asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation orders were made in England and Wales in each of the past 10 years.

The numbers of persons in respect of whom a probation order was made for their principal offence were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average cost of supervision of a person on probation in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Because of the difficulty of establishing accurately the time spent by probation officers on their various tasks, the information available requires some detailed explanation and my noble Friend will be writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British passport holders arrived from Malawi during the last 12 months to the latest available date; what discussions he has had with Dr. Banda in respect of any policies or matter connected with these immigrants; and if he will make a statement.

As to the first part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State gave to Questions by the hon. Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) on 12th May,— [Vol. 911, c. 180.] We have kept in close touch with the Malawi authorities about immigration matters generally. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs discussed the recent expulsion of a number of United Kingdom passport holders from Malawi with the Malawi High Commissioner on 18th May, drew his attention to the concern expressed in the House, and asked him to convey that concern to his government. The Government will continue to keep a close watch on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the Official Report all planned projects for replacing, renovating or extending prisons in the Yorkshire and Humberside and North-West regions, respectively, in the next 10 years, indicating the starting date in each case.

It is not at present possible to make firm plans beyond the period covered by the White Paper "Public Expenditure to 1979–80" (Cmnd. 6393). Replacement of living accommodation is to begin at Wetherby borstal in 1976–77 and at Hatfield borstal in 1977–78. Construction of a further 72 places at Thorp Arch remand centre is also due to start in 1976–77. All these establishments are in Yorkshire. Renovation takes place when necessary as part of the ordinary task of maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can now say what contribution he has decided shall be made by bookmakers during the levy period which started on 1st April 1976.

Our determination of the scheme for contributions from bookmakers during the levy period which began on 1st April 1976 was announced on 16th March. The highest rate of levy was increased from 0·89 per cent. to 0·95 per cent. of turnover, with corresponding proportionate increases in all the other turnover categories except for categories One, Two and Three, in which liability for levy remained as in the period which ended on 31st March 1976

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of evidence supplied to him by the hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley, he will take steps to see that the immigration rules, as set out in the answer to the hon. Member for Burton (Mr. Lawrence) on 10th May, are strictly observed.

No special action is required. I shall be writing to the hon. Member on the particular case about which he has written to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reopen the workshops at Winson Green.

The use of the workshops at Birmingham prison will be kept under review in the light of staff availability and court commitments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many extra hours prisoners at Winson Green are now locked in their cells as a result of the closing of workshops.

A number of factors determine when and for how long prisoners have to be confined to their cells at Birmingham prison and it is not possible to isolate the effect of workshop closures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers have been prosecuted for failing to use headlights on derestricted roads without street lighting during each month in the last five years for which records are available.

This information is not recorded separately from that relating to other lighting offences in respect of moving vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deaths there were resulting from the fumes of polyurethane foam in the last year for which figures are available.

I regret that the information requested is not available. In the case of deaths from fires it is not normally possible to identify which of the burning substances originated the fumes causing death.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost of extending the principle of postal voting to town and parish council elections.

No detailed study of the costs has been carried out; but on any reasonable assessment of poll and entitlement, and of the additional complications liable to be introduced into the count, they would be considerable.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will indicate whether BNOC has made any deals under Section 2(1)(c) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the annual report of the BNOC.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what use the BNOC has made with his consent of powers vested in it by Section 2(4)(d) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the corporation's annual report which, in accordance with Section 15(2)(b) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Act 1975, will include particulars of consents given to the corporation in pursuance of Section 2(4) of that Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy where BNOC has taken headquarters office space in London; how many staff are working in its offices in Cleveland Row; what are the costs of rent and rates on these offices; what is the term of the lease; what is the total square footage occupied in Cleveland Row; and when BNOC plans to have an office and staff operating from Glasgow.

These are matters for the corporation, and I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member directly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what progress has been made to date between the Government, the oil companies and the trade unions about permanent trade union representation on offshore rigs.

My right hon. Friend and I recently held a meeting with the trade unions and oil companies on this matter. Arrangements for recognition of union representation of workers offshore will be covered by the extension to offshore areas in June of the relevant sections of the Employment Protection Act 1975. The Government are also discussing with the oil companies and trade unions arrangements to ensure access for trade union officials designated by the Inter Union Committee in Aberdeen to offshore installations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the number of new supply ships required in North Sea oil operations in each of the next five years; and how many of these are planned for construction in Scottish and other United Kingdom yards.

New ships will be required mainly as replacements or special purpose ships such as supply/fire fighting vessels. Nine supply ships are currently on order or being built in United Kingdom yards. Of these one is being built in a Scottish yard.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many supply ships have been constructed for operation in North Sea oil operations to the nearest available date; and how many were built in Scottish and other United Kingdom yards.

To the end of 1975 some 43 supply ships in all had been built in United Kingdom yards. Of these five had been built in Scottish yards. No figures are available of the number of supply ships which have been built specifically for North Sea operations since such ships can be and are used elsewhere where offshore activities are in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many employees were employed by the National Coal Board at 1st January 1965 and at 1st January 1976; and what the figures are for the Gas Board and the Electricity Council.

I am asking the Chairman of the National Coal Board, British Gas Corporation and Electricity Council to provide the figures for the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton can expect an answer to his letter of 7th April 1976 concerning Mr. Paul Fenner and Annasbridge Limited.

I was not in a position adequately to reply to the hon. Member until 21st May 1975. I did so then.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many additional teachers would need to be employed to reduce the size of classes in primary and secondary schools to a maximum of 30 pupils.

There is no exact relationship between a given number of teachers and the elimination of classes over a certain size; much depends on the distribution of pupils among schools and the way the schools are organised and choose to deploy their teachers. With these important reservations, a calculation, based on the staffing ratios assumed by the former National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers to be sufficient to permit the elimination of classes of over 30, indicates that an additional 58,000 teachers would currently be needed for this purpose. The estimated cost of employing this number of additional teachers would be over £200 million per year. The average size of class is already just below 30 in the primary schools—29·6 in January 1975—and substantially below in secondary schools—22·7—and fewer additional teachers would be needed to eliminate classes over 30 in future years as the school population declines.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of young people of 16, 17 and 18 years, respectively, was in full-time education for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

The number of young people aged 16, 17 and 18 years respectively in full-time education expressed as a percentage of the total home population of these ages in England and Wales was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why research into the causes of blindness, including retinitis pigmentosa, has now been halted at Edinburgh University; and if he will make a statement.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the research programme at the Medical Research Council's Brain Metabolism Unit, Department of Pharmacology, Edinburgh. The unit's programme does not include research into causes of blindness generally but did include work in retinitis pigmentosa. The council tells me that this work was discontinued only after careful consideration and because of other more pressing claims on its resources. It continues to support other work relevant to this condition, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the information contained in the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt) on 17th March 1976.—[Vol. 907, c. 539–40.]

asked the Lord President of the Council what proportion of sitting hours, including Question Time, on the Floor of the House of Commons, were specifically devoted to the affairs of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland in the years 1965 to the present time.

I regret that the information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. However, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Jessel) on 6th April.—[Vol. 909, c. 113–14.]

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what rehabilitation assistance Her Majesty's Government will be providing to Guatemala.

The Guatemalan Government have gratefully accepted an offer of £250,000 for building materials and related expenditure for rehousing those made homeless by the recent earthquake. Parliamentary approval to this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Overseas Aid Vote. Pending that approval, the necessary expenditure will be met by a repayable advance from the Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the indicators for determining the relative prosperity or deprivation of areas in Scotland on which he will base his spending priorities; and whether any measure is used to determine the relative position of Scottish areas against those in other parts of the United Kingdom.

Public expenditure programmes reflect a number of factors, including indicators of deprivation, such as unemployment, overcrowding and absence of household amenities. Information on these is derived from the Department of the Environment's report on "Census Indicators of Urban Deprivation", which covers the whole of Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure of the Scottish Industrial Estates Corporation in each of the past five years; and how this compares with the Scottish Development Agency's projected expenditure in the current year for the kind of work formerly carried out by the SIEC.

Information regarding the expenditure of the SIEC is contained in the accounts which have been published annually by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Industry pursuant to Section 10(5) of the Local Employment Act 1960 and Section 17(1) of the Local Employment Act 1972, the latest of which relates to the financial year 1974–75.There is no wholly comparable basis on which projected expenditure by the SDA in the current financial year can be presented but, as the Supply Estimates for 1976–77 show, £20,700,000 has been allocated to provision of land and buildings, etc., for sale or letting to industrial and other undertakings. This represents about twice the provision in previous years for factory building by the SIEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the teacher-pupil ratio in primary schools in Girvan, Maybole, Cumnock, Kilmarnock, Troon, Irvine, Ayr, Prestwick and Saltcoats;(2) what is the average size of class in Ayrshire primary schools located in Girvan, Maybole, Cumnock, Kilmarnock, Troon, Irvine, Ayr, Prestwick and Salt-coats.

This information is not readily available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary pupils in the current school year have been subject to part-time education in the primary sector; and how this compares with the previous five years.

Returns from education authorities of the number of pupils subject to part-time education relate to a particular day in each month. Information is not available about the total number affected throughout the school session.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange for one of his Ministers to visit each of the teacher training colleges to explain the Government's policy on the employment of teachers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made for Scottish Office Ministers to meet students at teacher training colleges to discuss with them their future employment prospects within the Scottish educational system.

I met students from all the colleges of education on Friday 21st May to hear their views and discuss the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the average size of a first-year class in mathematics in Ayrshire secondary schools;(2) what is the average size of a first-year class in mathematics in Glasgow and Lanarkshire secondary schools, respectively.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many areas of Scotland he has been able to identify as socially and educationally deprived; and how many children attend primary and secondary schools in these areas;(2) how many areas of Lanarkshire he has been able to identify as socially and educationally deprived; and how many children attend primary and secondary schools in these areas;(3) how many whole-time nursery school places are available per 100 children in the areas of educational priority;

No areas in Scotland have been formally identified by the central Government as socially and educationally deprived, or designated as "educational priority areas". The latter was a term applied to four localities in England and one in Scotland which were the subject of a research programme some years ago.It is open to any education authority to concentrate available resources on an area which the authority considers to be in need of special help. A circular drawing attention to the publication of the report on the Dundee EPA project in 1974 pointed out that most of the measures tried in Dundee were within the discretion of education athorities to adopt if they wished. I understand that authorities operate a wide variety of measures to help schools in areas of need.Authorities were asked to give priority to areas of social need, and did in fact do so, in the early years of the programme for the expansion of nursery education. In addition they may apply for grant under the urban programme for educational projects in areas of special social need.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance the Scottish Education Department has issued about teacher-pupil ratio in the special school sector.

A consultative memorandum circulated in October 1973 set out proposed standards for teacher-pupil ratios for special schools and classes. These have been generally accepted by education authorities and are in operation in the majority of special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received about converting the pre sent three-year college of education diploma course into a four-year degree course; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

Last August I invited a wide range of educational interests to comment on the principle of replacing the present primary diploma course with a three-year degree course. Many of these indicated a preference for a four-year course, and a number of bodies have made similar representations in commenting on my proposals for reducing intakes to teacher training courses. I am considering all these views and will make a statement in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to provide a sheltered workshop in the Caernarvon area.

Preliminary indications are that the number of people willing to take up sheltered employment in the Caernarvon area falls short of the number required for a viable workshop. The provision would in any event also depend on the availability of funds and the competing claims for workshops in other areas. However, the need for a sheltered workshop in the area will be kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will authorise the Manpower Services Commission to permit the employment of between one to five people under the Job Creation Programme, where the proposed activities are directly relevant to the training of young unemployed persons.

The Job Creation Programme is designed to create short-term jobs of social value for people who would otherwise be unemployed, and priority is given to projects which incorporate an element of training or further education. Full-time training for unemployed people is the responsibility of the Training Services Agency, which also supports industry-based training through the industrial training boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much of the extra £15 million for job creation and training announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 5th May is to be allocated: (a) to Kirkby, (b) to Merseyside and (c) to the North-West.

The Manpower Services Commission has not yet decided how the funds should be allocated as between regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the likely number of redundancies in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area, following the decision of the Chrysler Corporation to reorganise its system of distributorships in the region.

I understand that Chrysler United Kingdom is currently reviewing its network of vehicle franchises in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne area and that the outcome of this review will not take effect until the end of 1977. It is, therefore, too early to determine what effect, if any, it will have on the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how much was paid out from the Redundancy Payments Fund in 1975 to persons in the 60 years to 64 years age group.

Precise figures are not available but it is estimated that employees in the 60–64 age group, in respect of whom payments were made from the Redundancy Fund during April 1975 to March 1976, received approximately £66 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total take-up so far of TES on Merseyside and in the North-West.

As at 14th May 1976, 29 applications, covering 3,564 workers, have been received from Merseyside employers; of these, 19 applications involving 2,552 workers had been approved and one application affecting 52 workers had been rejected. In the North-West Region as a whole 228 applications covering 18,162 workers had been received, of which 157 applications affecting 13,357 workers had been approved and four applications involving 266 workers had been rejected.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of youth unemployment in Scotland at the latest available date; and how this compares with the position in 1970 and 1973.

There were 8,928 unemployed young people in Scotland on 8th April 1976. The figures for April 1973 and April 1970 were 6,106 and 4,461, respectively. The figures, however, are not strictly comparable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons have been placed in employment in each of the last 12 months by the jobcentre at Kirkby.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the employment office at Kirkby became a Jobcentre on 4th February 1976. The number of young people aged under 18 who were placed in employment in each of the last 12 months is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the delay in extending the unfair dismissal benefits of the Employment Protection Act to those workers working less than 21 hours per week but more than 16 hours per week.

This extension will be brought into operation as soon as the capacity of the industrial tribunals has been expanded sufficiently to cope with the additional case load involved. I hope that it will be possible to implement this extension later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many persons are currently serving on industrial tribunals; how far short this number is from the estimate of the numbers required following recent legislation; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many persons are currently serving on industrial tribunals in Birmingham; and how this number compares with requirements following recent legislation.

In Great Britain there are currently 65 full-time chairmen of industrial tribunals, 117 part-time chairmen and 2,146 lay members. When the new jurisdictions created by recent legislation are brought fully into operation at least 20 additional full-time chairmen, 40 additional part-time chairmen, and 140 additional lay members are likely, depending on how case loads develop, to be required.In the area covered by the Birmingham regional office of the industrial tribunals there are currently seven full-time chairmen, nine part-time chairmen, and 185 lay members. A further full-time chairman divides his time between Birmingham and London. When the new jurisdictions are brought fully into operation at least two additional full-time chairmen four additional part-time chairmen, and 17 additional lay members are likely depending on how case loads develop, to be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobs have been made available in Hartlepool; and what was the level of lost jobs during the past two years to the latest convenient date.

I have been asked to reply.Some 2,200 additional jobs were expected to arise as a result of offers of Selective Financial Assistance under the Industry Act 1972 up to the end of April 1976. In addition further jobs will have been created or preserved as a result of other Government assistance to industry.Some 4,000 proposed redundancies were notified to the Department of Em ployment in the two years ended 30th April 1976 but not all of these may have taken effect: there were 3,300 persons unemployed (excluding adult students) in the Hartlepool "Travel to Work Area" in April 1976, some 900 more than in April 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what regulations exist concerning noise levels within the textile industry.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that there are at present no regulations on noise specifically directed to the textile industry. A document "Framing noise legislation", which includes proposals for comprehensive occupational noise legislation, was circulated for comment in November 1975. Comments have now been received and are being considered with a view to preparing draft regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many building sites have so far been acquired in Wales by the Greater London Council through the exercise of its statutory powers of compulsory purchase; and when, and in what places, such acquisitions occurred.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions between the Building Societies Association and housing authorities concerning housing mortgage applications to building societies.

I am informed that the discussions are continuing and that progress is being made towards overcoming some of the present difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many mortgage applications have been referred to building societies by the Islwyn Borough Council in the period since November 1975; and of these how many have been refused and how many accepted.

I am informed that about 20 such references have been made, and that so far two have been accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when work will commence on the road span over the Britannia Bridge and on the approach roads thereto.

In the financial year 1977–78, subject to the availability of funds and the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he will be reviewing the membership of the Welsh National Water Development Authority that fall within his responsibility for nomination.

Before 31st May 1977, when these appointments expire.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations she has received from motor car manufacturers about the effect of the Price Code on investment; and if she will make a statement on this aspect of its operation.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has argued that the exemption of its industry from the Price Code, or at least a substantial relaxation of price control, is desirable to encourage investment. My right hon. Friend is examining ways of modifying the code to assist investment and will take representations from all interested parties into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what discussions are taking place about the desirability of changing the subsidy policy of dairy fats on health grounds.

My right hon. Friend is at present reviewing the future rate of subsidy, and its nutritional effect is one of the factors which will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the maximum average monthly increase in the retail price index needed for the remaining months of 1976 to ensure that inflation is reduced to single figures by the end of the year.

To reach a single-figure inflation rate by the end of the year the average monthly increase in the retail price index must not much exceed 0·6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what has been the effect of the fall in the value of the £ sterling over the past two months on inflation during the current year.

It is estimated that the first round effect of a 10 per cent. depreciation such as we have seen in the past couple of months would add about 2½ per cent. to the retail price index by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what have been the increases in the retail price index over the past 12 months, over the past three months compounded at an annual rate and since February 1974, respectively.

18·9 per cent., 16 per cent. and 50·9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations she has received to date in connection with the further progress on the Weights and Measures &c. Bill.

Since the announcement of the postponement of the Bill's Second Reading on 23rd March I have received representations from 31 organisations, 21 representing industry and 10 representing consumers. The overwhelming majority of these support the view that the orderly completion of the metrication programme is essential and that the Bill should be proceeded with as soon as possible. I have also received reprsentations from individual members of the public, 18 opposing and 11 supporting metrication.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what progress has been made on the references to the Monopolies Commission on accountants, stockbrokers, veterinary surgeons and lawyers.

My right hon. Friend has received reports on these references and will be publishing them as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if it is necessary to add charges such as surveyors' or legal fees in order to convert the flat interest rate to the true rate in accordance with the provisions of the Consumer Credit Act.

My current intention is that the Consumer (Total charge for Credit) Regulations, which I hope to lay before the House shortly, will require all charges payable by a consumer under a credit agreement, linked transactions, or any security, to be included in the total charge from credit from which the rate thereof is to be calculated. In some circumstances this could include surveyors' or legal fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what are her plans for the implementation of the Consumer Credit Act.

The licensing programme started in February of this year and is expected to be completed in two years. This summer we hope to make effective the extortionate credit bargain and credit reference agency provisions. Later this year we hope to make the provisions relating to the seeking of business effective and then to complete the remainder of the implementation over roughly the same period as the licensing programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will list in the Official Report the titles of statutory instruments still to be laid to ensure the full activation of the Consumer Credit Act and her estimate of the approximate month in which they will be published.

The titles of the various statutory instruments still to be made will depend upon the exact scope of each, which can only be determined at at later stage of drafting. We hope to complete implementation of the Act in the next two years, but in view of the need for full and complete consultation it is impossible to give any precise dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many documents will need to be issued to borrowers by land mortgage to comply with the provisions of the Consumer Credit Act.

Much will depend on the way in which creditors choose to conduct their business. In a case where the creditor signs the agreement first, the basic requirement is for an advance copy of the agreement to be given to the debtor seven days before the signature copy is sent to him, of which he must also be sent a copy. These provisions do not apply where the loan is for house purchase purposes, and it seems right that consumers should be given the fullest opportunity to appreciate that in taking out a loan for other purposes secured in this way they are putting their home at risk.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will take steps to make the provisions of the Consumer Credit Act easily understood by both lenders and borrowers by issuing guides in simple language to interpret the legal complications within the Act.

Section 4 of the Consumer Credit Act places an obligation on the Director General of Fair Trading to give information and advice as appropriate about the operation of the Act and other related matters. Some material has already been issued, and suitable material will be issued later as the rest of the Act is made effective.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she is satisfied with the growing practice of artificially-inflated recommended retail prices; if this practice is currently under investigation either by her Department or by the Consumer Protection Advisory Committee; whether she proposes to introduce fresh legislation to deal with this practice; and if she will make a statement.

I have no plans at present for new legislation, although I recognise that recommended retail prices can cause problems. This subject was investigated by the Monopolies Commission, which, in its report of 1969, concluded that the balance of benefit or detriment to the public interest varied between different trades. However, in his consultative document on bargain offer claims published last year, the Director General of Fair trading invited comments on whether the commission's conclusions were still valid in the light of current market conditions. The Office of Fair Trading is now studying the response to this invitation.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what guidance she can give to consumers about the practice of garages selling petrol at prices which do not correspond to actual units of money; and if she will make a statement.

Where the pump indicates the total price to be paid, this difficulty can be avoided by taking delivery of a quantity of petrol corresponding to a tenderable sum of money. The quantity delivered will be determined by the price per gallon set on the pump. The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 prohibits any indication that goods are being offered at a price less than that at which they are in fact being offered. Anyone who thinks that the Act has been contravened can report the facts to his local weights and measures authority, who is responsible for enforcing the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection which provisions of the Consumer Credit Act are still matters for consultation with the interests concerned; and when she expects to conclude all such consultations.

The intention is to implement the Act in stages. My Department has yet to consult on most aspects relating to documentation and performance of contracts and certain matters relating to ancillary businesses. The Office of Fair Trading is also consulting on matters relating to the Director General's responsibilities under the Act as they arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection wha steps are being taken to exempt normal overdrafts given by the clearing banks to their customers for the heavier provision of the Consumer Credit Act.

There is provision in the Act for the Director General of Fair Trading to exempt from certain provisions those agreements allowing the debtor to overdraw on a current account. In addition, in the making of the regulations we are consulting widely and will be willing to consider any points about overdrafts made by the clearing banks.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in view of the fire and toxic fumes risk from cellular foam, if she will take steps to introduce safeguards, especially in the home.

The most effective safeguard is to take normal precautions to prevent fires occurring, and the Government and other bodies already promote a great deal of publicity on this subject. Following the recent publication by the Building Research Establishment of a report on Government-sponsored research on the fire hazards of plastics in furniture my Department has asked the furniture trade to take the findings into account in deciding on the composition of upholstered furniture. The report is now being studied in more detail to see whether any additional guidance can be issued pending the availability of suitable fire test methods now being developed.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what the Minister of State learned from his official visit to Liverpool on 20th May; and whom he saw.

I was not in Liverpool on 20th May. Regretfully, due to a bereavement, I was obliged at the last minute to cancel the visit that I had arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will make a statement on the progress of her policy to limit price increases, with particular reference to food and household goods.

pursuant to her reply [Official Report, 21st May 1976; Vol. 911, c. 766], gave the following information:The Price Code prevents manufacturers' prices from rising unless costs increase; I am considering how the code needs to be modified in order to encourage investment and jobs. Subsidies on basic foods are currently saving an average family of two adults and two children 70p per week. Under the price check scheme, manufacturers and retailers have agreed to limit price increases on a range of family purchases. But unless costs are also controlled, prices cannot be held down without sacrificing jobs. As the events of the past eight months have shown, we can only control prices effectively if we control the amount we pay ourselves. Because we are successfully doing that, the annual rate of inflation has fallen in each of the last eight months. We need to get it much lower still.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when the Rolls-Royce RB 401 engine will be ready to go into service; how much money Her Majesty's Government have put into this project so far; and how much more money is needed.

Although Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd has not taken final decisions on launch of the RB401, its current development programme is aimed at bringing the engine into service early in 1980. No direct project funding for this engine has been provided by the Government, nor has any been requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list those projects that have been or will be financed by the £4·6 million that the Government extracted from the £17·6 million allocated by the European Regional Development Fund; and how much will be or has been allocated to Merseyside.

As I told my hon. Friend on 14th May—[Vol. 911, c. 296]—the size of the programme of advance factories to be built in England which was announced on 28th November 1975 was fixed after account had been taken of likely receipts—including the recent allocation of £4·6 million—from the European Regional Development Fund. The English programme amounted to about £9 million, and of this £1·8 million will be spent on the construction of eight advance factories in the Merseyside Special Development Area.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the 16 projects on Merseyside which have received help from the European Regional Development Fund.

I refer my hon. Friend to "Trade and Industry" for 7th May, which contains a list of the projects recently approved by the Commission for a contribution from the European Regional Development Fund towards its costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how much the allocation from the European Regional Development Fund works cut per head of unemployed person: (a) on Merseyside, (b) in the North-West, (c) the Northern Region, (d) Wales and (e) Scotland.

On the basis of the unemployment figures for April 1976 and the European Regional Development Fund allocation to be made available in respect of projects in the relevant locations as a result of the Commission's decisions announced on 29th April, the information sought is:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what consultations his Department has had with the EEC Commission on the objectives and resources of a Community policy for industrial change; and what were the conclusions.

Informal discussions have recently commenced between officials from the member States, under the chairmanship of the EEC Commission's Directorate-General for Industrial and Technological Affairs, with a view to comparing national policies in the industrial field and exchanging ideas as to how the practical problems facing particular industrial sectors throughout the Community might be tackled most effectively by all concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations have been made to the EEC Commission on a medium-term plan covering the whole range of electronics industries.

None. The United Kingdom is however participating in discussions on a medium-term programme for the data processing industry which the Commission of the European Communities is currently formulating.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether any comparative study has been made with the EEC on various means used by Governments to support the development of home industries; and with what result.

I am aware of two related studies, being undertaken by the International Institute of Management in Berlin and sponsored principally by the EEC Commission into the impact of various measures in support of the development of industries in assisted regions of certain member countries. "The Economics of Industrial Subsidies", edited by A. Whiting, published by HMSO 1976, reports papers presented at a conference organised by my Department and includes one that gives some reference to selective intervention in some EEC member countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will clarify the breakdown of the figures in the answer given by his Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost) on 17th May (Official Report, column 942), on the question of how much public money, to date, has been invested in Rolls-Royce (1971) Limited, and in particular that part of the total sums which is not detailed in either equity or loan.

As the hon. Member has been informed, owing to a typing error an incorrect figure of £16 million, instead of £161 million, was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, South-East (Mr. Rost) on 17th May—[Vol. 911, col. 942]. I apologise for this mistake.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is his present estimate of the loss likely to be incurred by Govan Shipbuilders Limited (a) in the current year and (b) in each of the next four years.

The profit or loss made by Govan Shipbuilders for the current and for future years will appear in its annual accounts, which will be published in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many people are employed in the shipbuilding, shiprepairing and marine engineering companies which will form part of the British Shipbuilding Corporation in (a) the North-East, (b) the Mersey, (c) the Clyde, (d) the rest of Scotland, and (e) the rest of England.

Following is the available information:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what research and development has taken place by his Department into effective industrial refinery processes for producing proteins from petroleum.

Practically all of the research and development on production of protein from petroleum hydrocarbon derivatives has been undertaken by industrial companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how far the large and unforeseeable increase in the price of oil will retard research in industrial processes for the extraction of single cell proteins.

Increases in oil prices have had some effect on developments concerned with the extraction of protein from hydrocarbon derivatives; other factors have also had some influence, including the fall in the price of soya bean. It is not possible to predict at present what retarding effect, if any, these factors will have on future developments.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many companies in the EEC countries and in the United Kingdom are obtaining protein from oil feed-stocks; and how far they compete with other sources of proteins.

Two companies are each currently operating a large-scale pilot plant in the United Kingdom. One of these two companies is associated with the operation of a small commercial plant in France and with two 100,000 tonnes per annum plants which have been built in Italy and which are due to be com missioned in the near future. Petroleum-based single cell protein production at present accounts for a negligible proportion of the protein supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the amount of financial assistance and loans for direct assistance to support British industry from EEC funds in 1975.

The two main sources from which Community funds are directly available to British industry are the European Investment Bank and the European Coal and Steel Community. The figures for approved loans and grants to the United Kingdom in 1975 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will give details of the total amounts of and identify in relation to the North-East of England the recipients and purposes for which grants and loans have been made out of EEC Funds.

EEC funds, in the form of loans and grants, are made available to United Kingdom manufacturing industry within my responsibility from the European Investment Bank, the European Coal and Steel Community and the Regional Development Fund. Loans and grants approved since accession for the North-East of England from these sources, and the purposes for which they were approved, are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals he has to ensure that the North-East economy acquires full advantage from State invest ment in the manufacturing sector, as envisaged by the National Enterprise Board.

In paragraphs 27–30 of the draft guidelines for the NEB, which my right hon. Friend made available to the House on 1st March, he said that the Government will provide incentives to development by the NEB and its companies in areas of high unemployment, with particular reference to the North-East, where the NEB has set up an office.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will make a statement on the current situation in the Drypool Group Ltd., indicating what assets or yards have been disposed of by the receiver; how many purchasers have received Government aid; how much and on what terms; what yards are at present the subject of discussion by prospective purchasers; to what extent these purchases are subject to Government assistance under the Industry Act or otherwise; and if he will make a statement.

The United Towing Co. Ltd. is taking over the Selby shipyard of Drypool Group Ltd. on 1st June 1976 with an immediate investment of £500,000, and is forming a subsidiary company to run it. This is the only purchaser, so far, of a component part of the group, and a loan of £400,000 under the normal Industry Act terms has been made available to United Towing Co. Ltd. The Beverley shipyard, the dry dock complex at Hull and the firm of R. J. Shepherd Engineering Ltd. at Bridlington are the subject of discussions by the receiver with prospective purchasers. Any resultant purchasers of these parts of the group can apply for financial assistance under the provisions of the Industry Act 1972 or for any other Government assistance, and consideration will, of course, be given to any applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the present level of employment, yard by yard, in the Drypool Group Ltd.; how these figures compare with the number employed when the group went into receivership; and what further redundancies, he anticipates; and what he expects to be the time-scale for such redundancies.

The present employment in the component parts of Drypool Group Ltd., compared with the number employed when the group went into receivership is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he intends proposing to authorise the transfer of the Department's shareholding in International Computers (Holdings) Ltd., to the National Enterprise Board.

I have consented to the transfer to the National Enterprise Board of the Government shareholding in International Computers (Holdings) Ltd. and I have laid a statement to that effect before Parliament today in accordance with Section 5 of the Industry Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will arrange for an exhibition relating to Concorde to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall of the House of Commons.

I understand that arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 24th May to Friday 28th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are his intentions regarding Royal Air Force, Luffenham.

As was announced on 19th September 1975 it is proposed to move the ground radio servicing centre and the training wing from RAF North Luffenham to RAF Benson and RAF Digby respectively. Consultation with Ministry of Defence staff and trade union sides on these proposals is still continuing. It was originally intended to complete these deployments by early 1977 but it is now clear that no moves can take place before 1978.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is able to estimate whether the number of Scots employed in the Armed Forces or as civilians in support of defence exceeds the total of 80,000 or is much lower than that figure.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about recent discussions he has had with the Chilean Government about matters of mutual concern in defence policy, arms sales and training of armed forces personnel.

I have had no discussions with any member of the Chilean Government. However, my officials occasionally come into contact with Chilean representatives in order to discharge residual responsibilities relating to some existing naval sales contracts negotiated some years ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is able to publish an estimate of the civilian job loss which would be involved in Scottish defence establishments if nuclear bases are removed from Scotland.

Around 4,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of defence equipment exports for the last financial year.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 30th March 1976 in which it was stated that the provisional figure for the total value of defence equipment exports for 1975–76 was £500 million.—[Vol. 908, c. 439.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what study he has made of the reports of Service men buying themselves out of the British forces to enlist in Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

I have called for a full investigation of the allegations that attempts are being made to recruit British Service men for military service in Rhodesia. However, preliminary investigation does not confirm that these attempts have met with any significant success.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans there are for co-operation between the British Army volume of stores held in COD Bicester, Donnington and Chilwell in cubic metres; and what they were in 1972–73 and 1968–69, respectively.

The information is not available in the form requested. In terms of area, however, the figures are:and the Israeli Army to train the latter in anti-riot techniques.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce the results of the public inquiry into the Denton bypass part of the M67.

A decision by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is imminent and a public announcement will be made before the end of June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the railway route mileage is accounted for under the heading in the Transport Consultative Document "All other passenger services" which account for 6 per cent. of total passenger mileage.

Most of these services share about 45 per cent. of the existing railway route mileage with other services. The remainder make exclusive, or nearly exclusive, use of about 1 per cent. of the railway network.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will list the services described in the Transport Consultative Document as "All other passenger services" which account for 6 per cent. of total passenger mileage.

The information is as follows:

• Shotts-Edinburgh
• Ayr-Stranraer
• Croy-Stirling-Dunblane
• Croy-Falkirk Grahamston-Edinburgh
• Kilmarnock-Carlisle Via Dumfries
• Glasgow-Aberdeen
• Edinburgh-Aberdeen
• Glasgow-Dundee
• Inverness-Wick-Thurso
• Inverness-Kyle of Lochalsh
• Glasgow-Oban
• Edinburgh-Fort William
• Glasgow-Fort William-Mallaig
• Edinburgh-Falkirk-Glasgow
• Aberdeen-Inverness
• Glasgow-Perth-Inverness
• Edinburgh-Kirkaldy-Inverness
• Glasgow-Ardrossan
• Edinburgh-Stirling-Perth
• Edinburgh-Kirkaldy-Dundee
• Edinburgh-Cowdenbeath-Markinch
• Montrose-Dundee-Perth
• Edinburgh-North Berwick-Dunbar
• Edinburgh-Carstairs
• Glasgow-Gourock/Wemyss Bay
• Newcastle-Filey/ Hull
• Scarborough-Newcastle
• Newcastle-Edinburgh
• Newcastle-Largs
• Newcastle-Blackpool North
• Newcastle-Carlisle
• Darlington/Middlesbrough-Whitby
• Darlington-Saltburn
• Darlington-Bishop Auckland
• Newcastle-Sunderland/Hartlepool/Middlesbrough/Darlington/York
• Horsforth-Harrogate /York Micklefield-Scarborough
• Knottingley-Goole
• Micklefield-Hull via Selby
• Micklefield-Blackpool (via Hebden Bridge)
• Keighley-Morecambe (via Skipton)
• Newcastle-York
• Kiveton Park-Lincoln/Skegness via Retford
• Cleethorpes/Grimsby-Kiveton Park (via Retford)
• Cleethorpes /Grimsby-Thorne South (via Doncaster)
• Manchester-Cleethorpes (via Hope)
• Thorne North-Hull (via Doncaster)
• New Mills-Dore
• Manchester-Bridlington
• Cleethorpes-New Holland-Barton
• Leeds-Sheffield (via Barnsley)
• Grantham-Boston /Skegness
• Leeds-Sheffield (via Rotherham)
• Sheffield-Skegness (via Nottingham)
• Leeds-Doncaster
• Nottingham-Grantham /Skegness
• Leicester/Derby-Skegness
• Cleethorpes-Newark Northgate
• Leeds-Cleethorpes
• Hull-Scarborough
• York-Hull (via Church Fenton)
• Sheffield-Bridlington/Scarborough (via Selby)
• Huddersfield-Clayton/Penistone/ Sheffield
• Doncaster-York
• Manchester Victoria/Wakefield-Scarborough via York
• Scarborough-Sheffield (via Castleford and Barnsley)
• Leeds / Bradford-Bridlington/Scarborough
• New Mills-Sheffield/Doncaster/Barnsley
• Manchester / Leeds /Chesterfield-Skegness (via Lincoln)
• Manchester/Leeds/Chesterfield-Yarmouth (via Lincoln)
• Sheffield-Lincoln /Skegness
• Lincoln / Sheffield / Leeds-Blackpool
• Cleethorpes/Grimsby-Sheffield (via Retford)
• Leeds/ Bradford-Morecambe
• York-Blackpool via Hebden Bridge
• Cleethorpes/Grimsby-Sheffield (via Doncaster)
• Sheffield-York
• Sheffield-Hull (via Doncaster)
• Leeds-Harrogate/ York
• Leeds-Goole
• Leeds-Hull via Selby
• Leeds-Scarborough (via York)
• Leeds-Morecambe (via Skipton)
• Manningtree/Parkeston Quay-Harwich
• Cambridge-Yarmouth (via Thetford)
• Cambridge-Norwich via Thetford
• Cambridge-Kings Lynn
• Norwich-Peterborough
• Ipswich-Norwich
• Norwich-Lowestoft
• Cambridge-Skegness via Peterborough and Grantham
• Cambridge-Peterborough
• Ipswich-Lowestoft (via Saxmundham)
• Ipswich-Felixstowe
• Norwich-Yarmouth (via Acle and Reedham)
• Norwich-Cromer/Sheringham
• Parkeston-Peterborough
• Ipswich-Colchester /Chelmsford
• Bishops Stortford-Cambridge-Ely
• Cambridge-Ipswich (via Bury St. Edmunds)
• Yarmouth-Newcastle
• Norwich/Cambridge/Ely-Doncaster/York via Lincoln
• Altrincham-Manchester / Macclesfield/Alderley Edge/Crewe via Stockport
• (Excluding Altrincham-Manchester Section)
• Manchester-Stafford
• Buxton-New Mills
• Strines-Rose Hill Marple/Marple/New Mills
• Bromley Cross-Bolton-Blackburn
• Blackpool North-Preston
• Preston-Manchester
• Bolton-Preston / Blackpool
• Manchester-Crewe Section
• Manchester-Chester
• Allerton-Runcorn-Crewe
• Maghull-Ormskirk
• Garswood-St. Helens-Wigan
• Heswall-Hawarden Bridge/ Wrexham
• Hooton / Helsby-Chester
• Hooton-Chester/Llandudno /Holyhead
• Lichfield-Blake Street
• Wythall-Henley-Stratford
• Coventry-Rugby
• Northfield-Redditch
• Dorridge-Stratford-On-Avon
• Dorridge-Leamington Spa
• Chester-Llandudno/Holyhead
• Aberystwyth / Machynlleth-Shrewsbury
• Manchester - Chester/Llandudno/Bangor/Holyhead
• Stoke / Crewe-Chester / Llandudno / Bangor / Holyhead
• Birmingham-Barmouth /Aberystwyth Birmingham-Worcester
• Machynlleth-Towyn / Barmouth /Pwllheli Aberystwth-Devils Bridge
• Llandudno-Betws-y-Coed/Blaenau Ffestiniog
• Stockport-Stalybridge
• Liverpool-Chester / Bangor
• Hooton-Helsby
• Liverpool-Blackpool North
• Hawarden Bridge-Wrexham
• Manchester-Morecambe
• Preston-Colne Section
• Ormskirk-Preston
• Preston/Lancaster-Morecambe
• Chorley/Preston /Kirkham-Blackpool
• Lancaster / Oxenholme / Kendal-Windermere
• Lancaster/ Barrow-Whitehaven-Carlisle
• Manchester (Victoria)-Wigan (Wellgate)/Southport
• Liverpool-Runcorn /Crewe
• Barrow-Preston
• Leamington / Hatton-Stratford
• Birmingham-Llandudno
• Leamington-Reading
• Wolverhampton - Wellington / Shrewsbury / Chester
• Birmingham-Burton/Derby
• Derby-Yarmouth
• Walsall-Yarmouth
• Norwich /Cambridge / Peterborough-Birmingham
• Birmingham / Wellinborough - Leicester / Nottingham
• Stafford-Nuneaton/Rugby
• Lichfield - Birmingham - Kidderminster / Worcester / Hereford / Cheltenham
• Birmingham-Reading via Oxford
• Rugby/ Coventry-Birmingham /Wolverhampton
• Nottingham-Llandudno
• Crewe/Matlock-Derby/Nottingham-Lincoln St.
• Marks/Barnetby
• Sheffield-Nottingham
• Leicester-Blackpool
• Coryton-Cardiff
• Newport-Barry Island
• Treherbert / Coryton - Cardiff/Barry Island / Penarth
• Rhymney/Cardiff-Barry Island
• Rhymney-Cardiff-Penarth
• Merthyr—Cardiff/Barry Island
• Cardiff—Crewe
• Swansea—Carmarthen—Fishguard Harbour/ Milford Haven
• Swansea—Shrewsbury
• Cardiff / Newport—Gloucester /Cheltenham
• Newport/Whitland—Tenby—Pembroke Dock
• Newport—Cardiff—Swansea/Milford Haven
• Milford Haven/Cardiff—Bristol/Weston super Mare/Taunton
• Severn Beach—Keynsham / Westbury / Weston super Mare/Taunton
• Bristol—Severn Beach
• Bristol—Weston super Mare/Taunton
• Paddington/Oxford—Moreton—Worcester/ Great Malvern
• Bristol /Westbury—Weymouth
• Plymouth—Bere Alston/ Gunnislake
• Plymouth—Liskeard/St. Austell/Penzance
• Liskeard—Looe
• Plymouth/Par—Newquay
• Turo—Falmouth
• Penzance/St. Erth—St. Ives
• Exmouth / Plymouth—Exeter—Newton Abbot—Paignton
• Plymouth / Paignton /Exmouth /Exeter—Barnstaple
• Exeter—Exmouth
• Exeter—Salisbury
• Worcester—Great Malvern/Hereford
• Bristol—Gloucester / Cheltenham /Worcester / Great Malvern
• Swindon—Gloucester—Cheltenham—Worcester /Hereford
• Swansea/Cardiff—Portsmouth
• Cardiff / Bristol—Westbury—Salisbury / Portsmouth
• Cardiff—Weymouth