asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what facilities exist in his Department, in view of the growth in municipal employment from 1½ million in 1964 to 2½ million in 1975, for specialist advice to be provided to local authorities to enable greater efficiency to be achieved in the use of manpower.

Local authorities are themselves responsible for the efficient use of manpower, but consultancy and general advisory services are provided by the Local Authorities' Management Services and Computer Committee, whose costs are met partly by Exchequer grant and partly by contributions from local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to enable local authorities to make grants to help first-time house purchasers on low incomes, with the cost of a deposit of up to £500 or 10 per cent. of purchase price.

The position of first-time purchasers is being considered in the course of the housing finance review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his Consultative Document on Transport.

I made a statement to the House on 13th April in introducing the consultation document. I intend to make a further statement after the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in response to his consultative document on transport policy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Braintree (Mr. Newton).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that local highway authorities have an adequate supply of copies of "Transport Policy—A Consultation Document".

Local highway authorities received a copy of the consultation document under cover of DOE Circular 44/76. Additional copies can be obtained in the usual way from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further consultations he intends to hold on matters arising out of the Consultative Document on Transport.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement about his review of the allowance system for local councillors.

I have nothing yet to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Dr. Marshall) on 17th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 1320–1.]—A statement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the present state of their obligation to provide accommodation for homeless families.

I do not think that further guidance, in addition to the joint circular DOE 18/74, is called for at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to make any changes in the statutory responsibility for housing the homeless; and, particularly, if he will make it mandatory on local housing authorities to provide accommodation or alternatively to finance local social services departments so to do.

As I said in the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, South and Shoreditch (Mr. Brown) on 15th December 1975, the Government intend to place the statutory responsibility for accommodation for the homeless on local housing authorities. I hope soon to be able to report to the House progress towards formulating proposed statutory provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the total amounts of revenue deficit grants paid to housing associations for the years 1973–74, 1974–75 and 1975–76; and what is the estimated figure for the current year.

Payments of revenue deficit grant under Section 32 of the Housing Act 1974 commenced on 1st April 1975 and by 31st March 1976, £1,840,903 had been paid. A provision of £9 million has been made for 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that housing associations which receive public money are accountable to the occupiers of the dwellings they build, or to the taxpayers at large.

Housing associations, to qualify for public money, must undergo a comprehensive process of registration, first with either the Charity Commissoners or the Registrar of Friendly Societies and then with the Housing Corporation.The Housing Corporation has a duty to control the activities of registered housing associations and wide powers to enable it to do so. The corporation, in its turn, is responsible to the Secretary of State, who appoints its members.The Government have made it clear that housing associations are expected to draw into their work democratically representative bodies such as trades unions, neighbourhood councils, councils of social service and local authority representatives, and also to move towards co-operative management schemes and shared ownership by tenants' co-operatives. Many housing associations have consultative arrangements with their tenants. Some, few at present but likely to grow in number quite rapidly over the next few years, are organised on a co-operative basis and are thus totally accountable to the tenants who themselves jointly own and manage the dwellings they live in.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether housing associations have to submit their accounts to the district auditor.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the fees paid by housing associations to architects, solicitors, accountants, estate managers, and all other people, are subject to the control of the district auditor.

The district auditor has no direct control over the affairs of housing associations, including the payment of fees.

asked the Sectary of State for the Environment whether, in the event of a housing association having insufficient funds to carry out essential repairs to its dwellings, local authorities or his Department have to step in and carry out such repairs.

Neither my Department nor the local authority is specifically empowered to step in where a housing association is unable to carry out essential repairs, although a local authority's powers of action against disrepair or nuisance apply equally to properties owned by housing associations. Government grants are available to registered housing associations under the Housing Act 1974 to meet the costs of repairs which cannot be covered by rent income.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he can now make a statement about road proposals and progress in the Greater Manchester area, in particular relating to the M67 and M63.

The Hyde by-pass section of the M67, at present under construction, is expected to be completed in the spring of 1978; and it is hoped that a decision on the outstanding statutory orders for

LIST OF MAJOR TRUNK ROAD PROPOSALS IN GREATER MANCHESTER (Position as at May 1976)
Scheme	Current position	Possible construction start date	Possible date open to traffic
M63 Stockport East-West bypass.	Draft statutory proposals to be published Summer 1976.	Autumn 1977	Autumn 1979
A6(M) Stockport North-South bypass.	Draft statutory proposals to be published early 1979.	1981	1983
M66 Bury Easterly bypass (Northern Section).	Under construction	—	Winter 1977
M67 Denton relief road	Secretary of State's decision following public inquiry to be announced Summer 1976.	Winter 1976	Summer 1979
M67 Hyde bypass	Under construction	—	Spring 1978
Manchester-Sheffield Route	If it is decided that the scheme should proceed, public consultation Autumn 1976.	Not before 1980	Not before 1982
Manchester Outer Ring Road (Portwood to Denton).	Public consultation possibly early 1977.	Not before 1980	Not before 1982
Manchester Outer Ring Road (Denton to Middleton).	Public consultation possibly Summer 1978.	Not before 1982	Not before 1984
M602 Spur to Salford Docks	Intention to accept scheme into trunk road network announced October 1975.	Programming of scheme under consideration.

All possible construction start dates are subject to the satisfactory completion of the various statutory procedures and to the availability of funds at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what his plans are to improve the A36 between Ower in Hampshire and the Wiltshire border.

Ways of improving this section of trunk road, including possible realignment of its route, are now being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's estimate of the number of domestic households that are still not linked to main drainage systems.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State said in answer to the hon. Member for Maidstone (Mr. Wells) on 7th April—[Vol. 909, c. 410–411]—the water authorities estimate the Denton relief road section can be announced fairly shortly. On the M63, I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend on 7th April.—[Vol. 909, c. 162.] With regard to the various other major trunk road proposals in Greater Manchester, the information is: that about 900,000 domestic properties in England and Wales are not connected to main sewers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the introduction of a new Highway Code.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 17th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 564–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received concerning the rating surcharge on commercial properties and the working of the hardship clause and whether he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations, including those by the hon. Gentleman, concerning the surcharge and concerning the exercise by rating authorities of their power to reduce or remit the surcharge on grounds of hardship. Most of the representations have been made by persons from whom the surcharge has been demanded before they have asked the authority to exercise that power; only a few have concerned refusals of authorities to reduce or remit the surcharge. I shall review the surcharge in the light of the report on local government finance by the Layfield Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the inquiry held into the projected M40 motorway route through mid-Warwickshire; and whether he will take into account revised traffic predictions and cost-benefit analyses arrived at since the inquiry hearings before taking that decision.

My right hon. Friend will take all the relevant information into account before announcing his decision this summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that fire precautions and contingencies for evacuation of children and old people are adequate in high-rise blocks of flats in the event of any disruption of lift services in those blocks.

Yes. Flats in such blocks are separated by fire resistant walls and floors, and escape routes are provided by protected corridors and stairs. Lifts should never be used for escape purposes because of the risk of the fire cutting off the power supply while the lifts are in use.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that road signs enabling motorists to reach the Alconbury Hotel were removed during the building of Huntingdon bypass but have not yet been replaced although the bypass was opened last year; and whether he will now arrange for their immediate replacement.

One sign was removed. However, it was an advertising, not traffic, sign and its provision is the responsibility of the motel owners, subject to permission from the local planning authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the subjects of the studies currently being conducted into the extension of industrial democracy into local government and related bodies; and if he will give an assurance that no action will be taken on them in conflict with the democratic responsibility of elected councillors to those whom they represent.

The local authority associations have been invited to initiate the studies referred to, and I understand they are considering how best to proceed. As regards the accountability of elected members I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Minister, Civil Service Department on 11th February 1976.—[Vol. 905, c. 240–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in the feasibility study of the Wash Barrage; and whether he will make a statement.

The Central Water Planning Unit is now preparing its final report on the study and I expect it to be published in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the British Rail infrastructure expenditure in the White Paper on Public Expenditure to 1979–80 (Command Paper No. 6393) covers all expenditure on maintenance and development of infrastructure, or only that proportion allocated to passenger transport; and, if he will publish details of (a) total expenditure on British Rail infrastructure and (b) its division between maintenance and development in Scotland, not included in the White Paper on Expenditure to 1979–80 (Command Paper No. 6393).

The deduction for British Rail infrastructure at the foot of Table 2.5 in Cmnd 6393 relates to investment in track and signalling charged to revenue account and attributable to passenger services. This also appears in Table 2.6 under central Government subsidies to British Rail. In 1976–77, the only year for which an estimate of the breakdown is yet available, total investment on track and signalling is expected to amount to about £100 million and routine maintenance to a further £190 million at 1975 survey prices. Electrification projects and new routes charged to capital account and investment by PTEs and local authorities are excluded.A breakdown of expenditure between maintenance and development in Scotland is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a further statement on the outlook for the railways.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made to the House by my right hon. Friend on 13th April about transport policy.—[Vol. 909, c. 1143–60.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to complaints that the NHBC guarantee does not correspond with what appears to be advertised by the council; and if he will inquire into the matter with a view to providing more satisfaction where faults by the builder or a mistake by the NHBC inspector are concerned.

I have received a number of inquiries about the National House-Building Council scheme, and where these involve complaints about the operation of the scheme they are normally taken up with the council. I have so far received no evidence that the scheme affords house purchasers less good protection than that described in the house purchaser's agreement; but, nevertheless, my Department is keeping the scheme under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many proposals for the provision of private sidings as a result of the stimulus provided by the Railways Act 1974 have been opposed by local planning authorities on environmental grounds.

None. However, most proposals for private sidings do not involve grant, and many of them are opposed by local planning authorities on environmental grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take an early opportunity of seeking to amend the Rent Act 1968 to provide a remedy of damages for breach of the provisions against harassment and illegal eviction.

Civil remedies are already available at common law, and I therefore see no need to amend the Rent Act 1968 in the way my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects work to commence on the alteration and improvement to Shafton cross roads on the A62 Flouch (Penistone) to Pontefract trunk road.

These cross roads are situated on the A628 which is not a trunk road at that point. The improvement is, therefore, a matter for the South Yorkshire Metropolitan County Council as highway authority for the roads concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those bodies to which he appoints members that exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Grimsby (Mr. Crosland) on 25th February last.—[Vol. 906, c. 244–7]—Of the bodies therein listed the following exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions: rent assessment panels, Traffic Commissioners and the Transport Tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the rate poundage of each metropolitan district council and each non-metropolitan county council in England and Wales for 1976–77, indicating the actual and percentage increase that this represents over the previous two financial years.

Metropolitan District					1976–77 Average non-domestic rate	1976–77 Increase over 1975–76		1976–77 Increase over 1974–75
					P	P	%	P	%
Bolton	…	…	…	…	66·2	3·9	6	11·8	22
Bury	…	…	…	…	67·5	5·9	10	12·2	22
Manchester	…	…	…	…	88·7	6·0	7	22·0	33
Oldham	…	…	…	…	76·3	3·4	5	18·5	32
Rochdale	…	…	…	…	82·9	5·9	8	23·6	40
Salford	…	…	…	…	74·4	7·0	10	19·6	36
Stockport	…	…	…	…	70·5	9·6	16	17·5	33
Tameside	…	…	…	…	76·5	6·0	9	16·2	27
Trafford	…	…	…	…	75·6	2·2	3	12·9	21
Wigan	…	…	…	…	72·6	5·9	9	18·3	34
Knowsley	…	…	…	…	88·3	6·1	7	14·9	20
Liverpool	…	…	…	…	71·1	2·0	3	6·5	10
St. Helens	…	…	…	…	77·2	6·8	10	19·0	33
Sefton	…	…	…	…	63·8	1·8	3	12·4	24
Wirral	…	…	…	…	77·2	6·0	8	19·0	33
Barnsley	…	…	…	…	79·6	10·0	14	20·1	34
Doncaster	…	…	…	…	87·2	8·8	11	27·1	45
Rotherham	…	…	…	…	81·4	6·8	9	26·5	48
Sheffield	…	…	…	…	79·0	4·8	6	16·7	27
Gateshead	…	…	…	…	84·5	0·7	1	18·7	28
Newcastle	…	…	…	…	96·3	-1·8	-2	19·6	26
North Tyneside	…	…	…	…	84·8	3·1	4	15·8	23
South Tyneside	…	…	…	…	79·1	-3·3	-4	8·7	12
Sunderland	…	…	…	…	82·0	4·0	5	18·7	30
Birmingham	…	…	…	…	73·6	2·1	3	17·3	31
Coventry	…	…	…	…	73·0	3·0	4	19·2	36
Dudley	…	…	…	…	61·4	5·4	10	16·1	36
Sandwell	…	…	…	…	74·5	4·7	7	21·6	41
Solihull	…	…	…	…	67·4	6·3	10	12·1	22
Walsall	…	…	…	…	66·5	6·1	10	21·6	48
Wolverhampton	…	…	…	…	66·6	7·0	12	17·0	34
Bradford	…	…	…	…	82·5	1·7	2	21·1	34
Calderdale	…	…	…	…	73·6	1·7	2	17·0	30
Kirklees	…	…	…	…	69·7	0·7	1	9·9	17
Leeds	…	…	…	…	61·4	-1·1	-2	5·5	10
Wakefield	…	…	…	…	82·8	0·8	1	17·1	26
Non-metropolitan districts—England	…	…	…	…	71·0	5·4	8	17·8	33
Non-metropolitan districts—Wales	…	…	…	…	86·9	6·9	9	23·4	37

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange for an independent inquiry into the building and design of council houses on the Netherley and Bell Vale Estates in Liverpool.

The points at issue here would appear to involve contractual

The average non-domestic rate poundage levied by each metropolitan district council in 1976–77, together with the increases over 1975–76 and 1974–75, is listed below. Non metropolitan county councils are precepting authorities and do not levy rates. The average rate levied within each county by its component districts is not available, but the average for all non-metropolitan district councils is shown separately for England and Wales.arrangements between the council and the contractor on the one hand, and the council and the private architects commissioned on the other. In the circumstances I would expect any disputes to be settled as part of normal contractual procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to lay the side road orders for the improvement of the A629/A6034 road at Steeton Top near Keighley; and if he will make a statement.

It is hoped to publish the draft Side Roads Order next month. Subject to the making of this and of any necessary compulsory purchase order and to the availability of funds, it is hoped to start work early next summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much water was imported to England in 1975 from EEC countries; and if he will make a statement.

No water for public water supply purposes was imported into England in 1975 from EEC countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hold an immediate inquiry into (a) the proposals of the South West Water Authority for a new headquarters complex at Exeter and (b) the sharp increase in expenditure incurred by the water authority.

I understand that the authority has made outline planning application for headquarters premises, and this will enable its proposals as a whole to be considered by the local planning authority. Its first stage proposals for development are limited to accommodation for its computer section. The authority has made it clear that the second phase of the development, if planning permission is granted, would be phased over a number of years and would crucially depend on the economic situation. The need for the accommodation is essentially a matter for the authority itself to decide and to defend.On levels of charges, these again are a matter for the authority to decide, subject to consideration by the Price Commission, in the light of its statutory obligations, particularly the requirement to break even on revenue account. This means that increased costs for wages, materials and debt charges, all of which have been severe, can only be reflected in increased charges. And this year exceptionally there have also been the effects of the Daymond judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the final report of the Working Party on Colliery Waste Tipping on Durham Beaches.

Since the interim report of the working party was submitted in October 1975 further progress has been made with the examination of alternative means of disposing of the waste but it is not yet possible to say when final conclusions may be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now seek to amend the Caravan Sites Act 1968 and the earlier 1960 Act to ensure that no caravan site for more than 15 caravans can be authorised by a local planning authority without his consent.

No. I see no reason to interfere with the normal responsibilities of local planning authorities in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the result of his discussions with the Shetland County Council on the position of Shetland after devolution.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State is in touch with the county council to arrange a meeting to discuss these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much electricity is being sold to industrial consumers in Scotland below the current cost of production including sales to the British Aluminium Co., Ltd. with a smelter at Invergordon, Ross and Cromarty.

The detailed pricing of electricity is a matter for the boards, whose policy is that consumers should bear the cost of supply. Sales of electricity to the British Aluminium Company Ltd. are made under a special long-term contract dating from 1968, and details of the sales are published in the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board's annual report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what action he proposes to take if there is not a two-thirds majority at the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission for the United Kingdom Government's proposal to discontinue fishing for herring in the North Sea during the second half of 1976;

(2) what alternative fishing opportunities are available to fishermen suffering a reduction in catch as a result of the revised herring quota in the North Sea agreed at NEAFC;

(3) how many fishing boats he estimates will have to discontinue fishing as a result of the reduction in the North Sea herring quota agreed at NEAFC.

The United Kingdom's proposal, as agreed with the industry, to discontinue fishing for herring in the North Sea during the second half of 1976 for the sake of conservation did not receive the necessary two-thirds majority. The United Kingdom delegation voted against or abstained on other

Location					Size	Ownership
Stirling Road Industrial Estate, Airdrie	…	…	…	…	5 acres	Local Authority
Gartsherrie, Coatbridge	…	…	…	…	8·5 acres	Local Authority
Flowerhill Street, Airdrie	…	…	…	…	3·50 acres	Local Authority
Brownsburn Industrial Estate, Airdrie	…	…	…	…	12·40 acres	Private
Lock Street, Coatbridge	…	…	…	…	4·50 acres	Private
Hogg Street, Airdrie	…	…	…	…	4 acres	Private

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were listed as waiting for council houses in 1974–75 and 1975–76 in Largs, West Kilbride, Ardrossan and Saltcoats, respectively.

The information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average size of classes in primary schools in the Fife region at the latest convenient date, and what is the expected average size of such classes in the school year commencing in August 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report details of sites available in the Coatbridge and Airdrie constituency for further industrial development, showing the location and size of the areas involved.

The latest information available to my Department is that there are six sites available or soon to become available in the area. These are:

The average class size in primary schools in Fife Region at September 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, was 29·9. The expected average class size in session 1976–77 cannot be estimated centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much water was imported to Scotland from EEC countries in 1975; and if he will make a statement.

No water for public supply purposes was imported into Scotland from EEC countries in 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those bodies to which he appoints members that exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

The list is as follows:—

Appeal Tribunals under Section 64 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 (none so far constituted).

Boards for professions supplementary to medicine.

Central Midwives Board for Scotland.

Children's panels.

Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

Crofters' Commission.

General Nursing Council for Scotland.

General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Health boards.

Horserace Betting Levy Appeal Tribunal for Scotland.

Independent Schools Tribunal (none so far constituted).

Legal Aid Central Committee.

Milk Appeals Tribunal.

National Health Service Tribunal (Scotland).

Plant Varieties and Seeds Tribunal.

Rent Assessment Panel for Scotland.

Rent tribunals for Scotland.

Special Panel of the Transport Tribunal.

Visiting Committee for Penal Establishments.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will announce the membership of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service.

In his reply on 27th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Peterborough (Mr. Ward) my predecessor informed the House of the appointment of Sir Alec Merrison, FRS, as chairman of the commission. The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of other members as follows:

Professor Ivor Batchelor, CBE, Professor of Psychiatry, Dundee University.

Professor Paul Bramley, Professor of Dental Surgery, Sheffield University.

Sir Thomas Brown, Chairman of the Eastern Health and Social Services Board, Northern Ireland.

C. M. Clothier, Esq., QC, Recorder and Judge of Appeal in the Isle of Man.

Ann Clwyd, Journalist and member of the Cardiff Community Health Council.

Peter Jacques, Esq., Secretary of the Social Insurance and Industrial Welfare Departments of the Trades Union Congress.

Professor Jean McFarlane, Professor of Nursing, Manchester University.

Miss Audrey Prime, OBE, Staff Side Secretary of the National Health Service, General Whitley Council.

Miss K. Richards, Senior Lecturer, National Institute for Social Work.

Lady Sherman, borough alderman, Hackney.

Sir Simpson Stevenson, Chairman of the Greater Glasgow Health Board.

Councillor Dr. Cyril Taylor, general medical practitioner, Liverpool.

Dr. Christopher Wells, OBE, TD, general medical practitioner, Sheffield.

F. R. Welsh, Esq., director, Grindlay's Bank Limited.

Professor Alan Williams, Professor of Economics, York University.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the purchase of calculators from overseas suppliers by the Department of Inland Revenue.

All known British manufacturers were invited by Her Majesty's Stationery Office to quote for this requirement but only one British machine met the work specification. Taking account of running costs as well as capital outlay it would have cost twice as much as the imported machine purchased. I am, therefore, satisfied that the correct purchasing decision was made.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the reason for the delay of one year in the publication of the list of members of public boards; and when a new document will be published.

The revision of Cmnd. 5609 has been postponed because of the deferment of salary increases for board members. A new list will be published when a decision about salaries has been taken, as I informed the hon. Member in my reply of 3rd December 1975.—[Vol. 901, c. 597.]—Meanwhile I would refer the hon. Member to the information contained in the "Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers" published on 30th April 1976.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is currently the pro-portion of civil servants to the total of persons employed in England and Wales, in Yorkshire and Humberside, and in the county of South Yorkshire.

The most recent comprehensive information about employment totals relates to 1974, at which time the proportions of non-industrial civil servants to total employees in employment were as follows:

	per cent.
England and Wales	2·3
Yorkshire and Humberside	1·2
South Yorkshire	0·8

Information about industrial civil servants cannot be included as it is not available on a geographical basis centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will specify what incidental personal expenses are paid to civil servants attending residential training centres.

Civil servants who attend residential training centres involving free board and lodging receive a personal expenditure allowance of £1·25 per day to cover incidental expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, etc. Senior staff attending the Administrative Staff College and major business schools receive an additional allowance to cover extra expenses which the colleges certify to be inescapable if the officer is to participate fully in the course. These combined allowances range from £1·25-£2·75 depending upon the course. These allowances are reviewed from time to time and will be reviewed later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish, for each of the past 10 years, the number of Service men employed in the Armed Forces.

The total numbers of uniformed personnel in the Armed Forces on 1st April in each year of the period, including females and non-United Kingdom personnel, were as follows:

1966	450,349
1967	450,260
1968	430,019
1969	405,368
1970	392,559
1971	383,282
1972	380,891
1973	376,618
1974	358,458
1975	347,669
1976 (1st March)	346,573

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish, for each of the past 10 years, the number of civilians employed by the Ministry of Defence.

The numbers of civilians employed by the Ministry of Defence, including those in the Royal ordnance factories, as at 1st April in each of the past 10 years were as follows:

1966	373,600
1967	369,400
1968	355,600
1969	338,100
1970	326,600
1971	345,500
1972	323,600
1973	319,800
1974	314,600
1975	316,700
1976 (estimate)	310,600

Because of changes in the responsibilities of Government Departments, the figures are not directly comparable. Over the period there has been a net transfer of staff from other Departments into the Ministry of Defence in the region of 32,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence during which periods since the war the ceremony of changing the guard at Buckingham Palace has not been held on a daily basis; and how many men and of what rank are required for each guard change.

The ceremony of changing the guard at Buckingham Palace has not been held on a daily basis during the following periods: 1946–47, 1949–57 and 1974–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which establishments and sites within the control of his Department were made available as temporary accommodation for Asians from East Africa; which of these are still in the control of his Department; and which have been or are in use by his Department.

The sites which were used as temporary accommodation at the time of the Ugandan Asian emergency and which were either under the control of the Ministry of Defence or in the hands of the Property Services Agency for disposal were:

Stradishall, Newmarket, Suffolk.

Hemswell, Gainsborough, Lincs.

West Malling, Kent.

Houndstone Camp, Yeovil, Somerset.

Greenham Common, Newbury, Berks.

Plasterdown Camp. Tavistock, Devon.

Hobbs Barracks, Lingfield, Surrey.

Piddlehinton Camp, Dorset.

Faldingworth, Market Rasen, Lincs.

Maresfield Camp, Uckfield, Sussex.

Tonfanau Camp, Gwynedd.

Gaydon, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

Heathfield Camp, Honiton, Devon.

Doniford Camp, Watchet, Somerset.

Apart from the RAF station at Green-ham Common and the Army Camps at Honiton and Yeovil, the others are now with the Property Services Agency for disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any, and if so which, sites or establishments within the control of his Department within the Greater London area and/or the South-Eastern Region which might be suitable for temporary use by gipsies.

It is for civil authorities, not my Department, to consider the accommodation needs of the civil community, including gipsies. Property surplus to defence requirements is passed for disposal to the Property Services Agency, which offers all nonagricultural property for which there is no Government requirement to the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement setting out the details of establishments and sites within the control of his Department in the South-Eastern Region which are not in current use.

As detailed information is not readily available, I am writing to my hon. Friend about this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has now been made with providing British television programmes for British Service men and their families in Germany.

The London Control Centre has been completed, and it is envisaged that by the end of June British television will be available to Service men and their families in Celle, Hohne, Munsterlager, Fallinghostel and Soltau. It is planned to extend coverage progressively so that by the end of 1977 the service should be available to about 90,000 Service men and their families, and by the end of 1978 to 168,000 Service men and their families.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the Official Report the evidence in his possession to show that the recent spate of muggings have not been carried out by immigrants and those from the former Colonial and Commonwealth possessions.

I have made no such claim. I have said that there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that the Asian community is disproportionately involved in any form of crime. I have never claimed to be able to apportion between ethnic groups precise degrees of responsibility for crimes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken in the light of the remarks of the Court of Appeal in the case of Regina v. Medway reported in [1976] All England Reports at page 527.

There is no action which it would have been appropriate to have taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a departmental circular to all police authorities requiring them to follow the procedures recommended by the Devlin Report on Identification Evidence.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27th April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead).—[Vol. 910, c. 66–67.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the report of the Committee on Identification Evidence, he will now set up a committee to advise him on the exercise of his prerogative powers, and his powers under the Criminal Appeal Act 1968, in cases in which sentences are being served following convictions based on evidence which would not have been deemed sufficient if the recommendations of the report had been put into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the recent report of Lord Devlin on the inadvisability of basing verdicts entirely on identification parade evidence, he will institute an immediate inquiry into those cases where prisoners continue to protest their innocence whilst serving substantial sentences, and whose alibis were overridden by the courts because of the importance placed on identity parades.

I do not think it would be helpful or appropriate to set up an advisory committee for this purpose. As I indicated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Derby, North (Mr. Whitehead) on 27th April— [Vol. 910, c. 66–67]—I am consulting those with in interest in identification evidence before making proposals for changes in identification procedures. When considering any representations made to me in individual cases I shall, of course, take into account the views expressed by Lord Devlin's Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has studied a list of immigration cases submitted to him by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and if he will make a statement.

If the hon. Member will provide sufficient details to identify the communication he has in mind I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will announce the members of the Data Protection Committee;(2) when he expects to implement the recommendations of the White Paper on data protection published last December.

Further progress in this field will depend upon the recommendations of the Data Protection Committee. As already announced, Sir Kenneth Younger has agreed to chair the committee, and I hope to announce the names of the other members very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give his reasons in full for his refusal to allow the prisoners at Wormwood Scrubs Prison to purchase a typewriter.

A prisoner may be allowed to use an official typewriter, if one is available, in connection with academic studies where typed papers are required, for typing literary work, and for typing legal documents where he is conducting his own appeal or defence. If, in an exceptional case, access to an official machine cannot be arranged, or does not meet a prisoner's need, he may be allowed to have a personal typewriter for these purposes. As my hon. Friend is aware, one prisoner at Wormwood Scrubs Prison has recently been refused permission to have a personal typewriter because his reason for wanting it was not considered to justify exceptional treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any distinction is drawn between nationals from within and without the European Community regarding current constraints on those wishing to study and practise scientology.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those bodies to which he appoints members that exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

The bodies are as follows: Criminal Injuries Compensation Board; Equal Opportunities Commission; Parole Board; Race Relations Board; Local Review Committee appointed for the purpose of the parole system; Boards of visitors (prisons); Horserace Betting Levy Appeal Tribunal for England and Wales; Licensing planning committees; New Town licensed premises committees; Advisory committee under the First Schedule to the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. In addition, I appoint the Charity Commissioners and the adjudicators under the Fifth Schedule to the Immigration Act 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much coal is being sold to industrial consumers in the United Kingdom below the current cost of production, including sales to Alcan's aluminium smelter at Lynemouth, Northumberland.

Individual contracts are a commercial matter for the board. Its policy is to obtain sufficient revenue from prices to cover costs of production.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much electricity is being sold to industrial consumers in England and Wales below the current cost of production, including sales to Anglesey Aluminium Metal Ltd. with a smelter at Holyhead, Anglesey.

I am informed by the Electricity Council that all electricity prices in England and Wales are still below the current costs of resources used in the production and distribution of electricity, although they are now at a level broadly consistent with the board's earning a 2 per cent. return on turnover as specified in the Price Code.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how much natural gas is being sold to industrial consumers in the United Kingdom below current costs.

This is primarily a matter for the British Gas Corporation, but I am assured that no industrial contracts for natural gas would be let at prices below cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the catalytic cracking capacity in operation and under construction in each of the nine EEC countries at the most recent date for which figures are available.

The catalytic cracking capacity in operation in the EEC countries, as on 1st January 1976, was as follows:

Units: thousand barrels per calendar day
Belgium	66
Denmark	—
France	185
Holland	75
Irish Republic	—
Italy	263
United Kingdom	203
West Germany	107
Total	899

There is no addition to this capacity under construction at present.Statistical Source: Oil and Gas Journal, 6th October 1975, 29th December 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which eastern bloc countries have over the past 12 months sent and which are expected to send missions to the United Kingdom concerned with nuclear power.

No missions specifically concerned with nuclear power from Eastern Europe or the Soviet Union have visited this country during the past 12 months or are currently expected to do so, other than the Soviet mission already here. There are, however, less formal visits and exchanges both ways.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those bodies to which he appoints members that exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

The following bodies to which I appoint members, exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions:

Architects Registration Council

Planning Appeals Commission

Legal Aid Committee

The Criminal Legal Aid Taxation Panel

Boards of Visitors and Visiting Committees appointed under the Prison Act (NI) 1953.

Tribunal constituted under Part II of Schedule 11 to the Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order, 1972 to inquire into cases where representations are made that the person should be disqualified from providing practitioner services.

In addition, the bodies listed below, to which appointments are made by Departments in Northern Ireland under my direction and control, also exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the security forces permitted the Provisional IRA to operate traffic control points in Toomebridge, County Antrim, on Easter Monday 1976.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the total amount of Government grants paid to voluntary organisations in the Andersonstown area of Belfast during the years 1973, 1974, and 1975, respectively.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average, the highest and the lowest expenditure per head of pupils in primary and secondary schools in education authorities in England; and what are the figures for Lancashire.

Information on the expenditure per pupil by each local education authority in England and Wales, together with the associated national averages, is contained in the annual digests of education statistics, published jointly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Society of County Treasurers, copies of which are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what estimate he has made of the additional costs of works which would be necessary to make the public facilities of the National Theatre building including the buffets, and Cottesloe Theatre accessible to disabled people, including people confined to wheelchairs;(2) what discussions he has had with the South Bank Theatre Board concerning modification to parts of the National Theatre building including the Cottesloe Theatre to make them easily accessible to disabled people, including people confined to wheelchairs;(3) if he is satisfied that the design of the National Theatre building meets the requirements of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act;(4) what modifications would be necessary to the design and construction of the National Theatre building to make all its facilities fully accessible to disabled people, including people confined to wheelchairs.

The two main auditoria and almost all the general facilities of the theatre, notwithstanding that it was designed and the contract let before the 1970 Act came into force, are readily accessible to disabled people and the building generally well meets the spirit of the Act. The board has improved access to the terrace of the Olivier Theatre and has under consideration further improvements to the seating arrangements.Certain problems remain, particularly in connection with the Cottesloe Theatre. The board is considering these and when it has prepared precisely costed proposals my noble Friend will examine them carefully in the light of the resources which can be made available to complete the building.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what discussions his Department has had with representatives of the Schools Council with regard to the GCE and CSE examinations.

The Department is represented on the Schools Council and is thus in close touch with the council's work on my right hon. Friend's behalf. If formal discussions are necessary when the council puts to my right hon. Friend proposals for the reform of the GCE and CSE examinations, these will be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied that the examining boards are adequately represented on the Schools Council.

Present arrangements give GCE examining boards as a group and the CSE boards as a group representation on the Schools Council's Governing Council and on its committees concerned with examinations. All the boards are represented individually on the GCE O-level and CSE subcommittees. I am aware of suggestions made from time to time that the representation of various interests, including the examining boards, on the Schools Council is insufficient; but any adjustments would have to have regard to the full range of the Schools Council's work, which covers curriculum as well as examinations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been made to his Department urging the employment of deaf persons as teachers of the deaf.

My Department receives occasional letters from individuals. I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks (Sir J. Rodgers) on 2nd April 1976 about the scope for employing deaf persons as teachers of the deaf.—[Vol. 908, c. 612.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those bodies to which he appoints members that exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

I refer the hon. Member to the list I gave him in reply to his Question on 2nd March of bodies to which I appoint members.—[Vol. 906, c. 522–24.] In no case is their principal function the exercise of judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received any representations from engineering institutions regarding the treatment of engineering and technology in his Department's information sheet for school leavers entitled "Professional Qualifications" dated autumn 1975; and, if so, what reply he gave.

In written material submitted prior to a meeting which their representatives had with my hon. Friend the Minister of State in March, the engineering institutions commented on the brevity of the reference to engineering in the information sheet to which my hon. Friend refers. The sheet deals generally with professional qualifications and no profession is mentioned other than briefly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider setting up a single body concerned with technological manpower resources as advocated by NEDO.

A new body is not called for at the moment. The Unit for Manpower Studies in the Department of Employment is currently examining employment prospects for the highly qualified as a follow-up to earlier work in this area. Its examination will cover many of the questions raised in the NEDO report "Shortages of Qualified Engineers" and is along the lines agreed with my Department, the Manpower Services Commission and other interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the training of school teachers for technological studies in school.

The content of teacher-training courses is a matter for validating bodies and the institutions concerned, but my Department has asked the latter to give priority to the recruitment of students intending to specialise in the teaching of a number of the subjects which are often found combined in the schools under the title "Technological studies". These include mathematics, the physical sciences and handicraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give consideration to a national programme of secondment of university and polytechnic staff to schools for improving instruction and awareness of technology and engineering.

There are already a number of agencies designed to assist schools in the presentation of technology and engineering, and I am not convinced that a national scheme of secondment is needed or would be practicable. As I informed my hon. Friend on 30th March, my Advisory Committee on the Supply and Training of Teachers is considering what steps might be taken to try to overcome the shortage of mathematics and science teachers in the schools.—[Vol. 908, c. 429–30.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will bring in legislation to introduce a scheme of compulsory paid day release for young people.

No. But the Government intend to give priority, within available resources, to the vocational preparation of young people. Our proposals will be announced shortly. Following consultations with all concerned, we hope to mount pilot schemes of further education and training later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in reference to his reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East on 26th April 1976, he will list in the Official Report the number of visits to each installation of British Gas in Scotland over the last three months and indicate the nature and result of discussions regarding asbestos hazards.

There are 156 premises of British Gas Corporation in Scotland subject to the Factories Act 1961. The Asbestos Regulations 1969 apply intermittently to five of these.Since 1st January 1976 two visits have been paid by members of the district staff to one of these premises, at the request of British Gas, to discuss with British Gas and the specialist contractor who was undertaking the removal of asbestos-based lagging, the requirements of the Asbestos Regulations. At one of these visits work was in progress and there was compliance with the regulations. At the second visit, no work was in progress, but further full discussions on methods of meeting the requirements of the regulations took place, with emphasis on those regulations dealing with the removal of lagging containing crocidolite, which British Gas had discovered by sampling to be present. Further sampling by the district staff has been arranged.There have also been two visits paid to other installations by construction inspectors to discuss with British Gas and with specialist contractors the demolition of plant lagged with asbestos-based lagging, and the application of the Asbestos Regulations to these operations. British Gas and the specialist contractors involved have been made aware of the hazards from asbestos and of the requirements of the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those bodies to which he appoints members that exercise judicial or quasi-judicial functions.

The bodies are the Central Arbitration Committee, the industrial tribunals and the Levy Exemption Appeal Body.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is satisfied that the appointment of the TUC Independent Review Committee under Professor Wedderburn provides a satisfactory independent form of appeal against unfair exclusions and expulsions for trade unions.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what advice he gave the TUC when he was consulted about the proposed appointment of Professor K. W. Wedderburn as Chairman of the TUC Independent Review Committee.

My right hon. Friend, my predecessor, advised the TUC that he was well content with its proposal to appoint Professor Wedderburn as the legally qualified Chairman of the Independent Review Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, have applied for the temporary employment subsidy, introduced to reduce redundancy; how many such applications have been approved; what is the total subsidy paid to date to such applicants; and how many jobs have thus been safeguarded.

As at 30th April 1976 two applications, covering 84 jobs, had been received from firms in this area. One of these applications had been approved; the other was being considered. The total amount of subsidy paid to date was £15,600 in respect of 66 jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many companies in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, have applied for the temporary recruitment subsidy, introduced to encourage the employment of school leavers; how many such applications have been approved; what is the total subsidy paid to date to such applicants; and how many school leavers have consequently secured employment.

As at 30th April 1976, 36 employers in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, have applied for the recruitment subsidy for school leavers and applications have been approved in respect of 39 young people who have secured employment. The total amount of subsidy paid so far amounts to £1,550. Assuming all the employment lasts for the full period of 26 weeks for which subsidy is payable the total amount paid will reach £5,070.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether Professor K. W. Wedderburn has acted as a legal adviser to the Secretary of State for Employment; and, if so, over what period he acted in that capacity.

Professor K. W. Wedderburn has not acted as legal adviser either to myself or to my predecessor.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he proposes to increase the number of girls entering the engineering profession.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the Engineering Industry Training Board, with support from the Training Services Agency, is this year introducing a pilot scheme to demonstrate the possibilities of training girls as engineering technicians. The scheme is to offer 50 scholarships per year to girl school leavers for a two-year technician sandwich course. Technicians are the biggest growth occupation in the engineering industry, and it is hoped that the scheme will lead to improved careers opportunities for young women in this area. The Training Services Agency will be considering ways of encouraging more girls to enter engineering craft apprenticeships.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) when he expects to be in a position to identify the cause of the inaccuracy of the monthly figures of young unemployed people; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will recommence publication of monthly figures of young people unemployed when he has established the reason for the discrepancy between the six monthly figure and the monthly figures so far published.

Initial inquiries have been made and tentative conclusions drawn, but until the inquiries are complete I would prefer not to make a statement. It is certainly my intention to resume publication of monthly figures as soon as I am satisfied as to their accuracy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of food consumed in the United Kingdom was imported, at the latest convenient date; and what was the position three months, six months and 12 months ago.

In the year July 1974-June 1975 imports of food comprised 47·4 per cent. of United Kingdom total food requirements. This is the latest year for which aggregate figures have been published. The corresponding figure for 1973–74 was 45·5 per cent. Figures for intermediate periods are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the following foodstuffs consumed in the United Kingdom was imported: beef, lamb, butter, wheat, barley, potatoes, cheese, dried milk, fish and eggs; and what was the position 12 months ago.