Written Answers To Questions
Friday 7th May 1976
Defence
Pay
asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton on 5th April 1976, he will now state the number of officers whose income has been frozen, and how many of these have had to pay increased charges during the period in question.
This information is not immediately available. I will publish the figure in the Official Report as soon as possible.
Devolution
asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make funds available to the Devolution Unit in his Department to purchase copies of documents, including opinion polls, which provide assessments of public opinion on devolution and allied subjects.
The unit is already able to keep itself informed of public opinion on devolution and related matters.
Home Department
Fingerprints
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many sets of fingerprints are currently being held in the National Fingerprint Collection at Scotland Yard; and what is the number of prints being held, exclusive of those relating to individuals who have been tried and convicted or are awaiting trial;(2) how many people have been fingerprinted by the police under the powers granted to the police by the Prevention of Terrorism Act; and how many sets of fingerprints taken from persons temporarily detained but not charged with any offence under the Prevention of Terrorism Act have been retained by local police forces or/and in the National Fingerprint Collection held at Scotland Yard.
On 28th August sets of fingerprints of 2,484,437 people were being held centrally at New Scotland Yard. Of these, 2,482,857 sets belonged to persons tried and convicted over a period of some 40 years, or awaiting trial, for criminal offences not related to terrorism.The remaining 1,580 related to people who had been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act. It would not be possible without disproportionate effort to state how many of these were charged with criminal offences—not necessarily under the Prevention of Terrorism Acts—and were convicted or are awaiting trial, how many of them were made subject to exclusion orders, or how many were released from detention without being charged.
Mr Michael Jenkins
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when he expects to be able to reply to the letters of 5th February and 25th March from the hon. Member for Woolwich, East about the case of Mr. Michael Jenkins, currently serving a sentence at Wandsworth Prison;(2) what arrangements have been made by the authorities at Wandsworth Prison to enable Mr. Michael Jenkins to submit essays through the prison education officer for marking by approved outside lecturers;(3) what steps have been taken by the authorities at Wandsworth Prison to implement the undertaking, given to the hon. Member for Woolwich, East by the Under-Secretary on 12th January 1976, that every effort would be made to afford educational facilities to Mr. Michael Jenkins;(4) why the authorities at Wandsworth Prison have not allowed Mr. Michael Jenkins to receive all the textbooks recommended by outside lecturers as part of the preparation for his university degree course.
My noble Friend the Minister of State replied to the matters raised by my hon. Friend in a letter of 3rd May.
National Finance
Public Sector Debt Interest
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of interest paid on public sector debt during the year ended 5th April 1976; and what were the comparable figures for each of the past 30 years.
The following table shows public sector debt interest payments since 1946. Financial year estimates are not available before 1961–62.
| £ million | |
| 1946 | 536 |
| 1947 | 567 |
| 1948 | 600 |
| 1949 | 626 |
| 1950 | 631 |
| 1951 | 688 |
| 1952 | 760 |
| 1953 | 801 |
| 1954 | 816 |
| 1955 | 904 |
| 1956 | 925 |
| 1957 | 947 |
| 1958 | 1,042 |
| 1959 | 1,060 |
| 1960 | 1,165 |
| 1961 | 1,257 |
| 1961–62 | 1,283 |
| 1962–63 | 1,271 |
| 1963–64 | 1,315 |
| 1964–65 | 1,379 |
| 1965–66 | 1,470 |
| 1966–67 | 1,592 |
| 1967–68 | 1,811 |
| 1968–69 | 1,941 |
| 1969–70 | 2,066 |
| 1970–71 | 2,129 |
| 1971–72 | 2,302 |
| 1972–73 | 2,507 |
| 1973–74 | 3,219 |
| 1974–75 | 3,916 |
| 1975–76* | 4,845 |
| *Estimated outturn as shown in Table 5 of Financial Statement and Budget Report 1976–77. | |
Economic Trends Annual Supplement for December 1975 updated by Economic Trends, April 1976.
Public Expenditure
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a supplement to Command Paper No. 6440 to show a comparison of expenditure figures for the year 1975–76 with those figures published in tables 1 and 2 and Appendix 1 of that paper.
The cash limits for 1976–77 published in Cmnd. 6440 took account of the planned volume of expenditure in the public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 6393), but they were not directly derived from levels of cash expenditure in 1975–76. The information now available on the outturn of expenditure in 1975–76 is not readily regrouped by reference to the cash blocks adopted for 1976–77, and the cost of doing this would be disproportionate.
Income Tax
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the loss of revenue if the tax thresholds, as proposed in the Budget (a) if agreement is reached, and (b) if agreement is not reached, were raised to family income supplement levels.
I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
Balance Of Payments (European Community)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of money have been exported to Common Market countries from the United Kingdom for investment purposes for each year since 1970; and what amounts have been invested in the United Kingdom from other Common Market countries for the same years.
Estimates of the United Kingdom balance of payments with the EEC in 1973 and 1974 are given in Annex 7 of the CSO's Pink Book "UK Balance of Payments 1964–1974", a copy of which is available in the Library. For the reasons there explained, the estimates are necessarily highly tentative. No comparable estimates are available for the years between 1970 and 1972. A more detailed analysis of United Kingdom direct investment in the EEC in 1973 only is available in Annex 4 of the same publication. I enclose a copy of table 44 for my hon. Friend.
£ Sterling (Value)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage has the £ sterling been devalued since 5th June 1975.
The effective depreciation of sterling increased from 24·6 per cent. to 37·4 per cent. between 5th June 1975 and 5th May 1976. Over the same period the sterling/dollar rate fell from £1=$2·3222 to £1=$1·8287.
Value Added Tax
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will zero-rate the charge for the cesspool emptying service carried out by local authorities.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 24th March.—[Vol. 908, c. 214–215].
Overseas Development
Research Products
asked the Minister for Overseas Development if, pursuant to his written reply of 14th April, Official Report, c. 597–8, he will list in the Official Report those marketable products or concepts arising from research financed by his Department that have been assigned to the National Research Development Corporation.
The following is the information requested:A cashew nut processing plant the prototype of which was designed and
| 1976–77 Guidelines for local authority expenditure in Circular 75/1975 | Budget expenditure | Non-Domestic Rate Poundage | |||||
| (1) | (2) | (3) | |||||
| £m. | £m. | p in £ | |||||
| Authority Regions | |||||||
| Borders | … | … | … | … | 17·00 | 16·95 | 117 |
| Central | … | … | … | … | 40·00 | 42·78 | 110 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | … | … | 23·00 | 23·05 | 107 | ||
| Fife | … | … | … | … | 50·00 | 52·49 | 93 |
| Grampian | … | … | … | … | 73·00 | 74·54 | 108 |
| Highland | … | … | … | … | 33·00 | 36·66 | 112 |
| Lothian | … | … | … | … | 130·00 | 132·48 | 116 |
| Strathclyde | … | … | … | … | 452·00 | 465·88 | 111 |
| Tayside | … | … | … | … | 65·00 | 66·95 | 107 |
| Islands | |||||||
| Orkney | … | … | … | … | 4·00 | 4·05 | 142 |
| Shetland | … | … | … | … | 5·00 | 4·20 | 140 |
| Western Isles | … | … | … | … | 8·00 | 8·14 | 168 |
constructed at the Tropical Products Institute;
A one-wheel drive, three-wheeled, ride-on tractor designed at the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering;
An animal-drawn tool bar designed at the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering.
Scotland
Tenants (Evictions)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many evictions have been carried out in Scotland in each of the past five years, giving separate totals for the public and private sectors and giving a breakdown by reasons for eviction.
This information is not available centrally.
Local Government Expenditure
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report the total budgeted expenditure for 1976–77 of each regional, district and island council in a comparable form to the amounts indicated in Scottish Office Finance Circular 75/1975, together with the rate poundage set by these councils for the same period.
The following is the information:
| 1976–77 Guidelines for local authority expenditure in Circular 75/1975 | Budget expenditure
| Non-Domestic Rate Poundage
| |||||
| (1) | (2) | (3) | |||||
£m.
| £m.
| p in £ | |||||
Districts
| |||||||
| Aberdeen | … | … | … | … | 5·10 | 4·62 | 39 |
| Angus | … | … | … | … | 2·10 | 2·14 | 34 |
| Annandale and Eskdale | … | … | 0·53 | 0·52 | 24 | ||
| Argyll and Bute | … | … | … | 1·55 | 2·22 | 66 | |
| Badenoch and Strathspey | … | … | 0·15 | 0·17 | 30 | ||
| Banff and Buchan | … | … | … | 1·80 | 1·64 | 41 | |
| Bearsden and Milngavie | … | … | 0·88 | 0·86 | 44 | ||
| Berwickshire | … | … | … | … | 0·35 | 0·38 | 29 |
| Caithness | … | … | … | … | 0·59 | 0·50 | 35 |
| Clackmannan | … | … | … | 1·15 | 1·25 | 56 | |
| Clydebank | … | … | … | … | 1·65 | 2·17 | 74 |
| Cumbernauld and Kilsyth | … | … | 1·25 | 1·29 | 40 | ||
| Cumnock and Doon Valley | … | … | 1·20 | 1·12 | 51 | ||
| Cunninghame | … | … | … | 2·95 | 3·78 | 53 | |
| Dumbarton | … | … | … | … | 1·90 | 2·50 | 79 |
| Dundee | … | … | … | … | 4·70 | 5·50 | 51 |
| Dunfermline | … | … | … | … | 3·00 | 3·14 | 39 |
| East Kilbride | … | … | … | … | 1·90 | 2·44 | 40 |
| East Lothian | … | … | … | … | 1·90 | 1·94 | 40 |
| Eastwood | … | … | … | … | 1·20 | 1·27 | 39 |
Districts
| |||||||
| Edinburgh | … | … | … | … | 11·40 | 13·32 | 46 |
| Ettrick and Lauderdale | … | … | 0·65 | 0·63 | 33 | ||
| Falkirk | … | … | … | … | 4·10 | 4·50 | 62 |
| Glasgow | … | … | … | … | 27·00 | 34·48 | 67 |
| Gordon | … | … | … | … | 1·20 | 1·07 | 44 |
| Hamilton | … | … | … | … | 2·55 | 2·76 | 47 |
| Inverclyde | … | … | … | … | 2·60 | 3·03 | 65 |
| Inverness | … | … | … | … | 1·05 | 1·02 | 30 |
| Kilmarnock and Loudoun | … | … | 2·00 | 2·18 | 55 | ||
| Kincardine and Deeside | … | … | 0·71 | 0·68 | 25 | ||
| Kirkcaldy | … | … | … | … | 3·55 | 3·77 | 38 |
| Kyle and Carrick | … | … | … | 2·80 | 3·49 | 52 | |
| Lanark | … | … | … | … | 1·30 | 1·89 | 42 |
| Lochaber | … | … | … | … | 0·39 | 0·35 | 49 |
| Midlothian | … | … | … | … | 1·65 | 1·97 | 33 |
| Monklands | … | … | … | … | 2·70 | 3·29 | 67 |
| Moray | … | … | … | … | 1·90 | 1·86 | 38 |
| Motherwell | … | … | … | … | 3·85 | 4·83 | 64 |
| Nairn | … | … | … | … | 0·17 | 0·16 | 20 |
| Nithsdale | … | … | … | … | 1·10 | 0·97 | 21 |
| North East Fife | … | … | … | 1·55 | 1·63 | 31 | |
| Perth and Kinross | … | … | … | 2·60 | 2·61 | 29 | |
| Renfrew | … | … | … | … | 5·45 | 7·04 | 63 |
| Ross and Cromarty | … | … | … | 0·77 | 0·72 | 40 | |
| Roxburgh | … | … | … | … | 0·72 | 0·71 | 36 |
| Skye and Lochalsh | … | … | … | 0·11 | 0·14 | 25 | |
| Stewartry | … | … | … | … | 0·37 | 0·42 | 23 |
| Stirling | … | … | … | … | 1·85 | 2·13 | 46 |
| Strathkelvin | … | … | … | … | 1·90 | 2·38 | 41 |
| Sutherland | … | … | … | … | 0·23 | 0·28 | 41 |
| Tweeddale | … | … | … | … | 0·27 | 0·27 | 26 |
| West Lothian | … | … | … | 2·75 | 2·80 | 51 | |
| Wigtown | … | … | … | … | 0·50 | 0·50 | 25 |
Children's Panels
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report statistics showing the number of children referred to each re- porter to children's panels in each of the past five years and the numbers subsequently referred to hearings.
Information for the years 1971, 1972 and 1973 is available in the annual publication "Scottish Social Work Statistics". The report for 1974 will be published in July. Figures are not yet available for 1975.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria reporters to children's panels employ in deciding whether or not to refer cases to hearings.
I would refer the hon. Member to Section 39(3) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and to Section 32 of that Act as amended by the Children Act 1975.
Tuc And Cbi
asked the Prime Minister when he next proposes to consult the leaders of the TUC and the CBI.
I met representatives of the TUC twice this week and I will be meeting representatives of the CBI later today. Further meetings will be arranged as necessary.
Social Services
Home Help Service
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, if he will make a statement on the home help service.
The home help service is largely a part-time service, but the provisional estimate of staff employed in England at 30th September 1975 expressed in whole-time equivalents was 1,700 organisers and 42,500 home helps, an increase of 4·2 per cent. over the 1974 figure.During the year ended 31st March 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, 615,000 households in England received home help service, an increase of 9 per cent. over the 1974 figure. Over 86 per cent. of recipients were aged 65 and over and by far the largest part of the service goes to the elderly. There has been an increase in the number of chronically sick and physically handicapped people under 65 receiving the service, but there has been a decrease in service to maternity cases.I consider that the home help service is an essential part of domiciliary provision and has an important part to play to enable people to remain in their homes for as long as possible, rather than to go into residential accommodation. This is particularly important in these days of limited resources. The consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England", which the Department published in March, made it clear that even with present constraints on the health and personal social services there must be growth of services for the elderly in order to keep up with their increasing number and to develop the emphasis on community care.
Attendance Allowance
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in how many instances a person who has previously been in receipt of attendance allowance and after an interval is once again adjudged to satisfy the attendance criteria has been forced to wait a further six months before payment of the allowance has been recommended; if he will arrange for the six-month rule to be relaxed in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement.
The information is not available, but recent indications are that at present there is a small number of such instances. The problem is currently under consideration and the hon. Member's suggestion is receiving attention.
Medical Practice (Women)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy regarding opportunities for women in medicine.
I consider it essential that arrangements should permit the fullest professional contribution from doctors who, because of their commitments to their families, cannot work full-time. My Department is discussing these matters with the bodies principally concerned, with a view to preparing fresh guidance to regional health authorities. The report of a conference on women in medicine, held at Sunningdale in 1975, is being distributed as background to these discussions so that account can be taken of the views of the conference. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Employment
Chemicals
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange for the Health and Safety Commission to compile a central register to record the properties of all potentially dangerous chemical substances, ensure such a register is brought to the attention of all interested parties, and that the register is revised regularly.
I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that manufacturers, suppliers and users of dangerous substances already have duties under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act for ensuring their safe use, so far as in reasonable practicable.A central register of the kind envisaged would not usefully add to work already done elsewhere to help industry carry out these responsibilities. Facilities to help, in the form of commercial research and testing laboratories, abstract services and chemical data banks already exist, and industry can make use of these. Beyond this it is hoped that the proposed notification scheme for new chemical substances will make a significant contribution to making it possible to reduce the potential hazards of new substances.
Wages Inspectors
asked the Secretary of State of Employment what salary scale is in existence for wages inspectors.
The salaries of wages inspectors are based on Civil Service rates for executive officers and higher executive officers which range from £2,555 at age 25 per annum to £3,670 per annum for the former and £ 3,900 per annum to £4,700 per annum for the later. These scales attract a £6 per week pay supplement from 1st April 1976. The salaries of inspectors based in London are enhanced by the Inner London weighting allowance paid to all civil servants in Inner London which is presently £465 per annum. There are also directing staff in higher grades in the regions and at headquarters.
Manpower Services Commission
asked the Secretary of State of Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a breakdown of the current cost of the Manpower Services Commission of £363 million into its principal constituent parts.
The information was published on pages IV-67 to IV-70 of House of Commons Paper 276-IV, which was ordered to be printed on 17th March 1976, and which contained the supply estimates for the year ending 31st March 1977, for the Trade, Industry and Employment group of Departments
Unemployed Persons
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what level of unemployment obtained in the United Kingdom in June 1975; and by how much it has risen since.
The numbers unemployed, seasonally adjusted and excluding school leavers, in the United Kingdom at June 1975 and April 1976 were 901,400 and 1,233,800, respectively; giving an increase of 332,400.
Asbestos
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will take steps to require notices to be attached to asbestos sheeting pointing out the health hazards of drilling, sawing or similar operations unaccompanied by precautions against asbestos dust.
I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that discussions on the label-ling of products containing asbestos, including asbestos sheeting, for use at work are currently being held by the Health and Safety Executive with the industry. Information on the probable concentrations of asbestos dust in construction processes, the control of asbestos dust and the provision of respiratory protective equipment are contained in Technical Data Notes 42, 35 and 24, obtainable free from the Health and Safety Executive.
Employment Premium
asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the continuance of separate rates of regional employment premium for male and female employees is consistent with Government policy on sex equality.
I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the then Pay-master General gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, West (Miss Boothroyd) on 4th March.—[Vol. 906, c. 1514.]
asked the Secretary of State for Employment when, and at what rates, regional employment premium was introduced; and by how much the current rates would have to be increased to give them equivalent value to the original rates.
I have been asked to reply.The regional employment premium was introduced in 1967, replacing selective refunds of selective employment tax, at the rates:
£1 10s 0d., men of 18 years of age and above
£0 15s 0d., women 18 years of age and above
£0 15s 0d., boys under 18 years of age
£0 7s 6., girls under 18 years of age
The rates were doubled in July 1974, approximately restoring their original value.
In order to restore the original value of the payments now, using the GDP deflator up to the end of 1975, beyond which reliable figures are not available, the rates would need to be increased to:
£3·60, men 18 years of age and above
£1·80, women 18 years of age and above
£1·80, boys under 18 years of age
£0·90, girls under 18 years of age
Education And Science
Burnham Committee (Teachers' Panel)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the composition of the Teacher's Panel of the Burnham Committee was last reconstituted; and what criteria are used for determining the membership.
The Teachers' Panel of the Burnham Primary and Secondary Committee was last reconstituted in August 1966 and the Teacher's Panel of the Burnham further Education Committee in February 1976. Among the factors my right hon. Friend takes into account in considering changes under the Re- muneration of Teachers Act 1965 are the extent to which the existing membership of the Teachers' Panels is representative of the various categories of teachers and the number of members and special interests of the teacher associations.
Handicapped School Leavers
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what facilities are available in further education colleges for the preparation of handicapped school leavers for work.
An increasing number of local education authorities provide facilities for the further education of handicapped school leavers and some colleges of further education offer courses for handicapped students specifically designed to prepare them for work.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Soviet Embassy
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what information he has received from the Soviet Embassy about submission of plans to the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea for converting two residential and office blocks situated on Crown Estates land in the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea; and if he will make a statement;(2) if the Soviet Embassy is required to submit to his Department any plans for conversion of two residential and office blocks situated on Crown Estates land in the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
My Department is discusing with the Soviet Embassy the formulation of plans for the development of two sites on Crown Estates land in the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea which, if they are to go ahead, will need to be the subject of a notification by my Department to the local planning authority under the provisions of Circular 80. This is the normal procedure for Crown development and includes full public consultation. Since my Department will be responsible for notifying the the planning authority of the proposed development the Soviet Embassy will be submitting plans to the FCO in due course, and will be doing so in the context of providing mutual assistance with accommodation problems in Moscow and London.
Falkland Islands
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is yet in a position to publish the report of the Shackleton economic mission to the Falkland Islands; and, if not, when he expects to be able to do so.
I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Sir B. Braine) on 6th May. Once my right hon. Friend has received the report he will be able to consider a date for its publication.
Falkland Islands—Buenos Aires (Air Fare)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to Argentina about increases in the Argentine State Airlines return fare from Stanley in the Falkland Islands to Buenos Aires; and with what result.
Her Majesty's Embassy at Buenos Aires has asked the Argentine authorities for an explanation of the recent fare increases, and has been promised an early reply.
European Community
National Parliamentary Elections
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which member States of the EEC make provision for their nationals, living abroad by reason of their employment or occupation, to vote in general elections.
Of the eight other member countries of the Community, France has a system of proxy voting for nationals resident abroad. Italy and Luxembourg have provision for nationals resident abroad to return to their country to vote. Danish nationals normally resident in Denmark but temporarily abroad may vote at Danish consulates and embassies. Germany and Belgium have restricted service voting arrangements similar to our own. Postal votes are available in the Republic of Ireland to members of the police and armed forces, whether at home or abroad. The Netherlands have no arrangements for their nationals resident abroad to vote.
Industry
Alfred Herbert Limited
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the original cost to the Government of the acquisition of shares in Alfred Herbert Ltd.; and have any further public funds been committed to the company.
The cost to the Government of restructuring Alfred Herbert Limited, in addition to the injection of some £26·2 million into Herbert Limited, was £16,348·50, including payment of VAT, which represents the Department's share of professional fees. No further public funds have been committed to the company other than through the National Enterprise Board's facility to support building of machine tools for stock on commercial terms as announced in my reply on 2nd March to my hon. Friend the Member for Aldridge-Brownhills (Mr. Edge).
Concorde
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what will be the cost of the contribution by the British tax-payer to the grounding of and modification to Concorde 201; and whether he is satisfied that the modified programme on Concorde 201 will not delay the delivery of Concorde 210 and 212 to British Air-ways.
British firms will be supplying at Government expense modification kits to a value of about £200,000. I am satisfied that this requirement will not delay delivery of Concordes to British Airways.
asked the Secretary of State for Industry what discussions have taken place between his Department and the French Government on the forthcoming modification to Concorde 201 in France.
Discussions on how these modifications will be effected have taken place on a number of occasions between British and French officials and representatives of the firms concerned.
Prices And Consumer Protection
Metrication Board
asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when the Metrication Board was set up; who constitutes the board; who are the chairman and vice-chairman of the board; what salary or expenses are drawn; and what has been the total cost of the board to date.
pursuant to his reply (Official Report, 27th April 1976; Vol. 910, c. 67], gave the following information:I regret that this additional information was omitted from the answer.The chairman and deputy chairman receive salaries of £4,665 and £2,576 respectively per annum, while members receive £750 per annum. The director is a civil servant with the grade of Under-Secretary and is paid according to the nationally agreed scale for that grade. Travelling expenses and subsistence allowances for travel on the board's business are payable on the same basis as for senior civil servants.The total cost of the board from its inception in April 1969 to the end of 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, was approximately £3,842,000.
| CRUDE BALANCES*OF TRADE WITH EEC BY COMMODITY GROUP | ||||||||
| £ million Overseas Trade Statistics basis | ||||||||
| Total trade | Manufactured goods | Passenger motor cars | Food and live animals | |||||
| 1970 | … | … | … | … | -81 | +423 | +6 | -433 |
| 1971 | … | … | … | … | -255 | +320 | -59 | -502 |
| 1972 | … | … | … | … | -580 | +27 | -157 | -498 |
| 1973 | … | … | … | … | -1,173 | -275 | -198 | -699 |
| 1974 | … | … | … | … | -2,209 | -643 | -160 | -1,221 |
| 1975 | … | … | … | … | -2,386 | -544 | -232 | -1,474 |
| First quarter 1976 at annual rate | … | -2,017 | -251 | -331 | 1,320 | |||
| *The crude balance is the difference between exports fob and imports cif. | ||||||||
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the value, in constant terms, of the United Kingdom's exports to Common Market countries for 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, at an annual rate; and what are the comparable figures for the rest of the world.
Trade
Shipping (Thames Estuary)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade when the hon. Member for Essex, South-East, can expect an answer to his letter of 8th April concerning action taken following the collision between the LNG tanker "Methane Progress" and the coaster "Tower Princess" off Canvey Island on 6th December 1974.
I replied to the hon. Member's letter on 5th May.
Company Investigations
asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he has now received the report of the inspectors investigating the affairs of Burnholme and Forder Ltd. and Brayhead Ltd.
No. The inspectors' enquiries are still proceeding.
Balance Of Trade (European Community)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what was the United Kingdom's balance of trade with her EEC partners for each year since 1970, and for 1976 at an annual rate, in total, in manufactured goods, in cars, and in foodstuffs.
The following is the information:
Information on exports by area at constant prices is not available.
Stock Exchange
asked the Secretary of State for Trade what discussions he has had with the London Stock Exchange regarding the prospects for the setting up of a London share options exchange along the lines of that operated by Chicago; and if he is satisfied that this will assist orderly dealings and that there is likely to be a positive effect on the balance of payments.
I am in touch with the Stock Exchange on this subject. I understand that the Council of the Stock Exchange has not yet decided whether it wishes to establish an options exchange. If it does so, I will have further discussions with it when detailed propoals have been formulated.
Stonewood Securities Limited
asked the Secretary of State for Trade how many requests his Department has received to investigate matters of fraud, misfeasance or other criminal misconduct concerning Stone-wood Securities Limited; and if he will make a statement.
My Department has received certain representations about the affairs of the company, which are being considered; it would not be appropriate to give details of confidential communications with the Department.
Departmental Offices (Dispersal)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade which divisions of his Department it is now proposed to disperse to Merseyside under the Hardman proposals, giving details of the numbers involved and the time phasing of such transfers; and, in cases where a decision to disperse a particular section or sections to the Merseyside area has been agreed in principle but no decision taken on the recipient town or district, if he will seriously consider the claim of Skelmersdale New Town.
Under the Government's decision on the Hardman recommendations which was announced in July 1974 no divisions of my Department are to be dispersed to Merseyside.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Fluoride
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the EEC regulations, his Department is monitoring the amount of fluoride in phosphate fertilisers, mineral licks for cattle, and tea.
There are no EEC regulations relating to the amount of fluoride in phosphate fertilisers or in tea, and monitoring is not carried out. My right hon. Friend intends, however, shortly to make regulations under the Agriculture Act 1970, which, inter alia, will implement EEC Directive 74/63 fixing maximum levels for undesirable substances, including fluorine, in animal feeding stuffs. Local authorities will be responsible for enforcement.
Cyclamates
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to allow the re-use of cyclamates in food.
None. The situation remains as described in the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 18th December 1975.—[Vol. 902, 717].
Food Imports (Duties)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what import duties are levied on imports of lamb and other foods imported into the United Kingdom from outside the Common Market.
The current rate of duty on imports of lamb to the United Kingdom from outside the Common Market is 16 per cent. ad valorem plus £0·1867 per cwt. The rates of duty on imports of other foods are contained in Part 8 of the United Kingdom Customs Tariff, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what import levies are now paid on butter, cheese, beef and other foods imported into the United Kingdom from outside the Common Market.
Levies on imports of commodities into the United Kingdom are offset by accession compensatory and monetary compensatory amounts. The extent to which a monetary compensatory amount exceeds any balance of levy after deducting the accession compensatory amount is payable as an import refund.On 6th May the net levies chargeable per 100 kilograms on imports of butter and cheddar cheese from outside the EEC were £73·7316 and £66·4384, respectively, and the corresponding figures for imports from New Zealand were £19·3498 and £27·8234.For beef, the position is more complicated because a number of special schemes apply under which the full rate is currently abated in varying degree according to the scheme in question.Full details about current rates of levies and refunds on beef and other food imports are available from the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are imposed on the imports of beef and other foods into the United Kingdom from outside the Common Market.
I regret this information is not readily available and I will reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the retail price of butter, cheese, beef, lamb, and other foods attracting import levies and duties when imported from outside the Common Market is accounted for by these levies and duties.
I regret that no meaningful estimates of the sort requested by my hon. Friend can be given.
| metric tones | ||||||||
| Butter | Cheese | |||||||
| Imports | Access quantities under Protocol 18 | Imports | Access quantities under Protocol 18 | |||||
| 1970 | … | … | … | … | 152,314 | — | 64,588 | — |
| 1971 | … | … | … | … | 146,012 | — | 71,292 | — |
| 1972 | … | … | … | … | 119,533 | — | 66,012 | — |
| 1973 | … | … | … | … | 131,585 | 165,811 | 45,849 | 68,580 |
| 1974 | … | … | … | … | 117,399 | 158,902 | 17,537 | 60,960 |
| 1975 | … | … | … | … | 119,861 | 151,994 | 30,077 | 45,720 |
| 1976 | … | … | … | … | — | 145,085 | — | 30,480 |
| 1977 | … | … | … | … | — | 138,176 | — | 15,240 |
| Source: New Zealand High Commission. | ||||||||
Intervention Stocks
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what amounts of beef and other foods are now held in the United Kingdom and in the Common Market as a whole as a result of intervention; and at what rate these amounts are increasing.
As to current levels of intervention stocks I would refer to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 6th May 1976 and to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 27th April 1976.—[Vol. 910, c. 64 and 446.]The rate of intake for beef into intervention in the United Kingdom has halved in the past month and is expected to reduce further. Offers of skimmed milk powder amount to about 1,500 tons per week.Information about the rate of increase of stocks in other member States is not kept by my Department.
Beef (Variable Premium)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes in the beef slaughter premium scheme have occurred in each year since 1973.
The Community beef slaughter premium scheme was first introduced in the United Kingdom on 5th August 1974 and headage payments were made under this and subsequent similar schemes at varying rates until 29th February 1976. Provision for variable premiums was introduced on 18th November 1974. From then until 29th February 1976 these were payable as supplements to the fixed headage payments to the extent necessary to raise producer returns to the level of the target price. The fixed headage payments have been discontinued in the current beef marketing year, but producer returns continue to be maintained at target price levels by payments of variable premium.
Environment
Gipsies
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the latest estimate of his Department, region by region, of the number of caravan sites required by gipsies and the number available;(2) whether he will make a statement setting out the local authorities which have provided their quota of sites under the Caravan Sites Act, showing the numbers provided, and the local authorities which have not yet done so, showing the numbers yet to be provided; and what action he proposes in respect of those which have not yet provided their quotas.
Precise estimates of the numbers of gipsy families in England and Wales are not available, but there are probably about 7,000 in all. The duty on local authorities under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 is to provide, not a quota of sites, but adequate accommodation for all gipsies residing in or resorting to their area.As at 31st December 1975 there were 132 local authority sites in England and Wales, offering accommodation for 2,110 gipsy caravans. Details are given in the table below, which supersedes the provisional table published in the
Official Report on 23th January.
County
| District Council (Name and/or Location of Site)
| Number of Pitches
| |
| Durham | *Darlington (Honeypot Lane) | … | 20† |
*Darlington (Neasham Road) | … | 20 | |
| East Sussex | Wealden (Swan Barn, Hailsham) | … | 3 |
| Wealden (Polly Arch, Polegate) | … | 3 | |
| Essex | Epping Forest (Toot Hill, Standford Rivers) | … | 12 |
| Harlow (Fernhill Lane) | … | 16 | |
*Basildon (Hovefields) | … | 20 | |
| Harlow (Peldon Road) Wintering site | … | 20† | |
| Gloucestershire | Forest of Dean (Cinders Caravan Site, Crump Meadow, Cinderford) | 10 | |
| Tewkesbury (Cursey Lane, Elmstone Hardwicke | … | 14 | |
| Tewkesbury (Cursey Lane, Elmstone Hardwicke) | … | 14 | |
| Stroud (The Willows, Sandhurst Lane, Near Gloucester) | … | 30 | |
| Greater London | Barking (Eastbrook End, Dagenham) | … | 16 |
| Barnet (Colney Hatch Lane, Finchley) | … | 12† | |
| Bexley (Powerscroft Road, Footscray, Sidcup) | … | 15 | |
*Brent (North Circular Road, NW10) | … | 10† | |
| Bromley (Star Lane, St. Mary Cray) | … | 12 | |
| Camden | … | Nil | |
| Croydon (Beddington Farm Road) | … | 15 | |
| Ealing (Kensington Road, Northolt) | … | 16† | |
| Enfield (Montague Road, Edmonton) | … | 15 | |
| Greenwich (Harrow Manorway, Abbey Wood) | … | 54 | |
| Hackney | … | Nil | |
*Hammersmith (Olaf Street) | … | 10† | |
| Haringey | … | Nil | |
*Harrow (Watling Farm, Elstree) | … | 15 | |
| Havering (Stubbers Pursuit Centre, South Ockendon) | … | 16 | |
| Hillingdon (Colne Park, Cricketfield Road, West Drayton) | 22† | ||
| Hounslow (The Hartlands, Church Road. Cranford) | … | 15† | |
| Islington | … | Nil | |
*Kensington and Chelsea (Kensal Road Sub-Depot) | … | 10† | |
| Kingston upon Thames (Hook Rise South. Tolworth, Surbiton) | 15† | ||
*Lambeth (Rosendale Road) | … | 15† | |
| Lewisham (Thurston Road) | … | 15ߤ | |
| Merton (Durnsford Road, Wimbledon) | … | 15 | |
| Newham (Templar Mills, Clays Lane, Stratford) | … | 14 | |
| Redbridge (North View, Forest Road, Hainault) | … | 16 | |
| Richmond upon Thames (Bishops Grove. Hampton) | … | 16 | |
*Southwark (King Arthur Street, SE15) | … | 15† | |
| Sutton (Carshalton Road. Woodmansterne, Banstead) | … | 15 | |
| Tower Hamlets | … | Nil | |
| Waltham Forest (Folly Lane, Walthamstow) | … | 16 | |
| Wandsworth | … | Nil | |
| Greater Manchester | Manchester (Dantzic Street) | … | 16 |
| Bolton (Hall Lane) | … | 16 | |
| Bury (Todd Street) | … | 13 | |
| Wigan (Bickershaw Lane, Abram, Hindley) | … | 15 | |
| Wigan (Miry Lane) | … | 15 | |
| Stockport (Hatherlow Street) | … | 15† | |
*Oldham (Ada Street) | … | 16† | |
| Hampshire | *Southampton (Redbridge Lane) | … | 20† |
*Southampton (Kanes Hill) | … | 20† | |
*Hart (Star Hill, Hartley Wintney) | … | 20† | |
| Hereford and Worcester | Wychavon (Hipton Hill, Evesham) | … | 15 |
| Bromsgrove (Wythall) | … | 12 | |
| Hertfordshire | Welwyn Hatfield (Holwell Court, Hatfield Road, Hatfield) | 19 | |
| Hertsmere (Sandy Lane, Bushey) | … | 27 | |
| St. Albans (Barley Mow Lane, Smallford) | … | 15 | |
| St. Albans (Three Cherry Trees) | … | 15 | |
| Welwyn Garden City (Tolpits Lane, Watford) | … | 4† | |
| St. Albans (Park Street) | … | 6 | |
| Humberside | Beverley (Middledyke Lane. Cottingham) | … | 34† |
| Isle of Wight | — | Nil | |
| Kent | Dartford (Claywood Lane) | … | 12 |
| Medway (Cuxton) | … | 12 | |
| Maidstone (Marden) | … | 15 | |
| Tonbridge and Malling (Windmill Lane) | … | 16 | |
| Sevenoaks (Edenbridge) | … | 12 | |
| Maidstone (Ulcombe) | … | 12 | |
| Ashford (Chilmington, Great Chard) | … | 16 | |
County
| District Council (Name and/or Location of Site)
| Number of Pitches
| |
| Lancashire | Blackburn (Albion Road) | … | 17 |
| Preston (London Road) | … | 15† | |
| Leicestershire | Leicester (Meynell Gorse, Golf Course Lane, Braunstone) | … | 15 |
| Bosworth (Aston Firs, Sapcote, Near Hinckley) | … | 15 | |
| North West Leicestershire (Station Yard, Castle Donnington) | … | 3 | |
| Lincolnshire | Lincoln (Blyton) | … | 15 |
| South Kesteven (Grantham) | … | 16 | |
| Merseyside | Liverpool (Oil Street, Waterloo Dock) | … | 24 |
| St. Helens (Sherdley Road) | … | 12 | |
| Norfolk | Norwich (Mile Cross Road) | … | 15 |
| Northamptonshire | Daventry (Gypsy Lane, Irchester) | … | 16 |
| Northumberland | *Wansbeck (Shields Road, Hartford) | … | 15 |
| North Yorkshire | — | Nil | |
| Nottinghamshire | Nottingham (Moor Bridge) | … | 15 |
| Oxfordshire | South Oxfordshire (Sandford on Thames, Wallingford) | … | 16 |
| Oxford (Slade Park) | … | 15 | |
| Vale of White Horse (Woodhill Lane, East Challow) | … | 12 | |
| Salop | — | Nil | |
| Somerset | Sedgemoor (Westonzoy Land) | … | 8 |
*Sedgemoor (Farringdon Hill Lane) | … | 10 | |
| Yeovil (Chubbards Cross, Ilton) | … | 15 | |
| Yeovil (Chilworthy Donyatt) | … | 5† | |
| South Yorkshire | Rotherham (North Anston) | … | 15 |
| Doncaster (Armthrope) | … | 16 | |
| Sheffield (Tinsley Park) | … | 15† | |
*Barnsley (Smithies Lane) | … | 15† | |
| Staffordshire | Stoke-on-Trent (Linehouses) | … | 20 |
*Newcastle-under-Lyme (Lyme Brook Valley) | … | 15† | |
*South Staffordshire (Norton Road, Walsall) | … | 10† | |
| Suffolk | — | Nil | |
| Surrey | Tandridge (Tupwood Lane, Caterham) | … | 10† |
| Tandridge (Green Lane, Outwood) | … | 49 | |
| Waverley (Alma Nursery, Farnham) | … | 15† | |
| Tyne and Wear | Newcastle (Lemington) | … | 10† |
| Gateshead (Abbey Road, Oakwelgate) | … | 15† | |
| Warwickshire | — | Nil | |
| West Midlands | Birmingham (Castle Vale) | … | 16 |
| Sandwell (Brierley Lane, Coseley) | … | 15 | |
| Wolverhampton (Showell Road) | … | 15 | |
*Dudley (Oak Lane) | … | 15 | |
*Walsall (Willenhall Lane) | … | 15 | |
*Solihull (Bickenhill) | … | 15 | |
| West Sussex | Chichester (Tangmere) | … | 22 |
| Mid Sussex (Walstead, Near Lindfield) | … | 7 | |
| West Yorkshire | Leeds (Cottingley Springs, Gelderd Road) | … | 15 |
| Bradford (Esholt Lane, Baildon) | … | 16 | |
| Wakefield (Heath Common) | … | 20† | |
| Wiltshire | Salisbury (Lodge Hill, Downton) | … | 12 |
| Thamesdown (Hay Lane, Wroughton) | … | 30 | |
| Total (England): 125 sites (92 permanent, 33 temporary) with 1,987 pitches (1,459 permanent, 528 temporary). | |||
| WALES | |||
County
| District Council (Name and/or Location of Site)
| Number of Pitches
| |
| Clwyd | — | Nil | |
| Dyfed | Llanelli (Morfa) | … | 32 |
| South Pembrokeshire (Kingsmoor Common, Kilgetty) | … | 15 | |
| Preseli (Under the Hills, Haverfordwest) | … | 10 | |
| Preseli (Withybush, Haverfordwest) | … | 10 | |
| Gwent | Blaenau Gwent (Blaina) | … | 15 |
*Torfaen (Upper Race, Pontypool) | … | 20 | |
| Gwynedd | — | Nil | |
| Mid Glamorgan | — | Nil | |
| Powys | — | Nil | |
| South Glamorgan | Cardiff (Rover Way) | … | 21 |
| West Glamorgan | — | Nil | |
| Total (Wales): 7 sites (7 permanent) with 123 pitches (123 permanent). | |||
| Grand Total: 132 sites (99 permanent, 33 temporary) with 2,110 pitches (1,582 permanent, 528 temporary). | |||
Workshops And Studios
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the User Class Order so as to make craft workshops and studios a separate class.
No. I see no advantage in so doing.
Seat Belts
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, from the information available to him, he will publish details of regulations adopted by other EEC countries with regard to the wearing of seat belts, specifying the main exemptions and rules regarding children.
:The following is the information immediately available.
—The wearing of seat belts in the front seats of cars is compulsory. Persons (including children) under 1·5 metres in height are among the exempt categories. Children under 12 years old must sit in the back.
—Wearing of seat belts in front seats of cars is compulsory, with no exemptions for children.
—The wearing of seat belts in the front seats of cars is compulsory, out-side built-up areas, for both adults and children. Children too small to wear a three point seat belt must be carried in rear seats.
—The wearing of seat belts in the front seats of cars is compulsory. Persons (including children) under 1·5 metres in height are among the exempt categories. Children under 10 years old must not be carried in front seats if there is space for them in the back.
—Wearing of seat belts is not compulsory.If the hon. Member would like further information about other exemptions in EEC countries where the use of seat belts is compulsory perhaps he would write to me.