asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals have developed rabies subsequent to quarantine in the United Kingdom during the last 10 years; and if he is satisfied that the period of quarantine is of sufficient length.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will increase the period of quarantine for live animals imported into the United Kingdom.

There have been two cases since 1922, one in October 1969 and the other in February 1970.Details of these and the factors relating to quarantine are contained in the final report of the Committee of Inquiry on Rabies (Cmnd 4696) presented to Parliament in June 1971. The six-month period of quarantine confirms to the recommendations of that committee and my right hon. Friend and I are satisfied that it is sufficient.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the existing arrangements at all United Kingdom ports are adequate to prevent the illegal entry of animals, in the light of the latest information about the advance of rabies infected animals to the coast of France; and if he will make a statement.

Our anti-rabies legislation and precautions have successfully prevented the entry of the disease through illegally imported animals for over 50 years. These measures were considerably strengthened by the Rabies (Importation of Dogs, Cats and other Mammals) Order 1974, and the detailed regulations to implement its provisions. Local and port authorities, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and the police are all keenly aware of their duties and carry them out with vigilance and efficiency.Nevertheless, there can be no room for complacency. We are constantly review- ing ways and means to strengthen our defences still further. No defence can be complete without wholehearted public support. For this reason my hon. Friend will be launching a renewed publicity campaign on 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why, despite his promise of 12th April to answer as soon as possible, he has still not answered the Question first put to him for answer on 29th March by the hon. Member for Salford, East concerning the £8 million contract between British Marconi and the South African Defence Department to supply long-range military equipment for use in Namibia.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, Central (Mr. McNamara).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assurances have been given him by the Jordanian Government that military equipment which left Jersey for Jordan during April 1976, will not be supplied later to South Africa.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 26th April 1976.—[Vol. 910, c. 40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers and Defence Ministry civil servants of the ranks referred to in his reply of 26th April have joined firms with contracts to supply arms to his Department in addition to the 97 serving officers and 86 civil servants who have been granted permission but have joined such firms two or more years after retirement or resignation.

The rules do not require outgoing officers and civil servants to seek permission to take up business appointments, or to report that they have done so, once two years have elapsed since their retirement or resignation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether

Thousands
Institution				1975	1974	1973	1972	1971	1970
British Museum (including Burlington Gardens)	…	…	…	3,314	2,234	2,449	2,885	2,680	2,261
Science Museum	…	…	…	2,404	2,052	2,312	1,936	1,942	2,121
National Railway Museum, York (opened 24th September 1975)	…	…	…	567	—	—	—	—	—
Victoria & Albert Museum	…	…	…	1,065	925	1,303	1,360	1,786	1,473
Bethnal Green Museum	…	…	…	153	134	172	126	132	202
Imperial War Museum	…	…	…	654	914	669	586	557	597
London Museum (closed from 31st May 1975)	…	…	…	148	392	500	376	512	289
National Gallery	…	…	…	2,046	1,629	1,616	1,774	1,859	1,750
National Maritime Museum	…	…	…	1,300	1,500	1,500	1,500	1,590	1,306
National Portrait Gallery	…	…	…	350	355	371	423	513	714
Tate Gallery	…	…	…	813	881	879	913	936	935
Wallace Collection	…	…	…	134	108	122	135	153	156
Total	…	…	…	12,948	11,125	11,894	12,014	12,660	11,804

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report all current research projects on the health hazards arising from asbestos which are financed by his Department or to which his Department contributes.

The following studies are being carried out under the auspices of the Medical Research Council:

At the council's Air Pollution Unit, electron microscopy of lead, asbestos and other airborne particles.

At the council's Air Pollution Unit, electron numerous national and international surveys of health hazards of asbestos including a large project in association with the Ministry of Defence (Navy) covering some naval dockyards; a number of experimental studies of the fibrogenic and carcinogenic action of the principal types of asbestos by inoculation, inhalation, and organ and tissue culture methods; the development of immunilogical techniques for the surveillance of populations at high risk; a number of studies of the aerodynamic properties of fibres; the use of magnetic properties for the identification and estimation of asbestos fibres in air samples and in lung tissues; the effect of size and shape

The attendance figures reported to my Department were as follows:of fibres on their fibrogenic and oncogenic action; distribution of UICC

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the percentage of children of nursery age, excluding rising 5s, in each English local education authority who were in nursery schools or classes in January 1975 and January 1976, respectively.

The information for January 1975 will take a little time to extract. I will write to the hon. Member. Figures for January 1976 will not be available until later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning applications were called in by him for personal decision during the year ended 31st December 1975; and if he will publish details in the Official Report, together with the decision given in each case.

My right hon. Friend called in 124 planning applications in 1975. In 34 cases permission was granted, 11 were refused and 13 were withdrawn. The remainder are either the subject of public inquiry or under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table giving details of accidents to pedestrians using pelican crossings in Greater London area during the last 12 months.

During 1975 eight accidents involving pedestrians occurred on the 16 pelican crossings on trunk roads in Greater London; these resulted in seven slight, three serious and no fatal casualties.The Department does not have accident details for the 242 pelican crossings on other London roads, and the hon. Member may wish to approach the Greater London Council for this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Birdlip bypass and the Northleach bypass to be built.

It is still too early to set firm dates for these schemes, but in favourable circumstances work could start on the Northleach bypass before 1980 and on the Birdlip bypass in the early 1980s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been made for office development permits for office space between 10,000 and 15,000 sq. ft. in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The information is as follows: 1973, 99; 1974, 49; 1975, 61.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider the answer given to the London borough of Hounslow about compensation for those living in Adelaide Terrace, Brentford, who suffer from noise and pollution from traffic on the M4 and A4.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department is taking to assist the construction industry during the present period of recession.

The construction industry has benefited from the priority which the Government have given to housing. In the measures announced in the autumn 1975 and in February 1976 to alleviate unemployment a total of over £80 million was allocated for additional public sector construction work. The industry will also benefit from the measures taken to stimulate industrial investment and from the extra £20 million allocated for advance factory building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many motor cars are currently available for use by Ministers of the Crown, listed by type; what is the current estimated annual cost of running such cars and providing them with drivers; and what are the rules governing the private use of such cars by Ministers and members of their families and households.

72 chauffeur driven cars are currently available for use by Ministers of the Crown—20 Rover 3·5s, 20 Wolseley 2200s, 31 Wolseley 6s, one Austin 2200. The current estimated cost of operating these vehicles is £760,000. This sum includes wages, overtime, insurance, superannuation, fuel repairs and maintenance, depreciation, garaging, rates, security measures, administration overheads and interest on capital employed.Ministers are not normally authorised to use official cars for private or domestic purposes other than for their own journeys between home or station or airport and office within a limited area. Exceptionally wives or husbands of Ministers may also use cars for official or semi-official purposes associated with their husbands' or wives' duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, arising from the proposed closure of the Scottish depots of Scottish Parcel Carriers Limited and Tartan Arrow Service Limited, in July 1976, he will give a general direction to the National Freight Corporation to merge the activities of National Carriers Limited and Roadline UK Limited (formerly BRS Parcels Limited), with a view to improving their financial position, safeguarding their share of the parcels and smalls market and promoting an active commercial drive to provide a more efficient service.

No. The financial position of the National Freight Corporation is already under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he now intends to instruct the British Ambassador to return to Chile; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Question on 10th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the incident last week outside the Royal Ordnance establishment at Burghfield, near Reading, involving two members of the Hungarian Embassy's staff; if he will now state how many photographs of the establishment were taken by the Hungarians; and what steps he intends to take to limit the movement of east European embassy staff to ensure that a further incident of this kind cannot happen.

Early in the morning of Thursday 22nd April a member of the staff of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Burghfield saw a car containing two people, subsequently identified as the Assistant Military and Air Attaché at the Hungarian Embassy in London, Lt.-Col. Hajma, and a member of the Embassy's administrative and technical staff, Captain Andras Toth, stop immediately outside the factory. One of the people in the car was seen to take at least one photograph of the front entrance. The police were informed, and after a chase at high speed the car was stopped. Its occupants were asked to go to Basingstoke police station. This they did at about 8.15 a.m., where they identified themselves. After enquiries had been made to confirm that they were entitled to diplomatic immunity they were told that they were free to go, and left Basingstoke police station in their car at 1.30 p.m.The circumstances and implications of this incident have been exhaustively examined. On the evidence which has been submitted to me it is not possible to state that damage has been caused to our national security. The fact remains that the two Hungarian diplomats behaved in a manner calculated to provoke the attentions of those charged with the protection of our security. I have considered very carefully whether we should declare the two Hungarian diplomats

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many coloured persons are currently employed in the police forces of England and Wales; and what further steps are being taken to increase the number.

136 on 23rd April. A special advertising campaign is about to be launched.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many coloured persons are currently employed in the Prison Service; what percentage they represent of the total; and what steps are being taken to increase the numbers employed;(2) how many coloured persons are employed in the Home Office; and if he is satisfied that sufficient steps are being taken to increase the number of coloured employees.

No figures are available. All applicants for employment in the Home Office are judged on merit, regardless of colour. Recent special efforts to attract coloured recruits to the Prison Service have included advertising in the West Indian World, in consultation with the editor; and participation by prison staff, including coloured officers, in careers exhibitions organised by the Youth Employment Careers Advisory Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that 11,912 persons were remanded for psychiatric reports in 1975, he is satisfied that facilities in prisons are appropirate to the making of such assessments.

We are in general satisfied that the Prison Service can adequately meet the requirements of the courts although there must always be room for improvement, and there are obvious advantages for all concerned where arrangements can be made for reports to be provided during a remand on bail.

asked the Lord President of the Council what instructions he has given as to the time of closing of the Members' Tea Room on the Library Corridor.

No alteration has been made to the present arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fall in the value of the £ sterling, he will confirm the 1976–77 forecast of a debt interest of £6,461 million given in Table 5 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1976–77 or alternatively give a revised figure.

I see no reason at this stage to revise the forecast shown in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of British and imported beer retained for home consumption and the amount of consumption per head of adult population in each of the years 1911–12, 1931–32, 1961–62, 1971–72 and for 1974–75.

BEER RETAINED FOR HOME CONSUMPTION
					British Beer	Imported Beer	Consumption per Head of Adult Population
					(million standard barrels*)		(gallons)
1911–12	…	…	…	…	34·4	0·1	42·6
1931–32	…	…	…	…	15·6	1·3	17·4
1961–62	…	…	…	…	18·7	1·0	17·4
1971–72	…	…	…	…	22·8	1·4	20·6
1974–75	…	…	…	…	25·3	1·3	22·3
*A standard barrel is 36 gallons at 1,055 degrees of gravity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of British and imported wines and spirits retained for home consumption and the consumption per head of adult population in gallons of wines and

WINES AND SPIRITS RETAINED FOR HOME CONSUMPTION
					British Wine	Imported Wine	Spirits
					(million gallons)		(million proof gallons)
1911–12	…	…	…	…	—	11·1	30·9
1931–32	…	…	…	…	2·8	12·8	10·1
1961–62	…	…	…	…	7·3	20·7	15·7
1971–72	…	…	…	…	11·6	43·8	22·1
1974–75	…	…	…	…	16·8	62·6	32·4

CONSUMPTION PER HEAD OF ADULT POPULATION
					British Wine (gallons)	Imported Wine (gallons)	Spirits (proof gallons)
1911–12	…	…	…	…	—	0·4	1·1
1931–32	…	…	…	…	0·1	0·4	0·3
1961–62	…	…	…	…	0·2	0·5	0·4
1971–72	…	…	…	…	0·3	1·0	0·5
1974–75	…	…	…	…	0·4	1·5	0·8

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of revenue accruing to the Treasury from the sale of beer, wines and spirits for each of the years 1911–12, 1931–32, 1961–62, 1971–72 and for 1974–75.

The information is:

Net receipts of duties on Beer, Wines and Spirits
	(£ million)
1911–12	37·2
1931–32	114·1
1961–62	418·8
1971–72	998·7
1974–75	1,485*
*VAT estimated receipts included.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the receipts from VAT on cesspit sewage disposal in the forthcoming financial year.

The information is:spirits shown separately for each of the years 1911–12, 1931–32, 1961–62, 1971–72 and for 1974–75.

The information is:

I regret this information is not available. The amount of revenue is likely to be small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the total VAT receipts during the last financial year from (a) the sale of antiques and works of art and (b) the sale of the works of living artists.

I am afraid the information is not available, but net receipts of VAT paid by antique dealers, secondhand furniture shops, picture framers and coin and stamp dealers, who are classified together for VAT, were about £4 million, and by artists, sculptors, designers, writers, free-lance journalists and composers was also about £4 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why there have not been spasmodic checks at airports and seaports of passengers' luggage, &c., by Customs officers to discover illegal smuggling of currency; and whether, in the light of evidence of the increase in the prevalence of this offence, he will take action to increase checks on luggage, &c. of passengers leaving Great Britain.

Customs staff at ports and airports make selective examinations of passengers leaving the United Kingdom and of their baggage for prohibited amounts of currency. Substantial sums have been seized in this way. Intensified checks have been imposed recently and these are continuing.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will list the percentage of the gross national product devoted to overseas aid for each of the years 1964–75.

The information is as follows:

Net Official Development Assistance as Percentage of GNP
Year	Percentage
1964	0·52
1965	0·47
1966	0·46
1967	0·43
1968	0·40
1969	0·39
1970	0·36
1971	0·41
1972	0·39
1973	0·34
1974	0·38
1975	0·38

The figure for 1975 is provisional and is based on an estimated outturn of £385 million (net).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the number of children covered by the family income supplement scheme for each year since the scheme was introduced, distinguishing between the number of children whose parents are claiming, and not claiming, respectively; and if he will further divide this total into one- and two-parent families.

Estimates of the number of children in families receiving family income supplement at the end of each year are as follows:

	Two-parent families	One-parent families
1971	139,000	37,000
1972	133,000	50,000
1973	150,000	71,000
1974	101,000	63,000
1975	83,000	52,000

Estimates of the number of families who are eligible to receive family income supplement are based on limited information using the Family Expenditure Survey. No estimate can be made from the available data of the number of children in families eligible but not claiming the supplement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the reaons for the delay in implementing the new contracts for junior hospital doctors; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many junior hospital doctors are now being paid only a basic salary as a result of the failure fully to implement the new contracts;(3) how many junior hospital doctors have now signed the new contracts and job descriptions; and how many have yet to do so.

As my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mrs. Castle), the former Secretary of State, indicated in her replies to the hon. Members for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) and Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 23rd March—[Vol. 908, c. 181–3.]—the completion of individual contracts depends on agreement locally between the junior doctors and their employing authority. Records are not maintained centrally of the number of contracts or job descriptions completed, nor of reasons for delay in signing contracts in particular cases. Health authorities were asked to make every effort to institute payments by the end of April, but I appreciate that there may be cases where this has not been possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that area health authorities have sufficient funds to pay junior hospital doctors in full under the terms of the new contract.

It has been made clear to health authorities that the cost of the new junior doctors' contracts must be met from within their existing allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many operations involving psycho-surgery have taken place in the Wessex region in the last year for which figures are available.

Although figures are not collected routinely, the Wessex Regional Health Authority has made inquiries and informs me that four operations which would fall into the psycho-surgical category were carried out in the region in 1975. There has been none to date in 1976. I would also refer my hon. Friend

LEGAL ABORTIONS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
					1973		1974*		1975*
					Married	Single	Married	Single	Married	Single
					Resident and non-resident				Resident only†
Total Grounds	…	…	…	…	71,426	82,026	66,941	82,321	43,322	52,423
1	…	…	…	…	2,807	2,196	2,147	1,897	642	327
2	…	…	…	…	40,991	76,492	43,901	77,630	29,639	50,301
3	…	…	…	…	2,579	405	2,107	385	1,888	315
4	…	…	…	…	1,020	138	853	102	717	97
5	…	…	…	…	6	1	2	—	6	—
6	…	…	…	…	8	4	5	1	—	2
2 with 4	…	…	…	…	890	271	760	165	540	146
3 with others	…	…	…	…	23,125	2,519	17,166	2,141	9,890	1,235
1. Risk of life of woman.
2. Risk of injury to physical or mental health of woman.
3. Risk of injury to physical or mental health of existing child(ren).
4. Substantial risk of child being born abnormal.
5. In emergency—to save life of woman.
6. In emergency—to prevent grave permanent injury to physical or mental health of woman.

				1973		1974*		1975*
Premises				Married	Single	Married	Single	All marital status (including widowed and divorced)
NHS	…	…	…	28,811	21,329	27,694	22,142	51,616
Approved places‡	…	…	…	42,615	60,697	39,247	60,179	55,032
‡The numbers of abortions in clinics controlled by charities are available only for women of all marital status, including the widowed and divorced status excluded above. They are as follows:—

Premises		1973	1974*	1975*
NHS	…	56,109	55,852	Not yet available
Clinics controlled by charities	…	27,174	32,791
Other approved places	…	83,866	74,476

	1973		1974*		1975*
	Married	Single	Married	Single
Resident women with over 4 previous live and still born children‡	4,104	71	3,413	81	Not yet available
*Provisional.
† Women usually resident in England and Wales.

to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Butler) on 27th April.—[Vol. 910. c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions were carried out in each of the years 1973, 1974 and 1975 on married women and on single women, shown separately; how many of these abortions were carried out in National Health Service hospitals, clinics with charitable status, and independent clinics, respectively; how many were carried out on women with over four children; how many were carried out on medical grounds only; and how many were carried out on environmental and social grounds.

The available information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally handicapped adults in Cambridgeshire are currently living with their families without day care or training centre provision.

It is estimated that about 30 people in the Peterborough division of Cambridgeshire could benefit from day care or training, but facilities cannot at present be provided for them by the social services department. The county council is considering providing additional facilities in Peterborough. Elsewhere in the county sufficient provision exists to meet known need, but the Director of Social Services is aware of a few mentally handicapped adults in rural areas whose degree of handicap precludes their undertaking the journey to the nearest centre.Hospital day care facilities are available in Cambridge and Peterborough where cases are admitted on referral by consultants. The hospitals are able at present to accept any patients considered to be in medical need of day care, whose families wish them to have it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ensure that the general public are adequately informed of the action necessary to achieve swift contact with medical assistance where a deputising service is employed.

General practitioners are independent contractors who have undertaken to provide or to arrange to provide general medical services for their patients whenever needed. This responsibility involves the duty of ensuring that patients are readily able to get into touch with them, or, if they are not available, with whomever is for the time being acting on their behalf, whether this is a partner, an assistant, a colleague with whom they have rota arrangements or a deputising service. Before entering into arrangements with a deputising service a doctor must obtain the family practitioner committee's consent. This may be subject to conditions to ensure the adequacy of such arrangements.

asked the Attorney-General if charges were reinstituted after being thrown out in magistrates' courts in the case of Regina v. Pottinger concluded at the Central Criminal Court in October 1975; what were the charges on which defendants were acquitted; and what was the cost to public funds of the case.

The case of Regina v. Pottinger concluded in May 1975. I regret that, in a letter sent to the right hon. Member in February 1976, following my undertaking—[Official Report, 9th February 1976; c. 9.]—the date was erroneously given as October 1975.No charges were reinstated after being dismissed by the magistrates. Mr. Pottinger pleaded guilty on all counts. His co-accused, Mr. Wallburn, pleaded guilty on several counts and his pleas of Not Guilty were accepted and he was accordingly acquitted of uttering forged documents.The cost to public funds of the case could not be ascertained without disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish the letter, dated 13th April, from his Under-Secretary of State, to the hon. Member for Thornaby.

Yes. The letter reads as follows:"Dear IanOn 2nd December 1975 you asked if the Secretary of State for Employment would regularly publish figures showing the number of young people unemployed. In my reply I said that in future the numbers unemployed under the age of 20 would be published each month in the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if the headquarters of the Health and Safety Commission will be situated in South Yorkshire.

The Health and Safety Commission is not yet in a position to make a recommendation on the question of its ultimate location. However, I am assured by the chairman of the commission that the claims of a number of areas are being thoroughly examined, including those of South Yorkshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Blaby on 13th April, if he will in future publish the comparable figures as part of the regular monthly unemployment return.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were unemployed in each of the employment areas in the Leek parliamentary constituency at the latest count; and how this compares with the figures for January 1974.

At April 1976 the numbers registered as unemployed in employment office areas of Leek, Biddulph,

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers and how many establishments are covered by the temporary employment subsidy by region.

As at 23rd April 1976 the information requested was as follows:Cheadle and Kidsgrove were 605; 255; 268; and 431, respectively. The corresponding figures for January 1974 were 167; 126; 119; and 248.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he has received the report of the commission of inquiry set up for the Industrial and Staff Canteen Undertakings Wages Council; and if he will make a statement.

The commission's report, which is published today, recommends the abolution of the wages council. I am taking steps to implement the recommendation, and to facilitate arrangements to monitor developments in pay and collective bargaining in this industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to participate in the co-operative research development project in fast breeder reactors announced by France and Germany.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bedford (Mr. Skeet) on 1st March.—[Vol. 906, c. 428–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the latest report of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Explosives for Northern Ireland will be laid before the House.

The latest Report of Her Majesty's Inspectors, which covers the years 1971 to 1974, has been laid before the House today. As a result of direct rule, annual reports laid at Stormont previously were not laid for those years, but the reports will be laid at Westminster annually in future. I should perhaps explain that these reports are concerned with safety in the manufacture, transport and use of explosives and not with the security aspect.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland precisely which of the recommendations of the Finer Report have been implemented in Northern Ireland, and what is the precise nature of those which he hopes to implement in the near future.

I shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now arrange for the construction of a central reservation crash barrier on the A74 and M74.

Lengths of barrier additional to the existing ones will be provided where I am satisfied they are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the net emigration in figures from Scotland in the year ended June 1974.

Net emigration from Scotland in the year ended June 1974 is estimated at 2,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will announce any further appointments to the Organising Committee for British Aerospace.

I have appointed Mr. Bernard Friend, lately Chairman and Managing Director of Esso Chemicals UK Ltd., as a member of the Organising Committee. I intend in due course to appoint him as a full-time member of British Aerospace with particular responsibility for finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will make provision for the lodging of objections by members of the public to the issue of licences under the Consumer Credit Act to credit holders, in a manner similar to the provisions for inquiries and objections to planning permits operated under town planning law.

Such a procedure would not be appropriate under the Consumer Credit Act, but at any time any member of the public may bring to the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading any information that may appear relevant to the Director General's licensing decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the Industrial Democracy Committee will report; how many meetings it has held so far; and what total expenditure it has incurred to date.

The chairman of the committee, Lord Bullock, told my right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State that the committee would make every effort to report within a year, that is to say, by the end of 1976. This is still the position. The committee has held 12 meetings. The cost of producing the committee's report will be made known in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will amend the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1970 (S.I., 1970. No. 1288) to remove South Africa's favoured nation status and to prevent the export of military equipment to the Channel Islands.

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