Written Answers To Questions
Wednesday 14th April 1976
House Of Commons
European Community Documents (Debates)
asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list in the Offical Report, in the manner of his Writen Answer of 7th April 1975, all debates relating to EEC Documents, Treaty Orders in Council, Budgets, debates on the Adjournment, Import Duties Orders or other debates related to the European Communities that have occurred since 12th March 1975.
The information is given in the following table.
Date of Debate: (in Standing Committee) 12.3.75.
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (DEFINITION OF TREATIES).
Government Motions:
That the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) Order 1975, a draft of which was laid before this House on 26th February, be approved.
Period of Debate: 10.30 a.m.-11.30 a.m.
Time available: 1½ hours.
Decision: (in standing Committee)
Resolved that Committee have considered the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) Order 1975.
Date: 13.3.75
Decision: (Floor of House)
Motion made, and Question put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments). That the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) Order 1975, a draft of which was laid before this House on 26th February, be approved.
Question agreed to.
Date of Debate: 7–9.4.75.
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (MEMBERSHIP).
Government Motion:
1. That this House approves the recommendation of Her Majesty's Government to continue Britain's Membership of the Community as set out in the White Paper on the Membership of the European Community (Cmnd. No. 5999). 2. The following motion was also on the order paper:
REGIONAL AID
That this House takes note of Commission Documents R/650/75 and R/1372/73.
Period of Debate: 3 days.
Amendments on Order Paper: To the Regional Aid motion.
Mr. Nigel Spearing
Mr. Max Madden
Line 1, leave out from 'House' to end and add 'deadlines to take note of Commission Documents R/650/75 and R/1372/73 dealing with regional aid and provision of confidential information concerning investments in "central areas", without specific and adequate debate on these documents.
Decision:
Question accordingly agreed to.
RESOLVED, That this House approves the recommendations of Her Majesty's Government to continue Britain's membership of the Community as set out in the White Paper on the Membership of the European Community (Command 5999).
Second Question not put *
* Mr Speaker ruled that as a Member objected the two motions could not be debated together, but the documents mentioned in the second motion were relevant to the general debate.
Date of Debate: 17.4.75.
Title: EEC (ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT).
Government Motion:
"… That this House takes note of Commission Documents R/2195/74 and R/162/75 and the Government's intention subject to the normal United Kingdom financial proceedures to collaborate in EEC energy research programmes which are well based and have adequate review procedures."
Period of Debate: 10.1 p.m.—11.30 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
RESOLVED, That this House take note of Commission documents R/2195/74 and R/162/75 and of the Government's intention subject to the normal United Kingdom financial procedures to collaborate in EEC energy research programmes which are well based and have adequate review procedures.
Date of Debate: 11.6.75.
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY—ECONOMIC POLICY.
Government Motion:
"… That this House takes note of Commission Document R/731/175".
Period of Debate: 12.18 a.m.—1.48 a.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
It being one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion, the debate stood adjourned.
Date of Debate: 4.7.75 (1).
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (BUDGETS).
Government Motion:
… That this House do now adjourn".
Proposed subjects for debate: Community Budget for 1975.
Preliminary draft budget (R/2155/74, R/2340/ 74 and R/2443/74).
Draft Budget.
Final budget as adopted (Official Journal of the Communities Vol. 18, No. L54, 28 February 1975).
Proposed new timetable for the Community budget (R/870/75 and R/1543/75).
Control of Community budget expenditure (R3009/74, R/333/75 and R/419/75):
Maximum Rate of Increase of Non-Obligatory expenditure for 1976 (R/1200/75):
Note by the Treasury on the transfer and carrying forward of appropriations in the Community budget.
Period of Debate: 11.12 a.m.—3.12 p.m.
Time Available: ½ day.
Decision:
"… to ask leave to withdraw the motion".
MOTION, BY LEAVE, WITHDRAWN.
Date of Debate: 4.7.75 (2).
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (SHIPBUILDING).
Government Motion:
"… That this House takes note of Commission Document R/1362/75".
Period of Debate: 3.13 p.m.—4.43 p.m.
Time Available: 1 ½ hours.
Amendment on Order Paper: Not Selected.
Mr. Douglas Jay
Mr. Norman Buchan
Mr. Nigel Spearing
Mr. Ted Leadbitter
Dr. M. D. Miller
Mr. Eddie Loyden
Line 1, leave out from "House" to end and add "declines to approve EEC Document R/1362/75 (RC2) "Aids to Shipbuilding", which would eliminate direct shipbuilding subsidies to the United Kingdom Shipbuilding Industry by the end of 1975 without any assurance that Great Britain's competitors inside the EEC would be similarly affected".
Decision:
"It being one and a half hours after the commencement of proceedings on the motion, proceedings therefore lapsed, pursuant to Order this day".
Date of Debate: 6.8.75
Title: TEXTILE CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR INDUSTRIES. Documents Nos. S/799/75 and R/1431/75
Government Motion:
"… That this House do now adjourn
Period of Debate: 7.11 p.m.-12 a.m.
Time Available: ½ day
Decision:
It being Twelve o'clock, the motion for the adjournment of the House lapsed without Question put.
Dale of Debate: 17.10.75
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITY—AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. Documents R/635/75, R/1944/75, R/1991/75, R/1831/75, R/1947/75, R/2713/73, R/2193/74, and the EEC Council Regulation dated 25 July 1975 on the "Green Pound", and the change in the value of the "Green Pound" announced by the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food on 15 October.
Government Motion:
"… That this House do now adjourn
Period of Debate: 11.4 a.m.-4 p.m.
Time Available: One day (Friday)
Decision:
It being Four o'clock the motion for the Adjournment of the House lapsed without Question put.
Date of Debate: 3.11.75
Title: EUROPEAN SECONDARY LEGISLATION
Government Moton: That this House takes note of the First Report from the Select Committee on Procedure, Session 1974–75 on European Secondary Legislation (House of Commons Paper No 294)
Period of Debate: 3.35 p.m.-7.18 p.m.
Time Available: ½ day
Amendments on Order Paper: (Not selected)
Mr. Michael English
Line 2, at end add 'but considers that the terms of reference of the Select Committee on European Secondary Legislation etc should be so widened as to include all Community proposals'.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to
RESOLVED That this House takes note of the First Report from the Select Committee on procedure, Session 1974–75, on European Secondary Legislation (House of Commons Paper No 294).
The following Motions were also relevant to this debate:
STANDING ORDER NO 3 (EXEMPTED BUSINESS)
Mr. Edward Short
That Standing Order No 3 (Exempted business) be amended as follows:
Line 17, after 'provides', insert 'and proceedings on Commission Documents '.
Line 43, at end insert 'In this paragraph, and in Standing Orders No 60 (Constitution of standing committees), No 62 (Nomination of standing committees) and No 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments etc),
"Commission Documents" means draft proposals by the Commission of the European Economic Community for secondary legislation and other documents published by the Commission for submission to the Council of Ministers'.
Standing Order No 60 (Constitution Of Standing Committees)
Mr. Edward Short
That Standing Order No. 60 (Constitution of standing committees) be amended as follows:
Line 8, after 'instruments', insert 'or Commission Documents as defined in Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted business).'
Standing Order No 62 (Nomination Of Standing Committees)
Mr. Edward Short
That Standing Order No. 62 (Nomination of standing committees) be amended as follows:
Line 12, after 'instruments', insert 'or Commission Documents as defined in Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted business).'
Standing Order No 73A (Standing Committee On Statutory Instruments)
Mr. Edward Short
That Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments) be amended as follows:
Line 3, after 'Instruments', insert 'etc'.
Line 5, after 'instruments', insert 'or Commission Documents (as defined in Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted business))'.
Line 23, at end insert 'or (iii) notice has been given of a motion relating to a Commission document.'
Line 27, after 'instrument', insert 'or Commission Document'.
Line 35, after second 'instrument', insert 'or Commission Document'.
Line 37, after 'instrument)', insert '(or Commission Document)'.
Line 47, after 'instrument', insert 'or Commission Document'.
Line 50, after '3(ii)', insert 'or 3(iii)'.
Line 52, after 'instrument', insert 'or Commission Document'.
Line 55, after 'thereon;', insert 'and, in the case of a motion relating to a Commission Document, where an amendment is offered to that question, the question on that amendment'.
Amendments on Order Paper
Two Amendments to Mr. Edward Short's proposed Motion (Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments)):
Mr. Nigel Spearing
Leave out lines 9 to 11 and insert—
'Line 48, at end insert—"(4A) In the case of a Commission Document referred to the Committee, the Committee shall consider the document upon a motion relating thereto made by a Minister of the Crown to which motion amendments may be moved; and the Committee shall report their resolutions to the House".'
( Not moved)
Leave out lines 12 to 16 and add—
'Line 58 at end add—
"(5A) A motion of which four days' notice has been given may be made in the House at the commencement of public business for the consideration of any report from the Committee in respect of a Commission Document, and on such motion, being made, the Question thereon shall be put forthwith, and on consideration of the said report, the Question ' That this House doth agree with the Committee in their resolution 'shall be put forthwith".'
Decision: (Standing Orders No. 3. 60 and 62) Moved formally and Ordered.
( Standing Order No. 73 A)
Motion made, and Question proposed,
Amendment proposed
Question put, That the amendment be made:
The House divided: Ayes 64, Noes 152.
Question accordingly negatived.
Main Question put and agreed to.
Ordered,
That Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments) be amended as follows:
Line 3, after 'Instruments', insert 'etc.'.
Line 5, after 'instruments', insert 'or Commission Documents (as defined in Standing Order No. 3 (Exempted business))'.
Line 23, at end insert 'or (iii) notice has been given of a motion relating to a Commission Document'.
Line 27, after 'instrument', insert 'or Commission Document'.
Line 35, after second 'instrument', insert 'or Commission Document'.
Line 37, after 'instrument)', insert '(or Commission Document)'.
Line 47, after 'instrument', insert 'or Commission Document'.
Line 50, after '3(ii)', insert 'or 3(iii)'.
Line 52, after 'instrument', insert 'or Commission Document'.
Line 55, after 'theron;', insert 'and, in the case of a motion relating to a Commission Document, where an amendment is offered to that question, the question on that amendment'.
Date of Debate: 6 November 1975.
Title: COMMUNITY BUDGET FOR 1976.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of the draft Community Budget for 1976 and Commisson Documents Nos. R/2145/75, R/2158/75 and R/2228/75.
Period of Debate: 7.40 p.m.—10.40 p.m.
Time Available: 3 hours.
Amendments on Order Paper:
Not Selected
Mr. Robin Corbett
Mr. Guy Barnett
Mr. Ken Weetch
Mr. Frank Hooley
Mr. Bob Cryer
Mr. Nigel Spearing
Mr. John Lee.
Line 2, at end add 'further notes that the proportion of the Community Budget allocated to the agricultural Sector has increased to 73·6 per cent. of the estimated expenditure; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to continue its efforts to obtain radical changes to the Common Agricultural Policy.'
Decision:
Question put and agreed to. Resolved That this House takes note of the draft Community Budget for 1976 and Commission Documents Nos. R/2145/75, R/2158/75 and R/2228/75.
Date of Debate: 7 November 1975.
Title: OVERSEAS AID POLICY—White Paper on Overseas Development. The changing emphasis in British Aid Policies— More help for the poorest (Command Paper No. 6270). Commission Documents Nos. S/2139/74, S/1310/74, S/406/75 and S/407/75.
Government Motion:
That this House do now adjourn.
Period of Debate: 11.4 a.m.—4 p.m.
Time Available: Whole day (Friday).
Decision:
Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
Date of Debate: 7.11.75.
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (DEFINITION OF TREATIES).
Government Motion:
That the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (No. 2) Order 1975, a draft of which was laid before this House on 13 October, be approved.
Period of Debate: 4.00 p.m.—4.36 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved That the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (No. 2) Order 1975, a draft of which was laid before this House on 13 October, be approved.
Date of Debate: 25.11.75.
Title: ECONOMIC AFFAIRS—to include consideration of two Community documents,
R/2102/75, Measures to Combat the Recession and R/2447/75, Annual Report on Economic Situation.
Government Motion:
[Debate on the Address] That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty… Question proposed. No separate motion on the Community documents.
Period of Debate: 4.15 p.m.-10 p.m.
Time Available: Whole day (5th day of debate on Address).
Decision:
Main Question put and agreed to.
Date of Debate: 3.12.75.
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (DEVELOPMENTS).
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of the Report on "Developments in the European Communities April-October 1975" (Command Paper No. 6349).
Period of Debate: 4.45 p.m.-10 p.m.
Time Available: 1 day.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, that this House takes note of the Report on Developments in the European Communities, April-October 1975 (Command Paper No. 6349).
Date of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 3.12.75.
Title: CYPRUS SHERRY.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1430/75 relating to Cyprus Sherry.
Period of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 10.30 a.m.-11.33 a.m.
Time Available: 2½ hours.
Decision: (of Standing Committee)
Resolved, that the Committee have considered Commission Document No. S/1430/75 relating to Cyprus Sherry.
Date: 4.12.75.
Decision: (Floor of House)
A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c). That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1430/75 relating to Cyprus Sherry—It was agreed to.
Date of Debate: 8.12.75.
Title: EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (DEFINITION OF TREATIES).
Government Motions:
That the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (No. 3) Order 1975, a draft of which was laid before this House on 12th November 1975, in the last Session of Parliament, be aproved.
That the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (No. 4) Order 1975, a draft of which was laid before this House on 2nd December, be approved.
Period of Debate: 10.12 p.m.-11.15 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, that the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (No. 3) Order 1975, a draft of which was laid before this House on 12th November 1975, in the last Session of Parliament, be approved.
Resolved, that the European Communities (Definition of Treaties) (No. 4) Order 1975, a draft of which was laid before this House on 2nd December, be approved.
Date of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 17.12.75.
Title: SUGAR.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2357/75 relating to Sugar.
Period of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 10.30 a.m.-12.01 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision: (of Standing Committee)
Resolved, that the Committee have considered EEC Document No. R/2357/75 relating to sugar.
Date: 18.12.75.
Decision: (Floor of House)
Motion made, and Question put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory instruments &c), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2357/75 relating to sugar. Question agreed to.
Date of Debate: (In the Standing Committee) 14-1-76.
Title: IMPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM HONG KONG.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1636/75 relating to imports of Textiles from Hong Kong.
Period of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 10.30 a.m.-12.7 p.m.
Time Available: 2½ hours.
Decision: (Of Standing Committee)
Resolved, That the Committee have considered the Commission Document No. S/1636/75 relating to Imports of Textiles from Hong Kong.
Date: 16-1-76.
Decision: (Floor of House)
A Motion was made, and the Question being put forth with pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments etc.), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1636/75 relating to Imports of Textiles from Hong Kong.
Question agreed to.
Date of Debate: (In the Standing Committee) 14-1-76.
Title: MIGRANT WORKERS.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/39/75 relating to Migrant Workers.
Period of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 10.30 a.m.-12.4 p.m.
Time Available: 2½ hours.
Decision: (Of Standing Committee)
Resolved, That the Committee have considered Commission Document No. R/39/75 relating to Migrant Workers.
Date: 16-1-76.
Decision: (Floor of House)
A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/39/75 relating to Migrant Workers.
Question agreed to.
Date of Debate: 15-1-76.
Title: FAT CONTENT OF WHOLE MILK.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2861/75 relating to fat content of whole milk and of the Government's intention to ensure that arrangements are satisfactory for imports into those Member States where sales of whole milk are unstandardised.
Period of Debate: 11 p.m.-12.30 a.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours after 10 o'clock.
Decision:
Question put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2861/75 relating to fat content of whole milk and of the Government's intention to ensure that arrangements are satisfactory for imports into those Member States where sales of whole milk are unstandardised.
Date of Debate: 19.1.76.
Title: IMPORT DUTIES.
Motion:
Mr. Nigel Spearing: That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, praying that the Import Duties (General) (No. 5) Order 1975 (S.I., 1975, No. 1744), dated 27th October 1975, a copy of which was laid before this House on 12th November 1975, in the last Session of Parliament, be annulled.
Period of Debate: 10.40 p.m.-11.30 p.m.
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
It being half-past Eleven o'clock, Mr. Deputy Speaker put the Question forthwith, pursuant to Standing Order No. 4 (Statutory Instruments, etc. (Procedure)),
The House divided: Ayes 64, Noes 107.
Question accordingly negatived.
Date of Debate: (In the Standing Committee) 21-1-76.
Title: JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2627/75 relating to the Overall Concept for the Next Multi-Annual Research Programme of the Joint Research Centre.
Period of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 10.30-11.38 a.m.
Time Available: 2½ hours.
Decision: (Of Standing Committee)
Resolved, That the Committee have considered Commission Document No. R/2627/75 relating to the overall concept for the next multi-annual research programme of the Joint Research Centre.
Date: 22-1-76.
Decision: (Floor of House)
Motion made, and Question put forthwith pursuant of Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments etc.), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2627/75 relating to the Overall Concept for the Next Multi-Annual Research Programme of the Joint Research Centre.
Question agreed to.
Date of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 28-1-76
Title: DATA PROCESSING
Government Motions:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/818/75 relating to data processing.
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2297/75 relating to data processing.
Period of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 10.30 a.m.-11.25 a.m.
Time Available: 2½ hours
Decision: (Of Standing Committee)
Resolved, That the Committee have considered Commission Document No. R/2297/75 relating to Data Processing.
Resolved, That the Committee have considered Commission Document No. R/818/75 relating to Data Processing.
Date: 29-1-76
Decision: (Floor of the House)
A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments &c), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/818/75 relating to data processing.
Question agreed to.
A motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments &c), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2297/75 relating to data processing.
Question agreed to.
Date of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 28-1-76
Title: IMPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM INDIA, PAKISTAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES AND MODIFICATION OF EEC REGULATION NO. 1439/74
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1185/75 relating to Imports of Textiles from India.
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1212/75 relating to Imports of Textiles from Pakistan.
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1235/75 relating to Imports of Textiles from the Republic of Korea.
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2685/75 relating to International Trade in Textiles and Modification on EEC Regulation 1439/74.
Period of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 10.30 a.m.-12.55 p.m.
Time Available: 2½ hours
Decision: (Of Standing Committee)
Resolved, That the Committee have considered Commission Document No. S/1185/75 relating to imports of Textiles from India.
Resolved, That the Committee have considered Commission Document No. S/1212/75 relating to imports of Textiles from Pakistan.
Resolved. That the Committee have considered Commission Document No. S/1235/75 relating to imports of Textiles from the Republic of Korea.
Resolved. That the Committee have considered Commission Document No. R/2685/75 relating to International Trade in Textile and Modification of EEC Regulation No. 1439/74.
Date: 29-1-76.
Decision: (Floor of House)
A Motion was made, and the Question being put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments &c), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1185/75 relating to Imports of Textiles from India.
Question agreed to.
Decisions:
A Motion was made and the Question put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73 A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments &c), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1212/75 relating to Imports of Textiles from Pakistan.
Question agreed to.
A Motion was made and the Question put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments &c), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. S/1235/75 relating to Imports of Textiles from the Republic of Korea.
Question agreed to.
A Motion was made and the Question put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments &c), That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/2685/75 relating to International Trade in Textiles and Modification of EEC Regulation 1439/74.
Question agreed to.
Date of Debate: 12–2–76.
Title: COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY—PRICE PROPOSALS FOR 1976–77
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission documents R/3166/75 and R/3271/75 and, in respect of R/3166/75, of the Government's intention, taking account of the needs of procedures and consumers and the importance of restraining public expenditure, to seek both satisfactory levels of agriculture support prices and further improvements in the operation of the common agricultural policy, especially in the milk and cereals sectors, and to maintain the provision for variable slaughter premiums in the EEC beef regime along the lines of the arrangements secured as part of the renegotiated terms of EEC membership.
Period of Debate: 7.30 p.m.—11.30 p.m.
Time available: Half a day.
Amendment ( s) on Order Paper:
Mrs. Margaret Thatcher.
Mr William Whitelaw.
Mr. Reginald Maudling.
Mr. Francis Pym.
Mr. Alick Buchanan-Smith.
Mr. Nicholas Edwards.
Line 8, at end add 'and urges Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the competitive and structural advantages of United Kingdom agriculture are maintained'.
Mr. Speaker ruled that the substance of this amendment could be discussed with the selected amendment in the name of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher.
Mr. Geraint Howells.
Mr. Emlyn Hooson.
Mr. A. J. Beith.
Mr. Stephen Ross.
Mr. David Steel.
Mr. Russell Johnston.
Line 8, at end add 'but regrets the continued existence of the Green Pound, which is a major impediment to fulfilling the expansion envisaged in the Government's own White Paper, "Food from our own Resources".'
Mr. Speaker ruled that the substance of this amendment should be discussed with the selected amendment in the name of Mrs. Margaret Thatcher
Mr. Bryan Gould
Mr. Nigel Spearing
Mr. Guy Burnett
Mr. Douglas Jay
Line 8, at end add 'and urges Her Majesty's Government to oppose proposals for the compulsory use of skimmed milk powder in compound animal feeding stuffs.'
Decision -:
Main question, as amended, put and agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission documents R/3166/75 and R/3271/75 and, in respect of R/3166/75, of the Government's intention, taking account of the needs of producers and consumers and the importance of restraining public expenditure, to seek both satisfactory levels of agricultural support prices and further improvements in the operation of the Common Agricultural Policy, especially in the milk and cereals sectors, and to maintain the provision for variable slaughter premiums in the EEC beef regime along the lines of the arrangements secured as part of the renegotiated terms of EEC membership, and urges Her Majesty's Government to ensure that the competitive and structural advantages of United Kingdom agriculture are maintained.
Date of Debate: 23-2-76
Title: NUCLEAR SAFETY
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/2663/75 and R/2662/75 and of the importance which the Government attaches to matters of nuclear safety.
Period of Debate: 6.7 pm-9.55 pm
Time available: Half a day
Amendment on Order Paper:
Mr. John Biffen
Mr. Hamish Gray
Mr. Patrick McNair-Wilson
Mr. T. H. H. Skeet
Mr. John Hannam
Mr. Tom Normanton
Line 2, at end add 'and invites the Government to take account of the observations of the Select Committee on European Secondary Legislation on these documents'.
Decision:
Main Question, as amended, agreed to.
Resolved, That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/2663/75 and R/2662/75 and of the importance which the Government attaches to matters of nuclear safety, and invites the Government to take account of the observation of the Select Committee on European Secondary Legislation on these documents.
Dale of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 3-3-76
Title: FORESTRY MEASURES
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/1131/75 relating to Forestry Measures
Period of Debate: (In Standing Committee) 10.30 a.m.-12 noon
Time Available: 2½ hours
Decision: (of Standing Committee)
Resolved that the Committee have considered Commission Document No. R/1131/75 relating to Forestry Measures.
Dale: 4-3-76
Decision: (Floor of House)
Motion made, and Question put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 73A (Standing Committee on Statutory Instruments, &c.) That this House takes note of Commission Document No. R/1131/75 relating to Forestry Measures.
Question agreed to.
Date of Debate: 4 March 1976
Title: PETROL (LEAD CONTENT)
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of the proposals for EEC Directives for limiting the lead content of petrol and for biological and air quality standards for lead as contained in documents R/3113/73 and R/I150/75, and the outcome of the Government review of lead in petrol.
Period of Debate: 10.11 p.m.-11.40 p.m.
Time Available:1½ hours
Amendment on Order Paper:
Mrs. Joyce Butler
Mr. Donald Anderson
Mr. Julius Silverman
Line 4, at end add 'accepts the principle of reducing the maximum lead content of petrol to 0·40 grams per litre as proposed by the EEC; and whilst recognising that this will have an adverse effect on the United Kingdom balance of payments, nevertheless calls on Her Majesty's Government to take appropriate steps to achieve this aim by staged reductions.
Decision:
Question put, that the amendment be made:—The House divided: Ayes 20, Noes 6. It appearing on the report of the Division that forty Members were not present, Mr. Deputy Speaker declared that the Question was not decided, and the business under consideration stood over until the next sitting of the House, (see also Hansard of 5th March 1976 Cols. 1701 and 1702).
Debate resumed on Monday 5th April—detail below.
Date of Debate: 16.3.76.
Title: ENERGY POLICY.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Document Nos. R/210/76 and R/253/76 and of the Government's view that Culham is the best site for the Joint European Torus project.
Period of Debate: 6.54 p.m.-11.30 p.m.
Time Available: ½ day plus 1½ hours after 10 o'clock.
Amendment on Order Paper:
John Biffen.
Patrick McNair-Wilson.
Hamish Gray.
T. H. H. Skeet.
John Hannam.
Tom Normanton.
To leave out from "R/253/76" to the end of the Question and to add instead thereof "and further recognises the outstanding experience and facilities of the Culham Laboratory in the field of thermo-nuclear fusion considers Culham to be the most appropriate location for the Joint European Torus and calls on the Government to secure the choice of Culham as the research centre.
Decision:
Main Question, as amended, put and agreed to. Resolved That this House takes note of Commission Document Nos. R/210/76 and R/253/ 75 and further recognises the outstanding experience and facilities of the Culham Laboratory in the field of thermo-nuclear fusion, considers Culham to be the most appropriate location for the Joint European Torus, and calls on the Government to secure the choice of Culham as the research centre.
Dates of Debate: 29.3.76 and 30.3.76.
Title: EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY (ELECTIONS).
Government Motion: That this House do now adjourn.
Period of Debates: 3.39 p.m.-10 p.m. (29th March); 4.10 p.m.-10 p.m. (30th March).
Time Available: 2 days.
Decisions: Question put and negatived.
Question, That this House do now adjourn, put and negatived.
Date of Debate: 5 April 1976 (see also details of debate on 4 March 1976).
Title: LEAD CONTENT OF PETROL.
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of the proposals for EEC Directives for limiting the lead content of petrol and for biological and air quality standards for lead as contained in document R/3113/73 and R/l 150/75 and the outcome of the Government review of lead in petrol.
Period of Debate: 10.13 p.m.-11.42 p.m.
Time Available: 1 ½ hours.
Amendment on Order Paper:
Mrs. Joyce Butler.
Mr. Donald Anderson.
Mr. Julius Silverman.
Line 4, at end add "accepts the principle of reducing the maximum lead content of petrol to 0·40 grams per litre as proposed by the EEC; and, whilst recognising that this will have an adverse effect on the United Kingdom balance of payments, nevertheless calls on Her Majesty's Government to take appropriate steps to achieve this aim by staged reductions".
Decision:
Main question, as amended, put and agreed to. Resolved, That this House takes note of the proposals for EEC Directives for limiting the lead content of petrol and for biological and air quality standards for lead as contained in documents R/3113/73 and R/1150/75 and the outcome of the Government review of lead in petrol; accepts the principle of reducing the maximum lead content of petrol to 0·40 grams per litre as proposed by the EEC; and, whilst recognising that this will have an adverse effect on the United Kingdom balance of payments, nevertheless calls on Her Majesty's Government to take appropriate steps to achieve this aim by staged reductions.
Dates of Debate: 6, 7, 8 and 12 April 1976
Title: BUDGET RESOLUTIONS AND ECONOMIC SITUATION. WAYS AND MEANS
Government Motion:
That it is expedient to amend the law……… …………………[Commission Documents Nos. R/622/76 and R/606/76 on Policy Guidelines for 1976.]
Period of Debate:
5.46 pm-7.0 pm (6 April)
4.3 pm-10.0 pm (7 April)
3.32 pm-10.0 pm (8 April)
3.31 pm-10.0 pm (12 April)
Time Available: 4 days
Decision:
Question put:
The House divided: Ayes 295, Noes 274
Questions accordingly agreed.
Resolved, That it is expedient to amend the
law………………………
Date of Debate:
12.4.76.
Title: PROTEIN DEPOSIT AND PRIVATE STORAGE AID PROPOSALS
Government Motion:
That this House takes note of Commission Documents Nos. R/451/76 and R/452/76 relating to Protein Storage Aid Proposals
Amendment on Order Paper:
Mrs Margaret Thatcher
Mr William Whitelaw
Mr Reginald Maudling
Mr Francis Pym
Mr John Peyton
Mr Michael Jopling
Line 1, leave out 'takes note' and insert 'disapproves'
Period of Debate:
10.42 pm-12.12 am
Time Available: 1½ hours.
Decision:
Main Question, so amended, being put;
RESOLVED
That this House disapproves of Commission Documents Nos. R/451/76 and R/452/76 relating to Protein Deposit and Private Storage Aid Proposals
Refreshment Department (Inquiry)
asked the Lord President of the Council what visits have recently been paid, or what plans exist for future visits, by members of the Government Committee of Inquiry into the House of Commons Refreshment Department to Bonn, Paris or other capitals; for what purpose; by whom they were or will be accompanied; and what is the anticipated cost to public funds.
Visits have been paid to governmental catering facilities at Paris, The Hague and Bonn by members of the House of Commons Refreshment Department Committee of Inquiry. No further visits will take place.The purpose of the visits was to study and compare the catering facilities in the Parliaments of these capitals with those in the House of Commons. The visits were made by the Chairman and a member of the Committee accompanied by a member of the Secretariat. The anticipated cost to public funds is £950.
Devolution
asked the Lord President of the Council if, following changes in the Administration, it remains the Government's view, as expressed to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire in a written reply of 9th December 1975, that devolution is impracticable in those fields, especially trade, industry and employment, in which they have refused to grant powers to the proposed Scottish Assembly.
I am not yet in a position to make the fresh statement on devolution promised by my predecessor and I would be grateful if the hon. Member, with others, would give me some time before I answer specific questions on the subject. I certainly recognise the desire for answers to be made on many aspects of the matter as soon as possible.
Members' Cafeteria
asked the Lord President of the Council, whether he has given instructions that the Members' Cafeteria should close at, before or after the time of the rising of the House.
I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 13th April.—[Vol. 909, c. 450.]
Careless Driving (Scottish Prosecutions)
asked the Lord Advocate what was the average length of time taken to bring a case of careless driving under the Road Traffic Acts to trial in the sheriff courts in Scotland, in each year from 1970 to 1975, from the date of the accident; and if he will make a statement.
These statistics have not been specially recorded, but from inquiries which I have made it appears that in Glasgow the time interval has remained constant at approximately nine months. In Edinburgh it has increased from six months in 1970 to eight months in 1975. In other places the interval has been shorter.
Mr Ernest Bevin
asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the service to the nation of the late Mr. Ernest Bevin, the Government will consider marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death, by making available a site for a statue to him within the precincts of the Houses of Parliament or in Parliament Square.
The question of providing a site in the House of Commons is, of course, a matter for this House. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment would, however, be very willing to discuss the appropriateness of a site in Parliament Square with the right hon. and learned Gentleman.
Scottish Law
asked the Lord Advocate if he will take steps to harmonise Scottish law with that prevailing in the remainder of the United Kingdom.
I do not propose to take steps to assimilate the law of Scotland to that of England and Wales. It would be no more appropriate to impose the law of England upon the people of Scotland than to impose the law of Scotland upon the people of England. The Government will, of course, bear in mind the advantages of some harmonisation between the laws of the various parts of the United Kingdom where this is for the common benefit.
Defence
Soviet Trawlers
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to tighten up the security checks on Soviet trawlers in the light of the defection by a Soviet woman scientist from the "Argus" while in Millbay Docks, Plymouth.
Soviet commercial ships are free to enter United Kingdom ports in the same way as commercial ships of any other nationality. The incident to which the hon. Member refers has no bearing on this fact.
"The Eye Of The Tornado"
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make arrangements to examine material in the forthcoming publication by Mr. H. Chapman Pincher entitled "The Eye of the Tornado" to ensure that its publication will not be prejudicial to the defence of Great Britain.
No.
Foreign Affairs Research Institute
asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the Foreign Affairs Research Institute of 27–31 Whitehall is within his Department; if any public money is subscribed to its funds; and if he will make a statement.
The Foreign Affairs Research Institute has no connection whatever with my Department and public funds are not involved.
Civilian Redundancies
asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to predict a firm figure for the total of Ministry of Defence civilians who will be declared redundant as a result of the defence cuts made since he took office; and if he will, in the meantime, give an estimate of his total, with a margin of 5,000 either way.
As I have indicated previously it will be a considerable time before the number of civilian redundancies arising from the defence review and the public expenditure survey will be known. Nor can I give an estimate within 5,000, either way, even if it were meaningful to do so.
Iceland (Fisheries Dispute)
asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the normal duties of Royal Navy vessels presently engaged in protection duties off Iceland; and what is the total number of vessels currently involved.
There are currently four frigates, one Royal Fleet auxiliary and one Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service tug engaged in protection duties off Iceland. The normal peace-time employment of Royal Navy frigates is to exercise and train for their rôle in war and to carry out other tasks as decided by Her Majesty's Government. The Royal Fleet auxiliary and the tug are required to act in support of the Fleet.
Wales
Rents
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of total housing costs is met by annual rent in Wales.
For 1975–76, it is provisionally estimated that in Wales rebated rents of dwellings in the housing revenue account offset 43 per cent. of total expenditure in the housing revenue accounts. The corresponding figure for unrebated rent is estimated to be 54 per cent.
Welsh Language
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will draw up a comprehensive Welsh language plan aiming at securing a reversal in the decline in the number able to speak the language, ensuring the effectiveness of official policy towards the equal status of Welsh and English in Wales, and facilitating every child in Wales to be bilingual by the age of 11 years.
I have the wellbeing of the Welsh language constantly under review, with the assistance of the Council for the Welsh Language. Both personally and officially I shall continue to support the Welsh language, but the future of our inheritance is in the hands of the Welsh people. I firmly believe, and it is increasingly recognised, that a continuing decline in the use of Welsh would be a great loss to our cultural traditions.
District Councillors
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the cost of attendance payments for each of the district councils of Wales for the most recent available period, together with the number of councillors who are members of each of these authorities.
Local authorities are not required to inform my right hon. and learned Friend of the amounts of attendance allowance they pay to their members. The numbers of elected members in each district council in Wales is given in Table III (a)(iii) of the official publication " Local Government in England and Wales—A Guide to the New System " a copy of which is in the Library.
Oil Pollution
asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if his Department will convene a conference of all local authorities in Welsh control areas to adopt a strategy for combating oil pollution;(2) whether he is satisfied with the methods of monitoring oil pollution in the sea off the Welsh coast;(3) in view of the oil importing capacity of Welsh ports, whether he is satisfied with the services available to counter oil pollution on Welsh beaches.
Local authorities are responsible for preparing contingency plans to deal with oil pollution on Welsh beaches. With guidance from the Welsh Office, they have prepared such plans. Responsibility for dealing with oil pollution at sea rests with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade. The Welsh Office and the Department of Trade have already held a full scale exercise in South Wales and are holding a further major exercise in North Wales on 28th April to test these plans. I see no need for a conference as proposed by the hon. Member.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales, whether his Department has established the source of oil deposited on the beaches of Cardigan Bay during the week during week beginning 4th April.
No, Sir. Samples taken from the oil deposited on these beaches are at present being examined by the Government Chemist, but it is possible that the results will be inconclusive.
Scotland
Scottish Assembly
3.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations from English expatriate organisations he has received on the Government's proposals for a directly elected Scottish Assembly.
None.
20.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about the need for the Scottish Assembly to exercise trade and industry powers.
Since publication of the White Paper in November 1975 I have received representations from 103 organisations and from 105 members of the public. Of these, 12 organisations and 18 individuals advocate some devolution of trade and industry powers.
Roads
17.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward legislation to transfer responsibility for roads from regional authorities to district authorities; and if he will make a statement.
I have no proposal to alter the arrangements in this matter made by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
Barra (Hospital)
18.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress made towards providing a hospital for the island of Barra.
The old people's home and hospital proposed for Barra is a joint project and I understand that discussions are continuing between the Western Isles Islands Council and the Western Isles Health Board.
Transport Policy
19.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received asking for a public inquiry into the Scottish transport services; and if he will make a statement.
No requests have been made for such a public inquiry, but I will be glad to receive comments on the consultation document "Transport Policy" which was published yesterday. I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for West Stirlingshire (Mr. Canavan).
Schooling (Part-Time)
21.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the most recent total figure for part-time education in secondary schools; and how many of the total were in Strathclyde Region and Glasgow, respectively.
Returns from education authorities indicate that on 1st March 1976 there were 14,102 secondary pupils on part-time education. Of these 14,028 were in Strathclyde, including 1,812 in Glasgow. This is a considerable improvement on January when comparable figures were 19,329 in all, 19,208 in Strathclyde, and 6,257 in Glasgow.
Church Schools
22.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy on religious integration in schools.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind).
Bridges (Rating)
23.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the proposal to levy rates on the Tay Road Bridge; and what action he proposes to take.
27.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take to prevent an increase in toll charges on the Forth Road Bridge arising from the decision by the assessor in Fife to include the bridge in the valuation roll for the Fife Region.
It is my intention to introduce legislation to establish that the bridges continue to be exempt from liability to local rates.
Arbroath Infirmary
24.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay an official visit to Arbroath Infirmary and take steps to gauge local feelings concerning its future status and facilities.
My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so. Following a recent report by a working party, Tayside Health Board is consulting interested bodies about the future services to be provided at Arbroath Infirmary. The views of these bodies will be carefully considered by the Board before it submits any recommendations to me for approval.
Renton
25.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters of complaint his Department has received from residents in Renton regarding alterations to roads required by the construction of the Alexandria bypass on the A82.
Several letters of complaint have been received and I understand that there has also been correspondence between residents in Renton and Strathclyde Regional Council, which acts as the agent authority for this trunk road.
Aberdeen
26.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to make an official visit to Aberdeen by road.
I have at present no plans to do so.
North Sea Oil (Pamphlet)
28.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated total cost covering printing and distribution, &c, of the pamphlet "The Benefits of North Sea Oil" published by the Scottish Office at the request of the Oil Development Council for Scotland.
The estimated cost of the original print of 5,000 copies of the booklet "The Benefits of North Sea Oil" including distribution and postage was £785. A further 3,000 copies have been ordered at an additional cost of £150.
Torness Power Station
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the capital cost of building Torness power station.
No precise estimate can be made in advance of the receipt of tenders and contract negotiations, but the indications are that the capital cost might be of the order of £600 million at 1976 prices.
Mental Patients
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of patients resident in mental handicap hospitals and units per 1,000 population in Scotland in 1970, 1972 and 1973, respectively.
1·4 per 1,000 population in each year.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of patients resident in mental illness hospitals and units per 1,000 population in Scotland in 1970, 1972 and 1973, respectively.
3·8 per 1,000 population in 1970, 3·7 in 1972 and 3·7 in 1973.
Old People's Homes
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheltered housing units and places in homes for the elderly there are in the City of Dundee per 1,000 population aged 65 years and over.
It is estimated that there are 15 sheltered houses per 1,000 of population aged 65 and over in Dundee district. At the end of 1974 there were 27·81 places per 1,000 population aged 65 and over in local authority homes for the elderly and voluntary homes for the elderly registered with the local authority social work department.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are provided at the last most convenient date with accommodation in homes for the elderly per 1,000 of population aged 65 years and over.
At the end of 1974, 12,759 persons were accommodated in local authority homes for the elderly or in voluntary homes for the elderly registered with local authority social work departments. This number represented a ratio of 18·74 persons per 1,000 population aged 65 and over.
Oil Task Force
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions, and where, the Oil Task Force-met in 1975.
The Task Force met on four occasions during 1975. All the-meetings were in Edinburgh.
Hill Farmers (Compensatory Payments)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to expedite the payment of outstanding hill livestock compensatory allowances; and if he will indicate the reasons for his Department's delay in making these payments.
My Department is making, every effort to pay these allowances as quickly as possible. Overtime is being, worked, and about 6,000 of the 21,500 applications received have been passed for payment. The payment process was later in starting this year, partly because the closing date for applications was a month later than usual, and partly because of the unfamiliarity of farmers and staff with a completely new scheme. The initial difficulties have been overcome, and the processing of applications is being speeded up.
Electricity Consultative Council (North)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present composition of the Electricity Consultative Council for the North of Scotland district; whence the members are drawn; and where the office is situated.
The Consultative Council is composed at present of a Chairman and 28 members drawn from a wide range of the areas served by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. The Council is serviced jointly with the Consultative Council for the South of Scotland District by a secretariat whose office is in Edinburgh.
Fire Precautions (Hotels)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many appeals by small hotels and boarding houses against requirements of fire authorities have been made in pursuance of requirements made following the passage of the Fire Precautions Act in each fire authority area.
Records are not kept centrally but, so far as I am aware, there have been no appeals to the sheriff in terms of Section 9 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by fire authority area, the percentage of hotels and boarding houses in each area which have been issued with a fire certificate under the terms of the Fire Precautions Act.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply to his Question on 11th February 1976—[Vol. 905, c. 212.] Information about the number of hotels and boarding houses in their areas is not recorded by fire authorities. It is not, therefore, possible to calculate the number of certificates granted as a percentage of all hotels and boarding houses.
Amyl Nitrite (Rodenticide)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that crushable ampoules of amyl nitrite are readily available for those using cymag in the field as a rodenticide, as recommended as an antidote to cyanide poisoning by his Department and the manufacturers of cymag.
I understand that there has been a temporary shortage of stocks of crushable ampoules of amyl nitrite but that supplies are now returning to normal.
Crime
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held and what action he proposes to take following the recent announcement of the increase in crime in Scotland.
There is continuous discussion with the police and others about possible initiatives in the crime prevention field, and a meeting will be held with senior police representatives on 30th April to discuss the crime situation generally.
Housing
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the number of new houses which should be built in Scotland; and how this figure compares with the total of applications for housing in all the housing authorities in Scotland.
A reasonable estimate can only emerge from the comprehensive assessment of housing needs which district authorities have been urged to undertake. It is now widely accepted that applications for local authority houses alone do not provide a satisfactory indication of housing needs, and I do not collect information about them.
Oil Industry (Rating)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will bring forward legislation to clarify the position for rating purposes of offshore oilfields, oil rigs and installations.
Most of the oilfields and installations are situated far out at sea and the Government consider that they ought not to be liable for local rates. It is intended to introduce legislation to clarify the position.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
United States Of America
29.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has any plans to have early discussions with the United States Secretary of State, Dr. Kissinger.
On present plans, my right hon. Friend will meet Dr. Kissinger at the North Atlantic Council meeting in Oslo in May and subsequently at the meeting of the Ministerial Council of the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) in London.
Rhodesia
30.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received direct from members of the public in Rhodesia about a future constitutional settlement.
So far this year 37 letters from members of the public in Rhodesia have been received on this subject.
Kenyan Asians
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his latest estimate of the number of people of Asian origin living in Kenya who have an entitlement to admission to Great Britain for permanent settlement; and what contingency plans he has been able to agree with other countries in the event of their expulsion from Kenya.
Heads of households with United Kingdom passports and their dependants in Kenya eligible for admission to the United Kingdom number about 18,000. Co-operation with the Kenya authorities has so far ensured their phased and orderly exodus. I believe this will continue, and consider that no contingency plans for other settlement are necessary.
Welsh Centre For International Affairs
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider more favourably in the current year the request by the Welsh Centre for International Affairs for a grant of £50,000 to match the sum raised towards the Welsh Centre Appeal.
Any application from the Welsh Centre for International Affairs for a grant from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be considered on its merits and in the light of claims by other outside bodies on Foreign and Commonwealth Office resources.
Gilbert Islands
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the constitutional conference on the future of the Gilbert Islands will take place; and if the Banaban people will be independently represented.
No date has been fixed for a formal constitutional conference on independence for the Gilbert Islands. Informal talks about the introduction of internal self-government will be held with representatives of the Gilbert Islands this summer. The question of representation at an eventual independence conference will be fully examined at the appropriate stage.
Hong Kong
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force have been suspended, dismissed or compulsorily retired, respectively, for fraud activities for each year from 1967 to the present date;(2) how many serving members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force were charged with any fraud offences for each year from 1967 to the present date.
pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 18th March 1976; Vol. 907, c. 637], gave the following information:Altogether, 11 members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force have been suspended, convicted and dismissed for fraud offences. The figures are as follows:
| 1967 | 2 |
| 1968 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 |
| 1970 | 3 |
| 1971 | 1 |
| 1972 | 0 |
| 1973 | 0 |
| 1974 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 |
| 1976 | 0 |
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ex-members of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force were charged with fraud offences or were served with police supervision or deportation orders in connnection with such offences for each year from 1967 to the present date.
, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 18th March 1976; Vol. 907, c. 637], gave the following information:I have ascertained that the research required to provide a full answer could be undertaken only at disproportionate effort and would take about 10 weeks. However, I can say that no member leaving the force in 1975 was charged with fraud offences in that year; and that no ex-member was served with a police supervision order or deportation order for fraud offences during the period in question.
Arab-Israeli Relations
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the creation of a Palestinian West Bank State supported by a United Nations world district in Eastern Sinai, as part of an overall long-term settlement of the Arab-Israeli dispute.
My right hon. Friend told the House on 6th August 1975 that he did not think that the proposal for a United Nations world district in Sinai would find international agreement. This remains the position. Her Majesty's Government do not believe that it would be helpful at this time to put forward specific proposals about the terms of a final settlement of the Arab-Israel dispute which is a matter primarily for the parties themselves.
Law Of The Sea Conference
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has received about changes in the Informal Single Negotiating Text (ISNT) at the Law of the Sea Conference session in New York which have been proposed by the 49 landlocked and geographically disadvantaged States in order to protect their rights and interests; and whether he will make a statement.
The group of landlocked and geographically disadvantaged States have written to the President of the Conference stating that the Single Negotiating Texts do not take account of proposals submitted by the group. They have not as a group submitted specific amendments to the Single Negotiating Text, however. There have been informal discussions chaired by Mr. Evensen, the Norwegian delegation leader, to seek a reconciliation between the views of the States in the group of landlocked and geographically disadvantaged States and other States, in particular on the subject of access by landlocked and geographically disadvantaged States to the living resources in the exclusive economic zone.
Northern Ireland
Department Of Commerce
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many promotional officers are employed by the Department of Commerce; what are their duties; and from what offices they operate.
Five staff from the Department of Commerce are employed overseas as industrial promotion officers—two at New York, two at Brussels and one at Stuttgart.In addition, seven consultants are employed—one operating full time from Montreaux, Switzerland, the others part-time from Tokyo, Japan; Los Angeles and Chicago, USA; Malmo, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Dusseldorf, West Germany.These officers seek to bring to the attention of potential investors the opportunities and advantages of manufacturing in Northern Ireland.
Industry And Trade
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what industrial and trade functions vested in him are carried out on his behalf by the Departments of Trade and Industry.
None.
Harland And Wolff
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish the names and qualifications of the directors, including worker-directors of Harland and Wolff.
The present membership of the board of Harland and Wolff Limited is as follows:
Chairman, Sir Brian Morton, FRICS.
Executive Directors:
Managing Director, Mr. R. S. Punt, BSc.
Assistant Managing Director, Mr. D. L. Cooper, CA.
Engine Works Director, Mr. L. G. C. Curran, OEng, FIMechE, FIProdE, FIMarE.
Personnel Director, Mr. D. C. Tinkler, BA, MIPM.
Shipyard Director, Mr. S. M. Tennant, BSc.
Non-executive Directors:
Mr. W. G. Downey, CB, FCA.
Mr. A. Fisher, General Secretary, NUPE; Member, General Council of TUC.
Lord McCarthy, MA, DPhil.
There is a vacancy for a further non-executive director. Worker directors have not yet been appointed. There are vacancies for five such directors who are to be nominated by the workforce. It is expected that elections will soon be held to fill these positions.Mr. V. A. Cooke, MA, CEng, FIMechE.
Beef
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated amount of carcase beef produced in Northern Ireland which has been sold into intervention over the past four weeks; and what percentage this represents of total output for the relevant period.
It is provisionally estimated that in the four weeks ending 3rd April about 2,000 tons of carcase beef will have been sold into intervention in Northern Ireland. This represents 25 per cent. of estimated total production of beef in Northern Ireland—8,000 tons—and 2·2 per cent. of estimated total production in the United Kingdom—93,000 tons during this period.I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the measures relating to the production of beef in Northern Ireland announced on 1st April by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which should reduce the impact of intervention in Northern Ireland.—[Vol. 908, c. 566–7.]
Aldergrove (Vehicle Restrictions)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will place a restriction on the length and weight of vehicles permitted to use Killead Road, Killead, Aldergrove;(2) if he will place a restriction on the length and weight of vehicles permitted to use the A26 road at Millar's Bridge, Aldergrove.
I believe the hon. Member is referring to Millar's Bridge on Route C24.Arrangements have been made for the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to investigate the need on road safety grounds for restrictions on the length and weight of vehicles using this route and Killead Road, Aldergrove, and I will let the hon. Member know the result.
Employment Protection
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will introduce for Northern Ireland legislation equivalent to the Employment Protection Act and provisions similar to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service; and when this is likely to happen.
I intend shortly to lay before Parliament a draft Industrial Relations Order which will include provisions, notably relating to unfair dismissal, contracts of employment, redundancy pay and procedures for handling redundancies, similar to provisions in the Employment Protection Act. The Order will also establish a Labour Relations Agency, whose functions will in some respects resemble those of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. I also intend urgently to promote a second Order to include further measures of employee protection, similar to provision made by the Employment Protection Act.
Royal Ulster Constabulary
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there has been any change in the minimum height of recruits for the RUC as a result of a changeover to metrication; what is the minimum height requirement in both systems; and whether any change is intended.
With effect from 1st January 1976, the Royal Ulster Constabulary Regulations were restated to provide a minimum height for recruits of 172 cm. for men and 162 cm. for women, instead of 5 ft. 8 in, and 5 ft. 4 in, respectively. The conversion to whole centimetres represents a slight reduction in the minimum height standard, consistent with that in Great Britain.
Human Rights
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights has made in its consideration of a possible Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
Following considerable preliminary study, the Commission published on 5th March a discussion paper designed to stimulate informed public debate in the Province and to bring forward further views and opinions for its own consideration. Copies of the paper have been placed in the Library. The discussion paper seeks to focus attention on some of the problems which have to be found in determining whether there is a need for a new measure guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms in Northern Ireland—or perhaps in the United Kingdom as a whole—and if so, what are the nature and scope of the rights and freedoms which need to be guaranteed, and what are the means by which such rights and freedoms should be guaranteed and enforced.
House Damage (Security Operations)
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what sums have been claimed by the Housing Executive from the Ministry of Defence in each of the last four years in respect of damage caused by the Army to Housing Executive property in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the Creggan Estate in Londonderry.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 17th March 1976; Vol. 907, c. 554], gave the following information:The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has claimed the following amounts from the Ministry of Defence in respect of damage to Housing Executive property, other than incidental damage sustained during house search operations:
| 1974–75 | £23,356·87 |
| 1975–76 | £23,146·02 |
Compensation for incidental damage as a result of house searches by the Army is payable by the Northern Ireland Office. The Housing Executive has claimed the following amounts in respect of such damage caused to its property:
| (a) | (b) | |
Year
| Northern Ireland
| Londonderry (including the Creggan Estate) |
| £ | £ | |
| 1973–74 | 5,309·69 | 271·26 |
| 1974–75 | 8,540·43 | 4,332·62 |
| 1975–76 | 1,907·86 | 714·99 |
Education And Science
Overseas Students
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has had any discussions with the Minister for Overseas Development concerning the Government's proposal to give financial assistance to those overseas students who will be unable to pay the increase in tuition fees which comes into force in the next academic year.
My right hon. Friend's statement in the House on 16th December in respect of recommended fee levels and arrangements in the academic year 1976–77 was made after consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development.—[Vol. 902, c. 553–4.]
School Meals
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his latest estimate of the cost of school meal subsidies during the current financial year; and what was the total cost of such subsidies during the year ended 5th April 1976.
The latest estimates at November 1975 prices are £328 million and £331 million respectively.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on which date the charge for school meals will be increased from 15p to 20p.
The exact date has not yet been settled, but it is the intention that the new charge shall apply from the beginning of next autumn term.
Grammar Schools
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grammar schools have decided to become independent rather than comprehensive.
Since 1st March 1974 statutory approval has been given to proposals by local education authorities to cease to maintain two voluntary grammar schools in circumstances where it appears to be the intention of the voluntary body concerned to re-establish the school as an independent school. One hundred and nineteen direct grant grammar schools have decided not to opt for entry to the maintained system as comprehensive schools; their future is a matter for their proprietors to decide.
Fircroft College
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to publish the report of the inquiry into the affairs of Fircroft College, Solly Oak, Birmingham; and if he will make a statement.
The report is being published today. Action on its recommendations is a matter for the Trustees and Governors of the College in the first instance. I am asking them to let me know as soon as possible what steps they propose to take.
O-Level Examinations
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children sat O-level examinations after leaving school in 1975, 1974 and 1973, respectively.
My Department does not collect this information. The numbers of candidates from grant-aided further education establishments taking GCE O-level examinations in 1973 and 1974 were 136,908 and 127,197 respectively. The figure for 1975 is not yet available.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is possible for a child to sit O-level examinations after he or she has left school; and if it is possible for a child to sit CSE examinations after he or she has left schoool.
A child reaching the statutory school leaving age need not remain at school in order to take GCE O-level examinations. In the case of the CSE a child must be in full-time attendance at school unless aged not less than 17 years on 1st September of the calendar year in which the examinations are taken.
Mentally-Handicapped Children
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessment he has made of the number of mentally handicapped children under 16 years of age in the Greater London areas on a borough basis.
In January 1975 the number of educationally subnormal—severe—children in Greater London for whom special education was provided or who were awaiting places in special schools was as follows:
| Inner London Education Authority | 1,573 |
| Barking | 51 |
| Barnet | 136 |
| Bexley | 153 |
| Brent | 190 |
| Bromley | 201 |
| Croydon | 192 |
| Ealing | 169 |
| Enfield | 147 |
| Haringey | 144 |
| Harrow | 113 |
| Havering | 164 |
| Hillingdon | 180 |
| Hounslow | 152 |
| Kingston-upon-Thames | 74 |
| Merton | 115 |
| Newham | 192 |
| Redbridge | 149 |
| Richmond-upon-Thames | 114 |
| Sutton | 116 |
| Waltham Forest | 104 |
| 4,429 |
Civil Service
Forms
asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in the Official Report the list of forms which have to be filled in by businesses, which he sent to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury on 1st April 1976.
I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.
Civil Service College
asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the number of student days in 1974–75 and 1975–76 at (i) the London Centre of the Civil Service College and (ii) the Edinburgh Centre of the Civil Service College.
The number of student days taken up on courses provided by the London and Edinburgh Centres of the Civil Service College in (a) the academic year ending 31st August 1975 and (b) the autumn term of the academic year ending 31st August 1975—1st September-31st December 1975—was as follows:
| London | Edinburgh | |
| (a) | 49,769 | 24,880 |
| (b) | 20,187 | 7,143 |
Government Inquiries (Expenses)
asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, in view of the Government's economy drive, he will take steps to reduce the payments made to members of Government committees and Royal Commissions who receive £21 per day on a part-time basis, in addition to travel costs, subsistence allowances in accordance with Civil Service rules and briefcases.
No.
Parliamentary Counsel Office
asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with the present staffing of the Parliamentary Counsel Office.
Yes.
asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the establishment of the Parliamentary Counsel Office; and what steps are being taken to recruit and train candidates for that Office.
The number of professional staff in the Parliamentary Counsel Office who are engaged on work in connection with the Government's legislative programme is 20 full-time and one part-time. It is planned to recruit a small number of extra staff in the near future.
Energy
Oil Production Platforms
32.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the first order for the platform site at Hunterston.
The site is planned for completion sufficient to accept a contract by the end of June 1976. The award of a contract depends on the oil companies' plans and the success of the platform contractor, who takes an optimistic view of his prospects.
asked me Secretary of State for Energy what loans or aid he proposes to make available to Laing Offshore to prevent a complete rundown of operations at Graythorp; and if he proposes to make State funds available to other oil platform site contractors who have personnel employed but no orders available.
Any oil production platform contractor is free to put to the Government at any time proposals to improve his capability to undertake a wider range of oil-related activities and these would be considered on their merits. The proposals I have received from Laing Offshore in respect of the Graythorp site fall in this category and are at present being examined.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much State money has been invested in the oil platform site at Portavadie; and how many orders have been secured.
£12 million to date. No platform orders have yet been secured.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much State money has been invested in the oil platform site at Hunterston; and how many orders have been secured.
The Government are guaranteeing the costs of the development of this site up to a maximum of £11·5 million. No orders have yet been secured. I also refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Mr. Corrie).
asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the British Gas Corporation is in a position to place orders for oil production platforms.
No. The British Gas Corporation is not the operator for any of the commercial oilfields in which it has an interest.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects an upturn in oil production platform orders.
I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 22nd March.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy to what extent technical reappraisals, subsea techniques, Government depletion proposals, the impact of PRT and inflated prices have reduced the placing of orders for oil production platforms.
The present hiatus in platform ordering by the operators has occurred partly because they want to complete full technical appraisal of their fields in the light of recent advances in drilling and production technology, and partly because they are reviewing platform design in the light of the operational experience already gained in the North Sea.
Gasification Plants
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what provision, if any, has been made by the Government, local authorities or the British Gas Corporation for sites to be available for the construction of gasification plants beyond 1980; and where those sites are.
No provision has been made by the Government or local authorities. The British Gas Corporation has sites which used to be used for gas manufacture and would be the first choices if and when the need for gas manufacturing again arises.
Gas Demand
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government's estimate of consumer demand for gas beyond 1980.
Forecasts of the consumption of gas in the United Kingdom in 1980, 1985 and 1990 are given in the Department's memorandum to the Select Committee on Science and Technology (Energy Resources Sub-Committee) and published in a House of Commons paper. A copy is available in the Library of the House.
Oil Rigs (Safety)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions have been held with the Norwegian Government regarding the adequacy of the present regulations, procedures and practice for checking of anti-blowout preventer drills and equipment, particularly in relation to the dangers of corrosion manifested in the recent Ekofisk occurrence.
Officials of the Petroleum Engineering Directorate have regular contact with officials of the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate concerning all aspects of safe drilling operations in the North Sea. Such discussions have taken place for several years and have proved of mutual benefit to both organisations. With regard to the Ekofisk incident, full information has been received from the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate on this occurrence and a full report has been promised when it is issued by the Directorate.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many Government safety inspectors are employed in checking equipment and safety procedures on drilling rigs, production platforms and laying and lifting barges; how many visits were made to each such installation or vessel in 1975; and whether there have been any changes in average time spent on inspections in the last year.
There are now nine inspectors of the Department of Energy who spend most of their time visiting drilling and production installations on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf. Nine more are also involved in other aspects of safety and control and visit these installations when required. During 1975, 166 visits were made for inspection purposes. This equates to an average of between two and three visits a year to each installation. There has been no change in the average time spent on inspections in the last year, a typical inspection taking between three and five hours.
asked the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions in 1975 he or his oil agencies have engaged consultant engineers to gauge the suitability of platforms or their sites; and how many consultants were employed from firms based predominantly in Scotland and England, respectively.
Consulting engineers were employed on three occasions last year in connection with platforms or platform sites. Four firms were involved, three based in London and one in Glasgow.
Oil Industry (Conferences And Exhibitions)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what conferences or exhibitions in the United Kingdom or abroad dealing with North Sea oil have either been sponsored or financed by the Government; and if he will give the location, general theme and cost of each such conference held during 1975.
In 1975 the Government sponsored or co-sponsored the following four conferences or seminars all of which were intended to publicise the opportunities for British industry arising from offshore oil and gas exploration and development.
| Location | Cost to the Government |
| Dundee | £240 |
| Northampton | Nil |
| Cardiff | Nil |
| Belfast | £100 |
Oil And Gas Processing
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the outcome of his discussions with oil companies on the scope for new oil and gas processing developments in Scotland which he announced on 21st February 1975.
Discussions with companies on the scope for oil and gas related developments are continuing, both in relation to Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole.
Oil Refining
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of Scottish North Sea oil production currently estimated for 1980 and 1985 will be refined within Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and overseas, respectively, according to current predictions.
As the hon. Member is already aware, the United Kingdom Continental Shelf is not divided into sections. The Government's policy on refining was set out in my right hon. Friend's statement of 6th December 1974—[Vol. 882, c. 646–8.]—and the geographical areas for refining cannot be forecast.
Oil Rig Supply Vessels
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what numbers of oil supply boats were operating in the Scottish sector of the North Sea in 1975; how many were in United Kingdom ownership; and how many United Kingdom owned supply boats are currently without charter or laid up.
A survey by the Offshore Supplies Office last October showed that 176 supply boats were then operating in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea. 54 of these were owned by United Kingdom companies. Figures are not readily available of the number of United Kingdom owned supply boats currently without charter or laid up, but now that pipelaying and other activities are beginning to start up again after the winter break it is thought that comparatively few are likely to be idle.
Miners (Concessionary Coal)
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what arrangements are in force for delivery of miners' free coal allowances to their homes.
This is a responsibility of the National Coal Board and I am asking the Chairman to write to the hon. Member.
Plutonium
asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the extent of current research into the potential health hazards posed by the insoluble hot plutonium particle; and if, in view of Great Britain's increasing involvement in nuclear waste reprocessing, he intends to increase the level of research work in this sphere.
I have been asked to reply.The potential health hazards of plutonium have long been recognised and extensive programmes concerned with all aspects of the toxicity of this material, including the hot particle problem, have been in progress for some years at the National Radiological Protection Board and the Medical Research Council's Radiobiology Unit. The latter is particularly concerned with the biological effects. The level of this work has increased considerably over the past few years and is kept under review. An MRC report, "The Toxicity of Plutonium", published by HMSO in 1975, examined the hot particle theory. The broad conclusions were that the safety levels set for plutonium are of the right order in relation to other radiation hazards, although some small adjustments might be necessary.
Uranium
asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of United Kingdom total requirements of uranium concentrates will be obtained from Rossing Uranium Limited by 1980 on the assumption that contractual obligations are observed.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 12th April 1976; Vol. 909, c. 377], gave the following information:I am advised that this information, if given publicly, might prejudice commercial negotiations for further supplies of uranium.
Environment
M1
31.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of the M1 motorway now have lighting installed; and if he will make a statement on when the full length of this motorway from London to Leeds will be completed with road lighting.
Lighting has now been installed on about 63 miles of Ml. There are no plans, at present, to install lighting on the remaining lengths.
Motor Vehicles (Roadworthiness Tests)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment precisely what advice he gave to MOT testers concerning the use of only hand and thumb pressure for testing rust; and in what form.
The Department's advice to nominated testers is to press against a component which is suspected of being corroded either with the fingers or a blunt instrument and if necessary to follow this with a tapping of the component with a light hammer and to listen for the difference in sound between metal unaffected by corrosion and a defective component.This advice is given orally when technical officers make their periodic visits to testing stations, at departmental training courses for testers, and at meetings organised by the appropriate trade associations. It is my intention to issue written advice at the next available opportunity.
Road Ramps
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the purpose of the raised ramps, now being constructed alongside motorways; what consultations have taken place with motorists' and safety organisations over the possible dangers of placing such ramps beside the carriageways; and what forecast he has made of the number of accidents likely to be caused each year, both by collisions with the ramps and by vehicles entering or leaving them.
The raised ramps alongside motorway hard shoulders are observation platforms for the sole use of police patrol vehicles. They were devised at the request of the police and after a trial on M3 it was decided at the end of 1974 to go ahead with their provision. The platforms are spaced between five and 10 miles apart, they are situated behind the hard shoulder, above carriageway level and are clearly visible. It is not considered that they, or their use, will constitute a danger to road users.No consultations with motorists' or safety organisations were felt to be necessary.
Council Tenancies
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what national machinery now exists for the advertising and arrangement of exchanges of accommodation between tenants of different local housing authorities.
| MOTOR CYCLE RIDER *CASUALTIES AND CHANGES IN MILEAGE: JULY-OCTOBER 1972–75 | ||||||
| Number | ||||||
| 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975† | |||
| (a) Casualties, by riders age and severity of injuries: | ||||||
| Riders under 20 years of age: | ||||||
| Deaths | … | … | 134 | 106 | 164 | 162 |
| Serious injuries | … | … | 1,907 | 2,176 | 2,091 | 2,647 |
| All riders: | ||||||
| Deaths | … | … | 245 | 222 | 282 | 299 |
| Serious injuries | … | … | 3,673 | 4,081 | 3,810 | 4,705 |
| Percentage | ||||||
| 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | |||
| (b) Changes in mileage: | ||||||
| Changes in motor cycle mileage on previous year | … | … | −7 | +10 | +3‡ | +30‡ |
| * Includes passengers. | ||||||
| † Provisional. | ||||||
| ‡ All two wheeled motor vehicles. | ||||||
| TWO WHEELED MOTOR VEHICLE RIDERS * CASUALTIES BY AGE AND CHANGES IN MILEAGE: JULY-OCTOBER 1972–75 | ||||||||||
| Number | ||||||||||
| 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975† | |||||||
| (a) Casualties by riders age and severity of injury: | ||||||||||
| Riders under 20 years of age: | ||||||||||
| Deaths | … | … | … | … | … | … | 152 | 141 | 194 | 191 |
| Serious injuries | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2,566 | 2,906 | 2,864 | 3,525 |
| All riders: | ||||||||||
| Deaths | … | … | … | … | … | … | 299 | 276 | 330 | 361 |
| Serious injuries | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5,033 | 5,383 | 5,097 | 6,126 |
| Percentage | ||||||||||
| 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | |||||||
| (b) Changes in mileage: | ||||||||||
| Changes in mileage of all two-wheeled motor vehicles on previous year | … | … | … | … | … | … | −10 | +3 | +3 | +30 |
| * Drivers and passengers. | ||||||||||
| † Provisional. | ||||||||||
Planning Inquiries
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment
There is no such machinery provided by either central or local government, but I understand that a number of independent commercial bureaux operate exchange arrangements.
Motor Cyclists (Accidents)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of deaths and serious injuries to riders of motor cycles in the four-month period July to October in each of the years 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975, showing separately riders aged under 20 years of age, together with the estimated increase in motor cycle mileage between each of those periods.
Following is the information:whether he is aware of difficulties which have arisen through the lack of shorthand secretarial facilities at public inquiries; and if he will consider authorising the provision of these facilities for inspectors at all future public inquiries.
My right hon. Friend is not aware of any general difficulties. Shorthand secretarial facilities are made available when the occasion demands, but my right hon. Friend does not consider it necessary that they should be provided at all local inquiries.
Roads
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the estimated cost in each of the financial years 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 and
| EXPENDITURE ON ROADS, ROAD SAFETY: AND ACCIDENTS COSTS: FINANCIAL YEARS 1972–75: GREAT BRITAIN | |||||||||
| £m | |||||||||
| Expenditure on rods | |||||||||
| New construction and improvement | Maintenance | Administration | Expenditure on road safety | Estimated accident costs to the extent not covered by insurance | |||||
| Financial Year | Central Government | Local Government | Central Government | Local Government | Central Government | Local Government | Central Government | Local Government* | |
| 1972–73 | 378 | 160 | 49 | 178 | 6 | 66 | 5 | 3 | 260 |
| 1973–74 | 450 | 179 | 59 | 198 | 7 | 77 | 6 | 3 | 280 |
| 1974–75† | 476 | 193 | 44 | 236 | 8 | 110 | 6 | 4 | 330 |
| * England and Wales only. | |||||||||
| † Estimates. | |||||||||
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much money has been spent by his Department on major road schemes within the Greater Manchester Area in each of the past 10 years; and if he will express this as a per capita amount;(2) how much money has been spent by his Department on major road schemes within the conurbations of London, Birmingham and Newcastle-upon-Tyne in each of the past 10 years; and if he will express this as a per capita amount;(3) how much money has been spent by his Department on major road schemes within the Bury Authority in each of the past 10 years; and if he will express this as a per capita amount.
I regret that the information requested is not available in the form which my hon. Friend is seeking because for the years before 1974–75 statistics were kept for local highway authority areas which, apart from Greater London, differ, from those specified.
Safety Belts (Police)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in making 1975–76 of central and local government expenditure in Great Britain on road construction, road maintenance, road administration, traffic police and road accident prevention, respectively; and what was the estimated cost in each year of accidents to the extent to which they are not covered by insurance.
The information is set out in the table below.I regret that I have no information about police costs, and that information on the other subjects is not yet available for 1975–76.regulations to provide exemptions for the statutory requirement to wear seat belts, he will exclude police officers travelling in motor vehicles on duty in cases where (1) they are in charge of violent prisoners, (2) they are engaged in the pursuit of other vehicles with a view to stopping those vehicles and arresting their occupants and (3) in such other cases where in the judgment of any police officer it is essential to his duties to enforce the law and/or prevent crimes that he should be able to leave his vehicle speedily.
I propose to provide for the exemption of police officers in circumstances where the wearing of belts would impede the performance of their duties.
Sports Sponsorship (Tobacco Companies)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the financial contribution by tobacco companies to sports sponsorship each year since 1970.
The industry has not hitherto revealed information of this kind, but I expect that it will become available during the course of negotiations for a voluntary code of practice and agreement to restrict the growth of expenditure on sports sponsorship by the tobacco industry.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards the promotion or support by the Sports Council of events that are sponsored by tobacco firms.
It is for individual governing bodies of sport to decide whether or not to accept sponsorship from tobacco firms, and my right hon. Friend has given no guidance to the Sports Council on the matter.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy regarding grant aid and assistance from the Sports Council to sports associations holding events which include competitors from, and sending competitors to: (a) Rhodesia, (b) South Africa and (c) Taiwan/Formosa.
I have told the Sports Council that the Government cannot condone any sporting contact with Rhodesia, as that country is governed by an illegal regime in rebelliion against the Crown. On my advice the Council does not at present offer assistance to any sporting association towards the cost of holding an event in which South African teams are expected to compete, or of sending a team to compete in events held in that country.I have given no guidance to the Sports Council on grant-aid or assistance for events involving competitors from Taiwan or sporting visits to Taiwan. However, in general, Her Majesty's Government do not welcome visits from sporting teams from Taiwan.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times the Sports Council have refused grants to sports associations holding events with South African participants.
I am informed that on four occasions it has been necessary for the Sports Council to inform governing bodies of the Government's policy on sporting contacts with South Africa, and to make it clear that no grant-aid would be provided if South African teams were to participate in the events concerned.
Football Hooliganism
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those clubs in the English First and Second Division of the Football League which have yet to comply fully with the measures introduced to combat football hooliganism.
These clubs are now co-operating with my Working Party in the implementation of our recommendations. We are keeping the position under continuous scrutiny and good progress is being made despite sometimes adverse financial circumstances.This season's experience has confirmed the wisdom of our recommendations, and they will be incorporated in the revised version of the "Guide to Safety at Sports Grounds" for use by local licensing authorities issuing general safety certificates under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975.
Rapid Transit Passenger Systems
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what major industrial conurbations within the United Kingdom possess rapid transit passenger systems; what the cost of these projects was; what the limit of national funds involved in such capital works was; in what years they became operational; and what the costs of these systems would be at 1976 prices.
All the metropolitan counties in England, Greater London and Greater Glasgow have, for many years, had local rail passenger services to city centres. London and Glasgow also have underground rail systems. Information on the original cost of these is not readily available.Major improvements to existing urban rail systems are currently under construction in London, Glasgow and Merseyside. A new metro system is also under construction on Tyneside. Information about the original cost and rate of Government grant relating to such projects in England was included in the reply given to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Gort) on 5th November 1975—[Vol. 899, c. 226.]
| Original Scheme Cost (at prices at the tint) on which grant was approved £ million | Rate of Grant Per cent. | Year in which grant approved | |
| Reconstruction of Glassow Central Low Level Line | 15·1 | 75 | 1974 |
| Modernisation of Glasgow Underground | 11·7 | 75 | 1974 |
Planning Inquiry Inspectors
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what qualities and qualifications are required by his Department in appointing people to the list of inspectors to serve at public inquiries &c.; and whether they are recruited solely from within his department.
I am sending the hon. Member copies of recent advertisements for recruitment to the salaried Inspectorate. Similar qualities and qualifications are required in the case of the Department's panel of fee paid inspectors and all appointments are made with the approval of the Lord Chancellor. Few inspectors are recruited from within the Department.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are on the list of Department of the Environment Inspectors; and how many are women.
My Department employs 213 salaried inspectors. In addition, there are 47 fee paid inspectors available to hold local inquiries on a regular basis on behalf of the Secretary of State. Seven salaried inspectors are women.
Council Dwellings (London)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current estimate of the empty council houses and flats in the Greater London area; and how many of these are classified as unavailable for reletting.
The Department's latest relets survey found that on 31st December 1974 about 0·9 per cent. of local authority housing revenue account dwellings in Greater London were vacant and available for letting and about 1·3 per cent.
The information relating to rail improvements in Glasgow is as follows:
were vacant for modernisation, repair, or conversion and therefore unavailable for letting.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of houses and flats completed in the Greater London area in the public sector in each year since 1971 to date.
Following is the information requested:
| Public Sector Houses and Flats completed in the Greater London Area | |
| No. of Dwellings | |
| 1971 | 24,765 |
| 1972 | 20,266 |
| 1973 | 16,036 |
| 1974 | 20,503 |
| 1975 | 20,301 |
Construction Contracts Tendering
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many public works contracts have been put out to tender in the EEC under the Council directives; how many have been accepted from non-British firms; and what is the average delay between going out to tender and acceptance.
In accordance with the requirements of EEC Directive 71/305, 2,356 public sector works contracts have been advertised in the Official Journal of the EEC up to 31st March 1976, by United Kingdom contract-awarding authorities. Complete information about the response from other member-nation firms is not available; but I am not aware of any contract placed up to 31st December 1975 as a result of this procedure with a company operating from any other EEC country. There is no evidence that compliance has resulted in any delay between the issue of tenders and acceptance.
Rents
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what percentage of total housing costs is met by annual rent in England;(2) what percentage of total housing costs is met by annual rent in each of the following metropolitan districts and boroughs: Liverpool, Camden, Birmingham, Brent and Richmond;(3) what percentage of total housing costs is met by annual rent in each of the following districts or boroughs: Adur, Medina, Southampton, Portsmouth and Chichester.
From estimates provided by local authorities for 1975–76, the percentages of total expenditure on housing revenue account met by rents can be calculated as follows:
| Unrebated rents (per cent.) | Rebated rents (per cent.) | |
| Liverpool | 54 | 44 |
| Camden | 26 | 19 |
| Birmingham | 53 | 41 |
| Brent | 26 | 18 |
| Richmond | 62 | 47 |
| Adur | 65 | 52 |
| Medina | 53 | 44 |
| Southampton | 53 | 43 |
| Portsmouth | 60 | 47 |
| Chichester | 50 | 39 |
| England | 53 | 43 |
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the average weekly rent, before rebate was claimed, of a three-roomed flat in the public sector in the Greater London area in 1971 and 1976;(2) what is the average weekly rent, after rebates have been deducted, of a three-roomed flat in the public sector in the Greater London area in 1971 and 1976.
The average weekly unrebated rent of a local authority two-bedroom flat in Greater London was £3·65 in April 1971 and £5·08 in April 1975. Information for 1976 and for the average rebated rent of these dwellings is not available.
Sport And Recreation
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached on the proposals for regional sport and recreation councils which were the subject of his Department's consultation letter of 29th May 1975; and if he will make a statement.
After extensive consultations I have decided to promote the establishment of Regional Councils for Sport and Recreation, as successor bodies to the Regional Sports Councils. The new councils will provide a forum for consultation among local authorities and user and other affected interests, assisted by the relevant government agencies and Departments, in relation to sport and all forms of outdoor recreation; and, in particular, will develop regional recreational strategies to serve as a framework for the development of policies and proposals in statutory structure and local plans.The councils will be fully autonomous bodies, subject to direction neither by Government itself nor by agencies of Government; but their rôle will be purely consultative and advisory and they will not infringe in any way the statutory duties of other agencies and authorities. Nor will their establishment affect existing arrangements whereby local authorities deal directly with the Sports Council, the Countryside Commission and other bodies on specific matters.I have placed in the Library a more detailed statement of the terms of reference of the new councils and of the way in which they will be constituted. In preparing that statement I have had particular regard to the need to achieve a satisfactory and balanced representation of interests, while at the same time allowing scope for variation in the light of local circumstances; and to considerations of efficiency and economy.I intend that secretarial support shall, in due course, be provided jointly by the Countryside Commission and the Sports Council. However, this must await the establishment of regional offices of the Countryside Commission—a development which must regrettably be deferred in present economic circumstances. In the meantime, the Sports Council have agreed to provide full secretarial services for the new councils, keeping closely in touch with Countryside Commission staff on matters concerning them.
I shall shortly announce the names of the chairmen-designate of the new councils who will initiate the necessary consultations leading up to the formation of their councils. The Regional Sports Councils will continue to operate until the new councils are ready to start work.
I should like to take this opportunity of paying a warm tribute to all those who have contributed to the invaluable work done by the Regional Sports Councils over the past decade and more. They have shown us the way forward and I am confident that the new councils will be able to build effectively on the foundations that they have laid.
Atmosphere
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report on the effect of chlorofluorocarbon gases on the earth's ozone layer will be published; and if he will make a statement.
The report by my Department's Central Unit on Environmental Pollution was published today and a copy has been placed in the Library.The report concludes that scientifically the hypotheses that have been put forward on the possible effects of chlorofluorocarbons 11 and 12 on the stratis-pheric ozone layer are plausible. Limited studies suggest that if the 1973 rate of usage of chlorofluorocarbons 11 and 12 is continued, a maximum depletion of about 8 per cent. in the ozone layer will occur in about 100 years' time: this will cause an increase of about 16 per cent. in ultra violet radiation reaching the ground. To put the matter in perspective, this would be equivalent to the increase in exposure incurred by a person moving from Northern England to the South Coast of England.But more information is needed to reduce the uncertainties involved, and research will be directed towards this end. When this is available, in two or three years' time, we shall be better able to make decisions about the continued use of these chlorofluorocarbons. Meanwhile manufacturers are being asked, as a precautionary step, to intensify their search for alternative aerosol propellants and foaming agents and to seek to minimise unintentional emissions from industrial equipment.
Prefabricated Houses (London)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many prefabricated houses are now occupied in Greater London in the ownership of each local authority; in which years they were erected; for how long they were intended to last; and how many still remain suitable for living in.
Local authorities in London own the following numbers of such dwellings in use in December 1975:
| Greater London Council | 457 |
| London Boroughs | |
| Barnet | 7 |
| Bexley | 12 |
| Camden | 87 |
| Greenwich | 20 |
| Hammersmith | 76 |
| Haringey | 52 |
| Kensington and Chelsea | 46 |
| Lambeth | 223 |
| Lewisham | 17 |
| Newham | 467 |
| Richmond | 1 |
| Southwark | 259 |
| Tower Hamlets | 2 |
| Waltham Forest | 21 |
| Wandsworth | 48 |
Ministerial Appointments
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those bodies to which he appoints members empowered to take decisions affecting the rights, income or property of individuals or corporate bodies, against which there is no right of appeal.
A detailed list could be compiled only at disproportionate cost to public funds. I am, however, writing to the hon. Member.
Drivers' Hours (European Community Proposals)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his present estimate of the costs involved in implementing the EEC proposals—in respect of drivers' hours and tachographs.
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Members for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd) and for Wellingborough (Mr. Fry) on 7th April.—[Vol. 909, c. 165.]
Driving Tests (Fees)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount of money received from test fees of candidates for his Department's driving tests for the years 1973, 1974 and 1975, respectively.
Receipts, net of refunds, from driving tests, including those for heavy goods vehicles, in the last three financial years for which accounts have been settled, were as follows:
| £ | |
| 1972–73 | 6,510,734 |
| 1973–74 | 6,506,840 |
| 1974–75 | 6,127,884 |
Motorways
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those trunk motorways, giving the mileage in respect of each, in preparation, programmed and under construction.
The information is as follows:
| In Preparation Pool | Miles |
| M3 LONDON-BASINGSTOKE MOTORWAY | |
| Compton-Bassett | 5·1 |
| M5 Widening Lydiate Ash to Quinton | 6·0 |
| M25 LONDON ORBITAL MOTORWAY | |
| Waltham Cross (A10)-Theydon Bois (M11) | 8·0 |
| Swanley-Sevenoaks | 8·0 |
| Wisley-Reigate | 13·1 |
| Chertsey-Wisley | 4·8 |
| Egham-Wraysbury (includes Runnymede Bridge) | 1·0 |
| Wraysbury to M4 | 3·5 |
| M4-Denham | 5·0 |
| Denham-Maple Cross | 6·0 |
| Micklefield Green-South Mimms | 12·5 |
| M27 SOUTH COAST MOTORWAY | |
| Chilworth-Hedge End | 6·0 |
| Havant-Chichester | 8·0 |
| M40 OXFORD-BIRMINGHAM MOTORWAY | |
| Waterstock to Banbury | 28·0 |
| Banbury Section | 15·0 |
| M53 MID-WIRRAL MOTORWAY | |
| Hooton-Lea by Backford | 6·0 |
| M54 TELFORD MOTORWAY | |
| Brownhills Extension (M54/M6 Junction to Brownhills) | 6·5 |
| M63 SALE-STRETFORD-ECCLES MOTORWAY | |
| Stockport East-West By-pass | 2·5 |
| M63/M66 MANCHESTER OUTER RING ROAD | |
| Portwood to Denton | 3·7 |
| Denton to Middleton | 9·5 |
| M64 STOKE-DERBY MOTORWAY | 46·6 |
| M65 CALDER VALLEY MOTORWAY | |
| M6/61-Hyndburn | 10·5 |
| A1(M) Roestock-Stanborough | 2·8 |
| A3(M) Horndean-North of Peters-field and Sheet Link | 7·4 |
| A6(M) Stockport North-South Bypass | 6·5 |
| Uxbridge Road (A4020-M1) | 19·0 |
| In Firm Programme | Miles |
| M1 London-Yorks hire Motorway | |
| Widening Berrygrove-Breakspears | 6·0 |
| Stirling Corner Link | 0·9 |
| M3 London-Basingstoke Motorway | |
| Popham-Compton | 13·4 |
| M11 London-Cambridge Motorway | |
| A120-Stump Cross | 15·0 |
| Cambridge Western By-pass | 14·0 |
| M12 South of Woodford-Brentwood | 10·8 |
| M18 Rotherham-Goole Motorway | |
| Wadworth-Armthorpe | 7·5 |
| M20 Mid-Kent Motorway | |
| West Kingsdown-Addington | 4·0 |
| Maidstone-Ashford | 14·0 |
| Ashford-Folkestone | 14·0 |
| M23 London-Crawley Motorway | |
| Mitcham-Hooley | 8·8 |
| M25 London Orbital Motorway | |
| Godstone-County Boundary | 5·5 |
| County Boundary to Sundridge Road | 4·0 |
| Sundridge Road-Dunton Green (Seven-oaks Interchange) | 2·0 |
| Thorpe-Chertsey (includes Chertsey Links) | 2·2 |
| A12-A13 | 9·0 |
| Theydon Bois (M11) to A12 | 8·0 |
| M26 Dunton Green to Wrotham | 7·5 |
| M27 South Coast Motorway | |
| Hedge End-Windhover | 1·3 |
| M40 Oxford-Birmingham Motorway | |
| Warwick Section | 13·2 |
| M42 Birmingham-Nottingham Motorway | |
| Tamworth Section (Water Orton Contract) | 5·0 |
| Tamworth Section (Kingsbury Section) | 5·7 |
| Tamworth Section (Polesworth Section) | 7·0 |
| Bromsgrove Section | 18·6 |
| Castle Donington Section | 15·0 |
| M54 Telford Motorway | |
| Telford-M6 | 17·6 |
| M56 North Cheshire Motorway | |
| Hapsford-Lea By Backford | 6·3 |
| M53 Aintree-Skelmersdale | 8·1 |
| In Firm Programme | |
| M65 Calder Valley Motorway | |
| Hyndburn-Burnley | 5·5 |
| M67 Denton Relief Road (Stage 1) | 1·3 |
| M180 South Humberside Motorway | |
| Scunthorpe Southern By-pass | 8·5 |
| Thorne-Sandtoft | 4·9 |
| Sandtoft-Trent | 5·5 |
| Trent Bridge | 0·2 |
| Trent-Scunthorpe | 5·2 |
| A1(M) Cecil Road-Roestock | 3·1 |
| A3(M) Horndean-Bedhampton | 5·0 |
| A41(M) Kings Langley By-pass | 5·7 |
| Berkhampstcd By-pass | 7·0 |
| Under Construction | |
| M1 London-Yorkshire Motorway | |
| Staples Corner Interchange | 1·1 |
| M5 Birmingham-Bristol Exeter Motorway | |
| Chelston-Willand | 11·1 |
| Sandy Gate-Pearce's Hill | 3·6 |
| M11 London-Cambridge Motorway | |
| Redbridge-Loughton | 5·7 |
| Loughton-South Harlow | 7·8 |
| M18 Rotherham-Goole Motorway | |
| Armthorpe-Hatfield | 3·7 |
| M20 Mid-Kent Motorway | |
| Swanley-West Kingsdown | 6·0 |
| M25 London Orbital Motorway | |
| Egham-Thorpe | 2·5 |
| M42 Birmingham-Nottingham Motorway | |
| Solihull Section | 8·0 |
| M58 Skelmersdale-M6 | 3·4 |
| M62 Lancashire-Yorkshire Motorway | |
| Rawcliffe-Balkholme (Ouse Bridge Section) | 1·5 |
| M66 Bury Easterly By-Pass (Northern Section) | 5·8 |
| M67 Hyde By-Pass | 3·3 |
| M69 Coventry-Leicester Motorway | |
| Leicester Section | 8·0 |
| Coventry Section | 8·1 |
| M180 South Humberside Motorway | |
| Brigg By-pass | 4·6 |
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, showing the mileage in respect of each, the Tyne and Wear County Council Authority's motorways or lengths of motorway under construction, and motorway schemes confirmed.
The Tyne and Wear County Council's motorways are:1. Newcastle Central Motorway East, 1·1 miles;2. A184(M) Wardley Whitemare Pool (Blackfell Link), 3·7 miles.There are no motorways under construction and no schemes outstanding that need confirmation.
Roads (Tyne And Wear)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the effect that the recently announced cuts in public expenditure will have upon that part of the road programme for which he is responsible in Tyne and Wear.
The Government's programme of trunk road construction will come under review, both in the light of Cmnd. 6393 and in consequence of the consultative paper on Transport Policy which has been published today. It is too soon to say how the schemes in Tyne and Wear may be affected. Meanwhile, however, the preparatory technical work on these schemes will continue.
Planning Appeals
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many decisions on planning appeals were issued by his Department in 1975 compared with 1974.
The Department issued 11,486 decisions on planning appeals in 1975 and 12,198 in 1974.
Dogs
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to control stray dogs and to prevent contamination of public places;(2) what measures he is currently taking on areas of land controlled by his Department to eradicate contamination by toxicara canis;(3) if he will introduce legislation requiring licences to be obtained prior to the purchase of dogs from pet shops and other commercial and semi-commercial outlets;(4) if he will publish the working party report on the control of dogs.
I have now received the report of the Working Party on Dogs. The control of stray dogs, contamination, and licensing before purchase are among the issues covered in the Report. I shall study the report carefully before deciding on further action, but I am already fully aware of the strength of feeling on the issues that my hon. Friend raises.
Kielder Dam
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that the undertakings given in respect of the Kielder dam project to provide new homes in the locality for the families displaced are implemented without delay.
The statutory responsibility for providing replacement dwellings in these circumstances rests with Tyne-dale District Council, with financial support as necessary from the Northumbrian Water Authority. I have no reason to suppose that this responsibility will not be promptly and adequately discharged.
Earth Tremors (Stoke-On-Trent)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many earth tremors there have been in the Stoke-on-Trent area in the last two years;(2) on how many occasions his Department has financed investigations into earth tremors in the last 10 years; how much was spent; and in which areas the investigations were conducted;(3) if he had consultations with the Governments of foreign countries in which earth tremors have occured near coal mining sites.
I understand that measuring equipment locally installed last September has recorded some 90 low-magnitude tremors, of which six were large enough to be felt by the general public. Before this date significant tremors were recorded on 15th and 25th July 1975 emulating from the Stoke area but by apparatus located in Edinburgh.The main responsibility for Government research on seismology lies with the Institute for Geological Sciences, which is part of the Natural Environment Research Council, supported by funds from the Department of Education and Science. It has carried out a number of investigations in recent years in various parts of the country, and keeps in close touch with work overseas, including that on induced seismicity from coal-mining. My Department has not so far had any direct part in these activities, but it will shortly be considering the extent to which it can support "applied" work of general significance in this field.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will outline in The Official Report his reasons for refusing to finance further investigations into earth tremors in Stoke-on-Trent;(2) if, in consequence of the earth tremor in Stoke-on-Trent on Friday 9th April, he will reappraise his decision to refuse to finance further investigations;(3) if he will urgently consult with the Institute of Geological Sciences about the continuance of earth tremors in the Stoke-on-Trent area with a view to using their equipment for a period of two years, if necessary, to investigate the causes of earth tremors in Stoke-on-Trent;(4) if he will pay a visit to Stoke-on-Trent to hold discussions with the local authority working party, the National Coal Board and the residents who have been affected by earth tremors.
The main point considered earlier was the breadth of application of the results of the proposed work. This was then thought to be of mainly local significance, and thus a matter for local funding, though it was also made clear to my hon. Friend that the question was open to rapid re-appraisal in the light of changing circumstances. The unexpected further availability of equipment supplied by the Institute for Geological Sciences now makes it possible to continue monitoring until October, provided an agreed basis can be found for meeting the relatively small manpower costs involved. My Department will be represented when the local Working Party meets to discuss this and other matters tomorrow. This meeting will take the tremors of 9th April into account, but these were considerably less severe than those of last July.
I shall, however, ensure that the case for work at Stoke beyond October is carefully considered in consultation with the Institute for Geological Sciences, in the context of the proposals for a national monitoring network which I expect that they will shortly be putting to my Department. I have no present plans for an early local visit, but I shall of course keep in close touch with the situation.
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consultations he has had with the Stoke-on-Trent local authority about earth tremors in Stoke-on-Trent;(2) what consultations he has had with the National Coal Board about earth tremors in Stoke-on-Trent:(3) how many of his officials have been working on the investigations into the earth tremors in Stoke-on-Trent; and how much time they have spent on that work.
I have not myself been involved in any such consultations. None of my staff has engaged directly in these investigations, but a number of them have been involved in work arising from them. It would not be practicable to calculate exactly how much time they have spent on this.
Handicapped Persons (Housing)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action and progress there has been since the announcement, on 4th February 1975, of the drive on housing for people who are physically handicapped; and if he will make a statement.
Following my original announcement, I asked the regional housing officers of my Department to make provision for disabled people an integral part of their subsequent programme discussions with housing authorities. We have published design guidance on the provision of wheelchair housing as well as on the new concept of mobility housing. Special subsidisable additions have been made to housing cost yardsticks for disabled people's housing.While there is no room for complacency, there has been moderate progress and the response to the drive I initiated a year ago has been encouraging. It takes time to influence future programmes in terms of housing starts; and the figures for 1975, which are now available, may not fully reflect the whole range of provision now in the pipeline. Even so, they show that housing authorities and new town corporations in England and Wales made proposals for building 863 wheelchair dwellings, compared with an average of less than 500 proposals a year in the four years since the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and that they completed 582, compared with 595 completions for all the previous years since the Act. A further 160 proposals were made by housing associations which completed 31 dwellings in 1975, bringing their total since the Act to 423 proposals and 136 completions. During 1975 local authorities proposed 777 of the new "mobility" homes, of which 186 were started. Housing associations proposed 436 such dwellings.At the time of my original announcement, 193 of the 366 housing authorities in England had made no proposals for new building for disabled people at all. This figure has now been brought down to 80, of which 24 are known to undertake adaptations in existing dwellings.Adaptation is a way which many local authorities use to increase provision for the disabled. This enables them to remain in familiar surroundings, and particular needs to be met more quickly. My Department, with DHSS and the Welsh Office, have issued a consultation paper on rationalising the overlapping rôles and responsibilities of housing and social service authorities. Meanwhile, I have decided that the cost of adapting housing authorities' dwellings for disabled people should not count against their capital allocation under Section 105 of the Housing Act 1974 in England. Private owners are starting to use the new renovation grants, introduced in the 1974 Act, specifically for adaptation for disabled people; and these grants are now payable irrespective of the date of construction.Whatever progress has been made during the past year, I remain far from satisfied with the extent of provision planned. Out of a total public sector effort in England and Wales of 154,000 housing starts, it is just not enough when the number of people confined to a wheelchair is estimated at nearly 50,000; and more units of mobility housing and adaptations for other disabled persons and their families are certainly needed. I want to see the increased momentum of 1975 sustained and improved upon. In the immediate future I shall pay particular attention to the areas where there has been virtually no new provision in recent years.In consultation with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security with special responsibility for the disabled, I will consider what other steps we might usefully take to promote a continuing housing drive for the disabled. Proper assessment of need is becoming increasingly important. It is clear that this is being inadequately undertaken; so my Department is now sponsoring research at Chelsea College, London University, into this. I shall welcome the continued help and constructive criticism of bodies such as the Central Council for the Disabled, the Centre on Environment for the Handicapped, the Greater London Association for the Disabled, and the National Federation of Housing Associations, in resolving the difficulties which can arise over providing housing for disabled people.
Sports Council (Grants)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the grants to the Sports Council for the years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77.
The figures are £6·575 million in 1974–75, £8·325 million in 1975–76 and subject to the approval of the Estimates which have been presented to Parliament £10·2 million in 1976–77.
Housing Subsidies
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total subsidy, in the form of income tax allowances, paid to the owners of private houses in 1975.
I have been asked to reply.Assuming that my hon. Friend is referring to relief from income tax for payments of mortgage interest, the latest estimate for 1975–76 is £865 million. This estimate reflects a downwards revision from the previous estimate as a result of later information on the total of mortgage interest payments.
Social Services
Leukaemia (Sterile Units)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average cost of a sterile unit suitable for treating leukaemia patients; how many such units exist; and how many are sited in the North-West of England.
Many kinds of sterile units are suitable for treating leukaemia patients and it is not possible to provide a meaningful average cost. I regret that information about numbers and location of these units is not held centrally, but I understand there is none in the North-West of England.
Public Health (Annual Reports)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he expects the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer on "The State of Public Health" for 1975 to be published;(2) why the Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer on "The State of Public Health" for 1974 is still not available.
The report for 1974, which is expected to be published next month, has been delayed because of difficulties in the production of some statistics due to changes in the organisation of the NHS as from 1st April 1974. In future some of the statistical material will be presented differently, and thus it is intended that the report for 1975 will be published this autumn.
Cigarettes
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has made to tobacco manufacturers and retailers about the need to enforce the law on sales of cigarettes to children; and what response he has received.
The Tobacco Advisory Committee has said that since the Government delicensed tobacco retailers the Committee has no means of repeating its 1962 circular to tobacco retailers. However, the Federation of Retail Tobacconists in the February issue of its publication the Retail Tobacconist included an editorial about sale of cigarettes to children and a notice which members could display in their shops. We shall be discussing with the Federation what more might be done to remind tobacconists of the law.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken or plans to take to monitor the actual extent of cigarette sales to children.
The sale of cigarettes to children under the age of 16 is a criminal offence and the law is enforced in the normal way. Monitoring depends, therefore, on public vigilance.
Abortion
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of cases of pelvic inflammation following induced abortion for each of the years 1967 to 1975;(2) if he will list the total number of discharges from hospitals of patients who have undergone abortions for each of the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
I will circulate available information in the Official Report as soon as possible.
Wooley Hospital
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements are being made to provide alternative accommodation for the patients who will be displaced when Wooley Hospital, Northumberland, is closed; and when he expects those arrangements to be completed.
The Northumberland Area Health Authority expects to close the Wooley Hospital by 31st May. Discussions are continuing on arrangements for the transfer to other accommodation of the 76 patients who are at present in the hospital.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take in respect of the 70 members of the nursing staff of the Wooley Hospital, Northumberland, who will be made redundant when the hospital is closed.
Of the 70 nursing staff of the Wooley Hospital who have not yet been found alternative employment, seven have said that they do not wish to continue working and three are due to retire. The remaining 60 nurses are being informed of all vacancies in the region as they occur. Twelve of these qualify for redundancy payments under the normal rules for such payments, and will receive such payments if they have not found other appointments by the time the hospital closes.
Doctors
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give publicity to the fact that two-thirds of the doctors who emigrate return to Great Britain, including about 200 from the United States of America, Canada and Australia out of 600 in total, according to recent figures.
Exact figures for recent years are not available, but certainly many United Kingdom or Irish born doctors who leave do return. Figures for the number of such doctors leaving and returning each year have been published on a number of occasions, though the former tend to attract greater attention than the latter. In this context I welcome the recent article in the General Practitioner to which my hon. Friend has drawn my attention.
Professions Ancillary To Medicine (Pay)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the rates of pay of occupational therapists, physiotherapists and remedial gymnasts for each grade of teaching and clinical staff, respectively, in each of the last five years.
The following is the information requested:
1971 (with effect from 1st April 1971) | |||||||||||
Incremental Points
| |||||||||||
Minimum
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | ||||
Teaching grades (physiotherapists*) | |||||||||||
| Student teacher | … | … | … | 1,122 | 1,173 | 1,224 | 1,275 | 1,326 | — | — | — |
| Teacher | … | … | … | 1,707 | 1,755 | 1,809 | 1,890 | 1,974 | 2,058 | 2,142 | 2,232 |
| Assistant principal | … | … | … | 1,740 | 1,803 | 1,866 | 1,938 | 2,010 | 2,091 | 2,178 | 2,274 |
| Principal I | … | … | … | 2,007 | 2,085 | 2,166 | 2,247 | 2,328 | 2,409 | 2,490 | 2,574 |
| Principal II | … | … | … | 2,121 | 2,199 | 2,277 | 2,361 | 2,448 | 2,547 | 2,652 | 2,790 |
Clinical grades (occupational therapists and physiotherapists) | |||||||||||
| Basic | … | … | … | 1,029 | 1,074 | 1,122 | 1,173 | 1,224 | 1,275 | 1,326 | — |
| Senior | … | … | … | 1,194 | 1,245 | 1,296 | 1,347 | 1,398 | 1,449 | 1,503 | 1,557 |
| Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | 1,281 | 1,329 | 1,377 | 1,425 | 1,473 | 1,524 | 1,575 | 1,626 |
| Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | 1,395 | 1,440 | 1,485 | 1,533 | 1,584 | 1,635 | 1,689 | 1,743 |
| Head/Superintendent III | … | … | … | 1,506 | 1,563 | 1,623 | 1,683 | 1,743 | 1,803 | 1,866 | 1,932 |
| Head/Superintendent IV | … | … | … | 1,620 | 1,695 | 1,773 | 1,851 | 1,932 | 2,013 | 2,094 | 2,178 |
| Head/Superintendent V | … | … | … | 1,785 | 1,878 | 1,974 | 2,070 | 2,166 | 2,265 | 2,364 | 2,463 |
| Assistant Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | 1,236 | 1,284 | 1,332 | 1,380 | 1,428 | 1,476 | 1,527 | 1,578 |
| Assistant Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | 1,281 | 1,329 | 1,377 | 1,425 | 1,473 | 1,524 | 1,575 | 1,626 |
Clinical grades (remedial gymnasts) | |||||||||||
| Trainee | … | … | … | 993 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Basic | … | … | … | 1,029 | 1,074 | 1,122 | 1,173 | 1,224 | 1,275 | 1,326 | — |
| Senior | … | … | … | 1,194 | 1,245 | 1,296 | 1,347 | 1,398 | 1,449 | 1,503 | 1,557 |
| Head I | … | … | … | 1,281 | 1,329 | 1,377 | 1,425 | 1,473 | 1,524 | 1,575 | 1,626 |
| Head II | … | … | … | 1,395 | 1,440 | 1,485 | 1,533 | 1,584 | 1,635 | 1,689 | 1,743 |
| Deputy Head | … | … | … | 1,194 | 1,245 | 1,296 | 1,347 | 1,398 | 1,449 | 1,503 | 1,557 |
1972 (with effect from 1st April 1972) | |||||||||||
Teaching grades (physiotherapists*) | |||||||||||
| Student teacher | … | … | … | 1,212 | 1,266 | 1,320 | 1,377 | 1,434 | — | — | — |
| Teacher | … | … | … | 1,845 | 1,896 | 1,953 | 2,040 | 2,133 | 2,223 | 2,313 | 2,412 |
| Assistant principal | … | … | … | 1,878 | 1,947 | 2,016 | 2,094 | 2,169 | 2,259 | 2,352 | 2,457 |
| Principal I | … | … | … | 2,169 | 2,250 | 2,340 | 2,427 | 2,514 | 2,601 | 2,688 | 2,781 |
| Principal II | … | … | … | 2,292 | 2,376 | 2,460 | 2,550 | 2,643 | 2,751 | 2,865 | 3,012 |
Incremental Points
| |||||||||||
Minimum
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | ||||
Clinical grades (occupational therapists and physiotherapists) | |||||||||||
| Basic | … | … | … | 1,110 | 1,161 | 1,212 | 1,266 | 1,320 | 1,377 | 1,434 | — |
| Senior | … | … | … | 1,290 | 1,344 | 1,398 | 1,455 | 1,509 | 1,566 | 1,623 | 1,683 |
| Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | 1,383 | 1,434 | 1,488 | 1,539 | 1,590 | 1,647 | 1,701 | 1,755 |
| Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | 1,506 | 1,554 | 1,605 | 1,656 | 1,710 | 1,767 | 1,824 | 1,881 |
| Head/Superintendent III | … | … | … | 1,626 | 1,689 | 1,752 | 1,815 | 1,881 | 1,947 | 2,016 | 2,088 |
| Head/Superintendent IV | … | … | … | 1,749 | 1,830 | 1,914 | 1,998 | 2,088 | 2,175 | 2,262 | 2,352 |
| Head/Superintendent V | … | … | … | 1,929 | 2,028 | 2,130 | 2,235 | 2,340 | 2,445 | 2,553 | 2,661 |
| Assistant Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | 1,335 | 1,386 | 1,437 | 1,491 | 1,542 | 1,593 | 1,650 | 1,704 |
| Assistant Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | 1,383 | 1,434 | 1,488 | 1,539 | 1,590 | 1,647 | 1,701 | 1,755 |
Clinical grades (remedial gymnasts) | |||||||||||
| Trainee | … | … | … | 1,071 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Basic | … | … | … | 1,110 | 1,161 | 1,212 | 1,266 | 1,320 | 1,377 | 1,434 | — |
| Senior | … | … | … | 1,290 | 1,344 | 1,398 | 1,455 | 1,509 | 1,566 | 1,623 | 1,683 |
| Head I | … | … | … | 1,383 | 1,434 | 1,488 | 1,539 | 1,590 | 1,647 | 1,701 | 1,755 |
| Head II | … | … | … | 1,506 | 1,554 | 1,605 | 1,656 | 1.710 | 1,767 | 1,824 | 1,881 |
| Deputy Head | … | … | … | 1,290 | 1,344 | 1,398 | 1,455 | 1,509 | 1,566 | 1,623 | 1,683 |
1973 (with effect from 1st April 1973) | |||||||||||
Teaching grades (physiotherapists*) | |||||||||||
| Student teacher | … | … | … | 1,314 | 1,368 | 1,425 | 1,485 | 1,542 | — | — | — |
| Teacher | … | … | … | 1,971 | 2,025 | 2,082 | 2,175 | 2,271 | 2,364 | 2,457 | 2,559 |
| Assistant principal | … | … | … | 2,034 | 2,106 | 2,178 | 2,259 | 2,337 | 2,430 | 2,529 | 2,637 |
| Principal I | … | … | … | 2,307 | 2,391 | 2,487 | 2,577 | 2,667 | 2,757 | 2,847 | 2,943 |
| Principal II | … | … | … | 2,436 | 2,523 | 2,610 | 2,703 | 2,802 | 2,913 | 3,033 | 3,183 |
Clinical grades (occupational therapists and physiotherapists) | |||||||||||
| Basic | … | … | … | 1,212 | 1,263 | 1,314 | 1,368 | 1,425 | 1,485 | 1,542 | — |
| Senior | … | … | … | 1,395 | 1,449 | 1,506 | 1,566 | 1,620 | 1,680 | 1,740 | 1,803 |
| Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | 1,491 | 1,542 | 1,599 | 1,653 | 1,707 | 1,764 | 1,821 | 1,878 |
| Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | 1,617 | 1,668 | 1,722 | 1,773 | 1,830 | 1,890 | 1,950 | 2,007 |
| Head/Superintendent III | … | … | … | 1,743 | 1,809 | 1,875 | 1,941 | 2,007 | 2,076 | 2,148 | 2,223 |
| Head/Superintendent IV | … | … | … | 1,872 | 1,956 | 2,043 | 2,130 | 2,223 | 2,312 | 2,403 | 2,499 |
| Head/Superintendent V | … | … | … | 2,058 | 2,160 | 2,268 | 2,376 | 2,487 | 2,595 | 2,706 | 2,820 |
| Assistant Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | 1,440 | 1,494 | 1,545 | 1,602 | 1,656 | 1,710 | 1,767 | 1,824 |
| Assistant Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | 1,491 | 1,542 | 1,599 | 1,653 | 1,707 | 1,764 | 1,821 | 1,878 |
Minimum
| Incremental Points
| ||||||||||
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | (6) | (7) | |||||
Clinical grades (remedial gymnasts) | |||||||||||
| Trainee | … | … | … | 1,173 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Basic | … | … | … | 1,212 | 1,263 | 1,314 | 1,368 | 1,425 | 1,485 | 1,542 | — |
| Senior | … | … | … | 1,395 | 1,449 | 1,506 | 1,566 | 1,620 | 1,680 | 1,740 | 1,803 |
| Head I | … | … | … | 1,491 | 1,542 | 1,599 | 1,653 | 1,707 | 1,764 | 1,821 | 1,878 |
| Head II | … | … | … | 1,617 | 1,668 | 1,722 | 1773 | 1 830 | 1890 | 1950 | 2,007 |
| Deputy Head | … | … | … | 1,395 | 1.449 | 1.506 | 1,566 | 1,620 | 1,680 | 1,740 | 1.803 |
1974 (with effect from 1st April 1974 | |||||||||||
Peaching grades (physiotherapists*) | |||||||||||
| Student teacher | … | … | … | 1,461 | 1,515 | 1,566 | 1,617 | 1,668 | — | — | — |
| Teacher | … | … | … | 2,109 | 2,166 | 2,229 | 2,328 | 2,430 | 2,529 | 2,628 | 2,739 |
| Assistant principal | … | … | … | 2,175 | 2,253 | 2,331 | 2,418 | 2,502 | 2,601 | 2,706 | 2,823 |
| Principal I | … | … | … | 2,469 | 2,559 | 2,661 | 2,757 | 2,853 | 2,949 | 3,045 | 3,150 |
| Principal II | … | … | … | 2.607 | 2,700 | 2,793 | 2,892 | 2,997 | 3,117 | 3,246 | 3,405 |
Clinical grades (occupational therapists and physiotherapists) | |||||||||||
| Basic | … | … | … | 1,359 | 1,410 | 1,461 | 1,515 | 1,566 | 1,617 | 1,668 | — |
| Senior | … | … | … | 1,566 | 1,623 | 1,683 | 1,737 | 1,797 | 1,863 | 1,929 | — |
| Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | 1,638 | 1,689 | 1,746 | 1,800 | 1,857 | 1,917 | 1,977 | 2,040 |
| Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | 1,734 | 1,785 | 1,842 | 1,896 | 1,959 | 2,022 | 2,088 | 2,148 |
| Head/Superintendent III | … | … | … | 1,866 | 1,935 | 2,007 | 2,076 | 2,148 | 2,220 | 2,298 | 2,379 |
| Head/Superintendent IV | … | … | … | 2,004 | 2,094 | 2,187 | 2,280 | 2,379 | 2,475 | 2,571 | 2,673 |
| Head/Superintendent V | … | … | … | 2,202 | 2,310 | 2,427 | 2,541 | 2,661 | 2,778 | 2,895 | 3,018 |
| Assistant Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | 1,587 | 1,641 | 1,692 | 1,749 | 1,803 | 1,860 | 1,920 | 1,983 |
| Assistant Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | 1,638 | 1,689 | 1.746 | 1,800 | 1,857 | 1,917 | 1,977 | 2,040 |
Clinical grades (remedial gymnasts) | |||||||||||
| Trainee | … | … | … | 1,290 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Basic | … | … | … | 1,359 | 1,410 | 1,461 | 1,515 | 1,566 | 1,617 | 1,668 | — |
| Senior | … | … | … | 1,566 | 1,623 | 1,683 | 1,737 | 1,797 | 1,863 | 1,929 | — |
| Head I | … | … | … | 1,638 | 1,689 | 1,746 | 1,800 | 1,857 | 1,917 | 1,977 | 2,040 |
| Head II | … | … | … | 1,734 | 1,785 | 1,842 | 1,896 | 1,959 | 2,022 | 2,088 | 2,148 |
| Deputy Head | … | … | … | 1,566 | 1,623 | 1,683 | 1,737 | 1,797 | 1,863 | 1,929 | — |
1974 (with effect from 23rd May 1974)† | ||||||||||
Incremental Points
| ||||||||||
Minimum
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) | |||||
Teaching grades (all three professions) | ||||||||||
| Principal I | … | … | … | … | 4,113 | 4,314 | 4,515 | 4,716 | 4,917 | 5,118 |
| Principal II | … | … | … | … | 3,360 | 3,510 | 3,711 | 3,912 | 4,113 | 4,314 |
| Senior Teacher | … | … | … | … | 2,958 | 3,084 | 3,210 | 3,360 | 3,510 | 3,711 |
| Teacher | … | … | … | … | 2,832 | 2,958 | 3,084 | 3,210 | 3,360 | 3,510 |
| Student Teacher | … | … | … | … | 1,998 | 2,100 | 2,202 | 2,328 | — | — |
Clinical grades (all three professions) | ||||||||||
| Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | … | 3,912 | 4,113 | 4,314 | 4,515 | 4,716 | 4,917 |
| Head/Superintendent IT | … | … | … | … | 3,360 | 3,510 | 3,711 | 3,912 | 4,113 | 4,314 |
| Head/Superintendent III | … | … | … | … | 2,958 | 3,084 | 3,214 | 3,360 | 3,510 | 3,711 |
| Head/Superintendent IV | … | … | … | … | 2,580 | 2,706 | 2,832 | 2,958 | 3,084 | 3,210 |
| Senior I | … | … | … | … | 2,580 | 2,706 | 2,832 | 2,958 | 3,084 | 3,210 |
| Senior II | … | … | … | … | 2,202 | 2,328 | 2,454 | 2,580 | 2,706 | 2,832 |
| Basic | … | … | … | … | 1,692 | 1,896 | 1,998 | 2,100 | 2,202 | 2,328 |
| Trainee remedial gymnast | … | … | … | … | 1,590 | — | — | — | — | — |
1975 (with effect from 1st April 1975) | ||||||||||
Teaching grades (all three professions) | ||||||||||
| Principal I | … | … | … | … | 4,872 | 5,103 | 5,334 | 5,565 | 5,799 | 6,033 |
| Principal II | … | … | … | … | 4,005 | 4,179 | 4,410 | 4,641 | 4,872 | 5,103 |
| Senior Teacher | … | … | … | … | 3,537 | 3,684 | 3 831 | 4,005 | 4,179 | 4,410 |
| Teacher | … | … | … | … | 3,390 | 3,537 | 3,684 | 3,831 | 4,005 | 4,179 |
| Student Teacher | … | … | … | … | 2,457 | 2,562 | 2,667 | 2,811 | — | — |
Clinical grades (all three professions) | ||||||||||
| Head/Superintendent I | … | … | … | … | 4,641 | 4,872 | 5.103 | 5.334 | 5,565 | 5,799 |
| Head/Superintendent II | … | … | … | … | 4,005 | 4,179 | 4,410 | 4,641 | 4,872 | 5,103 |
| Head/Superintendent III | … | … | … | … | 3,537 | 3,684 | 3,831 | 4,005 | 4,179 | 4,410 |
| Head/Superintendent IV | … | … | … | … | 3,099 | 3,243 | 3,390 | 3,537 | 3,684 | 3,831 |
| Senior I | … | … | … | … | 3,099 | 3,243 | 3,390 | 3,537 | 3,684 | 3,831 |
| Senior II | … | … | … | … | 2,667 | 2,811 | 2,955 | 3,099 | 3,243 | 3,390 |
| Basic | … | … | … | … | 2,142 | 2,352 | 2,457 | 2,562 | 2,667 | 2,811 |
| Trainee remedial gymnast | … | … | … | … | 2,031 | — | — | — | — | — |
1976 (with effect from 1st April 1976) | ||||||||||
| The addition of a flat rate non-enhanceable supplement of £6 per week (£312 per year) to the rates of pay effective from 1st April 1 1975. | ||||||||||
Footnotes:
| ||||||||||
* Prior to 23rd May 1974, the effective date of the Halsbury award, there were no nationally negotiated scales for occupational therapy or remedial gymnastics teachers. Where teachers were employed in NHS schools for these professions the Department normally authorised the appropriate physiotherapy grades. | ||||||||||
| † The Halsbury Report resulted in extensive changes in the grading structure; taking physiotherapists as an example, the old and new grades broadly correspond as follows, although some individuals will have received a higher new grading than that indicated as a result of certain new grading criteria. |
Old Grade (Pre-23rd May 1974) | New Grade (Post-23rd May 1974) | |||
| Teaching Grades | … | … | Student teacher | Student teacher |
| Teacher | Teacher | |||
| Assistant principal | Teacher or senior teacher | |||
| Principal I | Principal II or Principal I | |||
| Principal II | Principal I | |||
| Clinical Grades | … | … | Basic | Basic |
| Senior | Senior II | |||
| Superintendent I | Superintendent IV | |||
| Superintendent II | Superintendent IV | |||
| Superintendent III | Superintendent III | |||
| Superintendent IV | Superintendent III or Superintendent II | |||
| Superintendent V | Superintendent II or Superintendent I | |||
| Assistant Superintendent I | Senior II or Senior I | |||
| Assistant Superintendent II | Senior I or Superintendent III |
Deaf Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons registered with his Department under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.
At 31st March 1975 the number of people registered with local authority social services departments as deaf, with and without speech, and as hard of hearing in England was 25,600 and 20,400 respectively. I am informed that comparable figures for Wales were 1,300 and 900. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that registration is voluntary and that the figures represent only a proportion of those with hearing impairment.
Hospital Waste Disposal
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals have waste disposal units.
This information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much revenue hospitals have gained through selling waste food to pig farmers; and if he will continue to encourage the sale of such foodstuffs.
The income derived by hospitals from the sale of waste food to pig farmers is not separately identified in the annual accounts of National Health Service authorities. It is netted with certain other items of income against the expenditure on provisions. I regret, therefore, that the information required is not readily available. National Health Service authorities will continue to be encouraged to secure the maximum financial return for the sale of waste food and other waste products.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy to encourage the introduction of waste disposal units in hospitals.
This is a matter for decision by the responsible health authority in the light of the local circumstances.
Heart Treatment Equipment
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the long-term financial savings involved, he will authorise the use of lithium-powered heart pacemakers in NHS hospitals.
Health authorities may already provide National Health Service patients with lithium-powered cardiac pacemakers. However, the extra initial cost of lithium-powered units and the fact that the claims made for them are as yet unproven are factors which health authorities have to bear in mind when assessing their development priorities in the light of the many competing demands on their available resources.
Unemployment Benefit
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional level of voluntary unemployment has been assumed in the computation of the estimate of the total cost of increased unemployment benefit.
None. There are statutory sanctions to disqualify from receipt of unemployment benefit people who bring about their own unemployment.
Earnings Disregards
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the permitted earnings of (a) war pensioners, (b) all others except war pensioners and (c) those working in sheltered employment before deductions are made from benefits; how often these permitted earnings levels are increased; and what criteria are used in the revised assessment.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 5th April 1976; Vol. 909, c. 61], circulated the following information:A number of rather different questions are involved. Current earnings affect only those benefits which are related to current loss of earnings or of working capacity, to dependency, or to current financial need. They do not therefore affect war or industrial disablement pensions based on loss of faculty, or special allowances related to particular aspects of disablement such as constant attendance allowance or attendance allowances. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment that people in sheltered employment receive earnings for the work they do, and that those earnings are not subject to any prescribed limit.The earnings figures at present in operation which my hon. Friend no doubt has in mind are the retirement pensions earnings rule; the supplementary benefit earnings disregards; the unemployment benefit subsidiary occupation rule; and the therapeutic earnings limit for the various incapacity benefits—sickness benefit, injury benefit, invalidity pension and unemployability supplement. The rules affecting an increase of benefit in respect of an adult dependant vary according to the benefit in payment. Broadly speaking, an increase of one of the long-term benefits in respect of a wife living with the pensioner
| Benefit | Relevant earnings and limits | Weekly earnings figure above which deductions are made or benefit is not payable | |
| Retirement Pension | … | Earnings Rule: | |
| The earnings rule applies during the first 5 years following minimum pension age (65 for men, 60 for women). | £35 | ||
| Supplementary Benefit | … | Disregards: | |
| Disregard for claimants required to register for work in order to claim benefit. | £2 | ||
| Other claimants | £4 | ||
| Claimant's wife | £4 | ||
| Unemployment Benefit | … | Subsidiary Occupation Rule: | |
| Earnings limit from subsidiary part-time job. | 75p a day | ||
| Sickness Benefit | … | Therapeutic Earnings Limit: | |
| Injury Benefit | … | Limit on earnings resulting from therapeutic work not otherwise inconsistent with incapacity for work. | £7 (The annual equivalent in the case of unemployability supplement). |
| Non-contributory Invalidity Pension | … | ||
| Unemployability Supplement | … | ||
Spina Bifida Patients (Calipers)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time a patient suffering from spina bifida has to wait for calipers; and if he will make a statement on plans for improving the supply and repair of calipers.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th April 1976; is subject to the same rule as the personal retirement pension; while other increases depend on earnings not exceeding the amount of the increase. The earnings taken into account are in each case net earnings. The table below sets out the present position, but does not, of course, give the provisions in detail; and it does not refer to the various means-tested benefits, entitlement to which depends on income, including earnings.Earnings figures are reviewed from time to time in the light of all the circumstances, including the significance and particular context of the figure in question, and in the light of wider priorities. My hon. Friend will be aware of the decisions which we have already announced about the figure for the retirement pensions earnings rule; the part-time earnings disregard under the supplementary benefits scheme for one-parent families; and the therapeutic earnings limit for the incapacity benefits.Vol. 909, c.
184– 5], circulated the following information:
Calipers are ordered at a large number of hospitals from different commercial firms and hospital workshops. It is difficult, therefore, to give a meaningful reply. The waiting time can vary between less than one week and about three months. In a typical case it is about five-six weeks. Supply arrangements are kept under review.
I shall be glad to make inquiries into any case of difficulty if the hon. Member will let me have full details.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Fish (Canned And Frozen)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the estimated volume and value of stores of canned and frozen fish in the United Kingdom;(2) what is the estimated current volume and value of stores of canned and frozen fish within the European Economic Community.
I regret that this information is not available.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated volume and value of annual sales, including exports, of United Kingdom canned and frozen fish processers.
Estimated figures for 1975 are 200,000 tons, valued at £160 million.
Livestock Rearing
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation further to control the intensive rearing of livestock and the feeding of chemicals to livestock, in view of recently expressed concern with this matter within the industry.
There are already controls on the use of medicinal feed additives which closely regulate the amounts, the classes of stock and other conditions under which such additives, which include growth promoters, may be fed. We have at present no intention to extend these controls.
Livestock (Nutritional Standards)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of current concern, he will make a statement on the nutritional quality standards of animals in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to the incidence of cancerous tumours in slaughtered animals.
A survey of the nutritional value of food has been completed recently and will be published as soon as possible. As regards the incidence of cancerous tumours in slaughtered animals, statistics collected from a representative sample of red meat slaughterhouses show no significant trend. In no year during the period 1971–75 did total condemnation of carcases because of tumours exceed 10 per 100,000 cattle slaughtered and 3 per 100,000 sheep and pigs. Figures for poultry are not available. United Kingdom red meat regulations have the effect of requring the condemnation of the whole animal if evidence of a malignant tumour or tumours is found at post-mortem.
Milk Production
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present level of milk production in the United Kingdom; and how it compares with the output of milk in March in 1975, 1974, and 1973.
The following table relates to sales of milk through milk marketing schemes:
| SALES OF MILK OFF FARMS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM DURING MARCH | ||
| Million gallons | Million litres | |
| 1973 | 248·68 | 1,130·5 |
| 1974 | 233·06 | 1,059·5 |
| 1975* | 237·89 | 1,081·4 |
| 1976† | 256·91 | 1,167·9 |
| * Provisional. | ||
| † Estimate based on weekly trends. | ||
Beef
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much beef has been sold into intervention in the United Kingdom in each of the last five weeks.
Subject to verification, the following quantities of beef have been taken in store:
| Week ending 13th March | 12 tons. |
| Week ending 20th March | 129 tons. |
| Week ending 27th March | 1,696 tons. |
| Week ending 3rd April | 2,306 tons. |
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what price beef is presently sold into intervention; and what is the average market price for beef presently in the United Kingdom.
The actual intervention price for beef depends on the grade and quality of the carcase; but the current average buying-in price is 44·24 p/lb. from which the variable premium applicable at the date of slaughter is deducted. In the week ending 3rd April 1976 the average market price for certified cattle in the United Kingdom was equivalent to 42·17 p/lb.; the target price was equal to 44·17 p/lb., giving a United Kingdom variable premium of 2 p/lb. This meant that buying-in prices for beef slaughtered for intervention in Great Britain that week were subject to a reduction of 2·29 p/lb.
Overseas Development
Machinery And Techniques
asked the Minister of Overseas Development by what means, methods and agencies the results of research, undertaken by institutes financed wholly or in part by his Department, are developed into marketable machinery and techniques.
The research programme of my Department is not specifically directed towards the production of marketable machinery or techniques. It does, however, provide new and basic knowledge from which machinery and techniques can be developed and marketed in poor countries. Similarly, research into economic techniques for the handling of developing countries' problems provides a basis on which private consultant firms may capitalise.The results of the research programme are made generally available through the scientific literature or by report or advice to overseas Governments or institutions; and in order to disseminate new techniques, seminars, conferences and training courses are frequently organised both at overseas centres and in the United Kingdom; for example, the Transport and Road Research Laboratory is holding a one-day seminar on 5th May to explain and discuss its recently developed Road Transport Investment Model, which had been specifically designed to cater for the needs of the Third World.Where development work financed by my Ministry suggests that the end product may usefully be distributed as a marketable commodity it is assigned to the National Research Development Corporation, the statutory body which promotes and licenses Government inventions.
asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will list at least two examples of successful marketing of machinery or techniques, suitable for use in typical conditions found in the Third or Fourth Worlds, developed in each of the following institutions: Tropical Products Institute, Tropical Stored Products Centre, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Building Research Station, National Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Water Research Centre, respectively; and state for each of the centres concerned the number of marketable projects actually launched by developments from each centre, and the numbers which have failed to find an outlet.
Some typical examples are listed below:
Tropical Products Institute and its Tropical Stored Products Centre
Cashew nut processing plant, commercially produced and marketed by a British firm under licence from the NRDC.
A whole-grain infestation detector, commercially produced and marketed by a British firm on a royalty basis.
Design of a still for essential oils; drawings and technique given free under technical assistance to Dominica, where production has been undertaken.
Plant for producing "instant yam" powder. Drawings made available to various countries which are now producing the plant..
Transport and Road Research Laboratory (Overseas Unit)
Development of a portable weighbridge, usable at roadsides for measuring wheel loads of commercial vehicles. Produced in the United Kingdom and widely marketed in developing countries.
A technique for deciding the thickness and geometry of roads in developing countries now in use for economic feasibility studies for roads in a number of developing countries.
A technique, now in extensive use, for designing low cost roads carrying medium and heavy traffic.
Building Research Establishment (Overseas Division)
Equipment for the production of concrete panels (BRECAST) for buildings. Kit produced in the United Kingdom and sold already to Algeria and Indonesia. Other countries are also interested.
Introduction of Portland cement manufacture in Uganda, based upon techniques evolved by the Station for the use of phosphatic limestone as a raw material.
National Institute of Agricultural Engineering (Overseas Department)
A small thresher for cereals and leguminous crops, produced in the United Kingdom and marketed extensively overseas.
The Water Research Centre is the research arm of the British water authorities, and has no direct connection with my Ministry.I regret that I cannot give the precise figures requested in the second half of my hon. Friend's Question. Techniques evolved to meet specific or localised problems may be successful but not generally marketable: other products which do not find an immediate outlet may yet be adopted at a later date.A simple animal drawn toolbar designed to carry a range of tillage equipment and a cart body, produced in the United Kingdom and supplied to agricultural projects in developing countries.
Intestacies
asked the Attorney-General what was the total sum of all moneys returned to the Treasury Solicitor's Department, the Duchy of Cornwall, and the Duchy of Lancaster as a result of patients in National Health Service hospitals and other establishments dying intestate; and how much of this total sum is attributable to patients dying in mental handicap and mental illness hospitals.
I regret that it is not possible to compile this information from the records available.
Mr Peter Hain
asked the Attorney-General what was the total cost to public funds of the prosecution of Mr. Peter Hain at the Old Bailey.
The total cost to public funds cannot yet be ascertained.
Northern Ireland
asked the Attorney-General how many scheduled, and non-scheduled, cases, respectively, brought in Northern Ireland, have been abandoned for want of witnesses willing and able to testify.
Examination of records of scheduled and non-scheduled cases is proceeding, but I regret that, owing to the short time since notice of the question was given, I cannot answer today. I will, however, at an early date provide the hon. Member with the information requested in respect of cases intended to be tried on indictment which have had to be abandoned since 1st January 1975.
Industry
Small Businesses
asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he has any further proposals to assist small firms, particularly with problems related to the day to day running of their businesses.
Yes. This year I shall be establishing a pilot counselling service in one of our regions under which we shall retain retired executives who will be available to discuss problems in depth with the managers of small businesses. Under this scheme, initial discussions will be free of charge, but any subsequent more detailed counselling will be paid for by the user. The counsellor's job will be to help owner-managers diagnose and solve their own problems; or to select appropriate sources of more detailed advice. In the light of the experience we gain with the pilot project, I hope to extend this service throughout the country over the next three years. Arrangements in Scotland and Wales may of course be different bearing in mind the rôle of the Development Agencies.I have also decided that for a period of two years my Department will contribute half the cost, up to a maximum in any one case of £5,000, of feasibility studies undertaken with a view to establishing inter-firm collaborative arrangements. A sum of £100,000 will be available over the two years for this purpose.Thirdly, my Department in association with the Department of Education and Science and the Training Services Agency will be carrying out a review of the management education needs of small businesses and the facilities available to meet these needs. The object of this review is to see if ways and means can be devised of helping small firms to improve their administrative skills by methods which are acceptable to businessmen and make the best use of existing facilities and resources.Further details of these schemes are being announced today by my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Industry and copies of his announcement are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament and copies are also available for Members in the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office.
Shipbuilding
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if, following his answer to the hon. Member for Dundee, East of 6th November 1975, he will make a further statement on the action, other than nationalisation, which has been taken by his Department to deal with the problem of shortage of orders in the shipbuilding industry.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry, with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, has had discussions on the matter with the General Council for British Shipping, and further detailed consultations are in train between the General Council, the Organising Committee for British Shipowners, and the Government. He hopes to see close co-operation between United Kingdom shipowners and United Kingdom shipbuilders in the placing of new orders. He announced on 8th April that he proposed to extend the cost escalation insurance scheme to orders from United Kingdom shipowners and a scheme under which a Government guarantee may be given that stage payments would be refunded to an owner ordering a vessel at a British yard which is to be nationalised if that yard should fail before nationalisation.
Capital Projects (West Midlands)
asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many projects under the accelerated capital projects scheme have been approved in Birmingham and the West Midlands; and what will be the total value of the investment.
Eight projects involving investment in this area have been approved to date, with total costs, including working capital, of £20·722 million.
asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he is satisfied with the take up of aid available under the accelerated capital projects scheme.
The Scheme has made a valuable contribution by bringing forward some £250 million of investment to date. But more projects are under examination and I would welcome further proposals.
Baled Scrap
asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what measures he proposes to help those in difficulties because of rises in the price of baled scrap; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what is the effect of the British Steel Corporation's policies on the price and supply of baled scrap; and whether he will make a statement;(3) in view of the fluctuations in the baled scrap market, what measures he is taking to bring price stability to the situation.
The prices paid fror baled and other ferrous scrap and the procurement of adequate supplies are commercial matters for which the consuming industries are responsible. Since the removal at the end of 1974 of restrictions on exports of scrap to the Community, prices have been increasingly determined by world market pressures. The British Steel Corporation aims to secure its supplies as economically as possible and, along with other consumers, contributes to stable trading conditions by importing scrap during periods of shortage. The Corporation is also increasing its production of iron which should help to relieve the scrap shortage.We have reduced by 25 per cent. the April-June 1976 quota for exports to non-Community countries of low grade scrap, which includes some baled scrap. No exports to these countries of higher grade scrap are permitted. The Government will continue to keep the export situation under review.
Prices And Consumer Protection
Price Check Scheme
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection from what register or registers originated the addresses of all the traders and other persons who received details and material of the Government's "Red Triangle" Price Check Campaign.
The addresses to which "price check" material was sent came from lists compiled by Thomson Sales and Services Limited on the basis of information contained in the Post Office Yellow Pages classified telephone directories.Kits have also been sent to addresses which have been supplied as a result of advertising in the retail trade Press and of other publicity given to the availability of the kits.
Food Prices (Report)
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when the Price Commission's Report on Food Prices in Scotland and elsewhere will be received and published.
I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Price Commission's Report on Food Prices in Outlying Areas, which was published in December 1975.
Potatoes
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she has received a further monthly report from the Price Commission on distributors' margins in the potato trade; and whether she will make a statement.
I have received the second of the Commission's reports, which I have placed in the Library. The comparison of average producer, wholesale and retail prices in March indicates that there has been little overall change in distributors' cash margins since the beginning of the year. This means that with increased prices there has actually been some decline in percentage margins. The level of margins derived from this comparison is confirmed by an examination of the actual buying and selling prices of a sample of wholesalers and retailers.
Meat
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will make a statement on the outcome of the recent unit pricing experiment on meat and on the present position of her price marking programme.
A report on the meat pilot scheme has been circulated today to all the organisations that took part and meetings are to be held shortly to discuss outstanding problems. I will then prepare proposals for an Order. Formal proposals for legislation are now being drawn up to extend both weight marking and unit pricing to many varieties of cheese. A meeting will be held shortly to consider outstanding problems before final proposals are made for extending unit pricing for fish. A draft order modifying provisions relating to the sale of prepacked milk from vending machines is now before Parliament: if it is approved I expect to make this the subject of a unit pricing Order shortly after Easter.
Oil Companies (Inquiry Report)
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she is aware that the European Commission Report on oil company activities given to her monopolies inquiry into oil companies has had a certain section on transfer prices removed from the original report; and if she will now demand the original report from the Commission.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th April 1976; Vol. 909, c. 501–2], gave the following information:The Monopolies Commission has powers to obtain any information relevant to its investigations from companies operating in the United Kingdom.
Trade
British Airways (Fares)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the percentage increase in passenger air fares charged by British Airways between April 1974 and April 1976.
On the main domestic trunk routes the single tourist fare increased by 51 per cent. between these two dates. On international routes fare increases have in general been smaller than this, but the continually changing structure of international air fares, particularly with the introduction of new excursion and low-fare holiday categories, together with the wide variation in the timing and amount of fare increases on different routes, make it impossible to provide an average figure that would be reasonably representative.
Company Directors
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce legislation to prevent persons convicted of serious offences from becoming company directors within a period of five years of release and to prevent them from forming companies where the memorandum of association includes the use of events leading up to and including their criminal conviction.
I am considering the law on the disqualification of persons from acting as directors or taking part in the management of companies as part of my general review of company law and will take account of this suggestion. Under existing legislation, companies may be formed only for a lawful purpose.
Unctad Iv
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish the full list of names of members of the United Kingdom delegation to UNCTAD IV in Nairobi in May.
The United Kingdom delegation to UNCTAD IV will be headed by the Secretary of State for Trade. At official level the leader will be Mr. William Knighton—Department of Trade. He will be assisted by Mr. J. C. Mason—Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Mr. J. L. F. Buist—Ministry of Overseas Development; and Mr. J. H. V. Davies—Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, together with a number of other officials from these Departments and the Department of Industry.
Israel
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what guidance his Department gives to British companies affected by the Arab blacklist of firms which trade with Israel.
The Department of Trade has preparted a note on the operation of the Arab boycott of Israel to help remove misunderstandings and unnecessary anxieties among British businessmen. I am arranging for a copy to be sent to the hon. Member. Officials are always ready to discuss specific problems with individual firms.
Scrap
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what is the value to British exports of the products of scrap processors for each of the last 10 years.
I regret that this information is not available.
Paper
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress his Department has made following an application for anti-dumping action against imports of paper from Eastern Europe, Spain, Brazil and Switzerland.
We still await further evidence from the industry about impending imports from these countries.
Textiles
asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the Agreement between the EEC and the Republic of India on trade in textile products; and if he will publish in the Official Report the workings of the burden sharing formula by comparing the United Kingdom's share in percentage terms of the imports of cotton woven fabrics with that of Italy in 1975, 1976, and 1977; and when Italy will reach its target figure.
As a result of the Agreement negotiated between the EEC and the Republic of India under the GATT Multi-Fibre Arrangement, India has agreed to restrict its exports to the EEC of certain cotton textiles and clothing. The particular case of woven cotton fabrics from India is not completely representative of the workings of
| 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | |||||
| BN 55.09 | … | … | Other woven fabrics of cotton: | ||||
| United Kingdom | … | 65·3 | 61·4 | 57·6 | |||
| Italy | … | 2·9 | 3·5 | 4·2 | |||
| of which: | |||||||
| BN ex 55.09 . | … | … | Cotton fabrics other than grey or bleached: | ||||
| United Kingdom | … | 51·7 | 48·5 | 45·7 | |||
| Italy | … | 6·3 | 7·1 | 8·0 | |||
National Finance
Property Companies (Overseas Investments)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds, and for what reasons, he has authorised the Bank of England to waive the premium rule for property development companies investing abroad, in view of the fact that this practice brings a loss to the United Kingdom's reserves.
Property development companies are subject to the same exchange control rules as apply to any other United Kingdom resident investing abroad. Such investment has to be financed in ways which minimise, and in most cases eliminate, the initial cost to the reserves. However, when any overseas investment is liquidated and the proceeds are not enough to meet the foreign currency claims, the balance may in certain circumstances be met by the United Kingdom parent company through the official foreign exchange market.
Commissioners Of Inland Revenue
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of ethnic minority groups have been appointed Commissioners of Inland Revenue since the present administration took office; what proportion of such apointments this number represents; and the burden-sharing formula, because the United Kingdom's share of such Community imports has historically been much higher than other member States' shares and the Italians particularly low. It is not possible to state precisely when Italy will reach its target figure, since quotas have been set only for the three years up to the expiry of the Agreement with India. The United Kingdom's and Italy's shares in percentage terms of Community quotas for woven cotton fabrics from India are:whether he is concerned to increase this number.
I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the appeal Commissioners. Only one Special Commissioner has been appointed since February 1974. General Commissioners are appointed by the Lord Chancellor, but I understand that the information sought is not available.
Taxpayers (Liabilities Of Dependants)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what penalties he proposes against the wives or children of a citizen where these dependants either refuse or fail to provide to the Revenue details of his financial circumstances on the grounds either that they do not possess, do not understand or do not wish to impart this information to others;(2) whether he proposes that it should become an offence punishable by imprisonment for a spouse or child to refuse to disclose to the Revenue details of a citizen's income that may or may not be liable to tax;(3) whether, in approaching the wife or children of a citizen for the purpose of establishing his liability or non-liability for tax, the Inland Revenue will advise the citizen that his family are being asked to provide such information;(4) if he will further explain the circumstances in which the wife or children of a citizen are to be required to furnish private information to the Revenue in respect of her husband's or their father's wages, or salary, savings or property and insurance assets as well as his relevant expenditure for tax deduction purposes;(5) at what age the Revenue will judge that a child is competent to provide documents or other information pertinent to his or her parents' income or general financial position for the purpose of tax assessment;(6) whether, under the proposals that the wife of a citizen may be required to provide information pertaining to his notional tax liability, he intends to do away with the common law presumption that a wife should not be required to bear witness against her husband, and vice versa.
I invite the hon. Member to await the publication of the Finance Bill.
Hotels
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for all nine EEC countries, whether or not the structure of a hotel is allowable for tax purposes, as a charge against depreciation; and what is the rate in each country.
The most recent information available is as follows:
| Whether structure of a hotel is allowable for tax purposes as a charge against depreciation | Percentage rate of depreciation Per cent. | |
| Belgium | Yes | 3·0 |
| (Note 2) | ||
| Denmark | Yes | 1·0 |
| (Note 3) | ||
| France | Yes | 2·8 |
| (Note 4) | ||
| Germany | Yes | 2·0 |
| (Note 5) | ||
| Ireland | Yes | 10·0 |
| (Note 6) | ||
| Italy | Yes | 3·5 |
| (Note 7) | ||
| Luxembourg | Yes | 2·2 |
| (Note 8) | ||
| Netherlands | Yes | 5·0 |
| (Note 9) | ||
| United Kingdom | No * | — |
| (Note 10) | ||
| * Except so far as it relates to fire safety expenditure. | ||
Notes:
1. The straight-line method applies except where stated. 2. Belgium—The actual rate used is agreed in each case between the taxpayer and the tax authorities. The rate quoted is taken from the OECD publication " International Comparison of Depreciation Practices " (1975), as a representative rate for this class of building. 3. Denmark—An additional allowance of 3 per cent. annually is available for the first 10 years. 4. France—New hotel buildings may be depreciated at the rate of 7 per cent. using the declining-balance method. 5. Germany—Buildings completed after 31st December 1964 and before 9th May 1973 could be optionally depreciated at 3·5 per cent. for the first 12 years, 2 per cent. over the next 20 years and 1 per cent. over the next 18 years. 6. Ireland—There is an additional 10 per cent allowance for the first year. 7. Italy—Accelerated depreciation is available for new buildings over the first 4 years. 8. Luxembourg—Average rate. 9. Netherlands—Declining-balance method must be used. 10. In the United Kingdom expenditure on the structure of an existing hotel which is incurred to meet the requirement of a fire authority under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 normally qualifies for 100 per cent. first-year allowance.
Personal Incomes
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report from international sources available to him a table showing the top 20 countries in order of income per head of population over the last five years; and if he will express the relative positions in percentage terms using the United States GNP as base.
Following are estimates per head of population in respect of the years 1972 to 1974 for (a) relative gross national product—GNP—at market prices based on figures calculated and published by the World Bank; (b) relative gross domestic product—GDP—at market prices calculated and published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities; and (c) relative GDP at market prices converted to a common unit of measurement on the basis of extrapolated purchasing power parities. The list of countries relates only to those with a population of one million or more.The estimates at (
a) and ( b) are converted to a common unit of measurement on the basis of rates of exchange which may not reflect the internal purchasing power of national currencies.
The set of estimates at heading ( b) fluctuate more from year-to-year than those at heading ( a), as a result of the World Bank's averaging process described in Note (1) below. The estimates at heading ( c) provide what is thought to be a more realistic assessment of the relative level of GDP in each country, being
| (a) | (b) | (c) | |||||||
1972
| 1973
| 1974
| 1972
| 1973
| 1974
| 1972
| 1973
| 1974
| |
| United States | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Switzerland | 99 | 98 | 100 | ||||||
| Sweden | 99 | 95 | 101 | ||||||
| Canada | 88 | 88 | 92 | ||||||
| Federal Republic of Germany | 86 | 86 | 89 | 75 | 90 | 93 | 74 | 73 | 75 |
| Denmark | 85 | 84 | 88 | 75 | 88 | 92 | |||
| Norway | 77 | 75 | 80 | ||||||
| Belgium | 73 | 73 | 78 | 64 | 75 | 82 | |||
| France | 73 | 73 | 78 | 66 | 78 | 77 | 74 | 74 | 77 |
| Australia | 71 | 70 | 72 | ||||||
| Netherlands | 70 | 70 | 73 | 61 | 72 | 78 | |||
| New Zealand | 62 | 59 | 62 | ||||||
| Japan | 56 | 59 | 58 | 50 | 61 | 63 | 62 | 63 | 62 |
| Finland | 58 | 58 | 62 | ||||||
| Libyan Arab | |||||||||
| Republic | 59 | 57 | 51 | ||||||
| Austria | 57 | 57 | 61 | ||||||
| United Kingdom | 49 | 49 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 60 | 60 | 60 |
| Israel | 49 | 48 | 51 | ||||||
| German Democratic Republic | 49 | 48 | 52 | ||||||
| Czechoslovakia | 48 | 46 | 48 | ||||||
| Italy * | 40 | 40 | 42 | 39 | 41 | 41 | 45 | 44 | 45 |
Sources:
| |||||||||
| Heading (a): World Bank Atlas 1975, pages 7 and 27–30—see Notes (1) and (2) below. | |||||||||
| Heading (b): European Community Statistical Office National Accounts 1960–1974. | |||||||||
| Heading (c): Based on heading (b)— also see Note (3) below. | |||||||||
Notes:
| |||||||||
| (1) The World Bank estimates at (a) are based on average relative prices and exchange rates during 1972–74; the year to year movements reflect changes in the volume of output and the rate of inflation in the United States. | |||||||||
| (2) There are special difficulties in producing comparable estimates for centrally planned economies, where national accounts are compiled on the basis of the system of Material Product Balances. Estimates of Gross National Product for these countries on a comparable basis have been made by the World Bank, but more than usual caution in the use of the figures is advised. | |||||||||
| (3) The method of extrapolating the purchasing power parities is described in " International comparisons on the basis of purchasing power parities ", Economic Trends, November 1975. The benchmark estimates are those for 1970 provided in the " International Comparisons Project " of the United Nations. | |||||||||
* Italy is the next country after Czechoslovakia in the list given in the Source for heading (a) (page 7—figures for 1973). | |||||||||
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the net of tax income for a single man whose gross income at the start of 1971 was £7,000 and whose income has increased since then at the maximum rate permitted under the guidelines of every incomes policy that has been introduced;(2) what is the net of tax income for a married man with two children whose gross income at the start of 1971 was £7,000 and whose income has increased
based on extrapolations of the comparisons made by the United Nations of the relative prices in 1970 of goods and services on which each country may spend its GDP; these extrapolated purchasing power parities are however approximate. Figures on a comparable basis are not available for earlier years.
since then at the maxium rate permitted under the guidelines of every incomes policy that has been introduced.
Since policy restrictions on increases in rates of pay have not applied throughout the whole of the period since 1971, the earnings of such individuals would depend partly on increases received during periods without restrictions. I regret that information on the size of such increases is not available separately for individuals or particular levels of income.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish explanatory tables similar in format to those published on 6th April but detailing the effects on typical wage earners of pay increases of (a) 5 per cent. and (b) 10 per cent. taken with his alternative taxation strategies in the event of such limits being agreed.
No
Value Added Tax
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider making the chairmanship of the VAT Tribunal in Scotland a part-time appointment in view of the relatively small number of appeals at present being lodged.
I am making further inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many traders are registered for VAT.
The approximate number of persons registered for VAT at mid-January was 1,244,400.
Income Tax Thresholds
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the organisations which must give their assent to his Budget proposals in order that the proposed income tax thresholds can be implemented.
The House of Commons.
Bank Loans Overseas
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total of sterling loans to non-residents, corporate or otherwise, including foreign Governments, by British-based banks and finance houses, for which exchange control consent was given the years 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 to date; and what was the average rate of interest.
I regret this information is not available. Permission has been given to authorised banks to make sterling loans to non-residents in certain circumstances without specific reference to the Bank of England, and there is no centralised record of the loans thereby made. However, I refer the hon. Member to Economic Trends, March 1976, page 91, where details of United Kingdom banks' export credit lending and other external sterling claims in 1970–75 are published. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Miners (Concessionary Coal)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his proposed taxation of fringe benefits will extend to cover the free allowance of coal given to miners
No. There are no plans to change the existing extra-statutory concession under which the free allowance of coal to miners is not taxed.
Industrial Democracy
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the working party on industrial democracy in the nationalised industries to report; and if, in the interest of open government, he proposes to publish the report.
I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. Craigen) on 11th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 330.]
Corporation Tax
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the gross yield of corporation tax in each financial year from 1970–71 to the current financial year and an estimate of the yield in 1976–77, expressed at constant 1975 value.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 13th April 1976; Vol. 909, c. 486], gave the following information:Net receipts of corporation tax in each financial year from 1970–71 to 1975–76 expressed in 1975 prices were:
| 1970–71 | 2,842 |
| 1971–72 | 2,553 |
| 1972–73 | 2,340 |
| 1973–74 | 3,132 |
| 1974–75 | 3,347 |
| 1975–76 | 1,857* |
| * Provisional. | |
The figures of net receipts at current prices have been adjusted by the raio of average prices for the December quarter in each financial year to those of the calendar year 1975.
Figures from 1973–74 onwards include advance corporation tax.
Home Department
Prisoners (Costs)
asked the Secretary o! State for the Home Department (1) if he will give an estimate of the weekly cost to public funds of keeping a woman in prison in each year since 1970;(2) if he will give an estimate of the weekly cost to public funds of keeping a man in prison in each year since 1970.
Information is not readily available in the precise form requested.The average weekly cost of keeping an adult male in prison in England and Wales was £34 in 1972–73, £41 in 1973–74 and £58 in 1974–75. Costs in female prisons are not separately recorded, but the average weekly cost in penal establishments for women and girls was £47 in 1972–73, £53 in 1973–74 and £74 in 1974–75. Separate figures are not available for 1969–70, 1970–71 and 1971–72 when the average weekly costs of keeping males and females in prisons and remand centres were £22, £24 and £30 respectively.It is not possible to give a realistic estimate of other costs to the Exchequer—for example the payment of supplementary benefit to a prisoner's wife, which may be related directly to the circumstances of imprisonment.
Murderers
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women, serving prison sentences for murder, were released in 1975; and, for each person released, what was the duration of their sentence.
Forty men and no women. The figure includes one man who was sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under Section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 but excludes one who had been previously released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison. The periods of detention were as follows:
| Period of detention Number of prisoners | |
| Under 5 years | 1 |
| Over 7 years but under 8 years | 4 |
| Over 8 years but under 9 years | 5 |
| Over 9 years but under 10 years | 8 |
| Over 10 years but under 11 years | 9 |
| Over 11 years but under 12 years | 3 |
| Over 12 years but under 13 years | 6 |
| Over 13 years but under 14 years | 1 |
| Over 14 years but under 15 years | 1 |
| Over 15 years but under 16 years | 1 |
| Over 18 years but under 19 years | 1 |
| 40 | |
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men and women are serving prison sentences as a result of convictions for murder.
On 31st December 1975 the figures were 862 men and 24 women. These include persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under Section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 but not persons who had been previously released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison.
High Point Prison
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of ex-Royal Air Force houses that so far have been converted for the housing of prison officers at High Point Prison, Stradishall. Suffolk; what so far has been the total cost and the average cost per house converted; what is his estimate of the average cost per house still to be converted; and how this compares with the cost of purchasing or building new accommodation of similar character for the prison staff.
Ninety-eight houses were taken over from the Ministry of Defence of which 88 are undergoing conversion by contractors to form 78 junior staff quarters and 10 are being converted to senior officers' quarters by direct labour.Thirty-two quarters have now been completed at a cost of about £325,300, an average £10,150 per house. The average cost of the conversions still to take place is estimated at £11,050. The cost includes services, improvements to roads and an alarm system.For operational reasons some staff had to be housed near the prison. Suitable houses for purchase were not available and comparative costings before work began showed that demolition of the existing houses and building new accommodation would not show a saving.
Metropolitan Police
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the annual cost of the Metropolitan Police service in each of the years since 1970.
The following table shows the net cost of the Metropolitan Police for the financial years 1970–71 to 1975–76.
| Year | Net cost (£ millions) |
| 1970–71 | 84·75 |
| 1971–72 | 108·36 |
| 1972–73 | 112·55 |
| 1973–74 | 126·79 |
| 1974–75 | 160·30 |
| 1975–76 | 210·63 |
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the police and the special constabulary establishment, respectively, of J Division of the Metropolitan Police; what is the shortfall in both cases; and what progress is being made in recruiting up to strength.
The police establishment of J Division is 1,130 and on 4th April the deficiency was 290. There is no establishment for the special constabulary, but the strength in J Division on 12th April was 140.Good progress is being made in recruiting to the Metropolitan Police, but it is for the Commissioner to decide whether to allocate the increased resources to individual divisions or to headquarters units whose services are available to all divisions as required.
Police (Pay)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the terms of the Police Act which state that police officers shall be paid for the hours of duty performed have been adopted in relation to the overtime payment of Flying Squad drivers in the Metropolitan Force since the CID detective duty allowance was abolished on 1st September 1975.
Police pay and allowances are determined by Police Regulations made under powers conferred on me by Section 33 of the Police Act 1964. Flying Squad drivers are paid a commuted overtime allowance approved under Police Regulations which was increased from 1st September 1975 as part of the police pay settlement.
Bailed Persons
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are made in prisons to assist those who have been granted bail but have been unable to contact sureties.
There are staff specially chosen to help and advise on bail at all prisons which receive prisoners in custody or committed in custody for trial or sentence. Every effort is made to get in touch with sureties and, where the facilities exist, prisoners are normally able to use the telephone for this purpose.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many defendants in a recent convenient period were received into prison after being granted bail, and how many remained in prison for more than two days and how many for more than a week.
I regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate effort and cost.
Fire Precautions (Hotels)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals by small hotels and boarding houses against requirements of fire authorities have been made in pursuance of requirements made following the passage of the Fire Precautions Act in each fire authority area.
Three such appeals have been made in respect of hotels and boarding houses providing sleeping accommodation for not more than 25 persons, staff or guests: one in each of the fire authority areas of Leicestershire, Surrey and South Yorkshire.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by fire authority area, the percentage of hotels and boarding houses in each area, which have been issued with a fire certificate under the terms of the Fire Precautions Act.
In relation to the number of valid applications received, the percentage of hotels and boarding houses within each fire authority area which had, at 31st December 1975, been issued with a fire certificate under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 was as follows:
| Fire Authority | Certificates issued % |
| Avon | 19 |
| Bedfordshire | 47 |
| Berkshire | 60 |
| Buckinghamshire | 20 |
| Cambridgeshire | 67 |
| Cheshire | 70 |
| Cleveland | 37 |
| Clwyd | 36 |
| Cornwall | 11 |
| Cumbria | 13 |
| Derbyshire | 27 |
| Devon | 6 |
| Dorset | 4 |
| Durham | 74 |
| Dyfed | 9 |
| Essex | 81 |
| Mid Glamorgan | 26 |
| South Glamorgan | 24 |
| West Glamorgan | 30 |
| Gloucestershire | 20 |
| Greater London | 62 |
| Greater Manchester | 58 |
| Gwent | 15 |
| Gwynedd | 10 |
| Hampshire | 12 |
| Hereford and Worcester | 12 |
| Hertfordshire | 26 |
| Humberside | 29 |
| Kent | 22 |
| Lancashire | 40 |
| Leicestershire | 25 |
| Lincolnshire | 71 |
| Merseyside | 67 |
| Norfolk | 32 |
| Northamptonshire | 59 |
| Northumberland | 60 |
| Nottinghamshire | 51 |
| Oxfordshire | 25 |
| Powys | 1 |
| Salop | 68 |
| Scilly Isles | 11 |
| Somerset | 5 |
| Staffordshire | 59 |
| Suffolk | 22 |
| Surrey | 43 |
| Fire Authority | Certificates issued % |
| East Sussex | 27 |
| West Sussex | 11 |
| Tyne and Wear | 40 |
| Warwickshire | 83 |
| West Midlands | 53 |
| Wight, Isle of | 10 |
| Wiltshire | 31 |
| North Yorkshire | 9 |
| South Yorkshire | 42 |
| West Yorkshire | 57 |
Overseas Students
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what records he keeps of the numbers of overseas students admitted to the United Kingdom returning to permanent employment in their own countries; if he will publish recent figures; and under what conditions he permits them to take up permanent employment in the United Kingdom after initial entry permission as students.
My Department does not keep statistics of the numbers of overseas students who, having been admitted to the United Kingdom for study, return to their own countries to take up permanent employment.The grant of extensions of stay to people, other than EEC nationals, admitted as students to enable them to remain here for employment is governed by the provisions of paragraph 5 of the Statements of Immigration Rules for Control after Entry—HC 80 and 82.
Miss Lyudmila Martenyanova
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the defection of Miss Lyudmila Martenyanova from the Soviet trawler "Argus", using Millbay Docks, Plymouth.
At her request I have granted Miss Martenyanova permission to stay in this country.
Immigration (Unauthorised Persons)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the arrangements of the immigration authorities for preventing the entry or exit of unauthorised persons to and from the United Kingdom.
People do not require my permission to leave the country. As to illegal entry, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 11th March to a Question by the hon. Member for Waltham Forest, Chingford.—[Vol. 907, c. 609–11.]
Probation Service
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coloured persons have been employed by the probation service in the last three years; and if he will conduct a special recruitment campaign to attract this section of the population.
Precise figures are not readily available. The numbers of coloured probation officers, however, are not large and we will consider the possibility canvassed in the latter half of the Question.
Identity Parades
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons charged solely as a result of identification at identity parades have subsequently been acquitted in the last two years; and whether he will consider any scheme of compensation for such persons.
Statistics of the kind requested by the hon. Member are not available, but some information bearing on the point was obtained by the Devlin Committee on Identification Procedures as a result of inquiries which were made on its behalf. I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Committee's report, I hope by the end of this month.There is no statutory provision for the compensation of persons acquitted in the normal course of trial, but individual cases may, exceptionally, be considered on their merits and I may agree to make an extra-statutory payment if the circumstances are compelling and there has been some default by public authority.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to prevent publicity being given to charges made by the police in advance of the holding of identity parades at which the accused person is to appear.
I do not think that any general rule of this kind would be practicable. It is for the courts to assess the value of identification evidence, and I do not doubt that they take into account the possibility that a witness may have been influenced, for example by the publication of a photograph in a newpaper.
Identification (Devlin Report)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now publish the report of the Devlin Committee on identification.
I hope that the report will be published before the end of the month.
Shrewsbury Picket
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the offences against prison rules committed by Mr. Dennis Warren, together with the loss of remission of sentence for each alleged offence.
Mr. Warren has been charged with a total of 33 offences against discipline under Rule 47 of the Prison Rules 1964, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. Of the charges, 31 were found proved and resulted in 17 awards of immediate forfeiture of remission amounting to 134 days as well as three suspended awards totalling 20 days, of which 14 days were subsequently activated. Of the 148 days actually forfeited, 28 days have so far been restored. The paragraphs of Rule 47 involved, with the number of charges found proved in brackets, were as follows: 6 (4), 13 (1), 14 (4), 17 (1), 18 (19), 20 (2).
Muslim Immigrants
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the numbers of immigrants in Great Britain who have two legal wives under Muslim law.
The information on which an estimate could be based is not available.
Nationality Laws (Review)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he experts the review of nationality laws currently being undertaken will be completed.
I cannot at present add to what I said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) on 18th March.—[Vol. 907 c. 613.]
Russian Citizens (Entry Visas)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the names of the three Russian citizens, other than Professor Vivali Kostamanov, who have been refused United Kingdom entry visas in the past 12 months on the grounds that their exclusion was conducive to the public good; and what reasons they had given for wishing to visit the United Kingdom.
It is the practice, from which I see no sufficient reason to depart on this occasion, not to disclose such details of individual applications.
Director Of Public Prosecutions
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, he will dismiss the Director of Public Prosecutions, in view of his decisions following the arrest of Mr. Peter Hain.
No.
Mr Peter Hain
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the prosecution of Mr. Peter Hain; and if he will set up a public inquiry into how the case came to be brought.
I have been asked to reply.The cost to public funds of the prosecution is not yet known. I have carefully examined the evidence available to the prosecuting authorities and have discussed the case thoroughly with the Director and his staff and am satisfied that the decision of the Director, that there was a prima facie case suitable for trial by jury, was a reasonable one.
Special Constabulary
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the strength of the Special Constabulary on 31st December 1975 and on the same date for each year since 1970.
The strength of the Special Constabulary in England and Wales on 31st December of each year was as follows:
| Year | Strength |
| 1970 | 32,813 |
| 1971 | 29,992 |
| 1972 | 27,440 |
| 1973 | 25,332 |
| 1974 | 24,168 |
| 1975 | 23,011 |
Employment
Drilling Technology Centre
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trainees undertook and passed courses offered by the Drilling Technology Centre; what was the average length of each course; and what level of operating capacity was achieved in 1975.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 38 trainees successfully completed training courses between 14th October 1975, when the Centre opened, and the end of the year. Each course lasted four weeks and 66 per cent. level of operationg capacity was achieved.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what share of expenditure of running the Drilling Technology Centre was met respectively by the Government, drilling contractors, the oil companies and the trainees in 1975.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, in 1975 the Government contributed £25,265 in the form of a grant from the MSC towards running costs. Oil companies contributed £23,680 by course fees. There was no income from drilling contractors or trainees.
Underwater Training Centre
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many trainees undertook and passed courses offered by the Underwater Training Centre; what was the average length of each course; and what level of operating capacity was achieved in 1975.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that training in basic air diving and underwater working at the Underwater Training Centre started on 18th August 1975. Courses at this level last 12 weeks and are attended by 10 trainees. Two courses were completed in 1975, with a total of 19 successful trainees. The centre was operating at full capacity for basic air diving training from 10th November 1975, since when a new course has started each month.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what share of expenditure of running the Underwater Training Centre was met respectively by the Government drilling contractors, the oil companies and the trainees in 1975.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the centre's main purpose is to provide mixed gas diving training to meet offshore development needs, and that such training will be provided from later this year. The centre will charge commercial rates but will be non-profitmaking. The Manpower Services Commission is making working capital available, as a loan, until income from fees covers expenses.Since the centre opened in August 1975 it has provided training for basic air diving, the entry point for newcomers to diving. Fees for trainees sponsored under the Training Services Agency's Training Opportunities Scheme, and for private trainees, represented 40 per cent. and 4 per cent. respectively of the centre's running expenses in 1975. The membership of the first two experimental courses in mixed gas diving will be drawn from trainees sponsored by diving contractors.
Training (Scotland)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of TOPS training programmes in Scotland.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the expansion in TOPS training over the past three years has made a significant and increasing contribution to the retraining of redundant workers, the training of young people and the needs of oil-related industries in Scotland.The number of people trained under TOPS in Scotland has increased from 3,543 in 1972 to 7,890 in 1975, and expansion is continuing. Special training courses have been developed for young people, and expansion of training places will continue in 1976–77 according to needs.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were trained by TOPS training programmes in Scotland in 1975; how many were unemployed prior to training; and how many obtained jobs after training.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that 7,890 people received training under the Training Opportunities Scheme in Scotland in 1975. During this period 4,191 people were placed or found work in their training trade. Information about the number unemployed prior to training is not available in the form required. A sample survey taken during the four weeks ending 27th March 1975 showed that 1,345 training applications were accepted, including 845 from unemployed people.TOPS objectives for 1976 have been increased from the original target of 68,000 to 80,000 completions. I would expect Scotland, along with the rest of Great Britain, to benefit from these special measures.
Oil Industry (Training)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what additional training programmes are being envisaged by the Petroleum Training Board in view of the projected build-up in refining and petrochemicals in Scotland.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the oil companies involved in refining will be responsible for satisfying then-own training needs by means of suitable training programmes. These programmes will be assessed by the Petroleum Industry Training Board. Additionally, continuing consideration will be given by the Board to defining industry-wide training needs which cannot adequately be covered within companies. In such cases, it is the Board's policy to establish suitable training facilities, either under its own auspices or through the appropriate training association. The Petroleum Industry Training Board does not have responsibility for training in the petrochemical industry.
Unfair Dismissal Compensation
asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much the value of the maximum award of £5,200 for employees unfairly dismissed has been reduced since this limit was fixed, due to the fall in the value of money; and whether he will now increase this maximum, so as to take into account that fall.
It is estimated that between September 1974 when the limit of £5,200 was fixed and February 1976, which is the latest date for which information is available, the internal purchasing power of the pound fell by 26 per cent., so that £5,200 in September 1974 would be worth £3,848 in money terms in February 1976.From 1st June next, the maximum of £5,200 will apply to the compensatory award for unfair dismissal. In addition, from the same date a new award, to be known as the basic award, will be introduced with a maximum of £2,400. Thus the new overall maximum will be £7,600.Whilst this matter is reviewed periodically it is not at present my intention to increase the maximum of £5,200.
Factory Inspectorate
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations have been made against the proposed reorganisation of the Factory Inspectorate; how many local offices will be closed; and with whom consultations have been carried out on the proposed reorganisation.
I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that representations against the proposed reorganisation of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate have been received from West and South Yorkshire, Swindon, Gloucester, the Isle of Wight, Teeside, Stafford and the Warrington Area. These mainly related to local issues of area boundaries and the closure of local offices. General objections to the proposed reorganisation have been received from West and South Yorkshire, Swindon and the Warrington Area.It is expected that outside London not more than 35 of Her Majesty's Inspectorate offices will be closed in towns where there will be no Health and Safety Executive office. Forty-two Factory Inspectorate offices will close where there will be an alternative HSE office in the same town.In the case of Greater London, three suitably located area offices will replace the existing 21 offices.Nationally the Health and Safety Commission has consulted the CBI and TUC. At local level area directors are discussing the proposals with the TUC Regional Councils and local CBI organisations. There is continuing consultation with the staff at both national and local levels.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factory inspectors, specialist, and non-specialist, there are, compared with the same period last year; and how many in both groups are available for field duties, compared with those in permanent administrative posts.
At 1st March 1976 there were 838 factory inspectors in post compared with 773 in post at 3rd March 1975. Of the 838 inspectors now in post, 772 are actively engaged on field inspection duties and 66 are employed in administrative—policy—work.
Pay Settlements
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees have received incremental pay awards since 1st August 1975 which have given them pay increases above the £6 per week limit; and of these, how many are in the public and private sectors, respectively.
I regret that this information is not available.
Chemical Industry
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of employees engaged in the chemical industry in Scotland and in England and Wales, respectively; and if he will express the figures in percentage terms.
The industrial detail in the quarterly statistics of employees in employment analysed by region gives estimates for the combined group comprising Coal and Petroleum Products, and Chemicals and Allied Industries, that is Orders IV and V of the Standard Industrial Classification. Provisional estimates for December 1975 are given in the following table:
| Employees in employment (000's) | Percentage of total for Great Britain | |
| Scotland | 31·9 | 6·9 |
| England | 407·4 | 88·3 |
| Wales | 22·3 | 4·8 |
| Great Britain | 461·6 | 100·0 |
| Employees in employment (000's) | Percentage of total for Great Britain | |
| Scotland | 27·9 | 6·5 |
| England | 387·5 | 89·7 |
| Wales | 16·7 | 3·9 |
| Great Britain | 432·1 | 100·0 |
Factory Inspection
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest average inspection rate, per workplace, made by factory inspectors in the United Kingdom.
I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that on 31st December 1975 there were 209,917 factories, docks and warehouses registered with Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate in Great Britain. Visits were paid by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectors to 63,884 of these premises for the purpose of routine inspection or for special investigations.During the period 1st January 1975 to 31st December 1975 51,086 construction sites were at some time included in Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorates register and 39,310 visits were paid to such sites for the purpose of routine inspections or for special investigations by Factory Inspectors.On 31st December 1975 there were 175,974 premised registered with Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate subject to the Office Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 and 41,910 of these premises were visited for the purpose of routine inspections and special investigations by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories.Additionally Her Majesty's Inspectors of Factories paid 2,485 visits to workplaces which became subject to health and safety legislation for the first time on 1st April 1975 as a result of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Police (Private Forces)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether private police forces, including the River Tees police, are exempt from the provisions of the Protection of Employment Act.
The Employment Protection Act excludes employment in police service which is defined as service in England and Wales as a member of a police force or as a special constable; as a constable within the meaning of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967; as a member of any constabulary maintained by virtue of any enactment; or in any other capacity by virtue of which a person has the powers or privileges of a constable.Any private police force which falls within this definition is exempt from the provisions of the Act. I understand that the River Tees police do in fact come within this definition.
Oil-Related Industry
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether a committee for Scotland has been established by the Manpower Services Commission to achieve co-ordination of manpower skill requirements of industries involved in Scottish North Sea oil development and engineering construction; and, if so, if he will list its membership.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Training Services Agency set up a committee in Scotland in July 1975 with the following terms of reference:
The membership of the Committee is as follows:(a) To keep under review, in the occupations requiring the skills used in the mechanical and electrical engineering construction industry or similar skills, the current and future critical manpower requirements in the area covered by the Committee; (b) To collect and disseminate information about local manpower problems concerning these skills and to make recommendations for action designed to meet these problems; (c) To keep the National Committee informed about the local position and to make known locally any relevant information and recommendations emanating from the National Committee; (d) To draw attention, as and when appropriate, to changing local needs, particularly with a view to timely redeployment of labour.
Chairman: Dr. Ken Hall BSc.(Econ), PhD, C Eng, MIMechE, MIProdE, Director of Manpower Studies Research Unit, Heriot Watt University.
Members representing employers:1. Mr. R. C. Abrahams, Clyde Shipbuilders Association. 2. Mr. W. L. Armstrong, Scottish Engineering Employers Association. 3. Mr. R. Campbell, Scottish National Federation of Building Trade Employers. 4. Mr. N. Morris, Scottish Capital Projects Client Group. 5. Mr. W. Patterson, Oil and Chemical Plant Contractors Association. 6. Mr. R. N. Russell, Scottish East Coast Shipbuilders Association.
Members representing employees:1. Mr. J. Brown, Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunications Union—Plumbing Trades Union. 2. Mr. T. Gray, Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers. 3. Mr. J. McArtney, Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers. 4. Mr. R. MacDonald, Transport and General Workers Union. 5. Mr. D. C. MacGregor, Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.
Industrial Training Board Representatives:1. Mr. D. Roy, Engineering ITB. 2. Mr. R. Morris, Engineering ITB. 3. Mr. J. McLinn, Construction ITB. 4. Mr. R. Griffith, Shipbuilding ITB.
Government Departments and Agencies represented:
Department of Employment.
Department of Energy (Offshore Supplies Office).
Industrial Training Boards.
Scottish Economic Planning Department.
Employment Service Agency.
Training Service Agency.
Secretary: Mr. D. H. Duff, Training Services Agency (Scotland).
Deaf Persons
asked the Secretary of Stale for Employment what is the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing persons registered as unemployed, by regions.
I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing people registered as unemployed on 14th April 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, by regions is:
| Standard Region | Deaf | Hard of Hearing |
| Wales | 40 | 81 |
| Scotland | 119 | 89 |
| South-West | 53 | 75 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 77 | 127 |
| North-West | 147 | 202 |
| North | 70 | 93 |
| South-East | 198 | 173 |
| East Anglia | 18 | 27 |
| West Midlands | 84 | 86 |
| East Midlands | 54 | 62 |
| TOTAL | 860 | 1,015 |
Textile Industry
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report the number of (a) boys and (b) girls under 21 years of age entering the textile industry in each year since 1966 for each of the following minimum list headings, 412, 413, 423, 414, showing the figures for the North-West and Yorkshire and Humberside, separately.
I regret that the precise information is not available, but the following statistics show the number of young people under age 18 whose first employment following completion of full-time education was in those industries in each of the years 1966 to 1974, the latest date for which statistics are available. Because the statistics relate to first employment only they do not measure the total intake of young people since
| NORTH-WEST | |||||||||
| 412 | 413 | 423 | 414 | ||||||
| Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | ||
| 1966 | … | 469 | 601 | 374 | 497 | 192 | 267 | 65 | 132 |
| 1967 | … | 334 | 393 | 213 | 317 | 183 | 185 | 71 | 117 |
| 1968 | … | 523 | 412 | 355 | 377 | 215 | 254 | 71 | 149 |
| 1969 | … | 551 | 368 | 327 | 470 | 189 | 175 | 70 | 133 |
| 1970 | … | 548 | 337 | 344 | 295 | 137 | 148 | 68 | 89 |
| 1971 | … | 334 | 234 | 308 | 266 | 134 | 133 | 35 | 113 |
| 1972 | … | 339 | 224 | 249 | 216 | 117 | 247 | 37 | 89 |
| 1973* | … | 154 | 68 | 119 | 66 | 86 | 58 | 17 | 22 |
| 1974 | … | 539 | 304 | 522 | 325 | 162 | 191 | 46 | 50 |
| YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE | |||||||||
| 412 | 413 | 423 | 414 | ||||||
| Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | Boys | Girls | ||
| 1966 | … | 46 | 102 | 17 | 17 | 64 | 140 | 796 | 1,320 |
| 1967 | … | 31 | 89 | 11 | 19 | 57 | 102 | 708 | 1,109 |
| 1968 | … | 34 | 64 | 17 | 30 | 87 | 79 | 904 | 1,019 |
| 1969 | … | 53 | 33 | 11 | 20 | 76 | 111 | 1,031 | 1,042 |
| 1970 | … | 49 | 55 | 14 | 18 | 76 | 117 | 739 | 817 |
| 1971 | … | 27 | 47 | 18 | 14 | 66 | 114 | 645 | 731 |
| 1972 | … | 25 | 35 | 65 | 10 | 90 | 139 | 737 | 746 |
| 1973* | … | 11 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 30 | 20 | 265 | 165 |
| 1974 | … | 53 | 52 | 20 | 7 | 57 | 83 | 687 | 662 |
| * The figures for this year are distorted by the raising of the school leaving age. | |||||||||
Scrap Processing
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many scrapyards are situated in the area covered by the Dock Work Regulation Bill.
I regret that the information requested cannot be ascertained from statistics maintained by my Department.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether scrap processing is subject to the provisions of the Dock Work Regulation Bill.
Part II of Schedule 3 to the Dock Work Regulation Bill sets out the descriptions of work which are excluded from any extension of the new Dock Labour Scheme and I understand from discussions with representatives of the scrap processing industry many will have entered after employment in other industries.that these descriptions cover virtually all scrap processing.
Unemployed Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the population of the United Kingdom is (a) not yet at work, namely, school-children and students, (b) retired and (c) available for work only for limited periods, all expressed in terms of per 1,000 population.
pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th April 1976, Vol. 909, c. 288–9], gave the following information:At June 1975 it is estimated that, per thousand population in the United Kingdom, there were 269 children aged 0 to 15 or school-children and full-time students aged 16 and over. As regards the proportion of retired persons there is no reliable estimate later than that for 1971 given in my earlier reply.