk producers in the United Kingdom in 1970, 1974 and 1975, respectively; what were the average retail prices in those years; and what was the average price of feeding stuffs to milk producers in those years.

The net average prices paid to wholesale milk producers in the United Kingdom in the years 1970–71. 1974–75 and 1975–76 are as follows: