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Written Answers

Volume 910: debated on Friday 7 May 1976

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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
1946536
1947567
1948600
1949626
1950631
1951688
1952760
1953801
1954816
1955904
1956925
1957947
19581,042
19591,060
19601,165
19611,257
1961–621,283
1962–631,271
1963–641,315
1964–651,379
1965–661,470
1966–671,592
1967–681,811
1968–691,941
1969–702,066
1970–712,129
1971–722,302
1972–732,507
1973–743,219
1974–753,916
1975–76*4,845
*Estimated outturn as shown in Table 5 of Financial Statement and Budget Report 1976–77.
The figures for 1955 onwards are taken from

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.

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 75/1975Budget expenditureNon-Domestic Rate Poundage
(1)(2)(3)
£m.£m.p in £
Authority Regions
Borders17·0016·95117
Central40·0042·78110
Dumfries and Galloway23·0023·05107
Fife50·0052·4993
Grampian73·0074·54108
Highland33·0036·66112
Lothian130·00132·48116
Strathclyde452·00465·88111
Tayside65·0066·95107
Islands
Orkney4·004·05142
Shetland5·004·20140
Western Isles8·008·14168

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.

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.

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

Aberdeen5·104·6239
Angus2·102·1434
Annandale and Eskdale0·530·5224
Argyll and Bute1·552·2266
Badenoch and Strathspey0·150·1730
Banff and Buchan1·801·6441
Bearsden and Milngavie0·880·8644
Berwickshire0·350·3829
Caithness0·590·5035
Clackmannan1·151·2556
Clydebank1·652·1774
Cumbernauld and Kilsyth1·251·2940
Cumnock and Doon Valley1·201·1251
Cunninghame2·953·7853
Dumbarton1·902·5079
Dundee4·705·5051
Dunfermline3·003·1439
East Kilbride1·902·4440
East Lothian1·901·9440
Eastwood1·201·2739

Districts

Edinburgh11·4013·3246
Ettrick and Lauderdale0·650·6333
Falkirk4·104·5062
Glasgow27·0034·4867
Gordon1·201·0744
Hamilton2·552·7647
Inverclyde2·603·0365
Inverness1·051·0230
Kilmarnock and Loudoun2·002·1855
Kincardine and Deeside0·710·6825
Kirkcaldy3·553·7738
Kyle and Carrick2·803·4952
Lanark1·301·8942
Lochaber0·390·3549
Midlothian1·651·9733
Monklands2·703·2967
Moray1·901·8638
Motherwell3·854·8364
Nairn0·170·1620
Nithsdale1·100·9721
North East Fife1·551·6331
Perth and Kinross2·602·6129
Renfrew5·457·0463
Ross and Cromarty0·770·7240
Roxburgh0·720·7136
Skye and Lochalsh0·110·1425
Stewartry0·370·4223
Stirling1·852·1346
Strathkelvin1·902·3841
Sutherland0·230·2841
Tweeddale0·270·2726
West Lothian2·752·8051
Wigtown0·500·5025

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 tradeManufactured goodsPassenger motor carsFood 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-2,017-251-3311,320
*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.

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.

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.

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
ButterCheese
ImportsAccess quantities under Protocol 18ImportsAccess quantities under Protocol 18
1970152,31464,588
1971146,01271,292
1972119,53366,012
1973131,585165,81145,84968,580
1974117,399158,90217,53760,960
1975119,861151,99430,07745,720
1976145,08530,480
1977138,17615,240
Source: New Zealand High Commission.
Protocol 18 of the Treaty of Accession set out the quantities of butter and cheese which the United Kingdom was authorised to import from New Zealand during the transitional period to 31st December 1977; and provided that access for

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 SussexWealden (Swan Barn, Hailsham)3
Wealden (Polly Arch, Polegate)3
EssexEpping Forest (Toot Hill, Standford Rivers)12
Harlow (Fernhill Lane)16

*Basildon (Hovefields)

20
Harlow (Peldon Road) Wintering site20†
GloucestershireForest of Dean (Cinders Caravan Site, Crump Meadow, Cinderford)10
Tewkesbury (Cursey Lane, Elmstone Hardwicke14
Tewkesbury (Cursey Lane, Elmstone Hardwicke)14
Stroud (The Willows, Sandhurst Lane, Near Gloucester)30
Greater LondonBarking (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
CamdenNil
Croydon (Beddington Farm Road)15
Ealing (Kensington Road, Northolt)16†
Enfield (Montague Road, Edmonton)15
Greenwich (Harrow Manorway, Abbey Wood)54
HackneyNil

*Hammersmith (Olaf Street)

10†
HaringeyNil

*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†
IslingtonNil

*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 HamletsNil
Waltham Forest (Folly Lane, Walthamstow)16
WandsworthNil
Greater ManchesterManchester (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 WorcesterWychavon (Hipton Hill, Evesham)15
Bromsgrove (Wythall)12
HertfordshireWelwyn 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
HumbersideBeverley (Middledyke Lane. Cottingham)34†
Isle of WightNil
KentDartford (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

LancashireBlackburn (Albion Road)17
Preston (London Road)15†
LeicestershireLeicester (Meynell Gorse, Golf Course Lane, Braunstone)15
Bosworth (Aston Firs, Sapcote, Near Hinckley)15
North West Leicestershire (Station Yard, Castle Donnington)3
LincolnshireLincoln (Blyton)15
South Kesteven (Grantham)16
MerseysideLiverpool (Oil Street, Waterloo Dock)24
St. Helens (Sherdley Road)12
NorfolkNorwich (Mile Cross Road)15
NorthamptonshireDaventry (Gypsy Lane, Irchester)16
Northumberland

*Wansbeck (Shields Road, Hartford)

15
North YorkshireNil
NottinghamshireNottingham (Moor Bridge)15
OxfordshireSouth Oxfordshire (Sandford on Thames, Wallingford)16
Oxford (Slade Park)15
Vale of White Horse (Woodhill Lane, East Challow)12
SalopNil
SomersetSedgemoor (Westonzoy Land)8

*Sedgemoor (Farringdon Hill Lane)

10
Yeovil (Chubbards Cross, Ilton)15
Yeovil (Chilworthy Donyatt)5†
South YorkshireRotherham (North Anston)15
Doncaster (Armthrope)16
Sheffield (Tinsley Park)15†

*Barnsley (Smithies Lane)

15†
StaffordshireStoke-on-Trent (Linehouses)20

*Newcastle-under-Lyme (Lyme Brook Valley)

15†

*South Staffordshire (Norton Road, Walsall)

10†
SuffolkNil
SurreyTandridge (Tupwood Lane, Caterham)10†
Tandridge (Green Lane, Outwood)49
Waverley (Alma Nursery, Farnham)15†
Tyne and WearNewcastle (Lemington)10†
Gateshead (Abbey Road, Oakwelgate)15†
WarwickshireNil
West MidlandsBirmingham (Castle Vale)16
Sandwell (Brierley Lane, Coseley)15
Wolverhampton (Showell Road)15

*Dudley (Oak Lane)

15

*Walsall (Willenhall Lane)

15

*Solihull (Bickenhill)

15
West SussexChichester (Tangmere)22
Mid Sussex (Walstead, Near Lindfield)7
West YorkshireLeeds (Cottingley Springs, Gelderd Road)15
Bradford (Esholt Lane, Baildon)16
Wakefield (Heath Common)20†
WiltshireSalisbury (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

ClwydNil
DyfedLlanelli (Morfa)32
South Pembrokeshire (Kingsmoor Common, Kilgetty)15
Preseli (Under the Hills, Haverfordwest)10
Preseli (Withybush, Haverfordwest)10
GwentBlaenau Gwent (Blaina)15

*Torfaen (Upper Race, Pontypool)

20
GwyneddNil
Mid GlamorganNil
PowysNil
South GlamorganCardiff (Rover Way)21
West GlamorganNil
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.

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 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.