asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to reply to the report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on energy conservation.

The preparation of a reply is well advanced, but I am not yet able to give a precise date. The wide ranging recommendations made have led to lengthy inter-departmental consultations which have taken a great deal of time.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a general direction to the electricity and gas corporations to limit the price increases to ordinary customers to no more than 5 per cent. during the next six months and no more than 10 per cent. during the next 12 months.

No. Any further price increases must reflect all the circumstances of the time, including our policy of avoiding further energy price subsidies and our counter-inflation policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if, as a result of the deliberations of the working party, he can now make a further statement on the extension of the use of coal for electricity generation.

Following the consultations on 20th February, between the coal and electricity industries, discussions with the industries are continuing. It is proposed to make a fuller statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the current position of BNOC.

British National Oil Corporation is now at work on the tasks laid upon it by Parliament and I shall keep the House informed as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his policy to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of fuels to cover the energy needs of the United Kingdom.

My hon. Friend has identified in his Question the principal objective of our policy, which we seek to achieve at minimum cost through making the best use of our indigenous resources and through promoting the efficient use of energy. I expect the United Kingdom to achieve net self-sufficiency in 1980, allowing for international trade in some products.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy on what basis consideration will be given to applications from institutions and companies in the European Economic Community during the forthcoming fifth round of offshore licences.

All applications when invited will be considered by reference to the arrangements I will announce in due course. There will be no discrimination on grounds of nationality.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the capacity of desulphurisation facilities in each of the nine EEC countries for which figures are available; and what overall capacity would be required, treating the EEC as an integrated petroleum market, if the standards outlined in the draft directive were to be complied with.

According to the March 1975 OECD report on refining capacity there is about 1 million tonnes a year of fuel oil desulphurisation capacity available in the EEC, located in Holland and Denmark. No information is available on the demand for low sulphur fuel oil within the EEC if the draft directive were to be implemented, or on the methods by which that would be manufactured.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what requirement in extra energy input would be required to reduce the sulphur content of fuel oil to the requirements outlined in Draft Directive 90/76;(2) what would be the capital cost to the United Kingdom petroleum industry for installing the required desulphurisation facilities to meet the targets set by Draft Directive 90/76.

The requirements of the draft directive, if agreed, would probably be met by the use of low sulphur fuel oil from North Sea crude rather than by desulphurisation of other fuel oils.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the relationship between the cost of desulphurising solid fuels as compared with that of hydrocarbon products.

There is no direct relationship between the costs of desulphurising solid fuels and hydrocarbon oils since they depend on many factors, such as the initial sulphur content of the fuel, the mineral matter with which it is associated, the process used and the scale of the operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of the exploratory operations for oil and natural gas in the Celtic Sea planned to the end of 1976; and if he will make a statement.

Consent has been sought to drill two wells. The timing of drilling within the initial six-year term of the licences is at the discretion of the licensees: further drilling during the year will depend to a considerable extent on the success or failure of the planned wells.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when he hopes to be able to implement his policy of worker control of each colliery within the National Coal Board; and if he will make a statement.

Following the personal request which I made last year to the National Union of Mineworkers to put forward its views on industrial democracy I was very interested indeed in the important proposals made by the National Executive Committee of the union. They are a significant contribution to the general debate on the subject. I have already taken the opportunity of discussing them informally, and they will come up within the tripartite forum I have reestablished. These proposals are in line with the preface to the evidence submitted by Mr. William Straker, Secretary of the Northumberland Miners Association to the Sankey Commission in 1919 which read as follows:

"In deciding what is to be the character of mines administration it is necessary to remember that workmen are more than machines, or even 'hands' as they are so often termed. Industrial unrest is a question about which everyone is concerned, yet there is a general lack of appreciation of what is the real root of this unrest. In the past workmen have thought that if they could secure higher wages and better conditions they would be content. Employers have thought that if they granted these things the workers ought to be content. Wages and conditions have been improved; but the discontent and the unrest have not disappeared, and many good people have come to the conclusion that working men are so unreasonable that it is useless trying to satisfy them. The fact is that the unrest is deeper than can be reached by merely pounds, shillings and pence, necessary as they are. The root of the matter is the straining of the spirit of man to be free. Once he secures the freedom of the spirit he will, as a natural sequence, secure a material welfare equal to what the united brains and hand can wring from mother earth and her surrounding atmosphere. Any administration of the mines under nationalisation must not leave the mine worker in the position of a mere wage-earner, whose sole energies are directed by the will of another. He must have a share in the management of the industry in which he is engaged, and understand all about the purpose and destination of the product he is producing; he must know both the productive and the commercial side of the industry. He must feel that the industry is being run by him in order to produce coal for the use of the community, instead of profit for a few people. He would thus feel the responsibility which would rest on him as a citizen, and direct his energies for the common good. This ideal cannot be reached all at once owing to the way in which private ownership has deliberately kept the worker in ignorance regarding the industry; but as that knowledge, which has been denied him, grows, as it will do under nationalisation, he will take his rightful place as a man. Only then will labour unrest, which is the present hope of the world, disappear. The mere granting of the 30 per cent. and the shorter hours demanded will not prevent unrest, neither will nationalisation with bureaucratic administration. Just as we are making political democracy world-wide, so must we have industrial democracy, in order that men may be free."—[Coal Industry Commission, Vol. 1, HMSO Cmnd. 359, 1919, p. 324.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will establish two energy authorities for Scotland and for England and Wales, to coordinate the most efficient production and use of all energy resources.

No. My Department, which has responsibilities covering the whole United Kingdom, already performs this function and takes full account of Scottish and Welsh interests, in conjunction with the Secretaries of State concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the estimated tonnage of North Sea oil likely to be exported in each of the next three years.

It is not possible to forecast export trends at this early stage of production.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a further statement about the future use of prepayment meters by the fuel boards.

This is one of the matters being considered in the review of the procedures for payment of bills by gas and electricity consumers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what agreement was reached in December 1974 that Energy Ministers of the EEC should meet every two months; on how many occasions they have met between December 1974 and April 1976; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for failure to meet on a two-monthly basis.

At the EEC Energy Council of 17th December 1974 it was agreed, in principle, to meet every two months to discuss energy problems. The progress made with the complex issues entailed in the development of a Community energy policy has not in practice, however, necessitated such frequent meetings. Since December 1974 there have been three Energy Councils: 13th February 1975, 26th June 1975 and 25th March 1976. Energy issues have also been considered at Heads of Government meetings. In addition, energy research and development matters have been discussed at the Research Councils of 26th June 1975, 15th December 1975 and 24th February 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average cost to the fuel boards of disconnecting individual domestic consumers.

A typical cost of disconnection and reconnection of supply of gas varies between regions from £3 to £7 and for electricity it is some £3, where there is access to the consumer's premises. If external work has to be done, such as excavating and rejointing, the costs can be considerably higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will extend the decision not to disconnect the fuel supplies of certain categories of retirement pensioners after June 1976.

I hope that the suspension of disconnections since the cold spell until the end of May will have given pensioner households time to work out methods of payment with the assistance of the welfare agencies and the fuel industries. The findings of the review of the payment procedures for fuel bills will also be relevant.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the average period of disconnection for domestic fuel consumers disconnected on Merseyside.

The information is not available in the form requested, but the following has been supplied by the Merseyside and North Wales Electricity Area Board and the British Gas Corporation in respect of credit consumers, including domestic, commercial and industrial, disconnected for non-payment of accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total number of domestic fuel consumers currently disconnected by the fuel boards on Merseyside.

The fuel industries do not record the numbers of premises disconnected at any one time, but the number of gas disconnections in the North-West Region during the first quarter of 1976 was 1,349. The number of electricity disconnections on Merseyside in the same period was 2,668.

asked the Lord President of the Council what were the approximate sums paid to or on behalf of Members of Parliament for personal official travel in the year 1975 in respect of car mileage, rail season tickets, other rail travel and air travel; and if he will indicate the trend in travel expenditure on different modes in the last 10 years.

The approximate sums paid to or on behalf of Members of Parliament for personal official travel in 1975–76 were as follows:

	£
Car mileage	682,000
Rail Season tickets	12,000
Other rail travel	205,000
Air travel	107,000

Over the last 10 years, expenditure on car mileage has increased from 20 per cent. to 68 per cent. of the total personal travel bill; other rail travel has decreased from 53 per cent. to 20 per cent.; air travel from 23 per cent. to 11 per cent., and rail season tickets from 4 per cent. to 1 per cent.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the cost of printing menus for the Strangers' Dining Room on (a) 13th April and (b) 27th April.

I have been asked to reply. The information is as follows: 13th April, £29·60; 27th April, £30·84. The new format makes separate à la carte and table d'hôte menus unnecessary and will, therefore, produce a small overall saving.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will take steps to advise British companies of his recent decision that half the cost of pre-investment studies in developing countries will now be met out of the ODM budget.

The revival of the scheme whereby up to one-half of the cost, subject to a maximum of £50,000, of pre-investment studies in developing countries can be underwritten from aid funds was reporaed in "Trade and Industry" on 2nd April. It has also been brought to the attention of the CBI, which has publicised it among its members, and of other interested bodies.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will list the EEC Council of Ministers meetings which have been held since 13th October; and at which of these meetings there have been ministerial oral statements within one or two parliamentary sitting days.

The information is as follows:Council Meetings since 13th October 1975.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek to extend the Register of Members' Interests to include civil servants and Members of the House of Lords.

So far as civil servants are concerned there is the Royal Commission on Standards of Conduct in Public Life and I think we should await its report. As regards the House of Lords, this is a matter for that House.

asked the Prime Minister if he will transfer Government-owned BP shares from the Treasury to the Department of Energy.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement about the latest report of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body.

The Fifth Report of the Review Body on Armed Forces Pay, covering pay for all ranks up to and including brigadier, but excluding medical and dental officers whose pay will be reviewed separately, is published today as Cmnd. 6470. Copies are available in the Vote Office. The Government are most grateful to the Review Body for its valuable report.The Review Body has recommended that the pay of all officers and adult Service men and women should be increased by a £6 per week supplement to military salary, except where earnings would thereby be increased beyond £8,500 a year. Proportionately smaller increases are recommended for juniors and others serving long apprenticeships. Increases in food and accommodation charges are also proposed. The effective date proposed for all increases is 1st April 1976.The Review Body's recommendations are in accordance with the anti-inflation policy and the Government accept them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost, on an annual basis, of holding in official intervention stocks the 2,965,000 tonnes of cereals, 1,321,433 tonnes of milk products, 220,000 tonnes of beef, 66,000 tonnes of olive oil and 6,000 tonnes of rapeseed which at 27th April were so held; and what is the estimated shelf life in intervention for human consumption of each commodity.

Member States are reimbursed by the Community for the cost of holding intervention stocks at standard rates. It is estimated that the amount the Community would pay for holding these quantities for a year would be 101·4 million units of account or £42·2 million converted at the Communiy budget rate of 2·4 ua=£1 sterling. No specific shelf life is laid down, but each member State is obliged to keep under review the quality of stocks held in its intervention stores.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Agricultural Ministers on 29th April 1976.

The Council considered the cost to the Community budget of increases in monetary compensatory amounts resulting from changes in the market rates for the lira and the pound sterling. It agreed that the representative rate for the lira should be adjusted by about 6 per cent. The Commission did not propose a change in the representative rate for the pound and its proposal to apply a corrective factor which would have had the effect of reducing the monetary compensatory amounts which act as subsidies on our food imports was not adopted.The Council also agreed that from 17th May the monetary compensatory amount payable on imports into the United Kingdom and Italy from the other seven member States would be paid in the exporting country. This will not involve any reduction in the amount of money being paid on a transaction. There will be a saving on the agricultural budget in units of account, since more payments will be made in the strong currencies and fewer payments will be made in sterling or lira. The new arrangements may tend slightly to reduce food prices in the United Kingdom: importers will no longer need to meet the cost of obtaining so much foreign exchange, because the purchase price will already benefit from the full monetary compensatory amount paid in the exporting country.Since the MCA payments on our imports from other member States, except Italy, will be made in the exporting country, the United Kingdom will no longer receive these payments from FEOGA directly, but the balance of payments effect of this will be offset by a corresponding cut in the price of our imports. United Kingdom public expenditure will not be increased, and in due course there should be some administrative savings both in the public service and for traders.Apart from these monetary changes the other main decision taken by the Council was to extend the suspension of the common external tariff on new potatoes to 20th May.

asked the Attorney General how many cases of criminal libel he or the Director of Public Prosecutions are at present prosecuting or considering whether or not to prosecute or advising others on whether or not they should prosecute.

The Director of Public Prosecutions is considering whether or not to prosecute one case.

asked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions for criminal libel have been brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions in each year since 1945; and how many related to newspaper proprietors, editors and journalists.

Records are not available for the years before 1956. Since 1956, the records of the Director of Public Prosecutions disclose six prosecutions for criminal libel involving seven defendants, in 1957, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1971 and 1974 respectively. So far as those records show, none related to newspaper proprietors, editors or journalists.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what reductions are planned in the number of civil servants in London after the setting up of the Scottish Assembly.

Almost all the functions which the Government propose to devolve to the Scottish Assembly are already administered by the Scottish Office in Scotland. For this reason I would not expect any significant savings to accrue in London as a consequence of setting up the Assembly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants will be employed in Edinburgh after the setting up of the Scottish Assembly.

On 1st April 1976 there were 10,747 non-industrial and industrial civil servants in the Scottish Office of whom over 50 per cent. were located in Edinburgh. The current estimate is that about 1,000 extra staff will be needed in Scotland as a result of devolution of which about 200 will be for the Assembly itself.

asked the Attorney-General how many barristers and solicitors have been appointed to pensionable positions of a judicial and quasi-judicial

				1973	1974	1975
High Court judges	…	…	…	4 barristers	4 barristers	7 barristers
Circuit judges	…	…	…	16 barristers	22 barristers	18 barristers
Stipendiary magistrates	…	…	…	2 barristers	2 barristers	6 barristers,
						2 solicitors
Masters of the Supreme Court	…	…	…	3 solicitors	—	1 barrister
Registrars of the Supreme Court	…	…	…	—	—	1 barrister
County court and district registrars	…	…	…	11 solicitors	5 solicitors	12 solicitors
Deputy judges advocates	…	…	…	—	1 barrister	1 barrister
President and legal members, Lands Tribunal	…	…	…	2 barristers	—	—
President, Pensions Appeal Tribunal	…	…	…	1 barrister	—	—
President and Chairman of industrial tribunals	…	…	…	1 barrister	1 barrister,	9 barristers,
					1 solicitor	9 solicitors
Chairman of VAT tribunals	…	…	…	1 solicitor	—	—
National Insurance Commissioners	…	…	…	1 barrister	—	—
				42	36	66

These figures do not include persons who were already in one such pensionable post when appointed to another.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to introduce legislation to amend the Sunday trading laws; and if he will make a statement.

We have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions there were against shopkeepers in the Greater London area during 1975 for infringement of the Sunday trading laws.

The Information requested is not available centrally. I am obtaining it, and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the numbers of medical staff, nurses, ward

STAFF (WHOLE-TIME EQUIVALENT) PER 100 RESIDENT IN-PATIENTS AT 31ST MARCH 1975
			Medical	Nursing	Ward Orderly	Domestic
Mental Illness Hospitals	…	…	2·3	49·4	2·0	18·3
Mental Deficiency Hospitals	…	…	0·6	43·1	1·6	21·4
Notes:
1. Residents: Average (daily) number of in-patients in the quarter ended 31st March 1975.
2. Hospitals where ward orderlies are not employed have been excluded in calculating the ratio for this grade.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a departmental investigation into the provision of dental services in Armadale, West Lothian.

No. I am satisfied that the provision of general dental services in this area is adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the security arrangements for vehicle and body checks on travellers arriving at Stranraer, by sea, from Larne.

I have agreed to the scale of police resources to be deployed at Stranraer but their operational control is a matter for the Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the present restrictions on eligibility of householders for improvement grants; when these standards were set; if he has any proposals for review; and, if so, when the changes will take place.

The provisions relating to the improvement grants are in Part I of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1974. Limits of rateable value and of approved expense have been prescribed by Orders made under the Act. The Act came into force on 27th November 1974, the orderlies and domestics, per 100 resident in-patients in Scottish mental illness and mental handicap hospitals; and if he will list those hospitals which fall below the Scottish average.

The information is set out in the table below. I am writing to the hon. Member about individual hospitals which fall below the Scottish average.Housing (Amount of Approved Expense) (Scotland) Order 1975 on 6th January 1975, the Housing (Limits of Rateable Value for Improvement Grants) (Scotland) Order 1975 on 1st May 1975, and the Housing (Limits of Rateable Value for Improvement Grants) (Variation) (Scotland) Order 1976 on 2nd April 1976. I have no current proposals for any special review of the improvement grants scheme though its operation is closely watched.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the lengths in miles, respectively, of the M74 and A74 in Scotland.

13½ miles and 69½ miles, respectively, of trunk road for which the Secretary of State is highway authority. There is, in addition, a length of A74 within the former Glasgow city boundary for which Strathclyde Regional Council is the highway authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the approximate lengths in miles, respectively, of the central barriers on the M74 and A74 in Scotland.

There are about two and a half miles of central barrier on the A74 between Blacklaw Farm and Beattock Bypass. There are also shorter lengths on the M74 and A74 at particular hazards, such as bridge piers and other obstructions on the central reservation, and where the carriageways are at markedly different levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the approximate cost per mile of erecting a central barrier on the M74 and A74, respectively.

About £25,000 to £30,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what length of central barrier will be completed this year and in 1977, respectively, on the M74 and A74.

About two and a half miles this year. Further lengths will be added when I am satisfied they are justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the number of fatal accidents and fatalities, respectively, on the M74 and A74 between 1st May 1975 and 1st May 1976, and between 1st May 1974 and 1st May 1975.

Statistics to 1st May 1976 are not available: figures which are readily available are given as follows.

							Direction of Travel
					Accidents	Fatalities	Northbound	Southbound
January-December 1975
A74	…	…	…	…	22	16	10	12
M74	…	…	…	…	3	1	2	1
January-April 1976
A74	…	…	…	…	5	1	3	2
M74	…	…	…	…	1	5	Nil	1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of prosecutions for exceeding the speed limit on the M74 and A74, respectively, between 1st May 1975 and 1st May 1976, both for commercial and private vehicles.

It is not the practice to maintain prosecution statistics for separate stretches of road, but in recent months an exception has been made for the A74. From 1st July 1975 to 28th April 1976, the numbers of cases reported by the police to the procurator fiscal for speeding were 889 in respect of private vehicles and 492 in respect of commercial vehicles. Statistics for the M74 are not available and could not be obtained without undue expenditure and effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will erect 60

					1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76
A74†	…	…	…	…	1,112,877	630,783	393,586	1,139,388	1,326,500*
M74	…	…	…	…	78,009	142,666	26,688	130,841	94,500*
† Including associated work on A75 in connection with Gretna Bypass.
*Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the number of crossover accidents on the M74 and A74 between 1st May 1975 and 1st May 1976, giving also the number of fatalities and if possible the direction of travel of the vehicle primarily involved.

Information cannot readily be provided for the periods requested or for the short stretch of A74 north of M74. The figures for crossover accidents on the remainder of the road in Scotland are as follows:miles per hour speed limit signs at either end of the A74, and at various points along its length whilst the fuel saving speed limit is in force.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 6th August 1975.—[Vol. 897, c. 244–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what total expenditure will be spent in 1976–77 on road improvements to the A74 and M74, respectively; and what was the expenditure for each of the past five years.

In 1976–77 expenditure of approximately £1 million and £120,000 is planned on A74 and M74, respectively, on improvement schemes, resurfacing and other minor works. Corresponding expenditure for the previous five years has been:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which types of vehicle, and how frequently, have been involved in crossover accidents.

I do not have this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of the Lancaster University study on educational methods, he will initiate further research into the relative merits of primary teaching methods.

A number of recent research studies in Scotland have examined the various factors, including teaching methods, which determine the attainment of primary school children, and Her Majesty's inspectors of schools keep the standards of primary education constantly under review. I do not have plans to initiate further study at the present time into comparison of the effect of teaching methods.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the original date of completion of North Ayrshire District General Hospital; what is the likely date currently; and if he will make a statement.

The original date for completion of this hospital was May 1977; the likely date is now March 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether (a) capital and (b) current expenditure by Scottish local authorities on water supply and sewerage are classified as public expenditure.

All sewerage expenditure and water capital expenditure is classified as public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many private hospitals of over 75 beds have been licensed by him in each of the last five years in Scotland.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with progress in improving the heat insulation of homes in the interests of energy conservation.

The thermal insulation requirements for new dwellings were, in effect, about doubled last year. New houses are only a small part of the housing stock, and my Department and the Department of Energy have been and are making clear the substantial savings which can be achieved at relatively small expense by owners and occupiers who improve the insulation of existing housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of providing grants for the provision of domestic insulation during 1974–75.

I have nothing to add to what I said on 29th April in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk).—[Vol. 910, c 170.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent measures are being taken to replace diseased elm trees; and if he will make a statement.

Planting to make good losses from Dutch elm disease is being promoted by the Tree Council, most recently through National Tree Week. The Countryside Commission is giving priority to severely hit areas for a grant towards new planting. Grant is also available from my Department for planting as part of a conservation scheme in outstanding conservation areas and in certain other circumstances.We are awaiting a report from the Tree Council on further measures which might usefully be taken within existing financial restraints to encourage planting. The Countryside Commission is considering

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence houses are located at Whittington in Staffordshire; and how many are currently unoccupied.

There are 203 married quarters at Whittington Barracks in Staffordshire, of which seven are currently unoccupied.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of any scheme which involves his Department making available housing which is temporarily surplus to requirements to assist local authorities with their housing problems.

Plymouth, 21 houses in Lambhay Hill, by the Royal Citadel, have been made available to Plymouth Corporation. The keys were handed over on 28th April. A number of other possible schemes are under negotiation with local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ministry of Defence houses are located at Marchington in Staffordshire; and how long they have been empty.

There are 97 married quarters at Marchington, in Staffordshire. Sixty-six of these have been vacant for more than six months, but we hope to resolve their future shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the increase (a) in actual numbers and (b) in percentage terms in the number of antitank weapons in the Rhine Army after the proposed reorganisation.

The manpower and associated savings resulting from reorganisation will enable us to pursue without substantial change our longstanding plans to improve the numbers and the effectiveness of antitank weapons in the Rhine Army. I cannot, of course give details of front line deployments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is now the total cost of Phantom aircraft, including spares, purchased or ordered by the Government.

pursuant to his answer [Official Report, 26th April; Vol. 910, cols. 38–9], circulated the following information:The total cost of Phantom aircraft and associated missile and equipment, including spares, purchased or ordered by the Government to date is approximately £620 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost to public funds in the event of the possible move of HMS "Daedalus" to Thorney Island being implemented.

This is still being studied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the activity of British Petroleum in making payments to Italian organisations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 29th April 1976 to a supplementary question by my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Ward).—[Vol. 910, c. 552.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now reconsider the terms and assurances given in the Bradbury letter which limits the Government's control and influence as a major shareholder in British Petroleum; and if he will now consider moving to bring this company within the ambit of the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the Bradbury letter which deals with certain assurances given by the British Government to British Petroleum over the operation of the veto by ex officio Government directors; and if he will lay it before Parliament in the form of an instrument which requires the approval of Parliament.

The House was informed of the contents of the Bradbury letter in an oral answer on 26th March 1929. I do not propose to lay it before Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will review the present system of currency controls

Our arrangements for exchange control are kept under continuous review. Some recent investigations have led to special attention being given over the past months to particular aspects of the control.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of average manual earnings was represented by the income tax threshold for a married man with two children not over 11 yews of age in June of each year since 1949; and if he will give figures for 1976, taking into account recent Budget proposals (a) if the 3 per cent. wage increase is agreed with the resultant tax changes and (b) if agreement is not reached.

The figures are as follows:

Year	Tax threshold as percentage of Year average earnings
1949–50	103·2
1950–51	98·0
1951–52	97·5
1952–53	107·3
1953–54	101·2
1954–55	93·8
1955–56	99·5
1956–57	93·4
1957–58	88·4
1958–59	86·8
1959–60	82·2
1960–61	76·6
1961–62	73·8
1962–63	71·4
1963–64	84·5
1964–65	78·1
1965–66	71·9
1966–67	69·4
1967–68	66·0
1968–69	57·4
1969–70	56·1
1970–71	57·6
1971–72	58·6
1972–73	59·9
1973–74	52·4
1974–75	51·1
1975–76	44·6
1976–77	(a) 48·6
	(b) 44·8

Figures of average earnings for June of each year are not available; those used in the calculations are the annual equivalents of average weekly earnings of full-time adult manual males in manufacturing and certain other industries at October each year, except for 1976–77 where estimates for February 1976 have been used, based on the April 1975 New Earnings Survey figures updated by the monthly index.For the 1976–77 figures (

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list the number of employments for which PAYE records were maintained for the United Kingdom in 1975–76 and the expected number in 1976–77, assuming the conditional tax allowances are introduced in full.

The number of separate employments for which PAYE records were held at 6th April 1975 was 25·9 million. No later figures are at present available; but if the conditional tax allowances are introduced it is estimated that the total effect of the Budget changes will be to keep out of tax in 1976–77 about 670,000 people—counting earning wives separately—who would otherwise be liable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total estimated cost per annum involved in the running of

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what income before tax a married couple would require in March 1976 to have the same post-tax purchasing power as measured by the RPI as a married couple with a pre tax income of (i) £631 per annum, (ii) £1,035 per annum, (iii) £1,461 per annum, (iv) £2,026 per annum and (v) £3,290 per annum, in March 1973 and in March 1972.

The figures are as follows:building societies, as disclosed from their statutory returns; and what percentage this represents of their total funds.

Building societies management expenses in 1975 were £196·5 million. This is equivalent to 0·89 per cent. of mean assets during the year. Comparable figures are given each year in the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies' report on building societies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the interest on the dollar loans raised between 1st March 1974 and 29th February 1976 is also payable in that currency.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what countries owe amounts on debts which fall due for payment in 1975; what is that total amount for each country; and what proportion of the latter was for military equipment.

It is not clear precisely what information my hon. Friend is seeking. If he will write to me I will give him what help I can.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost in the latest financial year to the Exchequer of the various allowances against personal income tax, including married persons' allowances, child allowances, owner occupier tax relief and insurance premiums.

The estimated costs for 1975–76 are as follows:

Allowance	Cost £ million
Single	2,180
Married	4,210
Wife's earned income	1,080
Child allowance	1,250
Dependent relative	35
Additional personal allowance	30
Life insurance relief	235

The latest estimate of the cost of mortgage Interest relief for 1975–76 is £865 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residential places exist for children and young persons in each of the area boards , and how many are provided by voluntary organisations, stating the name and address of each children's home.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 28th April 1976; Vol. 910, c. 93–4], gave the following additional information:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total amount of money paid out in compensation to dependants of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary killed by Irish Republican Army terrorists during each of the years 1970 to 1975, inclusive;(2) what was the total amount of money paid out in compensation to members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary maimed by Irish Republican Army terrorists during each of the years 1970 to 1975, inclusive;(3) what was the total amount of money paid out in compensation to dependants of members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserves killed by Irish Republican Army terrorists during each of the years 1970 to 1975, inclusive;(4) what was the total amount of compensation paid to dependants of those killed by Irish Republican Army terrorists for each of the years 1970 to 1975 inclusive;(5) what was the total amount of compensation paid to those who were maimed by Irish Republican Army terrorists for each of the years 1970 to 1975 inclusive;(6) what was the total amount of money paid out in compensation to members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserves maimed by Irish Republican Army terrorists during each of the years 1970 to 1975, inclusive;(7) what was the total amount of money paid out in compensation to members of the Ulster Defence Regiment killed by Irish Republican Army terrorists during each of the years 1970 to 1975, inclusive;

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the amount of variable premiums paid to fatstock producers in Northern Ireland for cattle marketed (a) through the meat packing plants and (b) through the livestock auction markets during the past 12 months.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representation he has received about the threat to over 300 jobs in the cold storage facilities at Glenrothes, Fife, as a consequence of the provisions of the Dock Work Regulation Bill; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that these jobs are safeguarded for the present workers there.

I have received from my hon. Friend a letter from the Chairman of Fife Growers Limited about the cold storage facilities at Glenrothes in relation to the Dock Work Regulation Bill. The proposals in the Bill do not, in the view of the Government, represent a threat to the jobs of those at present employed there. It is no part of our intention that their jobs should be put at risk, and the legislation will include safeguards to this effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many engineering trainees have completed courses at Government training centres in the Cleveland county area in 1974, 1975 and the first three months of 1976; and how many of these trainees have subsequently obtained employment.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information requested is as follows:

1	2	3
Year	Number of people who have completed courses in engineering trades at Skillcentres (formerly Government Training Centres) in the Cleveland county area	Number of trainees who are known to have subsequently found employment in their training trade
1974	125	94
1975	111	69
The first three months of 1976	44	17

Placing action, concerning trainees unplaced on completion of their course, continues at local employment offices. The figures in column 3 do not necessarily relate to the figures in column 2.The numbers shown in column 3 are those who are known to have obtained employment in their training trade. There is no obligation on ex-trainees to use the Employment Service either for intitial placing, or for later job changes. There may, therefore, be other trainees placed in their training trade, of whom we are unaware.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of industrial training places was taken up by people already in full employment; what check was carried out on the existing skills of applicants; and what consultations took place with pretraining employers.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that during January 1976 the percentage of applicants for TOPS courses in Great Britain was 65 per cent. from the unemployed as against 27 per cent. for the employed, and 8 per cent. from the non-employed. TOPS training is available to employed and unemployed people, without distinction, irrespective of whether they have a usable skill. No checks are made on existing skills of applicants and no consultations take place with the employers of applicants in employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will restrict the new regulations concerning quiet tractor cabs to tractors of 45 horse power and over.

I am advised by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there is no justification for exempting tractors below 45 horse power rating from the noise level requirements of the regulations.