asked the Lord President of the Council if, in the interests of allowing maximum participation by Members, he will take steps to alter the policy of the Catering Sub-Committee of the House of Commons (Services) Committee of not disclosing prices and costs items for consumption.

The Catering Sub-Committee is responsible for its own policy in this respect. The Committee do not consider it to be in the best interests of the good management of the Refreshment Department to disclose this information.

asked the Lord President of the Council why it is the practice of the Catering Sub-Committee of the House of Commons (Services) Committee not to disclose details of costs of the refreshment arrangements to Members.

I have been asked to reply.The Catering Sub-Committee endeavours to obtain provisions at the most advantageous terms, and with the interest of suppliers in mind does not disclose details.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cost to the Government of educating a grammar school pupil in Northern Ireland per week and per term; and how the figures compare with those for a secondary school pupil in Northern Ireland.

The cost to public funds—excluding capital expenditure—of educating a pupil at grammar and secondary schools in Northern Ireland for the year ended 31st March 1974, the last year for which figures are available, was—

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied that existing arrangements for public assistance to new industries in Northern Ireland are adequate to prevent short-term grant-snatching; and if he will give figures showing the number of new firms established in Northern Ireland since 1960 with Government assistance which have closed down in less than two years, less than five years, and less than 10 years, rsepectively.

All agreements for assistance under the Northern Ireland industries development legislation, which is the main source of financial assistance to new industry, provide for the recovery of grants at the Government's discretion in the event of any company failing to fulfil the terms of its agreement. I am satisfied that the existing arrangements provide an adequate safeguard against the abuse of Government assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases attachment of earnings orders have been made in Northern Ireland by the Enforcement of Judgments Office after the first defaulting order is enforced.

I assume the Question relates to the number of Attachment of Earnings Orders made under the Judgments (Enforcement) Act (NI) 1969, which provided that such an order could be made only against a debtor who had defaulted on an instalment order. The number of attachment of earnings orders made by the Enforcement of Judgments Office in these circumstances, from the inception of the office on 15th February 1971 up to and including 1st June 1976, was 537.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to introduce new housing legislation for Northern Ireland; and what prior consultation he is having.

A proposal for a draft Housing (Northern Ireland) Order in Council which was prepared following wide consultation with interested parties in Northern Ireland was published on 3rd June 1976. The main purposes of the Order will be to develop the rôle of the voluntary housing movement, to provide for grants for house renovation and to deal with areas of housing stress and with unoccupied premises. I have invited comment by 1st July 1976 on the pro- posal and have written to all Northern Ireland hon. Members and other hon. Members, including the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison), inviting them to discuss the proposal before the draft Order which my right hon. Friend hopes to lay before the House in July is finalised.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he intends to extend the Sexual Offences Act 1967 to Northern Ireland.

I have at present nothing to add to the answer I gave to a Question on this subject on 10th March from the hon. Member for Berwick-upon Tweed (Mr. Beith).—[Vol. 907, c. 257–8]

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes to make new appointments to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.

The present members complete their three-year term of office on 28th June.The present chairman, Sir Ian Fraser, and vice-chairman, Mr. Frank Benner, indicated some time ago that they wished to be released from office, but they have been good enough to continue to serve until now. I am happy to be able to announce that I have appointed Mr. Myles Humphreys as the new chairman of the authority, and Mr. Ivor Canavan as vice-chairman, both appointments to take effect from 29th June.The Police Act 1970 requires that as far as practicable members appointed to the authority should be representative of the community in Northern Ireland and of the different interests in the community. The various interests are being consulted. I shall shortly announce the details of the appointments, or reappointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the areas of the North Coast of Ireland which are reserved for inshore fishermen; and what are the limits regarding nets and boats.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th June 1976; Vol. 912, c. 548], gave the following information:No waters off the north coast of Northern Ireland are reserved for local inshore fishermen. However, Regulation 4 of SR&O 95 of 1972, which applies equally to vessels registered in the Republic of Ireland, prohibits the use of fishing boats of greater than 50 foot registered length for trawling or seine netting off the coasts of Londonderry and Antrim within an area to the southward and westward of an imaginary straight line drawn from Fair Head, Co. Antrim, to Bull Point, Rathlin Island, and from Bull Point to the Whisling Buoy off Inishowen Head, Co. Donegal. As this area is within the exclusive fishery limits of the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic and adjacent to the coast of Northern Ireland, only boats registered in the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic may fish there. Vessels fishing for sea fish off the north coast of Northern Ireland must comply with the provisions of the Fishing Nets (North-East Atlantic) Order 1971, which prescribes the minimum sizes of mesh for fishing nets used by United Kingdom vessels in areas specified in the Order and by foreign vessels within the fishing limits of the British Islands adjacent to the United Kingdom. Fishing for salmon by vessels registered in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, is, in the Foyle area, controlled by regulations including,

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the United Kingdom fishing limits off the North Coast of Northern Ireland; over what areas within these limits are Eire fishermen allowed to fish; for what species they are allowed to fish; and what catch limits are imposed on Eire fishermen.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th June 1976; Vol. 912, c. 548], gave the following information:United Kingdom fishing limits extend to 12 miles off the north coast of Northern Ireland from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured. Vessels of EEC member States have rights to fish for all species in the belt between six and 12 miles from the baselines. Under a catch limitation scheme under the auspices of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, of which the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic are members, fishermen from the Republic may catch a quota of 12,700 tons of herring during 1976 in Area VIa, which extends to the waters off the north coast of Ireland and the west coast of Scotland and includes waters within the United Kingdom fishery limits off Northern Ireland. Within the exclusive fishery limits, to a distance of six miles from the baselines, vessels from the Republic by virtue of a voisinage agreement may fish for all species provided they abide by the same regulations as apply to United Kingdom vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the location of Army recruiting centres in Northumberland.

Army careers information offices in Northumberland are located at 7 Ridley Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and 30 Woodhorn Road, Ashington, and an office which operates part time is located in the TAVR Barracks at Ravensdown, Berwick-on-Tweed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons have been recruited at each Army recruiting centre in Northumberland in each of the last five years.

Enlistments at Army careers information offices in Northumberland are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the 16 Service hospitals which his Department administers.

The 16 Service hospitals in the United Kingdom are:

• Royal Navy Hospitals, Haslar and Plymouth.
• The Queen Alexandra Military Hospital, Millbank.
• Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich.
• Military Maternity Hospital, Woolwich.
• Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot.
• Louise Margaret Maternity Hospital, Aldershot.
• Military Hospital, Colchester.
• The Duchess of Kent's Military Hospital, Catterick.
• Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley.
• Military Hospital, Netley.
• Princess Mary's RAF Hospital, Halton.
• Princess Alexandra's RAF Hospital, Wroughton.
• RAF Hospitals, Cosford, Ely and Nocton Hall.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has for seeking an agreement with the Government of the French Republic for improving customs and passport formalities for those crossing the Channel between the two countries.

I know of no specific problems concerning customs facilities in France for British travellers but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and will write to me about it I will of course investigate it.If the hon. Member is concerned with customs facilities in the United Kingdom I suggest that he consults my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to improve industrial and commercial communications between the countries of the EEC by co-ordinating the system of daily time.

Proposals by the Commission for the harmonisation of summer time are under discussion in the Community. We have at present no plans to make other proposals in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that 25,000 persons who have been given residence in India are also eligible to apply for special vouchers for entry into the United Kingdom; and how many people in total are in this situation.

The number of heads of household holding United Kingdom passports, plus their dependants, who are resident in India and may be eligible to enter the United Kingdom under the special voucher scheme has been estimated at about 25,000. The High Commission in New Delhi believe this estimate may be low and are making a new assessment.Estimates of the number of persons in this category resident in the countries mainly concerned, excluding India, are: Kenya, 17,000; Tanzania, 10,000; Malawi, 6,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the United Kingdom delegate voted on UN Security Council Resolution 386 (1976) concerning Mozambique; what statement he made on that occasion on behalf of Her Majesty's Government; and whether he made any proposal that that section of the Resolution which condemned "provocative and aggressive acts" by Rhodesia against Mozambique should be widened to include a condemnation of the support and comfort being given by Mozambique to terrorists operating from that country against Rhodesia.

Britain voted in favour of Security Council Resolution 386, which was passed unanimously. A copy of the statement made by the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative is in the Library. It concentrated on the main aim of the resolution—the need to support sanctions—and emphasised the importance we attach to a peaceful transfer of power.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what talks he has had since 16th May concerning the Tindemans Report.

My right hon. Friend discussed the background to his report with Mr. Tindemans on his visit to London on 19th May. I took part in a further discussion in the Council of Ministers on 1st June.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on negotiations for the common fishing policy.

Discussions are in progress in the Community on the adaptation of the common fisheries policy to take account of the prospective extension of fisheries limits to 200 miles. The Commission has put forward outline suggestions which would include 12-mile coastal belts reserved to member States and the division of remaining Community resources on the basis of quotas. We are pressing for substantially wider coastal belts. We shall also be concerned with the effect of the package as a whole, including the prospects for satisfactory enforcement. We have made clear to other Community Governments that the matter is of the greatest importance to us.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the consultations he envisages following the publication of the Consultative Document on the Fifth Round of United Kingdom Offshore Licensing.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply on 27th May to the Member for Dunbartonshire, West (Mr. Campbell).—[Vol. 912, c. 303–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the value of the following United Kingdom exports and services: (1) nuclear power stations built abroad, (2) equipment and plant provided for nuclear installations overseas during the past five years, (3) fuel elements reprocessed for foreign authorities during the same period, (4) natural and enriched uranium supplies, (5) licensing and (6) radioisotopes on an annual basis.

A complete answer is not possible because some information is a commercial secret or is not collected. The available figures for 1971, 1972 and 1973 are contained in the Annual Statement of the Overseas Trade of the United Kingdom, and for 1974 and 1975 in Overseas Trade Statistics of the United Kingdom. Copies are held in the Library of the House. The information is summarised below:figures Showing the age structure of the work force employed in coal mining in the United Kingdom.

I have asked the Chairman of the National Coal Board to write to my hon. Friend giving this information as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has made any recent request to building societies to restrict lending to otherwise approved purchasers.

The Government and the Council of the Building Societies Association have jointly established arrangements for stabilising the flow of mortgage funds and avoiding an excessive increase in house prices. For this purpose, as announced in April 1975, a close watch is kept on movements in house prices, figures of housing starts and a wide range of other factors affecting house building and purchase. This monitoring process forms the basis for regular discussions between the Government and the Building Societies Association in the Joint Advisory Committee on Building Society Mortgage Finance. Building societies plan their lending policies so as to support an active housing market and make adjustments to their levels of lending, as appropriate in the light of the discussions, to achieve the agreed objectives of stabilisation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to amend the Coast Protection Act 1949 to ensure that oil rigs and similar floating platforms, which are surplus to immediate requirements, are not laid up in areas of outstanding beauty or places used for extensive recreational purposes.

The Crown Estate Commissioners have adequate powers of control for this purpose where Crown foreshore or sea bed is involved up to the limit of territorial waters. The powers in the Coast Protection Act are supplementary and relate only to navigational hazards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if local authorities are permitted to include water rates with the general rate or with the rent for the purpose of assessing rate or rent rebates.

No. Rate rebates are available only in respect of the general rate and the rent which is eligible to be met by a rent rebate or allowance is the occupational element, excluding any payment for water rates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out in the Official Report the approximate sums of public moneys expended by local authorities, new town development corporations, Government Departments, and other public bodies, respectively, on each of the new towns of Basildon, Harlow, and Stevenage from 1960 until a recent convenient date.

Details of expenditure by development corporations are given in the accounts included in their annual reports, copies of which are in the Library. Information about expenditure by local authorities, Government Departments and other public bodies is not readily available in the form requested. I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps his Department is presently taking to ensure that the views of all employees of the various water companies are fully and adequately canvassed in regard to the proposal that the companies should be absorbed into the regional water authorities; and if he will publish the results of such inquiries;(2) what steps his Department is presently taking to ensure that the views of all users, domestic and industrial, in areas served by the various water companies are fully and adequately canvassed in regard to the proposal that the companies should be absorbed into the regional water authorities; and if he will publish the results of such inquiries;(3) what representations his Department has received concerning the proposal, contained in the recently published consultation document reviewing the water industry, that the various water companies should be absorbed into the regional water authorities;(4) what steps his Department is presently taking to ensure that the views of all those involved in the management of the various water companies are fully and adequately canvassed in regard to the proposal that the companies should be absorbed into regional water authorities; and if he will publish the results of such inquiries.

The Consultation Paper on the Review of the Water Industry setting out the Government's intention of bringing the water companies into public ownership and inviting comments in particular on the method and timing of securing this was sent to a wide range of interested bodies, including the Water Companies Association, individual water companies, local authorities and trade unions. So far my Department has received in response only five formal comments on this issue. I will certainly make known at the appropriate time the weight of representations received on this as on other aspects of the consultation paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much property and land alongside the A646 between Halifax and Burnley belongs to his Department; and how many negotiations to purchase there are at present.

The Department owns 15 properties and 11 parcels of land covering some 9,250 square yards along this length of A646. No negotiations to purchase are in train.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals exist to remove or alter the improvement lines adjoining the A646 Halifax to Burnley, prepared in 1965 to 1968 by the former West Riding County Council, and approved by his Department in 1968; and what arrangements exist for the relevant plans to be inspected locally.

Between 1965 and 1972, when small local improvement schemes were under consideration for this road, development alongside the road was controlled as a protective measure. How- ever, since schemes were included in the preparation pool in 1972 to enable a more comprehensive examination of the needs to be made, this protection has been abandoned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of replacing carpets in the Palace of Westminster, carried out during the Spring Recess; and when these carpets were last replaced.

These areas were recarpeted as part of a continuing programme for which provision is made in the Department's annual Estimates. The total cost of laying new carpets, all of British manufacture, during the Spring Recess was £4,400. New carpet laid in the Ways and Means Corridor last year proved to be faulty and was replaced at a special price negotiated with the supplier. Both carpets had previously been replaced in 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the final cost of the canopy over the Members' entrance in New Palace Yard.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. and learned Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Mr. Fairbairn) on 1st April 1976.—[Vol. 908, c. 533]

asked the Minister for Overseas Development how the United Kingdom delegate to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations voted on the Resolution passed at the sixtieth session, 1,999th meeting, on 11th May regarding aid to Mozambique; and whether the United Kingdom delegate expressed any views, other than those summarised at the bottom of page four of the Press notice of that meeting, regarding that section of the Resolution which called for the assistance to be whenever possible in the form of grants.

The United Kingdom delegate was instructed to vote in favour of the Resolution, which was adopted by consensus. The delegate stated that our initial aid would be a loan on soft terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will bring forward proposals to reorganise the Welsh National Water Development Authority in a multifunctional regional structure in Wales with each multi-purposse division answerable to a district management committee of elected representatives of the area served by the division.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the consultative document "Review of the Water Industry in England and Wales" which sets out the Government's views on management arrangements in the water industry and invites comments on them. Paragraphs 44 and 45, in particular, refer to consultation at local level.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many houses need to be constructed in Wales in total, including both public and private sector, to meet the housing demand in Wales given the known condition of existing housing stock.

The precise total need depends on many factors and is not quantifiable, but I am very satisfied with the achievement in Wales in 1975 when 17,236 dwellings were completed, a higher figure than in any year since 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to find tenants for advance factories at Pwllheli, Porthmadog and Caernarfon.

The factories have been brought to the attention of industrialists seeking factory space in North Wales on many occasions. The Welsh Office and Welsh Development Agency will continue to take every possible opportunity of suggesting the factories to suitable industrialists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated cost, in the financial year 1976–77, of extending eligibility for the mobility allowance to women aged 60 years and over and men aged 65 years and over both (a) before and (b) after tax.

The estimated 1976–77 full year cost of extending eligibility for mobility allowance to people over pensionable age would be of the order of £125 million before tax. There are no figures available on which to base an estimate of cost after tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons over retirement age he estimates would be eligible for the mobility allowance were it made available to them.

The best estimate we can make is of the order of 500,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what success rate has been achieved in the use of anti-rabies vaccines for humans in any recorded cases of rabies in England and Wales since 1st January 1975 to the present date.

In the two cases of human rabies in England and Wales recorded since January 1975 no anti-rabies vaccine had been given before the onset of symptoms and both cases were fatal.During 1975 anti-rabies vaccine and/or antiserum was given to 116 persons who had a history of exposure to a potentially rabid animal abroad and to 10 persons with a history of exposure to the two fatal cases of human rabies mentioned above. None of these 126 persons developed the disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to announce the appointment of a successor to Sir Harold Evans as Chairman of the Health Education Council.

I have today appointed Sir George Godber as Chairman of the Health Education Council with effect from 1st January 1977. On that date Sir George will take over the chairmanship of the council from Sir Harold Evans who agreed to remain in office for a further year after his original term of three years expired on 31st December last. Sir George will become a member of the council in the meantime.I would like to take the opportunity to express the Government's thanks to Sir Harold Evans for the substantial contribution he has made to health education in his period of four years as chairman of the council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to circulate the Medicines (Sales Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations to interested organisations for their comment.

Information about the content of the proposed Medicines (Sale or Supply) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations was given in consultative documents issued in March. I expect to be able to circulate a draft of the regulations in the course of the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many prosecutions for offences in relation to social security benefit have been brought in the latest convenient 12 months; and if he will show as a percentage the nature of the various categories of charges.

There were 15,362 prosecutions in 1975. Details are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be: (a) the increase in the borrowing requirement and (b) the loss to the Exchequer if the starting point of investment income surcharge were set at £40 a week for retirement pensioners.

The tax cost and the corresponding increase in the public sector borrowing requirement would be about £17 million in a full year; the cost in the first year would be negligible. These figures do not take account of the effect of the proposed change in the general level of economic activity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be: (a) the increase in the borrowing requirement and (b) the loss to the Exchequer if the top rate of tax on earned income were cut to 60 per cent.

On the arbitrary assumption that earned income forms the lower slice of any taxed income and that investment income continues to be taxed at the rates proposed for 1976–77, the estimated tax cost, and the corresponding increase in the public sector borrowing requirement, would be about £85 million in the first year and £120 million in a full year.These figures do not take account of the effect of the proposed change on the general level of economic activity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be: (a) the increase in the borrowing requirement and (b) the loss to the Exchequer if the maximum amount of tax on investment income was 75 per cent.

Income tax is charged on the total taxable income and there are difficulties in distinguishing the tax on earned income from the tax on investment income. For 1976–77, assuming the conditional as well as the unconditional increases proposed in the allowances, the tax cost would be about £45 million in a full year if the maximum higher rate of income tax on all taxable income including both earned and investment income was 75 per cent. but the investment income surcharge was retained. On the arbitrary assumption that the earned income formed the bottom slice of any mixed income, the cost of a top rate of 75 per cent. on earned income only would be about £20 million. The difference of £25 million is therefore the best estimate that can be made of the cost in a full year of a maximum higher rate of 75 per cent. on investment income apart from the investment income surcharge. The cost in the first year would be negligible. The increase in the public sector borrowing requirement would correspond with the tax cost. These estimates do not take account of the effect of the proposed changes on the general level of economic activity.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement of his policy relating to the tax position of land of outstanding scientific interest; and, in particular, if he will confirm that all such sites qualify for special transfer tax relief.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 7th June—[Vol. 912, c. 554.]—on sites of special scientific interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the names of the consultant firms and the names of the advisers employed by the National Economic Development Council; in what capacity they have been appointed, or for what study; and what is the amount of sums they receive.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which department of the National Economic Development Council is responsible for the appointment of advisers and consultants; whose advice is acted upon; and to whom they are responsible.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will hold an immediate inquiry into the avoidance of corporation tax by the negotiation of short-term loans, the interest on which is set off against the tax, as confirmed by the Inland Revenue, with a view to stopping this avoidance of tax without delay.

I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnor (Mr. Roderick) on 8th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to enact legislation to curb some of the worst features of the system of feudal land tenure; and if he will make a statement.

Many of the worst features of the feudal system have already been dealt with by the Conveyancing and Feudal Reform (Scotland) Act 1970 and the Land Tenure Reform (Scotland) Act 1974. It remains the Government's aim to proceed to further and final reforms, freeing land tenure from its dependence on feudal theory. This will, however, call for highly technical legislation, and I cannot at present anticipate its timing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what subsidies are presently paid by Her Majesty's Government to transport services in Orkney and Shetland.

In 1976–77 revenue and capital grants for the Orkney inter-island shipping services are expected to be £320,000. The Government are meeting three-quarters of the cost of new roll-on/roll-off vehicle ferry terminals at Aberdeen and Lerwick with a grant of £4 million, with in addition a loan of £900,000 to Lerwick Harbour Trust. Almost three-quarters of the cost of terminals and vessels for the Shetland interisland vehicle ferry service is being met by a further Government grant of £1·1 million. In addition, expenditure on transport by the Islands Councils is relevant for rate support grant purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that the special interests of Scotland are represented at the Conference on the International Law of the Sea.

The United Kingdom delegation to the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference acts under collectively agreed ministerial instruction, which takes account of the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to attend the EEC Council of Ministers.

Whenever the need arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether his Department will be represented at ministerial or at official level at the EEC tripartite conference on Finance and Employment to be held on 24th June;(2) whether his Department will be represented at ministerial or at official level at the Agricultural Ministers' meeting of the EEC on 21st and 22nd June;(3) whether his Department will be represented at ministerial or at official level at the Energy Ministers' meeting of the EEC on 10th June.

Ministers from the Scottish Office have no plans to attend either the tripartite conference on finance and employment or the Energy Ministers' meeting, nor have officials. The delegation for the Agricultural Ministers' meeting will be decided when the agenda is settled.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how often officials of his Department have been present as part of the United Kingdom delegation to EEC Council of Ministers' meetings when that body has been discussing energy;(2) how often officials of his Department have been present as part of the United Kingdom delegation to EEC Council of Ministers' meetings when that body has been discussing transport;(3) if officials of his Department were among the United Kingdom delegation attending EEC Council of Ministers' meetings dealing with agriculture on 4th March, 26th and 27th May, 23rd and 24th June, 21st and 22nd July, 9th and 10th September, 29th and 30th September, 13th and 14th October and 29th and 30th October 1975;(4) how often his Department has been represented by officials at EEC Council of Ministers' meetings which have dealt with the Community budget.

Officials of my Department attended the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) meetings on 4th March and 29th and 30th October 1975. They have not attended meetings of the Councils of Ministers (Energy, Transport and Finance).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that young people are encouraged to stay on in school after they reach school leaving age, thus making some contribution towards a reduction in youth unemployment.

Education authority careers officers and guidance staff are aware of the importance of encouraging young people to stay on at school after they reach school leaving age if this would be of benefit to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what number of visits were carried out during the preceding 12 months by officers appointed under the terms of Section 6(1) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968; what action resulted from such visits; and what instructions have been sent to local authorities as a result;(2) what reports he has received from his duly authorised officer of the number of visits made to residential or other establishments provided by local authorities or by voluntary organisations in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968;(3) how many inspections have been carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(2) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968; what was the nature of the premises where the inspection were carried out; and what was the result of such inspections;(4) what reports he has received from his duly appointed officer as to the number of foster children being maintained within the meaning of Section 6(

It has not been thought necessary to instruct formal visits or inspections of records as envisaged in this section. Visits and inspections are, however, made from time to time as part of the normal work of the Central Advisory Service. Any matters arising from these visits are taken up with local authorities or voluntary organisations as appropriate. Details of visits and inspections which have taken place and the reports thereon could be assembled only at disproportionate expense.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps he has taken or what procedures he has laid down to ensure that the provisions of Section 5 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act are being carried out;(2) how many households have been approved in terms of subsection (3)(

Guidance in terms of Section 5 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 has been given from time to time through the issue of circulars and advice notes. No regulations have been made under the provisions of subsection (3) of Section 5, but the Boarding Out (Scotland) Regulations 1959 deal with the suitability of foster parents. Information is not available centrally on the number of persons who have been accepted as suitable foster parents by local authorrities or voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what number of places within the meaning of Section 6(1)(c) of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 are provided by voluntary organisations; what are the names of such organisations; and what is the nature of the places provided.

This information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Advisory Council on Social Work on the performance of his functions in relation to social welfare.

The following main subjects have been included in advice given by the Advisory Council on Social Work: Non-accidental injury to children, List D schools, social work statistics, fieldwork staffing, mental disorder, services for the elderly, non-custodial treatment for offenders, community education, legislation affecting children, links between housing and social work, children's panels and children's hearings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Scottish Education Department maintains a central bank of information concerning class sizes, teacher-pupil ratios, and teacher supply for individual subjects in each of the old county education authority areas.

Information on class sizes and pupil-teacher ratios is available in "Scottish Educational Statistics" published annually. Information on numbers of teachers in 1970 by qualification subject and subject taught is available in the Report "Secondary Schools Staffing Survey 1970". The annual collection of the latter information was begun in September 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many extra teachers Glasgow would require to have the same pupil-teacher ratio in its primary schools as Ayrshire.

At September 1975 approximately 480 extra teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many extra teachers Ayrshire would require in its primary schools to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio to 22:1; and if he can make an assessment of the revenue and capital implications involved.

Reduction of the pupil-teacher ratio to 22:1 in education authority primary schools in Ayrshire in September 1975 would have required 90 extra teachers. If these additional teachers had been paid on the minimum of the basic salary scale the additional expenditure in the first year would have been about £280,000. It is not possible to make an assessment centrally of the cost of additional accommodation or its revenue consequences.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if, in order to ensure that scarce resources are sensibly used, he will take the necessary administrative action to establish a definition of an educational priority area and thereafter identify such areas in Scotland;(2) if, in his view, there are any areas in Scotland which demand priority treatment in educational provisions.

On the first Question, No. On the second Question, Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if, in order to ensure that scarce resources are sensibly used, he will take the necessary administrative action to establish a definition of a socially deprived area, and thereafter identify such areas in Scotland;(2) when local authorities apply for a grant under the Urban Programme for educational projects in areas of special need, what criteria his Department uses to establish that the area concerned is one of special need;

Degrees of social and economic deprivation between one area and another can be infinitely variable. Objective data are limited. Furthermore, it is necessary to take account not only of areas currently suffering severe multiple deprivation but of areas at risk. I am advised in the deployment of Urban Programme resources by the Urban Renewal Unit acting in close concert with the relevant district and region and, of course, with other Government DepartmentsNineteen educational projects in Glasgow listed below have to date received grant assistance under the Urban Programme:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what methods he uses to establish the information necessary to discharge his duties under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Scottish Development Agency Act; and how his practices differ from Section 1(9) of the Industry Act 1975 in respect of members of the NEB.

In both cases the method used is to request those concerned to furnish the information required under the statute.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will review the financial aspects of the 1973 Legal Advice and Assistance Scheme which result in those living on social security and in receipt of family incomes supplement or supplementary benefit having to pay a contribution of between £1·50 and £21.

Under the Legal Advice and Assistance Scheme 1973 anyone who satisfies the capital requirements and who is in receipt of family income supplement or supplementary benefit is entitled to receive advice from a solicitor without payment of any contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what conveniently available figures he has for North Sea oil-related employment in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976; and what are the projected figures until 1990.

The number of workers employed at 31st May 1973 in companies in Scotland wholly engaged in activities related to the offshore oil industry was estimated to be 5,100. The corresponding figures for 31st May in each year 1974, 1975 and 1976 were 13,000, 20,300 and 26,000 respectively. These estimates do not include workers engaged in offshore oil-related work in companies only partially engaged in such work nor those in the construction industry. There is also considerable North Sea oil-related employment in England, but similar information to that for Scotland is not available. However, it has been broadly estimated that there are at least 80,000 people employed directly or indirectly in the United Kingdom on North Sea oil-related work. Of these some 50,000–55,000 are in Scotland.I regret that we do not have projected employment figures until 1990, but in May 1976 wholly engaged firms in Scotland expected that their employment would increase by 5,300 in the next few years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the growing prac- tice of persons desirous of immigrating to Great Britain who have failed to qualify for admission in taking educational courses and eventually staying on and becoming residents; and to what extent he has taken or intends taking action to prevent this abuse of the immigration laws.

A person seeking entry to the United Kingdom for studies must fulfil the requirements for admission set out in the Immigration Rules. If he is admitted, conditions that include a limit on the period for which he may remain are imposed on his stay. The grant of an extension as a student depends on his continuing to meet the requirements. No person given entry to the United Kingdom as a student since the Immigration Act 1971 came into force can acquire settled status simply by virtue of time spent here in studies. We are satisfied that the vast majority of overseas students in this country are genuine and that the means of enforcement are adequate for dealing with a small minority who may seek to use studies in an attempt to evade the control.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will now make a statement on the prospects for shipbuilding on Humberside in both the private and public sector.

The Selby yard of the Drypool Group Ltd.—in receivership—was taken over by Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Towing Ltd., on 2nd June which should assure its future.Whitby Shipyard Ltd. has negotiated with the receiver and Beverley Borough Council for the eventual takeover of the Beverley yard. It has a licence to operate within the yard from 1st June to 30th September and will assume ownership on 1st October. Work is expected to commence in July on an order for four tugs and two water carriers and will be carried on side by side with the receiver's completion of an existing order for a tug. It is expected that additional jobs will arise as a result of this arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether a public formal investigation is to be held into the loss of the British coaster "Carnoustie" at sea on 3rd January 1976.

The preliminary inquiry into the loss of the "Carnoustie"

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will publish in the Official Report a list of those items of goods and services covered by the Index of Retail has recently been completed and I shall decide in the light of this Whether to order a formal investigation under Section 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make available in the Library a statement on the procedure followed by his Department on the handling of anti-dumping cases.

I have placed a paper on this in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish the values in £ million, and indices of the volume and values, of United Kingdom imports and exports of petroleum and petroleum products, using the SITC classification of table 12 of the current monthly Press notice on the balance of payments, for 1960 to 1975.

, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 12th April 1976; Vol. 909, c. 396], gave the following information:Prices which are subject to the 5 per cent. check scheme.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th June 1976; Vol. 912, c. 570], gave the following information: