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

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Lamont).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons from the Yorkshire and Humberside region are currently engaged in retraining activity; and what was the number from this region being retrained five and 10 years earlier.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, on 22nd March 1976, 2,589 people were receiving training under Government schemes in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region. The comparable figures for 1971 and 1966 were 616 and 424 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will estimate how many people will be trained under the auspices of the Training Services Agency this year; and how many will be similarly trained next year.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is proposed to train 80,000 people under the Training Opportunities Scheme in 1976, and 82,000 in 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he is making to harmonise the minimum holiday requirements for British workers with the practice in other countries which belong to the EEC.

The Government supported the EEC recommendation adopted last year for four weeks annual paid holiday by the end of 1978, on the basis that its progressive achievement was a matter for collective bargaining, subject to the requirements of counter-inflation policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied with the operation of the law affecting security of employment in the light of evidence sent to him by the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his latest estimate of the total number of employees covered by closed shop agreements or arrangements, existing or proposed; and what the equivalent figures were in each of the last three years.

Information on which I could base such an estimate for the present and for the previous three years is not available to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in view of the recent industrial relations legislation concerned with the closed shop, what evidence he has that local authorities and public industries are now insisting that all contractors and sub-contractors enforce the closed shop principle: and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware that local authorities and public industries are adopting such a practice. However, if they decide to include conditions concerning union membership of a contractor's or sub-contractor's employees as a term of a commercial contract, that is a matter for the parties to the contract. Such practices are not affected by recent industrial relations legislation relating to the closed shop.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will now provide a broad indication of the percentage unemployed (a) in the private sector and (b) in the public sector, based on allocating the figures for each standard industrial classification to that sector in which the majority of those in that classification are employed.

Calculated on this imprecise basis, the percentages for March were 6·5 in the private sector and 2·5 in the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current rate of unemployment in the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to similar Questions earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to identify specific skill shortages in manufacturing industry.

The responsibility for identifying and meeting the requirements for skilled labour in manufacturing industry rests with the industrial training boards under the general oversight of the Training Services Agency and the Manpower Services Commission. The industrial strategy exercise also includes in its objectives the identification of obstacles to the efficient performance of the industries it covers, including those arising from shortages of skilled labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were unemployed in each of the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency at the most recent count; and what were the comparable figures for January 1974.

At March 1976 the numbers registered as unemployed in the employment office areas of Leek, Biddulph, Cheadle and Kidsgrove were 602, 258, 271 and 431 respectively. The corresponding figures for January 1974 were 167, 126, 119 and 248.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons are unemployed in Glasgow; and how many job vacancies have been notified.

In March 1976, 40,541 people were registered as unemployed in the Glasgow travel-to-work area. There were 3,478 notified vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices and 272 at careers offices in this area. The vacancy statistics relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and are not a measure of total vacancies; because of possible duplication, they should not be added together.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has any plans to speak in his official capacity at annual conferences of trades unions; and, if so, at which conferences he will be speaking.

So far I have accepted invitations to speak at the conferences of the National Federation of Professional Workers; the TUC's South-West Region; the Society of Graphical and Allied Trades; the National and Local Government Officers' Association; the National Society of Operative Printers, Graphical and Media Personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to complete the list of persons to be appointed to the Health and Safety Commission as laid down by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974; and if he will make a statement.

The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 specifies that the Commission shall consist of a chairman and not less than six or more than nine other members. The Chairman and eight members were appointed in the autumn of 1974. As regards the appointment of the ninth member, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Sir B. Braine) on 18th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 609.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what he anticipates the skill requirement in engineering to be in the years 1978, 1979 and 1980; and what arrangements he is now making to ensure an adequate intake of retrained adults and apprentices into the industry.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is not possible to make precise forecasts of skill requirements in engineering in 1978, 1979 and 1980. The special initiatives taken by the Engineering Industry Training Board and the Training Services Agency in 1975, and the measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12th February, which are currently being discussed with the Engineering ITB, are designed to provide substantial numbers of additional trained workers for the industry. It is considered that the skill levels in the industry in 1978, 1979 and 1980 will be adequate to meet demands likely to arise as the economy improves.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the annual cost of the three-day presentation courses provided by the PER Branch of the Employment Service Agency.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that in the financial year just ended over 1,500 people attended these courses at an estimated total cost of £52,700.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will invite school leavers to create their own jobs connected with the improvement of the quality of community life in the neighbourhood, for wages equivalent to the present unemployment benefit.

No. The programmes already instituted by the Government to alleviate unemployment give young people opportunities to participate in worthwhile work in the community. I consider it inappropriate to pay wages which are equal only to unemployment benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on his latest consultations with representatives of employers' organisations and trade unions about the next stage of incomes policy.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel) on 16th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding employment problems in the electricity generating industry.

None. But my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy has received representations about the prospective closures of individual power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding the provision of protective clothing for workers handling asbestos materials and related products.

Several hon. Members have written to ask me to inquire into a dispute between work people and CDN Insulation Limited over the provision of protective clothing at the CEGB power station site on the Isle of Grain. Yesterday, at the suggestion of my hon. Friend the Member for Chester-le-Street (Mr. Radice), I met a delegation of the General and Municipal Workers Union which had asked that I take steps to ensure that the highest possible standards of safety are provided by contractors engaged in building and maintenance of power stations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to encourage job opportunities for persons over 50 years of age in the non-assisted areas.

I hope that more job opportunities will be available generally as a result of the Government measures introduced over the last year to mitigate unemployment. It is Government policy to encourage employers in all areas to consider older workers and to make ability qualifications, experience, etc., the criteria for recruitment and retention of workers rather than age. The Employment Service Agency, through its general and specialised placing services, does all it can to help older workers to find employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the co-ordination of the activities of the Factory Inspectorate with Thames Water Authority and other relevant authorities in the matter of Chromate pollution from the factory premises of Torrens Plating Works as it affects residents in Duncan Terrace, Islington.

As a result of information given to me by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission I am satisfied that there has been full consultation between Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate and the local authority and Thames Water Authority in this case. Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate kept the other two authorities informed of the action it had taken, including the issue under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 of improvement notices to prevent further escape of chromic acid solution.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons from ethnic minority groups have been appointed members of industrial tribunals since the present administration took office; what proportion of such appointments this number represents: and whether he is concerned to increase this number.

Information is not available about the total number of persons from ethnic minority groups who are members of industrial tribunals. However, we are anxious that as far as possible the composition of industrial tribunal membership should reflect the overall composition of the working population. We have therefore emphasised to the organisations which nominate people for membership the desirability of including members of racial minorities amongst their nominees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of people unemployed in the Thanet area on 31st March; what percentage this figure represents of the total work force; and what are the comparable figures for the same period last year.

On 11th March 1976 the number of unemployed people in the area covered by the Margate, Ramsgate and Sandwich employment offices was 3,490 and the rate of unemployment was 7·8 per cent. The corresponding figures for 10th March 1975 were 2,276 and 5·1 per cent. Rates of unemployment are calculated by expressing the numbers unemployed as a percentage of the estimated total number of employees, including the unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories have been closed in Wales during the past five years; and how many redundancies were involved in such closures.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, until Sections 99 and 100 of the Employment Protection Act came into force on 8th March 1976, employers were under no statutory obligation to notify redundancies, and, of those voluntarily notified by employers, separate information for closures is available from 1st January 1972 only. Subject to these qualifications, the number of closures of establishments engaged in manufacturing industry recorded as due to occur in Wales and the number of work people involved, for each year since 1972, is as follows:

Year	Number of Closures	Number of Workpeople involved
1972	40	3,510
1973	22	1,080
1974	25	1,290
1975	19	1,380

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he has given instructions that the Members' Tea Room should close at, before or after the time of the rising of the House.

The Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) resolved on 23rd March that with effect from the return of the House from the Easter Adjournment the Members' Cafeteria should close at 7.30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and on Friday when the House rises or at 2.30 p.m. whichever is the later.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government assistance is being provided to maintain employment at the Tilgman Keramic plant in Londonderry.

This company recently became insolvent and unable to continue in business, thus making 35 people redundant. As the factory is located in Londonderry, which has one of the higher levels of unemployment in Northern Ireland, it was considered important to hold the nucleus of the trained workforce together and enable them to continue in operation while efforts were made to find a way of maintaining their employment. Accordingly the Government appointed a receiver to the company on 30th January 1976 and agreed to provide extra-statutory grants of up to £17,000 to underwrite the losses incurred during the first two months of the receivership so as to allow time to try to find a purchaser.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will indicate the cause of delay in deciding the amount and making payment of compensation relating to a claim made by D. McCune and Son, Arbour Street, Belfast, BT 14 6HN, in respect of damage to a sports centre at Rathcoole, claim number CIP 21805.

pursuant to his reply of 2nd April 1976 [Official Report Vol. 908, c. 569], gave the following information:I replied on 5th March—[Vol. 906, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he is having with the EEC authorities regarding the support given by the French Government to the French fishing industry through channels other than that of a direct fuel subsidy; and if he will make a statement.

Under the EEC Treaty national aids which distort or threaten to distort competition are incompatible with the common market. The Treaty also places an obligation on member States to inform the EEC Commission of plans to grant or alter national aids, and the Commission is required, in conjunction with member States, to maintain a constant review of existing systems of aid The United Kingdom plays a full part in this review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what will be the average rise in the price of butter if there is no increase in the subsidy for British butter paid by the European Commission.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Tuck) on 25tb March.—[Vol. 908, c. 603–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what success he has had in persuading the European Commission to increase the amount it pays towards the British butter subsidy.

The Commission is reviewing the butter subsidy arrangements and will be reporting to the Council before 1st May. My right hon. Friends the Minister and the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection have recently dscussed this matter with the Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he proposes to bring forward new measures for the control of agricultural pests in England and Wales, arising out of his consultatons with the National Federation of Rabbit Clearance Societies.

As was made clear during the consultations to which the hon. Member refers, statutory responsbility for pest control rests with occupiers concerned. However, we naturally welcome voluntary measures within the industry to secure concerted action against particular pests in particular areas; and we are developing some local studies on this. Additionally, the Department's Pest Infestation Control Laboratory continues to seek new or improved methods for control of agricultural pests generally. Neither my right hon. Friend nor I consider the present situation calls for new measures.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to reduce the number of foxes in the South-East in general and in the London borough of Harrow in particular, in view of the danger of rabies infection.

Foxes would present a rabies hazard only if the disease were introduced into our wild life following the illegal import of an infected animal. The Government's firm aim is to prevent this happening. Nevertheless, we have contingency plans for fox eradication in an infected area in the event of a rabies outbreak in wild life.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals have been made to introduce grants for forage groups as envisaged in Article 11 of the EEC Directive on less favoured areas.

My right hon. Friend proposes to make grants to forage groups in less favoured areas through the Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation Scheme 1971. The rates of grant proposed are 25 per cent, for forage machinery and 15 per cent, for tractors to be used with the machinery. These arrangements are subject to the approval of the Commission, and it is unlikely that this will be obtained in time for the scheme to start before June. In order that schemes are not held up my right hon. Friend is asking the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation to give urgent work authority where it considers it appropriate to applications made after today. I must make the point, however, that this urgent work authority does not carry any form of promise that a grant will be paid; it means only that any group so authorised may go ahead and buy its machines without contravening the "prior approval" requirements of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the principal factors which influenced his decision to sanction a levy to the Eggs Authority of £3·50 per 100 chicks over the coming year.

This rate of levy was set at a level which it was estimated would meet the Authority's proposed expenditure in 1976–77. My right hon. Friend was satisfied that in drawing up its budget the Authority struck a reasonable balance between planning for a level of expenditure which would allow it to carry out its responsibilities satisfactorily and avoiding an unduly large increase in the levy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much food is now in intervention store in the United Kingdom.

It is provisionally estimated that on 7th April 1976 there were 5,660 tons of beef and 32,420 tons of skimmed milk powder in intervention stores in the United Kingdom which had been purchased under market support arrangements by the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now able to announce a decision on the date from which the increased compensation limits under the brucellosis and tuberculosis eradication schemes will be operable.

I have given further consideration to the date at which the increased limits, announced on 23rd February—[Vol. 906, c. 3–4]—should take effect. I have decided that, because of the special circumstances that apply in this case, appropriate ex gratia payments will be made to give owners of cattle slaughtered in the period 1st November 1975 to 24th February 1976 the benefit of the increased limits. These payments will be based on the valuations made before slaughter.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what has been the average percentage increase in Civil Service salaries between January 1974 and April 1976.

The average increase in basic national rates of pay for all civil servants—industrial and non-industrial—arising from pay changes made between January 1974 and April 1976, expressed as a percentage of the rates in force on 1st January 1974, was 46 per cent. This excludes the increases of 1st January 1974 but includes those of 1st April 1976.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants have received subsistence allowances in respect of residential courses involving free board and lodging; and what was the total of such subsistence allowances for each financial year since 1969–70.

Civil servants who attend residential training courses involving free board and lodging do not receive subsistence allowances, but they do receive small allowances to cover incidental personal expenses. Since these allowances are paid by the employing Department for a wide range of residential courses, it is not possible to obtain the information requested without disproportionate expense.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what proportion of the value of central Government advertising business was placed through advertising agencies in which the majority shareholding was British during the latest year for which figures are available; and what advice is given to other public bodies such as nationalised industries about placing their business with British owned agencies.

As the hon. Member will appreciate, I can only answer for Government advertising campaigns. In 1975–76, approximately 55 per cent, of the amount spent on Government advertising was placed through advertising agencies in which the majority shareholding was British. The selection of advertising agencies for Government campaigns is made on the recommendation of the Independent Advisory Committee on the Appointment of Advertising Agents under the chairmanship of Sir David Barran.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when a contract was let for the refurbishing of Gannet XL480; to what extent the work has been carried out; whether the aeroplane is now to be scrapped before return to service; if so, why: and what has been the cost of the work done and of any further payments to be made for failure to complete the work.

A contract for the modernisation of Gannet AEW Mk. 3 aircraft was let in August 1973. A small amount of work had been carried out on Gannet XL480 before it was decided in the light of revised operational requirements, not to proceed with its modernisation. Certain refurbished and other components have been removed from Gannet XL480 to support the remainder of the modernisation programme, but no decision has been taken on the future of the remaining shell. The costs to the Ministry of Defence have not yet been agreed with the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the total housing stock owned by his Department in the United Kingdom according to the various types of dwellings, indicating what percentage of each type was empty on 1st January 1976.

According to the latest available figures, the Ministry of Defence has approximately 104,000 married quarters in the United Kingdom—including houses for civilian employees —of which approximately 11,800 are for the time being vacant. A detailed breakdown is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the results of his investigations into transactions between the Ministry of Defence and Aviation Jersey Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the supply of Centurion Africa and the outcome of the inquiry tank spares and equipment to South by Sir Philip Allen.

I am grateful to Sir Philip Allen for speedily and thoroughly investigating this matter. He has confirmed that between January 1974 and January 1976 the firm of Aviation Jersey Limited and its subsidiary, Technical Support Services Limited, exported to South Africa some £1½ million worth of spares and engines for armoured fighting vehicles. The applications for export licences made to the Jersey Authorities described them as "petrol engines" and "petrol engine spares". The bulk of the spares involved had been supplied by the Ministry of Defence to the firm, to which it had supplied certain spare parts for many years. There are no grounds for suggesting that Ministry of Defence officials had knowledge of the fact that, in addition to its legitimate business, the firm was exporting military equipment to South Africa. However, as a result of Sir Philip Allen's investigations, I have decided that improvements are necessary in the system of clearing requests by firms for the purchase of spares and other items of military equipment from the Ministry of Defence; and also in our monitoring of the purposes to which such purchases may be put. Action is being taken to remedy these defects.The Ministry of Defence's dealings with the firm were suspended on 14th January 1976. I understand that the Attorney General for Jersey is considering whether legal action should be taken against the firm.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish for each university in receipt of grant from the University Grants Committee the amount of recurrent grant for 1976–77.

The allocation of recurrent grant for 1976–77 so far notified by the University Grants Committee to universities amounts to £543·5 million. Details are given below. Since the total grant of £581 million is now in the form of a cash limit, including future wage and salary increases whose incidence is not yet known, the Committee has decided in the interests of equity to make the balance the subject of subsequent allocation.The details are as follows:

University or College	Allocation £000s
Aston	8,603
Bath	5,097
Birmingham	17,866
Bradford	8,691
Bristol	13,217
Brunel	5,489
Cambridge	18,806
City	5,845
Durham	6,556
East Anglia	5,899
Essex	4,255
Exeter	6,205
Hull	6,964
Keele	4,343
Kent	4,941
Lancaster	6,174
Leeds	18,729
Leicester	6,831
Liverpool	16,205
London Graduate School of Business Studies	328
London	112,571
Loughborough	6,425
Manchester Business School	298
Manchester	21,480
University of Manchester Institute of Science &Technology	8,940
Newcastle	13,465
Nottingham	11,283
Oxford	19,392
Reading	9,262
Salford	8,451
Sheffield	14,023
Southampton	10,513
Surrey	6,226
Sussex	7,278
Warwick	6,111
York	4,422

Aberystwyth	4,936
Bangor	5,049
Cardiff	7,527
St. David's Lampeter	725
Swansea	6,113
Welsh National School of Medicine	2,728
University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology	4,173
Welsh Registry	700
Aberdeen	11,202
Dundee	7,267
Edinburgh	19,246
Glasgow	18,672
Heriot-Watt	4,509
St. Andrews	5,254
Stirling	3,903
Strathclyde	10,318

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of full-time students at universities in England are domiciled, respectively, in Scotland, and in countries other than England.

In 1974–75 about 1 per cent, of students in English universities were domiciled in Scotland; and 14 per cent, outside England, Wales and Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many members of ethnic minority groups have been appointed school managers and governors by local education authorities since the reorganisation of local government took place; what proportion of such appointments this number represents; and whether he will consider giving local authorities guidance on this matter.

Appointments of school managers and governors are not notified to the Department. As the arrangements for the management and government of schools are being reviewed by the Taylor Committee, my right hon. Friend would prefer to await the outcome of the Committee's work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost of the provision per student of an engineering first degree in a university and in a further education institution, respectively.

Comparative costings specific to first degree courses in engineering at universities and further education establishments are not available. These courses form part of a larger group of advanced level courses involving laboratory or workshop facilities—but excluding medicine—for which the average net recurrent institutional cost per student in the financial year 1974–75 is estimated at £2,000 for universities and £1,940 for polytechnics at 1975 Survey prices. Some engineering first degree work also takes place in other major establishments of further education, but separate costings for these are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what assessment he has made of the number of schoolchildren likely to be suffering from the handicap commonly known as dyslexia; and what is the probable incident per 1,000;(2) how many schoolchildren have been currently identified as handicapped by dyslexia;(3) if there is any evidence that shows a different incidence of dyslexia in different social classes.

A recent report has suggested that there is a continuum spanning the whole range of reading abilities from those of the most fluent readers to those with the most severe difficulties. The children known as dyslexic are not considered to need remedial treatment which is different in kind from other children with reading difficulties. Attempts to estimate the number of dyslexic children would therefore not serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when his Department first placed dyslexic children in the category of educationally subnormal: and if they informed local education authorities of his categorisation.

My Department has never placed dyslexic children—or any other children with reading difficulties—in the category of educationally subnormal pupils, ft is the general practice of local education authorities to provide special help for children who in their opinion need it, even if these children do not readily fit into any of the statutory categories.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if the DES has offered local education authorities advice on what are currently considered to be the best mehods of diagnosing and treating dyslexic children;(2) if he is satisfied that local education authorities are making sufficient efforts to identify dyslexic children; and what information he has on the efforts of individual local education authorities;(3) if he is satisfied that local education authorities are providing adequate remedial treatment for dyslexic children; and what information he has on the extent and nature of the remedial treatment provided by individual local education authorities;(4) what action his Department has taken or intends to take against local education authorities which do not provide special help for dyslexic children after they have been identified;(5) if he will have discussions with local education authorities designed to encourage the provision of remedial treatment for dyslexia children within the children's own schools, unless there are exceptional circumstances;(6) if he will issue a circular to local education authorities encouraging them to make particular efforts to identify those dyslexic children who have deprived backgrounds and to provide them with remedial treatment;(7) if he will co-ordinate research and the literature in dyslexia; and if he will stimulate research into the best method of helping dyslexic children.

Guidance on the identification and treatment of children with specific reading difficulties has been given in the 1972 Tizard Report and the 1974 Bullock Report. I do not consider that a circular from my Department, the collection of information from local education authorities or more academic research are called for at present. Authorities are making as much progress as can be expected with limited resources in improving facilities for remedial treatment for children (including deprived children) in ordinary schools and, where this proves insufficient, in remedial centres and reading clinics.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will discuss with LEAs the possibility of appointing for each LEA area an adviser responsible for all children with dyslexia.

It is for each authority to decide what form its advisory service should take and to consider, in the light of existing resources, the recommendations of the Bullock Report "A Language for Life" about the need for advisers specialising in learning difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that there is sufficient co-operation between hospitals involved with dyslexic children and local education authorities; and if he will detail the communication channels between the two.

Only children whose reading difficulties are severe or whose difficulties are associated with other handicaps are likely to be referred by the school doctor to a hospital consultant, usually a paediatrician. I have no reason to think that co-operation between hospitals and LEAs gives any grounds for concern. The hospital's advice will normally be channelled to the LEA by the school doctor.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps designed to bring about closer liaison between local education authorities and parents of dyslexic children at every stage of diagnosis and treatment and to ensure that such parents are provided with the fullest information on their child's handicap.

My right hon. Friend welcomes close liaison between authorities and parents of children with learning difficulties, but the way to achieve this must be decided locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he is satisfied that most of those teachers doing remedial work with dyslexic children have received adequate training; and what information he has about the number of teachers involved and the type of training they have received;(2) if he is satisfied that teacher training colleges pay sufficient attention to the problems of identifying and treating dyslexia; and what changes there have been in the number and type of courses provided in the last five years.

The information collected by the Department about the number of teachers doing remedial work in special and other schools does not enable those working with dyslexic children and details of their training to be identified. The content of teacher training courses is a matter for providing institutions and validating bodies, but the greater awareness in recent years of problems in the development of language and reading among children is reflected in the provision of both initial and in-service courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has taken on the recommendation of the Bullock Committee to establish a national centre to publicise research findings and to promote co-operation amongst those concerned with the language problems in education.

The Committee's recommendation presents a number of difficulties and my right hon. Friend is still considering it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of foreign students at present attending English language schools in order to qualify for entry into colleges of higher education; what is the average fee per annum payable by such students and the total of such fees during the current financial year; what proposals he has for increasing these fees; and what the effect of any such increase will be on the number of students attending English language schools and the total fees received from them.

My Department has no responsibility for English language schools outside the public sector; the information requested about numbers and fees in private institutions is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will issue a circular to LEAs encouraging them to provide in-service training for remedial teachers.

No. The local education authorities themselves are in the best position to judge what priority should be given to in-service training in remedial work. Over the past few years the number of teachers seconded to courses in remedial teaching has increased very substantially.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what were the numbers of males and females aged 14 to 16, 17 to 20, and 21 years and over, respectively, convicted of non-indictable offences in 1961 and in the latest available year; and, in each age-range, what were the number and percentage who received custodial sentences in the two years;(2) what were the numbers of males and females aged 14 to 16, 17 to 20 and 21 years and over, respectively, convicted of indictable offences in 1961 and in the latest available years; and, in each age-range, what were the number and percentage who received custodial sentences in the two years.

I shall write to the hon. Member when I have assembled the available information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is an Irish intelligence bureau in the Metropolitan Police; what are its functions; and how many personnel are employed there.

There is no unit of that name, but the responsibilities of the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police include matters concerning illegal Irish Republican activity in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been arrested under the supplemental orders made under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974; how many were held for more than 48 hours; and whether any people were held for more than seven days.

A total of 872 people were detained at ports under the provisions of the Prevention of Terrorism (Supplemental Temporary Provisions) Order 1974. Of these 152 were detained for more than 48 hours. Only one person was detained for longer than seven days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been charged after an initial arrest under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974; and with what charges.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Lewis) on 2nd April—[Vol. 908, c. 593–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been charged to date under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974; and under which section.

Three people were charged in Great Britain under Section 1(1)(6) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were excluded to date from Great Britain under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974; where they were removed to; how many of them made representations objecting to the exclusion order; and how many were successful.

I made 75 exclusion orders under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1974. Notice of the making of an exclusion order was served on 67 people, 61 of whom were removed, 44 to Northern Ireland and 17 to the Irish Republic. 17 of the 67 made representations objecting to the order and I revoked the order in five of these 17 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he next expects a planning application to be made to establish a bail hostel in the Manchester, Moss Side constituency;(2) when he next expects a planning application to be made to establish a probation hostel in the Manchester, Moss Side constituency.

No further planning applications to establish probation or bail hostels in the Moss Side constituency are contemplated at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the British Security Industries Association on the licensing of security firms.

We know of no such report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider introducing a licensing system for security firms.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 8th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett)—[Vol. 909, c. 239].

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to transfer the administration of elections in Wales to the Welsh Office.

In general it seems desirable that there should be a reasonable degree of uniformity in electoral procedures between England and Wales. The present arrangements achieve this, while providing for a separate Boundary Commission for Wales and for Welsh language versions of election forms. If the hon. Member has any particular points in mind I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people were sent to borstal in each year since 1970.

7,476 in 1970, 7,158 in 1971, 6,491 in 1972, 6,054 in 1973 and 6,455 in 1974. Figures for 1975 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposals he has received for the calling of a Speaker's Conference; what subjects he expects to be included on the agenda; and what advice he can tender to people who wish to make representations on subjects that they wish to see included on such an agenda.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has now written to the leaders of the other parties about the calling of a Speaker's Conference. Hon. Members may, therefore, wish to draw to the attention of their own party leaders any subjects which they wish to see included on the agenda.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, since over £1,500 million has been written out of British Rail's accounts following several capital reconstructions, what is the consequential loss to the British taxpayers in terms of (a) this sum which must also be serviced annually and (b) actual grants made to British Rail to cover current and past losses not written off.

Debt written out of the Board's accounts becomes a liability of the Consolidated Fund but the cost of servicing it cannot be separately identified. Following the latest reconstruction under the Railways Act 1974 grants to the Board in 1975 are estimated at £510 million, consisting mainly of revenue support, but including some £35 million toward repayment of capital obligations to pension funds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of local authority dwellings built in the last 15 years in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region have required subsequent remedial work; and how many homes this percentage figure represents;(2) what expenditure has been incurred to date by each respective district council in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region in carrying out remedial work on local authority dwellings built in the last 15 years; and what amount per dwelling these totals represent in each district.

To try to provide this information would require the 26 district councils in the region to examine their own records and the records of their 140 predecessors for the past 15 years; I do not think it reasonable to ask them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that there is adequate opportunity for elderly persons to cross the Al in the vicinity of Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed, without the installation of a pelican crossing.

From observations taken at site there are adequate gaps of sufficient duration in the traffic stream to allow pedestrians including elderly people to cross the Al in the vicinity of the post office in Castlegate. This site has been inspected on a number of occasions and it has been found that the volume of pedestrians crossing at this point is insufficient to justify a pelican crossing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the revised transport policy plan allocation for Greater Manchester which allows £40 million over five years for capital expenditure on highways and public transport, it will now be possible for the Bury road-rail passenger interchange to be built.

It is for the Greater Manchester Council to decide what to include in its transport programme, having regard to the resources likely to be available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the recent large increase in the population of Bury, he will make further funds available to the Greater Manchester PTA for the upgrading and electrification of the Bury-Manchester rail link, including the provision of a road-rail passenger interchange at Bury.

The Greater Manchester Council has been given guidelines indicating the level of resources likely to be available for transport purposes in the period 1977–78 to 1981–82. These have full regard to the Government's Public Expenditure White Paper. It is a matter for Greater Manchester Council to decide what provision for rail improvements and passenger interchange facilities to include in its transport programme within the total resources indicated by its guidelines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he proposes to take to alleviate the problems that will be created in certain local authority areas, especially those with a high proportion of older low-cost housing stock, by strict adherence to current limits on council lending;(2) what arrangements he is making to help prospective purchasers of older low-cost dwellings who are unable to obtain a private mortgage and who will be unlikely, because of the small total amount available, to obtain a local authority mortgage.

We have tried to alleviate the difficulties in two ways. First, we have ensured that local authorities which have loaned on older properties in the past receive a proportionately larger share of the available funds, and second, we have included such dwellings among the priority categories for lending during 1976–77.So far as there is a general problem created by the stortage of local authority mortgage finance, I am anxious that there should be much closer co-operation between local authorities and the building societies, and I am hopeful that the discussions which are going on between the Building Societies Association and the local authority associations will lead to an increase in the amount of lending by building societies on property previously considered to be suitable only for local authority mortgages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the amount of financial assistance given by the Government to the English Tourist Board in each of the past 10 years; and what is the estimated figure for the next financial year.

I have been asked to reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effect of the decline in the birth rate on requirements for future housing construction.

A reduction in the number of births has little effect on household formation and therefore on housing needs and demand for some 20 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the approximate increase in the number of new local authority dwellings and the increase in the number of older properties acquired by local authorities in

				Numbers Average receiving	Numbers weekly amount	Number receiving as percentage of those eligible
					£
Rent rebates, January 1976	…	…	…	955,000	2·87	70–75*
Rent allowances, January 1976	…	…	…	190,000	2·70	30–35*†
Rate rebates 1974–75	…	…	…	2,500,000	40·00 per annum	70
per annum
* Percentage take-up during the first half of 1975
† Unfurnished tenancies only.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons are at present in receipt of (a) a rent rebate, (b) a rent allowance and (c) a rate rebate; what is the average amount paid for each of these benefits; and what proportion of those eligible it is estimated that these numbers represent.

It is estimated that at January 1976 520,000 tenants in England and Wales over pensionable age, about three-quarters of those eligible, were receiving a rent rebate. The average weekly rebate was about £2·90. These figures exclude tenants receiving supplementary benefit. This information is not available for rent allowances or rate rebates.

The reported numbers of dwellings completed, and estimated numbers of existing dwellings acquired for continued housing use by local authorities in England and Wales are:—

	Develapings completed	Existing dwellings acquired
1973	72,400	5,000
1974	89,200	20,000
1975	110,700	23,000

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many retirement pensioners are at present in receipt of (a) a rent rebate, (b) a rent allowance and (c) a rate rebate; what is the average amount paid for each of these benefits; and what proportion of those eligible it is estimated that these numbers represent.

The information for householders in England and Wales, excluding those receiving supplementary benefit, is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of meeting the requirements of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act (a) to First Division football clubs in England and Wales (b) to Second Division football clubs in England and Wales (c) to Third Division football clubs in England and Wales (d) to Fourth Division football clubs in England and Wales (e) the Scottish Football League grounds and (f) other sports grounds covered by the Act.

The Safety of Sports Grounds Act requires football clubs to apply for a general safety certificate in respect of grounds designated by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary or, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, as appropriate. No designation order has yet been made. The cost of measures required to improve spectator safety at any designated ground will depend upon existing provision, ground capacity and what improvements the local authority considers necessary in all the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names of the football clubs which at present meet all the requirements of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act.

The Safety of Sports Grounds Act requires football clubs to apply for a general safety certificate only after their grounds have been designated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Home Affairs or by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, as appropriate. The inspection of grounds and the issue of safety certificates will be the responsibility of county authorities, or in Scotland regional councils.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the terms of reference, and who are the members, of the inter-departmental review of the countryside policy; and when the report will be completed.

The terms of reference are:

"To review, in relation to land outside urban areas, the state of the countryside and the pressures upon it;

To examine the effect of existing policies for, or having an impact upon, the countryside and the extent to which they are adequate to contain or modify or accept the pressures;

Given the existence of other major policy objectives, including the maintenance of agricultural production, to consider whether changes of policy or of practice are necessary to reconcile these objectives where they conflict with the conservation of the countryside the enhancement of its natural beauty, and its enjoyment by the public;

And to make recommendations ".

The review does not extend to Scotland. The review committee is made up of officials of my own Department, the Welsh Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and, in a personal capacity, of the principal public agencies concerned. Other Government Departments are consulted as necessary.The intention is, starting this summer, to publish a series of papers on the main issues considered, as a basis for public discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment who administers the Football Grounds Improvement Trust; and whether his Department provides secretarial assistance.

The Football Grounds Improvement Trust is an independent trust but administration is provided by the Football League.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the grants paid out by his Department to the Football Grounds Improvement Trust.

The Department of the Environment has not grant-aided the Football Grounds Improvement Trust.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now designate the route for the bypass of Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge.